JP7841372B2 - Work vehicles - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a work vehicle.

In tractors used as work vehicles, it is known that turn signals and taillights are mounted on the outside of the safety frame that protects the driver in the event of a rollover to ensure visibility (Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, there is a configuration (Patent Document 2) that allows for effective use of the protective space while not hindering the folding and rotating movement of the safety frame by attaching turn signals and taillights to the left and right connecting pipes of the safety frame below the folding position of the foldable safety frame.

Patent No. 6500301 Patent No. 6804184

According to the tractor shown in Patent Document 1, while visibility can be ensured, there is a risk that tree branches may come into contact with and damage lighting devices such as turn signals and taillights when working in orchards where tree branches are densely growing.

Furthermore, according to Patent Document 2, while the risk of damage is reduced, visibility remains poor.

This invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a work vehicle that can prevent damage to its lighting system even when driving through areas with dense tree branches, such as orchards.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the first aspect of the present invention comprises left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) erected on the left and right sides of the machine body (2), and an upper frame section (32) connecting the upper parts of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R), and includes a safety frame (30) that secures space and protects the driver in the event of a fall, and the upper frame section (32) can be fixed in two positions, an upright position and a fallen position, and the safety frame (30) in the fallen position In a work vehicle in which bracket portions (33) that form the upper end are provided at the upper ends of left and right frame portions (31L, 31R), lighting devices (35L, 35R ) are provided on the left and right frame portions (31L, 31R) respectively, located below the bracket portion (33), the upper ends of the lighting devices (35L, 35R) are below the upper ends of the left and right frame portions (31L, 31R), and the left and right outer ends are provided inward from the left and right frame portions (31L, 31R),
The front of the lighting device (35L, 35R) is located behind the front of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) in a side view, and the rear is located in front of the rear of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) in a side view.
The lighting devices (35L, 35R) are mounted on the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) so as to be able to rotate forward and backward around a vertical pivot axis (P).
The pivot axis (P) is the pivot axis of a cylindrical holding body (36b) that is fixed to the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) via a bracket member (36a) whose front surface is located behind the front surface of the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) in a side view, and whose rear surface is located in front of the rear surface of the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) in a side view.
The first invention related to the present invention is a work vehicle equipped with a safety frame 30 that secures space and protects the driver in the event of an overturn, comprising left and right frame sections 31L and 31R erected on the left and right sides of the machine body 2 and an upper frame section 32 connecting the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, wherein lighting devices 35L and 35R are provided on the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R respectively, the upper ends of the lighting devices 35L and 35R are lower than the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, and the left and right outer ends are provided inward from the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R.

A second invention related to the present invention is that, in the first invention related to the present invention , the front surface of the lighting devices 35L and 35R is located behind the front surface of the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R in a side view, and the rear surface is located in front of the rear surface of the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R in a side view.

A third invention related to the present invention is that, in the first or second invention related to the present invention , the lighting devices 35L and 35R are provided so as to be rotatable forward and backward around a vertical pivot axis P relative to the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R.

According to the present invention, the outer ends of the lighting devices 35L and 35R are positioned inward from the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R. As a result, the lighting devices 35L and 35R are installed inside a space formed by a safety frame 30 that has sufficient strength to secure a protective space in the event of a fall. This ensures that the safety frame 30 protects the lighting devices 35L and 35R from contact with tree branches and prevents damage when driving through orchards and other similar environments.
According to the first invention related to the present invention , the outer ends of the lighting devices 35L and 35R are provided inward from the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R. As a result, the lighting devices 35L and 35R are provided inside a space formed by a safety frame 30 that has sufficient strength to secure a protective space in the event of a fall. This ensures that the safety frame 30 protects the lighting devices 35L and 35R from contact with tree branches and prevents damage when driving through orchards and other similar environments.

According to the second invention related to the present invention , in addition to the effects of the first invention related to the present invention , even if tree branches extend from the left and right sides while the machine is moving, they will hit the outside of the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, protecting the lighting devices 35L and 35R and reducing the risk of damage.

According to a third invention related to the present invention , in addition to the effects of the first or second invention related to the present invention , since the lighting devices 35L and 35R are provided to be rotatable around the pivot axis P, even if a tree branch hits the lighting devices 35L and 35R while the machine is moving forward or backward, they can rotate forward or backward to move out of the way and mitigate the impact, thus preventing damage to the lighting devices 35L and 35R.

This is a side view of a tractor according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a front view of a tractor according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) A rear view showing the support configuration of the lighting device of a tractor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) a top view thereof. This is a plan view showing the state of change in the orientation of a tractor's lighting device by forward and backward rotation according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a plan view of another example in which the lighting device of the tractor according to the embodiment of the present invention is displaced rearward in the front-rear direction. (A) A rear view showing the support configuration of a lighting device in another example of a tractor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) a top view thereof. This is a plan view showing the change in posture due to forward and backward rotation of the lighting device of another example of a tractor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tractor 1 comprises a body 2 having front wheels 4 for steering and rear wheels 5 for driving. Power generated by the engine 7 (Figure 1), mounted in the bonnet 6 at the front of the body 2, is transmitted to the rear wheels 5, appropriately reduced in speed by a main transmission and a sub-transmission (not shown), and the rear wheels 5 are driven by this power.

Furthermore, the tractor 1 is capable of transmitting power generated by the engine 7 and reduced by the main and sub-transmissions to the front wheels 4 via a front wheel speed-increasing switching mechanism (not shown). When the front wheel speed-increasing switching mechanism transmits power, all four wheels (front wheels 4 and rear wheels 5) are driven by the power transmitted from the engine 7. When the front wheel speed-increasing switching mechanism cuts off power transmission, only the rear wheels 5 are driven by the power transmitted from the engine 7. In other words, the tractor 1 is capable of switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Additionally, the rear of the tractor 1's body 2 is configured to accommodate implements such as a rotary tiller (not shown), and a PTO output shaft 3 for driving these implements is provided.

The aircraft body 2 consists of a transmission case 8 housing the main transmission, sub-transmission, front wheel speed-increasing switching mechanism, and PTO transmission unit that transmits driving force to the PTO output shaft 3, and a front frame 9 attached to the front of the transmission case 8. The aircraft body 2 has the engine 7 mounted on the rear side of the front frame 9, and the front axle case 15 housing the transmission mechanism to the front wheels 4 is mounted on the front side of the front frame 9. The engine 7 is covered by a bonnet 6, and the transmission case 8 extends across the rear of the aircraft body 2. A driver's seat 10 is located above the rear of the transmission case 8, and fenders 11 for mudguards are provided on both sides of the driver's seat 10.

The mudguard fenders 11 are positioned above and in front of the rear wheels 5, covering the rear wheels 5 and suppressing the scattering of mud kicked up by them. Specifically, the tractor 1 comprises a transmission case 8 that constitutes the machine body 2, a driver's seat 10 located above the rear of the transmission case 8, and mudguard fenders 11 located on both the left and right sides of the driver's seat 10.

The driver's seat 10 is where the driver sits when operating the tractor 1, and is located between the left and right mudguard fenders 11. In front of the driver's seat 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is a steering wheel 13 used for steering the front wheels 4. The steering wheel 13 is positioned at the upper end of a steering post 14 that rotatably supports the steering wheel 13. Below the steering post 14, i.e., near the driver's feet when the driver is seated in the driver's seat 10, are a clutch pedal 20, a brake pedal (not shown) for braking the rear wheels 5 in response to pedal operation, and an accelerator pedal (not shown).

Furthermore, a work implement lifting lever 27 is located to the right of the driver's seat 10 for raising and lowering work implements such as a rotary tiller (not shown) attached to the rear of the tractor 1. To the left of the driver's seat 10 are a main transmission lever 25 for operating the main transmission during tractor 1 operation, and a sub-transmission lever 26 for the sub-transmission. The main transmission lever 25 allows operation of the main transmission's gear changes, and can be switched between automatic shifting and manual shifting. In manual shifting mode, the main transmission lever 25 switches the reduction ratio of the main transmission to one of eight settings. The sub-transmission lever 26 operates the sub-transmission, allowing the driving speed to be switched between ultra-low speed, low speed, medium speed, high speed, and neutral.

A safety frame 30 is provided to protect the driver seated in the driver's seat 10 in the event of a vehicle overturning. The safety frame 30 consists of a pair of left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, whose bases are connected to a rear axle case (not shown) that houses the rear wheel axle, and an inverted U-shaped upper frame section 32 connecting the upper parts of the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, thus forming a gate-like structure.

The left and right frame sections 31L and 31R are each provided with bracket sections 33, allowing the upper frame section 32 to be fixed in two positions, upright and reclined, by changing the position of the connecting pins.

The lighting devices 35L and 35R are mounted inside the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R. Note that the lighting devices 35L and 35R are combination lamps integrating the turn signals, taillights, brake lights, etc.

The details of the mounting configuration of the lighting devices 35L and 35R will be explained using Figure 3, with the left lighting device 35L as an example. A holding portion 36 is formed on the upper inner side of the left frame portion 31L. The lighting device 35L body is held in this holding portion 36, with its upper end lower than the left and right frame portions 31L and 31R, allowing it to rotate forward and backward around the pivot axis (vertical axis) P. Specifically, a cylindrical holding portion body 36b, having a vertical axis P, is fixed to the inside of the left frame portion 31L at an appropriate height via a bracket member 36a, thereby forming the holding portion 36. The lighting device 35L body is integrally held above the pivot shaft 37a by a U-shaped mounting plate 37b and two fastening bolts 37c. By inserting the pivot shaft 37a vertically through the cylindrical holding portion body 36b, the lighting device 35L is held in the holding portion 36, allowing it to rotate around the vertical axis P.

Furthermore, a recess 36c is provided on the upper surface of the cylindrical holding part body 36b to serve as a seat for the positioning pin 37d, which is inserted through the middle of the pivot shaft 37a. Meanwhile, a spring 37f is interposed between a spring seat 37e, located at the lower part of the pivot shaft 37a, and the lower surface of the cylindrical holding part body 36b. The spring biasing force presses the positioning pin 37d against the recess 36c, restricting rotation and allowing the lighting device 35L to maintain a predetermined position.

Furthermore, the recess 36c, which serves as a seat for the positioning pin 37d, is arranged in a cross shape in a plan view so that the positioning pin 37d can maintain its orientation at three locations: a predetermined position (angle 0 degrees) and positions where its orientation has been changed forward or backward (angle ±90 degrees) from this predetermined position (Figure 4).

The front surface 35f of the lighting device 35L is located behind or flush with the front surface 31f of the left frame portion 31L in a side view, while the rear surface 35r is located in front of or flush with the rear surface 31r of the left frame portion 31L in a side view.

The aforementioned configuration is also provided symmetrically for the right-side lighting device 35R relative to the right-side frame portion 31R.

With this configuration, the lighting devices 35L and 35R are located inside the left frame sections 31L and 31R, respectively. This means that the outer ends of the lighting devices 35L and 35R are positioned further inward than the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R. Therefore, the lighting devices 35L and 35R are installed within a space formed by the safety frame 30, which has sufficient strength to provide a protective space in the event of a fall. This ensures that even when driving through orchards, the safety frame 30 protects the lighting devices 35L and 35R from contact with tree branches, preventing damage.

Furthermore, since the front surface 35f of the lighting device 35L is positioned behind or flush with the front surface 31f of the left frame section 31L in a side view, and the rear surface 35r is positioned in front of or flush with the rear surface 31r of the left frame section 31L in a side view, even if tree branches extend from the left or right sides while the machine is moving, they will hit the outside of the left and right frame sections 31L and 31R, protecting the lighting devices 35L and 35R and reducing the risk of damage. As shown in Figure 5, by replacing the U-shaped mounting plate 37b with a wider mounting plate 37b' to displace the lighting device 35L backward in the front-rear direction, it is positioned behind the left frame section 31L from the side. This is effective when the machine is primarily operating in a forward direction.

Furthermore, since the main bodies of the lighting devices 35L and 35R are rotatable around the pivot axis P of the pivot shaft 37a that integrally supports them, even if a tree branch hits the lighting devices 35L and 35R while the machine is moving forward or backward, they can rotate and retract to mitigate the impact, preventing damage to the lighting devices 35L and 35R.

Figures 6 and 7 show another example of the support for the lighting devices 35L and 35R. In the configurations shown in Figures 3 to 5, the pivot shaft 37a is a cantilevered support configuration, but in Figure 6, a double-support configuration is used to facilitate forward and backward rotation. A vertically elongated bracket portion 40 is provided on the left frame portion 31L, and the cylindrical portion 41a of the holding portion 41 is fixed to the lower side of this bracket portion 40, while a short support shaft 41b is fixed to the upper side of the bracket portion 40. The pivot shaft 42b is integrally provided on the U-shaped mounting plate 42a of the lighting device 35L, and a through hole 42c is provided in the upper part of the U-shaped mounting plate 42a that can pass through the support shaft 41b. Thus, the main body of the lighting device 35L is supported by both the upper and lower supports through the passage of the support shaft 41b through the through hole 42c and the insertion of the pivot shaft 42b into the cylindrical portion 41a. The pivot axis 42b side is equipped with a positioning pin 42f, a recess 42d, and a spring 42e, similar to those in Figure 3, allowing the lighting device 35L body to maintain a predetermined orientation.

2. Aircraft body 30, Safety frame 31L, Left frame section 31R, Right frame section 32, Upper frame section 35L, Lighting device 35R, Lighting device P, Rotating axis

Claims (1)

In a work vehicle comprising left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) erected on the left and right sides of the machine body (2), and an upper frame section (32) connecting the upper parts of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R), a safety frame (30) is provided to secure space and protect the driver in the event of a fall, the upper frame section (32) can be changed to two positions, an upright position and a reclined position and fixed, and bracket sections (33) which become the upper end of the safety frame (30) in the reclined position are provided at the upper ends of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R), respectively, lighting devices (35L, 35R) are provided on the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) respectively, located below the bracket section (33 ), the upper ends of the lighting devices (35L, 35R) are below the upper ends of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R), and the left and right outer ends are provided inward from the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R),
The front of the lighting device (35L, 35R) is located behind the front of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) in a side view, and the rear is located in front of the rear of the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) in a side view.
The lighting devices (35L, 35R) are mounted on the left and right frame sections (31L, 31R) so as to be able to rotate forward and backward around a vertical pivot axis (P).
The pivot axis (P) is the pivot axis of a cylindrical holding body (36b) fixed to the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) via a bracket member (36a) whose front surface is located behind the front surface of the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) in a side view, and whose rear surface is located in front of the rear surface of the left and right frame parts (31L, 31R) in a side view .