Multipurpose vehicle

Abstract

To provide a multipurpose vehicle which enables easy maintenance work of in-vehicle electronic devices in rainy weather.SOLUTION: A multipurpose vehicle includes: an operation part on which a driver gets; a seat which is provided at the operation part and on which the driver is seated; and a front cover 12 which is provided at the operation part and disposed at a position spaced away from the seat in a forward direction. A relay connector 33 for accessing to in-vehicle electronic devices is disposed within the front cover 12. The front cover 12 includes: an opening 35 located at a position corresponding to the relay connector 33; and a maintenance lid 34 which may open or close the opening 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a utility vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventional multipurpose vehicles include those in which the engine and other components are controlled by in-vehicle electronic devices such as an ECU, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-007623 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional multi-purpose vehicles, when operating in-vehicle electronic devices as part of maintenance work, such as adjusting ECU parameters, it is necessary to connect a maintenance device such as a laptop computer to a relay connector located inside the hood. In other words, when performing maintenance on in-vehicle electronic devices, the hood must be open to connect the maintenance device to the relay connector, which is time-consuming and there is also the risk of rain or other water getting on the relay connector, leaving room for improvement.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose vehicle that allows maintenance work on onboard electronic devices to be easily performed even in rainy weather. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The multipurpose vehicle of the present invention comprises a driver's section in which passengers sit, a seat provided in the driver's section on which the passengers can sit, and a front cover provided in the driver's section and positioned forward and away from the seat, wherein a relay connector for accessing electronic devices inside the vehicle is disposed within the front cover, and the front cover is provided with an opening provided in a position corresponding to the relay connector, and a maintenance lid that can open and close the opening.

[0007] According to this invention, the relay connector is disposed inside the front cover. Since the inside of the front cover is less susceptible to rainwater, it is possible to prevent water from getting on the relay connector. Furthermore, the maintenance lid attached to the front cover is easier to open and close than a hood, making it easier to connect maintenance equipment to the relay connector.

[0008] In addition, some multipurpose vehicles have a roof or the like over the driver's section, and in such multipurpose vehicles, maintenance work can be performed under the roof or the like, making it possible to more effectively avoid rainwater.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the relay connectors are provided inside the front cover, and the plurality of relay connectors are arranged at positions inside the front cover corresponding to the openings.

[0010] According to this configuration, the multiple relay connectors are arranged in a concentrated manner at a position corresponding to the opening, which allows efficient maintenance work on multiple in-vehicle electronic devices.

[0011] In the present invention, the seats include a driver's seat in which the driving passenger sits and a passenger seat arranged side by side with the driver's seat, a steering handle is provided in front of the driver's seat, and the maintenance lid is preferably arranged on the side of the front cover on which the steering handle is arranged in the left-right direction of the aircraft.

[0012] With this configuration, the maintenance lid is positioned in a location that is difficult for a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat to reach, which makes it possible to prevent the passenger sitting in the front passenger seat from accidentally removing the maintenance lid.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the maintenance lid is disposed at a height position lower than the height position of the steering handle.

[0014] With this configuration, the maintenance lid is placed in a location that is difficult to reach not only for the passenger in the front passenger seat but also for the passenger in the driver's seat, making it possible to prevent the passengers in the driver's seat and front passenger seat from accidentally removing the maintenance lid.

[0015] In the present invention, it is preferable that the maintenance lid be disposed laterally outward of the steering shaft of the steering handle on the front cover in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

[0016] With this configuration, the maintenance lid and the opening are located in a position that is easily accessible from outside the vehicle, making it possible to connect maintenance equipment to the relay connector from both inside and outside the vehicle.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that the front cover has an inclined portion that is inclined downward toward the front, and the maintenance lid is disposed on the inclined portion.

[0018] According to this configuration, the opening is configured to open downward, which makes it possible to more effectively prevent rainwater from entering through the opening. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a utility vehicle. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the control section. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the configuration of the control unit when the lid of the storage box is in the open state. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the configuration of the control unit when the lid of the storage box is in a closed state. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the storage box. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a lid of a storage box. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the configuration when the lid of the storage box is in an open state. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the configuration when the lid of the storage box is in a closed state. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration related to a braking operation. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a maintenance lid. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the drawings will be referred to as "front," the direction of arrow B as "rear," the direction of arrow L as "left," and the direction of arrow R as "right." Furthermore, the direction of arrow U in the drawings will be referred to as "up," and the direction of arrow D as "down."

[0021] [Overall configuration of multipurpose vehicle] The multipurpose vehicle of this embodiment will be described below. As shown in Fig. 1, the multipurpose vehicle includes a traveling body 1, a hood 2, a driver's section 3 where a passenger sits, a dump-type cargo bed 4, a water-cooled engine E, and a transmission 5. The traveling body 1 includes a body frame 6 and a traveling device 7.

[0022] The traveling device 7 includes steerable and drivable left and right front wheels 7F and non-steerable and drivable left and right rear wheels 7B. The traveling device 7 is configured to be switchable between a two-wheel drive state in which only the left and right rear wheels 7B are driven, and a four-wheel drive state in which the left and right front wheels 7F and the left and right rear wheels 7B are driven.

[0023] The driver's section 3 includes a steering wheel 9, a seat 10, and a protective rope 11 for occupant protection. The cargo bed 4 is disposed behind the driver's section 3.

[0024] [Configuration of the control section] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the control unit 9 includes a front cover 12 positioned forward and away from the seat 10, a steering handle 24 for steering the left and right front wheels 7F, an accelerator pedal 29 for adjusting the driving speed, a brake pedal 30 for braking, a gear shift lever 25 for shifting gears, and other various operating devices.

[0025] In this embodiment, the seat 10 is provided on the left side in the left-right direction of the aircraft body, and includes a driver's seat 10D in which a passenger (hereinafter referred to as the "driver") who will be driving the vehicle sits, and a passenger seat 10P that is arranged side by side with the driver's seat 10D. In this embodiment, the passenger seat 10P is configured to accommodate two passengers.

[0026] The steering handle 24 is provided in front of the driver's seat 10D and is connected to the upper end of a steering shaft (not shown) that extends obliquely upward through an opening (not shown) in the front cover 12 that is located in front of the driver's seat 10D.

[0027] 2 to 4, the front cover 12 is provided with a storage compartment 13 and a storage box 14 for storing small items at a position in front of the passenger seat 10P. Drink holders 15 are provided on both the left and right sides of the front cover 12. Two handrails 16 are provided at positions in front of each of the two locations where a passenger in the passenger seat 10P can sit.

[0028] [Configuration of accessory compartment] 2, the compartment 13 includes a partition plate 13a extending in the left-right direction. Items can be stored in the compartment 13 on both the front and rear sides of the partition plate 13a.

[0029] [Configuration of storage box] 2 to 4, the storage box 14 includes a storage section 41 having a storage space AS, and a lid 42 that covers the storage space AS. The lid 42 is configured to be switchable between an open state that opens an opening 43 of the storage section 41 and a closed state that closes the opening 43.

[0030] 3 and 5, passengers can access the storage space AS through the opening 43 and put items in and take items out of the storage space AS. The storage space AS of the storage section 41 is surrounded by a front inner wall 44, left and right lateral inner walls 45, a rear inner wall 46, and a floor 47.

[0031] A rear edge portion 48 is provided, which extends rearward in the left-right direction of the aircraft body from the upper edge of the rear inner wall 46. A lead-out portion 56, which will be described later, is formed in the rear edge portion 48.

[0032] The area surrounded by the upper edge of the front inner wall 44, the upper edges of the left and right lateral inner walls 45, and the rear edge of the rear edge portion 48 constitutes the opening 43. The height position of the upper end of the rear inner wall 46 is configured to be lower than the height positions of the upper ends of the front inner wall 44 and the left and right lateral inner walls 45. With this configuration, the opening 43 is configured to allow a passenger seated in the seat 10 to easily access the accommodating space AS.

[0033] 5, grooves 49 are provided on the opposite side of the storage space AS from the upper edges of the front inner wall 44 and the left and right lateral inner walls 45. For example, water or the like that falls onto the front cover 12 and flows toward the storage box 14 enters the grooves 49. This configuration makes it possible to prevent water or the like from entering the storage space AS.

[0034] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a recess 50 is formed in the lower part of the rear edge 48 of the storage section 41, which allows the user to insert their hand to grasp the edge of the lid body 42 when the lid body 42 is in the closed state.

[0035] [Configuration of the lid] 5 and 6, a swing support part 51 is provided on the front edge part of the opening 43 of the storage part 41. More specifically, the swing support part 51 is disposed in front of the groove part 49 of the storage part 41. The lid body 42 is supported by the swing support part 51 so as to be swingable about an axis defined as a swing axis P by engaging with a hinge part 42H formed on the lid body 42. With this configuration, the lid body 42 is configured to be switchable between an open state that opens the opening 43 and a closed state that closes the opening 43 by swinging about the axis defined as the swing axis P.

[0036] 7 and 8, when the lid 42 is closed, it has an upper surface 42A that faces upward and a rear surface 42B that faces rearward. With this configuration, the lid 42 is formed in a shape that follows the upper edge (opening 43 (see FIG. 5)) of the storage section 41. The lid 42 is also configured to cover the opening 43 (see FIG. 5) and the groove 49 (see FIG. 5).

[0037] An inclined surface 52A that is tapered toward the end is formed on the edge of the end of the upper surface 42A of the lid 42 on the side of the oscillation axis P. Furthermore, an inclined surface 52B that is tapered downward toward the lid 42 (oscillation axis P) is formed at the location where the oscillation axis P of the storage section 41 is provided. That is, the inclined surface 52A is located on one side of the oscillation axis P, and the inclined surface 52B is located on the other side of the oscillation axis P, so that the inclined surfaces 52A and 52B each have an inclined surface that extends in directions that intersect with each other in the closed state. As a result, the inclined surfaces 52A and 52B form a V-shape when viewed in the direction in which the oscillation axis P extends.

[0038] When lid 42 swings from the closed state to the open state, inclined surface 52A swings integrally with lid 42, and inclined surface 52A of lid 42 abuts against inclined surface 52B of storage section 41. At this time, lid 42 is held in a state where the center of gravity GP of lid 42 is located closer to the open state (forward) than swing axis P in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body, that is, where the center of gravity GP of lid 42 is located closer to the open state (forward) than swing axis P in a plan view. With this configuration, lid 42 is held in the open state. In other words, inclined surfaces 52A and 52B are configured as a holding mechanism 52 that holds lid 42 in the open state.

[0039] [Holder configuration] As shown in FIG. 5, the storage space AS of the storage unit 41 is provided with a holder 53 capable of holding documents and the like.

[0040] The holder 53 has left and right protrusions 54 that protrude from the left and right inner lateral walls 45 of the storage section 41 toward the center in the left-right direction of the machine body and are formed integrally with the lateral inner walls 45.

[0041] The protrusions 54 are disposed in the front portion of the storage space AS in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body, and extend in a direction along the depth direction of the storage space AS of the storage section 41. This configuration makes it possible to insert documents, etc. from above into the space between the front inner wall 44 and the left and right protrusions 54. The inserted documents, etc. are held by the front inner wall 44 and the left and right protrusions 54. In other words, the space surrounded by the front inner wall 44 and the left and right protrusions 54 is configured as a holder 53 that can hold documents, etc.

[0042] In this embodiment, of the left and right protrusions 54, the right protrusion 54R is configured to be larger in the front-to-rear direction than the left protrusion 54L. A socket 55, which is an in-vehicle DC power supply and to which a terminal (not shown) such as a cable can be connected, is provided at the upper end portion of the right protrusion 54R.

[0043] [Configuration of the Derivation Section] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear edge 48 of the housing 41 is provided with a lead-out portion 56 for leading the cable connected to the socket 55 out of the housing 41.

[0044] The lead-out portion 56 is a notch formed in the rear edge portion 48 through which the cable can be inserted.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 5, in the closed state, the lid body 42 covers the outlet portion 56, and 42B of the lid body 42 is located behind the outlet portion 56. Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of the lid body 42 is located below the outlet portion 56 in the closed state. Furthermore, since the outlet portion 56 is provided in the outlet portion 56, the lid body 42 is configured to be located at a portion of the edge of the opening 43 that faces the portion where the oscillation axis P is located. With this configuration, when the lid body 42 is in the closed state, the lid body 42 covers the outlet portion 56, and when the lid body 42 is in the open state, the outlet portion 56 is exposed.

[0046] 5, the lead-out portion 56 is disposed at a position on the rear edge 48 that corresponds to the recess 50. The cable led out of the housing 41 via the lead-out portion 56 can be led out of the housing box 14 via the recess 50 even when the lid 42 is closed.

[0047] [Configuration of accelerator pedal and brake pedal] As shown in Fig. 1, accelerator pedal 29 and brake pedal 30 are provided side by side in the left-right direction in front of driver's seat 10D and below steering wheel 24. Accelerator pedal 29 is operated by the driver with his / her foot to adjust the traveling speed according to the amount of depression of accelerator pedal 29. Brake pedal 30 is operated by the driver with his / her foot to adjust the braking force according to the amount of depression of brake pedal 30.

[0048] [Control configuration] Next, referring to FIG. 1, a control configuration for running speed and braking will be described using FIG.

[0049] When the brake pedal 30 is operated to brake, the traveling machine body 1 is braked by the braking device 7A provided on the traveling device 7. The braking of the traveling machine body 1 is performed by applying a braking action to the traveling device 7 by reducing the rotation of the traveling device 7.

[0050] A brake potentiometer 30A is provided on the brake pedal 30. The brake potentiometer 30A detects the amount of operation of the brake pedal 30.

[0051] The braking device 7A is controlled by the main ECU 31. The main ECU 31 receives the operation amount of the brake pedal 30 from the brake potentiometer 30A, and transmits a braking control signal corresponding to the operation amount of the brake pedal 30 to the braking device 7A. The braking device 7A operates in accordance with the braking control signal received from the main ECU 31, and brakes the traveling device 7.

[0052] The traveling speed is adjusted by the power of the engine E, which is transmitted to the traveling device 7 via the transmission 5. The power of the engine E is controlled by adjusting the amount of air supplied to the engine E in accordance with the opening of an electronic throttle ES (power regulation device) operated by an accelerator pedal 29.

[0053] An accelerator potentiometer 29A is provided on the accelerator pedal 29. The accelerator potentiometer 29A detects the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 29.

[0054] The engine E is controlled by an engine ECU 32. The engine ECU 32 receives the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 29 from an accelerator potentiometer 29A, and transmits an accelerator control signal corresponding to the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 29 to the electronic throttle ES. The opening of the electronic throttle ES is adjusted according to the accelerator control signal received from the engine ECU 32, and adjusts the amount of air supplied to the engine E. As a result, the amount of power transmitted from the engine E is adjusted according to the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 29, and the rotation speed of the traveling device 7 is adjusted, and the traveling speed is adjusted.

[0055] [Maintenance lid configuration] 10, a plurality of relay connectors 33 for accessing in-vehicle electronic devices such as the main ECU 31 and the engine ECU 32 are provided inside the front cover 12. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the main ECU 31 and the engine ECU 32 are configured to be accessible as in-vehicle electronic devices, but other in-vehicle electronic devices may be configured to be accessible instead of or in addition to these in-vehicle electronic devices.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 10, the front cover 12 is provided with an opening 43 provided at a position corresponding to the relay connector 33, and a maintenance lid 34 that can open and close the opening 43.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the maintenance lid 34 is disposed on the side of the front cover 12 on which the steering handle 24 is disposed in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0058] 1, 3, 4, and 10, the front cover 12 has an inclined portion 12S that slopes downward toward the front. In the left-right direction of the vehicle, the inclined portion 12S is located at a position on the front cover 12 that corresponds to the outer lateral side (left side) portion of the steering handle 24 and at a height lower than the height of the steering handle 24. The maintenance lid 34 is disposed on the inclined portion 12S.

[0059] The relay connectors 33 are arranged at positions corresponding to the openings 35 inside the front cover 12. During maintenance, the openings 35 are opened by removing the maintenance lid 34. By connecting a maintenance device such as a notebook PC to the relay connectors 33 through the opening 35, it becomes possible to perform maintenance on the in-vehicle electronic devices such as the main ECU 31 and engine ECU 32.

[0060] The maintenance lid 34 can be attached to the opening 35 by first engaging the two locking portions 34a with the two locking holes 36 formed in the front cover 12, and then inserting and locking the two claw portions 34b into the claw holes 37. The maintenance lid 34 can be removed from the opening 35 by releasing the locking state of the two claw portions 34b.

[0061] [Another embodiment] Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the above embodiment is modified will be exemplified.

[0062] (1) In the above embodiment, the pivot axis P of the lid body 42 is located in front of the opening 43. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the pivot axis P of the lid body 42 may be located behind the opening 43. In this case, the center of gravity GP of the lid body 42 may be located behind the pivot axis P.

[0063] (2) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which inclined surface 52A is integral with lid 42, inclined surface 52B is integral with storage section 41, and inclined surface 52A and inclined surface 52B abut against each other in the open state. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a configuration in which inclined surface 52B abuts against a member formed separately from lid 42 in the open state may also be used, or a configuration in which inclined surface 52A abuts against a member formed separately from storage section 41 in the open state may also be used.

[0064] (3) In the above embodiment, the storage section 41 is described as being integrally formed with the front cover 12, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the storage section 41 may be formed separately from the front cover 12.

[0065] (4) In the above embodiment, the lead-out portion 56 is described as being covered by the lid body 42 when in the closed state. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the lead-out portion 56 may be configured to be open and not covered by the lid body 42 when the lid body 42 is in either the closed state or the open state.

[0066] (5) In the above embodiment, the oscillating axis P is positioned at the front edge of the opening 43 in the storage section 41, and the lead-out section 56 is positioned at a portion of the edge of the opening 43 opposite the portion where the oscillating axis P is located. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the lead-out section 56 may also be configured to be positioned at the portion of the edge of the opening 43 where the oscillating axis P is located.

[0067] (6) The outlet portion 56 may be provided with a cushioning material.

[0068] (7) In the above embodiment, the holder 53 is described as having left and right protrusions 54 that protrude toward the center of the left-right direction of the body and are integral with the lateral inner wall 45. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the protrusions 54 may be provided on either the left or right side.

[0069] (8) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the socket 55 is provided at the upper end portion of the right-side protrusion 54R is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The socket 55 may be provided at the upper end portion of the left-side protrusion 54L, or the socket 55 may be provided at a location in the storage space AS of the storage section 41 that is different from the left and right protrusions 54.

[0070] (9) In the above embodiment, the left and right protrusions 54 are described as being integral with the lateral inner wall 45. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the left and right protrusions 54 may be formed separately from the lateral inner wall 45.

[0071] (10) In the above embodiment, the storage box 14 is described as being provided in the front cover 12, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may be provided, for example, between the driver's seat 10D and the passenger seat 10P.

[0072] (11) In the above embodiment, the maintenance lid 34 is described as being arranged on the side of the front cover 12 where the steering handle 24 is located in the left-right direction of the aircraft, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the maintenance lid 34 may be arranged in a location on the front cover 12 located in front of the passenger seat 10P.

[0073] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, unless a contradiction arises. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0074] The present invention can be used in utility vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 3: Driving section 10: Seat 10D: Driver's seat 10P: Passenger seat 12: Front cover 12S: Inclined part 24: Steering wheel 33: Relay connector 34: Maintenance lid 35:Aperture

Claims

1. A driver's section in which passengers board; A seat provided in the driver's section on which a passenger can sit; a front cover provided in the driver's section and positioned forward and away from the seat; A relay connector for accessing an in-vehicle electronic device is disposed within the front cover, The multipurpose vehicle is provided with an opening provided in the front cover at a position corresponding to the relay connector, and a maintenance lid that can open and close the opening.

2. A plurality of the relay connectors are provided inside the front cover, The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of relay connectors are arranged at positions in the front cover corresponding to the openings.

3. The seats include a driver's seat in which a driver is seated and a passenger seat arranged side by side with the driver's seat, A steering wheel is provided in front of the driver's seat, 3. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance lid is disposed on a side of the front cover on which the steering handle is disposed in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

4. 4. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the maintenance lid is disposed at a height position lower than the height position of the steering handle.

5. 4. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the maintenance lid is disposed laterally outward of a steering axis of the steering handle on the front cover in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

6. the front cover has an inclined portion that is inclined downward toward the front, 3. The multipurpose vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance lid is disposed on the inclined portion.

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