John Deere 9RX Series Of Track Tractors Win 2017 Good Design Award

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The John Deere 9520RX sports a 520 horsepower engine. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

What traits does the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design look for in awarding its Good Design awards to recognize innovative and trailblazing approaches to architecture, industrial, and product designs, as well as graphics, landscape architecture, and urban planning? Innovative designs, of course, but also new technology implementations, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency, and environmental sensitivity. They found these and others in John Deere’s tracked 9RX Series Tractors, awarding the series with a 2017 Design Award. Ranging from 470- to 620-horsepower configurations, the series mark John Deere’s first four-track tractors and include the 9420RX Narrow, 9470RX Wide or Narrow, 9520RX Wide or Narrow, 9570RX Wide, 9620RX Wide, and 9570RX Scraper models.

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The John Deere 9520RX in field. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

Powerful, Efficient, Smart

To select Good Design award winners, design professionals, top industry specialists, and media members evaluated global entries in various categories using criteria created 70 years ago. Jane Willette, engineering manager of John Deere’s 9RX Series Tractors, cited the 9RX Series engineers’ work ethic and talent as pivotal in designing the series’ “powerful, efficient, and smart” models. “Our team of engineers worked diligently to deliver the reliable tractor John Deere is known for, and that ultimately helps our customers farm more productively,” said Willett.

In particular, Willett noted an emphasis placed on improving ride quality and operator comfort in designing the John Deere 9RX Series Tractors. For validation purposes, multiple 9RX Series Tractors were subjected to a six-post accelerated design verification test designed to shake and simulate “worst-case vibrations” possible in the field and during transport.

Willett pointed to the 9RX Series’ use of a parallel plane four-bar-linking cab suspension as one of the series’ most innovative features. “This suspension provides the smoothest ride in the industry for a track tractor and isolates the operator from unwanted bumps and vibrations while reducing operator fatigue,” she said.

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The John Deere 9620RX. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

Technically Sound

Elsewhere, Willett also pointed to the 9RX Series Tractor’s use of the company’s seal-cartridge and mid-roller design, which John Deere 2-Track Tractors have implemented for 20 years. “It’s a large, reliable undercarriage that supplies outstanding traction in tough field conditions,” she said.

The 9RX Series models also integrate AutoTrac guidance technology and the JDLink Connect information management system to increase field efficiencies, reduce inputs by 10%, and enable real-time operations management without needing to be in the cab. The series also includes CommandView III cab, Generation 4 CommandCenter controls, and an e18 transmission featuring Efficiency Manager to help reduce fuel usage without sacrificing performance through automated control of the engine and transmission. The 9RX Tractors use either a John Deere PowerTech PSS 13.5L engine or Cummins QSX15 engine.

Source: Deere & Company