Ralph Shirley, P.E. |
Project Engineer
 Education: BS and Master Degree in Agricultural
Engineering from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo and Oklahoma State
University.
Ralph has a broad background in the design of agricultural
tractors, related attachments and equipment.
Background
From
1974 to 2004, Ralph worked at John Deere Product Engineering on vehicle design,
drivetrain design and vehicle testing. Additional special projects included
technical investigations related to product performance and vehicle
safety.
Currently, he is specializing in accident reconstruction,
bio-mechanical analysis and vehicle fire investigation.
Over his
career, Ralph has worked on a number of projects and technical investigations.
The following list illustrates the wide variety of projects that he has worked
on:
Safety and Hazard Analysis
- Vehicle Accident Investigation and
Bio-Mechanical Reconstruction
Investigated a wide variety of auto,
truck, bus, off highway equipment and farm implements accidents. Work includes
evaluation of vehicle damage, vehicle motion, occupant motion and potential for
injury. Work has resulted in consultation and testimony as expert witness.
- Vehicle Fire Investigation, Cause and Origin
Identification
Investigated wide variety of auto, truck, tractor and
farm implement fires.
- Product Safety Review
Review products to
identify and reduce potential hazards.
Recommended re-design, guarding
and/or warnings where appropriate
- Mechanical Engineering
Analysis, review,
concept creation, design, recommendations and proposals.
Vehicle Design and Development
- Tier II Update to 7000 Series Tractors
Managed project to change cooling and exhaust packages of tractor
series to meet requirements of Emissions Update.
- 50 km/hr Tractor
Directed a team of
engineers to adapt the 7000 series tractors to travel safely at higher
transport speeds. Required identification of the potential concerns of higher
speed transport with large loads on highway and solutions for those concerns.
- Telescopic Handler Design and Development
Directed multinational team of engineers to design and test a line of
Telescopic Handlers manufactured in Zweibruecken, Germany (fluent in German).
- Small Tractor Project Management
Directed
design of 50 and 42 hp tractors to be assembled in multiple locations from
components sourced all over the world.
- Project Engineer
Directed special design
work to adopt John Deere 5000, 6000 and 7000 Series tractors manufactured in
the US and Germany to be assembled in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The designs
allowed common platforms to be assembled near the market and meet special
market requirements.
- Project Engineer
Designed and tested
tractors to use rubber belts (tracks).
- Project Engineer
John Deere 7000 series
tractor drivetrains. Directed a team of design engineers to execute the new
series of modular tractor drivetrains that replaced older models and placed the
company in a position to operate in the global market with product flexibility
to meet changing needs.
- Product Planning - Feasibility
Study
Multi-national strategic planning task force to determine the needs
John Deere Tractors worldwide. Resulted in creation of 5000, 6000, 7000 series
tractor platforms.
- Drivetrain Engineer
Various assignments
designing and testing tractor drivetrain components including clutches, brakes,
park locks, gears, synchronizers, final drives, spiral bevels, differentials.
Additional Information
- Licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer since
1979
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
- Certified Crash Data Retrieval Specialist
(CDR)
- Member of:
Society of Automotive Engineers
(SAE)
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
(ASABE)
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
- Awarded six patents
- Published and presented several professional
papers
- Received three major engineering awards from
professional societies
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