DESIGN CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A MELON

SHELLING MACHINE

BY

SUNDAY THERESA OLAPEJU

MEC/2015/508/0010

ILIYA WALSHAK

MEC/2015/519/0002

MABAS NATHANIEL YAKUBU

MEC/2015/519/0015

PAUL YAKUBU

MEC/2015/519/0005

A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, PLATEAU STATE
POLYTECHNIC, BARKIN LADI, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL
DIPLOMA IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

FEBRUARY, 2017
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 DECLARATION

We declare that the work in this project report entitled (The design,

construction and testing of a melon shelling machine) has been carried out

by us in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The information

derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the test and a list

of references provided. No part of this project report was previously

presented for another higher national diploma at this or any other institution.

___________________ _______________ _______________

___________________ _______________ _______________

___________________ _______________ _______________

____________________ _______________ _______________

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 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this project report entitled (The Design, Construction

and testing of a Melon Shelling Machine) by (Sunday Theresa Olapeju

MEC/2015/508/0010, Iliya Walshak MEC/2015/519/0002,Mabas Nathaniel

Yakubu MEC/2015/519/0015, Paul Yakubu MEC/2015/519/0005) has been

read and approved as meeting the requirements for the award of Higher

National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

Name Signature Date

Project Supervisor _______________ _________ _ ________

External Examination _______________ _________ _ ________

Head of Department ______________ _________ _ ________

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 DEDICATION

This project work is dedicated to Elohim – Adonai and to our parents,

Siblings and friends for their Love, support and encouragement during our

studies.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all we want to appreciate the almighty god for sustaining us during

the course of our studies. We return all glory to him. We also acknowledge

our parent for their supports towards us during our studies. We also

acknowledge the effort of our supervisor toward us during the course of this

project for his time, contribution and advice. we also acknowledge all our

lecturers, fellow students for the time share together during our stay in

school, our prayer is god will reward you all for labour of love to us.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - - i

Approval - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - iv

Table of contents - - - - - - - - v

Abstract - - - - - - - - - xi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - - 3

1.2 Scope of Study - - - - - - - - 3

1.3 Statement of Problem -- - - - - - - 3

1.4.1 Aim - - - - - - - - - - 4

1.4.2 Objectives - - - - - - - - - 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review - - - - - - - - 6

2.1 A Melon Threshing Machine - - - - - - 6

2.2 A Melon Depodding Machine - - - - - - 8

2.3 Melon Peeling Machine - - - - - - - 9

2.4 A Melon Shelling Machine Using Locally Available Materials - 9

2.5 A Melon Seeds Sheller - - - - - - - 10

2.6 A Melon Shelling Machine - - - - - - 11

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 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Design Theory Consideration and Calculation - - - 13

3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 13

3.2 Selection of Parts - - - - - - - - 15

3.3 Design Theory - - - - - - - - 17

3.3.1 Design for the shelling drum and shelling disc - - - 17

3.3.2 Design for machine power - - - - - - 18

3.3.3 Design for the Driven and Driving pulley - - - - 18

3.3.4 Design for the Driving and Driven speed of pulley - - - 19

3.3.5 Design for shaft - - - - - - - - 19

3.3.6 Bearing Selection - - - - - - - - 25

3.3.7 Design of Key - - - - - - - - 26

3.3.8 Belt Design - - - - - - - - 28

3.3.9 Bolt Design - - - - - - - - - 28

3.3.10 Bearing Housing Bolting- - - - - - - 30

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Analysis and Discussion of Result/Fabrication Procedures And Testing 35

4.1 Fabrication Procedures - - - - - - - 35

4.1.1 Fabrication of the Hopper - - - - - - 35

4.1.2 Fabrication of the Shelling Chamber - - - - - 35

4.1.3 Fabrication of the Frame and Base - - - - - 36

4.1.4 Prime Mover (5 ship fuel engine) - - - - - 36

4.2 Assembling of Parts - - - - - - - 36

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4.3 Finishing Operation - - - - - - - 37

4.4 Testing of the Machine - - - - - - - 37

4.5 Results and Discussions of Results - - - - - 38

4.6 Principle of Operation - - - - - - - 38

4.7 Precautions - - - - - - - - - 39

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 41

5.2 Summary - - - - - - - - - 41

5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 42

5.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 42

Reference - - - - - - - - - 43

Appendix - - - - - - - - - 45

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 ABSTRACT

Melon Seed is an important oil seed crop that serves numerous found

purposes. Shelling of this crop is vital, prior to its vast applications. To

address the challenges associated with shelling melon, a design for shelling

melon seeds in a small scale was presented and evaluated.

The melon shelling Machine is made up of hopper, shelling chamber, prime

mover and supporting frame. The shelling chamber consist of shelling drum,

the shelling vanes and shelling disc. This design and set of conditions

selected were the most preferred because of low cost, rapid operation and

lesser seed damage and minimal human energy expenditure and independent

from any central electrical power supply. This equipment is found suitable

for rural development. The average efficiency of the machine was found to

be 75.0% efficiency.

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