The tillage operation is one of the most important implements in terms of energy consumptions. To improve its energy efficiency, the design of tillage tools should be optimized. Development of soil mechanics science and soil-machine interaction studies makes its design usually done scientifical, while in the past it had done by trial and error. The most important parts of tillage tools design should be evaluated in the field conditions. Several problems limit the field conditions. Two important limitations are the weather and soil conditions. These two limitations cannot be controlled by the researchers, so laboratory environment, called soil bin can be able to simulate its field conditions and overcome the limits. The soil conditions such as soil texture and its moisture content can be controlled and the soil-machine interaction studies can be done throughout the year. Generally, a soil bin facility consists of a fixed soil tank, tools carriage and drive systems. To evaluate the soil-tool interaction studies, the soil tank filled with soil up to specified height and the tool carriage moves on the rails. In this study, a linear and indoor soil bin facility was designed and constructed. At first, the soil bin initial plan was modeled in SolidWorks and mechanical analysis conducted then the final soil bin plan was designed and developed. The length of the soil tank chassis had 12 m long, 1.5 m width, and 1 m deep and it’s surrounded covered with steel plates 2 mm in thick. A rail assembled on the top of each soil tank side walls to enable the carriage motion. Considering the height of the rails, the depth of chassis was 1.23 m. The main task of the carriage is to carry tillage tools. The carriages consist of a height adjustment system for changing the depth of tools in the soil tank and a horizontal position adjustment system for changing the tool positions in the width. These two mechanisms were: converting the rotational motion to the linear of an electric motor (1.5 hp) coupled with spiral gearbox at the top of the carriage to rotate threaded shaft for height adjustment. Four polyurethane wheels were installed at four corners at the front and back of the carriage. An electric motor (30 hp) provided drive power unit. Drive system consist of two main stages. In the first stage, the power of motor transmitted to the drive shaft by roller chain and sprockets. The second stage consists of two drive shafts, four sprockets and two roller chains that provide the carriage round trip motion. This soil bin facility can be used for soil-machine interaction studies and a new design prototype development or an existing design evaluation.
