Republic of the Philippines

Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City

RECOMMENDATION FOR ORAL DEFENSE

This Project Study entitled “PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER” prepared and

submitted Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier Russell R. Emalada, Jason E. Espineda, Jeremiah
P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey R. Signo, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, is hereby recommended to
the Project Study Committee for final oral defense.

ENGR. JOSEPH S. DEL VILLAR

Adviser

PROJECT STUDY COMMITTEE

This Project Study entitled “PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER” prepared and

submitted by Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier Russell R. Emalada, Jason E. Espineda,
Jeremiah P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey R. Signo, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, is hereby
submitted to the Project Study Committee for consideration.

ENGR. GENE M. LLORANDO

Panel Chairman

ENGR. JASON ANTHONY B. CONSULTA ENGR. FRANCIA L. ABARIENTOS

Panel Member Panel Member

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 Republic of the Philippines
Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City

RESULT OF FINAL ORAL DEFENSE

Result of the Final Oral Defense Project Study of Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier Russell
R. Emalada, Jason E. Espineda, Jeremiah P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey R.
Signo, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical Engineering.

Title: PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER

Place: BICOL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Date: FEBRUARY 24, 2018

Time: 8:00AM – 9:00AM

PROJECT STUDY COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN

ENGR. GENE M. LLORANDO _____________________________

Chairman

ENGR. JASON ANTHONY B. CONSULTA ______________________________

Member

ENGR. FRANCIA L. ABARIENTOS ______________________________

Member

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 Republic of the Philippines
Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City

APPROVAL SHEET

Upon the recommendation of the Project Study Committee, this study entitled,
“PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER”, prepared and submitted by Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier
Russell R. Emalada, Jason E. Espineda, Jeremiah P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey
R. Signo, is hereby approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

ENGR. MEDEL E. ALIGAN

Mechanical Engineering Project Study (ME 520A) Professor

ENGR. GENE M. LLORANDO

Department Head, Mechanical Engineering

ACCEPTED AND APPROVED in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

Degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

ENGR. AMELIA B. GONZALES, Ph.D.

Dean, Bicol University College of Engineering

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 Republic of the Philippines
Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City

CERTIFICATION OF ADVISER

This is to certify that all suggestions, comments, and recommendations of the

Project Study Committee had been incorporated in this project study entitled,
“PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER”, prepared and submitted by Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier
Russell R. Emalada, Jason E. Espineda, Jeremiah P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey
R. Signo of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

ENGR. JOSEPH S. DEL VILLAR

Adviser

v
 Republic of the Philippines
Bicol University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Legazpi City

CERTIFICATION OF EDITOR

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER”,

prepared and submitted Marvin R. Arnaiz, Kier Russell R. Emalada, Jason E.
Espineda, Jeremiah P. Malagueño and Emervie Jeffrey R. Signo, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Bicol University, Legazpi
City has been reviewed and edited by the undersigned.
Issued this 15th day of March 2018 for record and reference purposes.

ABIGALE M. MANGAMPO
Editor

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are deeply grateful and blessed to all the people who have been part of this
journey in the completion of this project. This study would not have been done without
their precious time, effort, knowledge and their all out-support in every step of the way.
To God Almighty for giving us the strength, knowledge, ability and opportunity to
undertake this research study and to persevere and complete it satisfactorily. Without his
blessings, this achievement would have not been possible.
ENGR. JOSEPH S. DEL VILLAR, our beloved adviser. The door to his office was
always open whenever we ran into a trouble spot or had a question about a research or
writing. He steered us in the right direction whenever we needed it.

The Panelists, ENGR. GENE M. LLORANDO, ENGR. JASON ANTHONY B.

CONSULTA and ENGR. FRANCIA L. ABARRIENTOS for the challenge, suggestions and
recommendations that paved way for the improvement of the study.

MR. MICHAEL PARAS. One of the experts who were involved in fabrication of our
prototype. Without his passionate participation and input, the prototype could not have
been finished

OUR PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, for the emotional support and
motivation that only a family can give. Also, for the trust and support in assisting us
financially;
To those people who have not been mentioned in this paper, we are grateful and
appreciative to all the efforts in contributing to the success of this project study.

Marvin, Kier, Jason, Jeremiah, and

Emervie

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 ABSTRACT

Title: PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER

Author: Marvin R. Arnaiz
Kier Russell R. Emalada
Jason E. Espineda
Jeremiah P. Malagueño
Emervie Jeffrey R. Signo

Type of Document: Project Study

Institution: Bicol University College of Engineering
Legazpi City
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Introduction
Hired labor in the farm is decreasing owing to preference of labor to employment
opportunities in the urban centers and abroad and high level of education and literacy in
the labor force. In rice production, labor costs represents around 60% of the total input
costs in rice production. Farmers therefore have to mechanize in order to lessen costs
and dependence to the unreliable supply of hired labor in the countryside while increasing
crop productivity at the optimum (Bautista, 2003).
The overriding issue in developing commercially successful machines is
meeting the market demands within acceptable price levels. The industry must be
able to come up with marketable machines, which could meet farmers’ operational
needs at an affordable price.

Objectives
The purpose of the study is to design a harvester that is economically acceptable
to the farmers having only a annual income of Php 100,000. The study also aims to
address the mobility and portability of threshers and harvesters in dealing with different
kind of topography.
The proponents also want to provide substitute to manual labor and address the
shortage of laborers during harvest.

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Scope and Delimitation
The main concern of this study it to create a portable rice harvester and is only
limited to small scale farming. It is not appropriate for multi-national company production
with large farm holdings.
It can only operate at certain range of feed. Noncontinuous feeding of the machine
is more advisable than to its ultimate capacity. The constraint of a 2-stroke engine is its
fuel capacity and efficiency. It requires knowledge of operating the motor specially for
farmers who usually rely on carabaos or manual labor.

Methodology
The first phase is to conceptualize the project idea. After getting information from
different related studies and literature. Deep analysis of data is needed to find the gap of
information in the design that is to be addressed.
In refining the problems, Analysis and Computation must be involved. Further data
gathering to be conducted for the application of different theories, in the computations to
find specifications of materials and machine. The proponents will abide to the standard in
terms of sizes of belts pulley and others.
The last assessment will be centered on the Prototyping of the machine to test its
performance in terms of the following parameters:
1. The machine should comply with the functions of a combine.
2. Fabrication must be at the consideration of the low-income farmers.
3. Portability must be at consideration of the design.

Findings
From analyzing the data collected the machine tested at 5 kg shows the best
efficiency when it is fed. It garnered a grain loss of 4.61 percent close to the 3% grain loss
of stated that have higher efficiency. A five percent grain damage is also seen, very far
from one percent that needed to be achieved the damage resulted from the comb where
some grains were thrown off and not being conveyed to the threshing unit.
The handling of the machine when tilted to approximately 45 degrees the data
seem to show that there is a significant effect of orientation change. The Grain loss at 5
kg feed from 4.61 percent it is reduced to 2.8 percent. The new result is acceptable in
terms of the grain loss condition of less than 3 percent.

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 Data gathered from feed of 10 kg and 15 kg also shows the effect of tilting the
machine to 45 degrees but still fails to lower the loss, damage and rubbish percentages.
The ANOVA test resulted to (F =5.179222) >( FCritical = 2.847726) therefore reject
null hypothesis. The result of the test shows that the machine can perform the task of
harvesting, threshing and sacking at least time expected.

Conclusion
After the series of testing conducted by the proponents, the data accumulated were
interpreted and will be finalized to conclusion. There might be a gap between desired
outcome in the case of 10 kg and 15 kg feed where the machine records greater grain
loss, damage, and rubbish, the 5 kg feed trial shows lesser losses and conducts operation
smoothly. It achieved more that desired 3 % losses, the experiment shows about 2.8 %
losses in the trial, lesser by 0.2 percent. Therefore the feeding should have waiting time
for the machine to process the intake grain.
Since the machine can be transported and operated by one person it is in the
proponent’s analysis that it passed the mobility and portability issues. If a farmer decides
to transfer to the other side of the river to harvest it is in his convenience that he alone can
easily do so. The machine weight is less than 25 kilograms compared to the ordinary
thresher that weighs more, about 900 kilograms when transferred needs to be hauled by
a tractor or by 6-10 person.
The operation of an ordinary thresher needs 3 people to feed and collect grains.
While the PORTABLE RICE HARVESTER with one operator can do the task of three
persons. The sacking will be easy because the plastic bag beneath the machine will easily
hold the grains and will distribute the weight of the grains collected to the ground.

Recommendations
1. The proponents needed more time to assess the landscape and operability of the
machine at different conditions at fields. The testing of the machine was only
2. simulated when rice stands straight and at bend position, it lacks trials on other
positions or conditions of grain
3. For further study the future researchers must conduct the following:
4. Consider the different conditions of rice, the ease of harvesting is different when
grain is wet of muddy.

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5. Conduct a run time harvest in rice field to measure its jamming or its ultimate
performance.
6. Fuel efficiency or mileage must be studied to know its economical impact.
7. The belt transmission must have a belt tensioner to avoid slippage and protective
cover to avoid stalks getting stuck.
8. Adding of auxiliary unit like blowers will increase the efficiency by reducing grain
loss, damage and rubbish.
9. The increasing of threshing unit length to decrease losses, damage and rubbish
when subjected to higher load.
10. To lessen the weight of the machine the fabrication can be of HDPE (High-density
polyethylene ) and PVC (Polymerizing Vinyl Chloride) pipes or the usage of
aluminum alloy.
11. The protective casing of the comb that serves as conveyor of the grain can also
be of plastic construction

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