Abstract:
Coconut climbing is difficult and drudgery involved operation. With the lack of labour
available for climbing and harvesting the coconuts and the difficulties of using the available
models of coconut climbers, a domestic coconut climber was developed and tested
ergonomically. The developed climber incorporates a block and tackle mechanism for lifting
the operator up and down the palm. The operator with a climbing unit moves with the force of
the spring raising the clamping unit up the palm. The attachment of clamping unit is made with
lifting unit by means of a double sheave pulley. The lifting unit is then operated using block
and tackle system. The domestic climber was tested for various physical and physiological
parameters using ergonomic principles. The results showed that the domestic climber had a
total weight of 7.5 kg with a setting and removing times of 86 s and 54 s respectively. The
climber was found to possess adjustment for varying girth of palm, locking mechanism and
safety system. The mean heart rate while using the climber was found to be 118.86 beats min -
1
while oxygen consumption of 0.604 lit. min -1 with an energy cost of 12.61 KJ min -1 . The
ODR showed a scale of 3.6 indicating light discomfort, OSR of 1.0 ascertened good security
and devoid of fear, OER of 4.5 revealed less difficulty in operation. The heart rate measured
during the operation of the climbers elucidated the subjects recorded least heart beat rate for
domestic climber. Also, the energy cost calculated showed a lower energy requirement for the
domestic climber followed by Chembery model. Subjective rating scale employed for
comparative evaluation of the climbers reaffirmed a better overall scale rating for the domestic
climber compared to the popular coconut climbers in our State.
