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American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineers
ASABE is a professional and technical organization, of members worldwide, who are dedicated to advancement of
engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. ASABE Standards are consensus documents
developed and adopted by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers to meet standardization
needs within the scope of the Society; principally agricultural field equipment, farmstead equipment, structures, soil
and water resource management, turf and landscape equipment, forest engineering, food and process engineering,
electric power applications, plant and animal environment, and waste management.
NOTE: ASABE Standards, Engineering Practices, and Data are informational and advisory only. Their use by anyone
engaged in industry or trade is entirely voluntary. The ASABE assumes no responsibility for results attributable to the
application of ASABE Standards, Engineering Practices, and Data. Conformity does not ensure compliance with
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ASABE Standards, Engineering Practices, and Data initially approved prior to the society name change in July of 2005
are designated as "ASAE", regardless of the revision approval date. Newly developed Standards, Engineering
Practices and Data approved after July of 2005 are designated as "ASABE".
Standards designated as "ANSI" are American National Standards as are all ISO adoptions published by ASABE.
Adoption as an American National Standard requires verification by ANSI that the requirements for due process,
consensus, and other criteria for approval have been met by ASABE.
Consensus is established when, in the judgment of the ANSI Board of Standards Review, substantial agreement has
been reached by directly and materially affected interests. Substantial agreement means much more than a simple
majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that a
concerted effort be made toward their resolution.
CAUTION NOTICE: ASABE and ANSI standards may be revised or withdrawn at any time. Additionally, procedures of
ASABE require that action be taken periodically to reaffirm, revise, or withdraw each standard.
Copyright American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. All rights reserved.
ASABE, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Ml 49085-9659, USA, phone 269-429-0300, fax 269-429-3852, hq@asabe.org
ANSI/ASAE S472 DEC1986 (R2012)
Approved March 1988; reaffirmed February 2012 as an American National Standard
ANSI/ASAE S472 DEC1986 (R2012) Copyright American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 1
minimum distance between the cutting blade rotating periphery and the
plane on which the machine is standing.
3.4.3 Rotary disk(s): The cutting height shall be determined at the point
that the stalks are sheared, either at the forward tip of the stationary knife
or at the forward intersection of the two rotary knife disks.
3.4.4 The header cutting heights shall be established under the following
conditions and expressed to the nearest 5 millimeters.
3.4.4.1 The maximum and minimum heights shall be measured in the
highest and the lowest positions to which the cutting device can be raised
or lowered with the standard lift mechanism.
3.4.4.2 Tire and wheel rim sizes and axle mounting positions shall be
stated, and tires shall be inflated to the field operating pressures Figure 1 Cylinder cutterhead knife rake angle,
recommended by the forage harvester manufacturer.
3.4.4.3 For pull-type (towed) forage harvesters, the tractor drawbar
height shall be stated in millimeters. 3.7 Precision cut cutterhead: A device intended to shear the crop into
3.4.4.4 The plane upon which the forage harvester is standing shall be uniform short lengths.
hard and level. 3.7.1 Cylinder type cutterhead: Knives mounted on cylindrical
3.4.4.5 The type of header installed at the time of measuring shall be mountings such that the knives are essentially parallel to the axis of
stated. rotation. The number of knives per revolution passing by a fixed point
3.4.4.6 The crop container of a self-propelled forage harvester, if so and rotational speed (r/min) shall be specified. The cutterhead diameter
equipped, shall be empty. and width shall be expressed in millimeters.
3.5 Header mass: The mass of the complete header equipped for field 3.7.2 Flywheel type cutterhead: Knives mounted essentially radially
operation. If other equipment options affect the mass, such equipment with the cutting edges describing a plane perpendicular to the axis of
shall be specified. The header mass shall be expressed to the nearest 10 rotation. The number of knives, the number of forage impeller blower
kilograms. paddles, if so equipped, and the rotational speed (r/min) shall be
specified. The inner and outer effective knife cutting diameters about the
3.6 Feeding mechanism to cutterhead (precision cut) axis of rotation shall be expressed in millimeters. The diameter formed by
3.6.1 Feedrolls: One or more cylindrical rolls (generally with protrusions the blower paddles, if so equipped, and the blower housing inside width
or flutes) used to gather, compress and meter the crop into the shall be expressed in millimeters.
cutterhead. 3.7.3 Stationary knife: A knife that provides a stationary edge for the
3.6.2 Feedroll throat area: The throat area shall be calculated by cutterhead knives to shear the crop against.
multiplying the feedroll housing inside width at the plane formed by 3.7.4 Cutterhead knife rake angle
centerlines of the upper and lower rear feedrolls nearest the cutterhead
times the maximum height between the outside diameters of the rear 3.7.4.1 Cylinder cutterheads: The knife rake angle is the included
feedrolls, expressed in square centimeters. angle between the knife leading surface at the cutting tip and a radial line
passing through the knife cutting tip (see Fig. 1).
3.6.3 Theoretical length of cut: A mathematically derived expression
which calculates the theoretical stem or particle lengths produced by a 3.7.4.2 Flywheel cutterheads: The knife rake angle is the included
forage harvester. In the equation, it is assumed that there is no slippage angle between the knife leading surface at the cutting tip and a line
of crop between the feedrolls and that the stems are cut perpendicular to parallel to the cutterhead axis of rotation (see Fig. 2).
the longitudinal axis of the stem. Theoretical length of cut, TLOC, shall be 3.7.5 Cylinder cutterhead knife helix angle: The knife helix angle is
expressed in mm/knife. The crop mat velocity represented by the terms the arc tangent of the arc length described by the knife cutting edge
in the numerator of the TLOC equation is the average peripheral velocity divided by the cylinder width (see Fig. 3).
of the upper and lower rear feedrolls. 3.7.6 Flywheel cutterhead knife shear angle: The included angle
between the cutterhead knife and the stationary knife in a transverse
D 1 N 1 D 2 N 2 / Z direction (see Fig. 4). The average shear angle shall be established with
TLOC
NK
where
D1 is upper rear feedroll effective feeding diameter*, mm
D2 is lower rear feedroll effective feeding diameter*, mm (if used)
N1 is upper rear feedroll speed, r/min
N2 is lower rear feedroll speed, r/min (if used)
N is cutterhead speed, r/min
K is number of cutterhead knives per revolution passing by a
fixed point
Z is number of feedrolls used in the TLOC numerator. (Z=1 for
machines with only one feedroll, otherwise Z=2.)
ANSI/ASAE S472 DEC1986 (R2012) Copyright American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 2
3.10.1 Engine power: The corrected gross, rated, brake power, kW,
measured in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard
SAE J1349, Engine Power Test CodeSpark Ignition and Compression
IgnitionNet Power Rating, at the governed engine rpm which shall be
stated. Where particular markets require the use of different test code for
determining engine power, the engine test code shall be stated; however,
the engine power determined by SAE Standard J1349 shall also be
included.
3.10.2 Engine displacement: Engine volumetric displacement shall be
expressed in liters to the nearest hundredth.
3.10.3 Turning radius: The distance from the turning center to the
center of tire contact of the wheel describing the largest circle while the
Figure 3 Cylinder cutterhead knife helix angle, vehicle is executing its shortest turn without turning brakes in operation.
The measurement shall be made on a hard, level surface. The wheel
base and guide wheel tread width shall be stated. Turning radius shall be
the cutterhead knife cutting edge positioned at the midspan of the expressed in meters to the nearest hundredth.
stationary knife. 3.10.4 Clearance radius: The distance from the turning center to the
3.7.7 Recutter screen: A semi-cylindrical band (with holes) mounted outermost point of the forage harvester executing its shortest turn without
concentric with a cylinder cutterhead. The screen starts beyond the turning brakes in operation. If equipment options or crop headers affect
stationary knife and continues around the discharge opening. The this dimension, such equipment shall be specified. The crop header shall
chopped crop is recut by the cutterhead knives as the crop passes be fully raised. The wheel base and guide wheel tread width shall be the
through the screen holes. The recutter screen is used primarily to reduce same as in paragraph 3.10.3. Clearance radius shall be expressed in
particle lengths that are substantially beyond the theoretical length of cut. meters to the nearest hundredth.
The screen hole dimensions shall be expressed in millimeters. 3.10.5 Self-propelled forage harvester mass: The mass of the
3.8 Non-precision cut flail chopping rotor (cutterhead): Multiple, complete machine equipped for field operation, but without the crop
radially mounted flail blades pivotally mounted on a rotor positioned header mounted unless it is an integral part of the machine. The mass
transverse to the direction of travel and parallel to the ground. The swath shall be determined under the conditions specified in paragraphs 3.4.4.2,
or windrow or standing crop is cut directly by the flail blades into shorter, 3.4.4.4, 3.4.4.6, and the fuel tank shall contain a maximum of 20 L fuel.
random lengths by impact cutting (no stationary knife used). The If equipment options or such items as static weights, tire ballast,
number of rotor flail banks per revolution, total number of flails, and additional fuel, etc., are included in the mass, such items shall be
rotational speed (r/min) shall be specified. The rotor diameter shall be specified. Self-propelled forage harvester mass shall be expressed to the
expressed in millimeters. The rotor width shall be expressed in meters to nearest 10 kg.
the nearest hundredth. 3.10.6 Self-propelled forage harvester length: The overall dimension
3.9 Crop delivery devices: A mechanism used to propel the chopped from the foremost point to the rearmost point of the machine with and
crop from the forage harvester through a converging section to the without crop header(s) measured parallel to the longitudinal centerline of
transport container. Typical propelling devices are: the forage harvester. If other equipment options or attachments affect the
length, such equipment and related dimensions shall be specified. The
3.9.1 Cylinder or flywheel cutterhead crop header shall be fully raised. The length shall be expressed in meters
3.9.2 Flail chopping rotor to the nearest hundredth.
3.9.3 Cylinder impeller blower: A device consisting of multiple rows of 3.10.7 Self-propelled forage harvester width: The overall side to side
radial, fixed or free swinging paddles mounted on a transverse rotor. The dimension of the machine with and without crop header(s). If other
crop is fed essentially tangentially to the rotor. The number of paddle equipment options or tire sizes and axle positions affect the width, such
banks, total number of paddles, and rotational speed (r/min) shall be equipment and related dimensions shall be specified. The width shall be
specified. The rotor diameter and width shall be expressed in millimeters. expressed in meters to the nearest hundredth.
3.9.4 Flywheel impeller blower: A device generally using one row of 3.10.8 Self-propelled forage harvester height: The vertical distance
paddles mounted essentially radially to the axis of rotation. The crop is from the plane on which the machine is standing to the highest point on
fed into the blower essentially parallel to the axis of rotation. The number the machine. The height shall be measured under the conditions
of paddles and rotational speed (r/min) shall be specified, and the blower specified in paragraphs 3.4.4.2, 3.4.4.4, 3.4.4.5, 3.4.4.6, and with a
diameter and blower housing inside width shall be expressed in maximum of 20 L fuel in the fuel tank. The height with all components in
millimeters. position for transport and the height with all components in position for
3.10 Self-propelled forage harvester specifications field operation shall be specified. If optional equipment affects height,
such equipment and related dimensions shall be specified. Machine
height shall be expressed in meters to the nearest hundredth.
3.10.9 Self-propelled forage harvester spout discharge height: The
vertical distance from the plane on which the machine is standing to the
top of the spout cap when horizontal. Where spout height is adjustable,
maximum and minimum height shall be specified. The height shall be
measured under the conditions outlined in paragraph 3.10.8, expressed
in meters to the nearest hundredth. Spout discharge heights shall
conform to ASAE Standard S328, Dimensions for Compatible Operation
of Forage Harvesters, Forage Wagons, and Forage Blowers.
3.10.10 Fuel tank capacity: The usable capacity of the fuel tank shall
be expressed in liters to the nearest whole liter.
3.11 Side mounted and pull-type (towed) forage harvester
specifications
Figure 4 Flywheel cutterhead knife shear angle, 3.11.1 Forage harvester power rating: The maximum and minimum
ANSI/ASAE S472 DEC1986 (R2012) Copyright American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 3
tractor PTO (power take-off) power levels at which the forage harvester 5.1.2 Machine specific energy: The forage harvester specific energy
was designed to be operated. The power shall be expressed in kilowatts shall be expressed as power divided by capacity on kW h/t (wet mass).
and the PTO speed shall be stated as 540 or 1000 r/min. 5.1.3 Crop throw distance: The horizontal distance which the forage
3.11.2 Forage harvester PTO category size: The forage harvester harvester propels the crop to the left or right, 90 deg to the direction of
PTO hookup size (category 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) shall be specified as travel, in no wind conditions. The distance shall be measured from the
defined by American National Standard ANSI/ASAE S331, Implement spouts vertical centerline at its plane of rotation to the center of crop
Power Take-Off Driveline Specifications. The tractor PTO shaft diameter material mass on the ground, expressed to the nearest meter. The
and number of spline teeth required shall be stated. measurement shall be done on a level plane. Spout discharge height
3.11.3 Forage harvester mass: The mass of the complete machine shall be stated as specified in paragraph 3.10.9 or paragraph 3.11.6.
equipped for field operation, but without the crop header mounted unless 5.1.4 Particle length distribution: The chopped crop particle length
it is an integral part of the machine. The mass shall be determined under distribution shall be determined per American National Standard ANSI/
the conditions specified in paragraphs 3.4.4.2 and 3.4.4.4. If other ASAE S424, Method of Determining and Expressing Particle Size of
equipment options affect the mass, such equipment shall be specified. Chopped Forage Materials by Screening, or by hand sorting.
The mass shall be expressed to the nearest 10 kilograms. 5.1.4.1 Hand sort method: The procedures outlined in ANSI/ASAE
3.11.4 Forage harvester length: Length shall be determined as outlined Standard S424, Method of Determining and Expressing Particle Size of
in paragraph 3.10.6. Chopped Forage Materials by Screening, shall be used to determine
3.11.5 Forage harvester width: The overall side to side dimension of particle length distribution except that the sample shall be sorted by hand
the machine with and without crop headers set for transport and for field into the following lengths, L :
operation. If other equipment options or tire sizes and axle positions
affect the width, such equipment and related dimensions shall be ASAE screen sizes* Particle length, mm
specified. The width shall be expressed in meters to the nearest
hundredth. 1 L 27
3.11.6 Forage harvester spout discharge height: Height shall be 2 18 L 27
determined as outlined in paragraphs 3.10.9, 3.4.4.2, 3.4.4.3, 3.4.4.4, 3 9 L 18
and 3.4.4.5. 4 5.6 L 9
3.11.7 Side mounted forage harvester hitch category size: The 5 2 L 5.6
tractor three-point hitch category required to lift and operate the machine 6 0 L 2
shall be specified per American National Standard ASAE S217, Three-
Point Free-Link Attachment for Hitching Implements to Agricultural Wheel *Corresponds to screen number in ANSI/ASAE Standard S424, Method of
Tractors. Detemining and Expressing Particle Size of Chopped Forage Materials by
Screening.
Particle length sizes correspond to diagonal length of holes in ASAE screens.
4 Crop terminology
4.1 Crops that are typically harvested with forage harvesters are 5.1.5 Corn (maize) kernel fracture: This is a measure of a forage
grasses, alfalfa, clover, or mixtures of grass, alfalfa, and clover, forage harvesters ability to abrade, crack, or break the kernels. It shall be
cereals, corn (maize), and sorghum. expressed as the percentage to the nearest one-half percent of
4.2 Moisture content: Moisture content of the crop shall be expressed undamaged kernels to the total field kernel population. Dye penetrants
on the wet basis. The moisture content shall be determined per ASAE may be used to determine invisible kernel fracture.
Standard S358, Moisture MeasurementForages. Cited Standards:
4.3 Plant length: The length of the unharvested plant from ground level ANSI/ASAE S331, Implement Power Take-Off Driveline Specifications
to its tip when the plant is straightened, expressed in centimeters. ANSI/ASAE S343, Terminology for Combines and Grain Harvesting
4.4 Stubble height: The length of the plant stalk attached to the ground ANSI/ASAE S424, Method of Determining and Expressing Particle Size
immediately after harvesting, expressed to the nearest whole centimeter. of Chopped Forage Materials by Screening
ASAE S217, Three-Point Free-Link Attachment for Hitching Implements
5 Forage harvester performance specifications to Agricultural Wheel Tractors
5.1 Items defining forage harvester performance specifications are ASAE S328, Dimensions for Compatible Operation of Forage Harvesters,
capacity, machine specific energy, crop throw distance, particle length Forage Wagons, and Forage Blowers
distribution, and corn kernel fracture. When these items are measured, ASAE S358, Moisture MeasurementForages
the crop and its moisture content, theoretical length of cut, and recutter SAE J1349, Engine Power Test CodeSpark Ignition and Compression
screen (if used) shall also be stated. IgnitionNet Power Rating
5.1.1 Capacity: The forage harvester capacity shall be expressed in
metric tonnes (wet mass) per hour.
ANSI/ASAE S472 DEC1986 (R2012) Copyright American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 4