Boom sprayer

Abstract

To provide a boom sprayer having an operation unit which is easy for a user to use.SOLUTION: A boom sprayer includes: a traveling machine body 2 having a vehicle body frame 4; a boom device 3 provided for the vehicle body frame 4; and an operation device 100 which has an input part for performing switch operation to switch a development position and a storage position of the boom device 3. The operation device 100 is fitted to a support body 140 attached to the vehicle body frame 4. The support body 140 is provided for the vehicle body frame 4 rotatably around a rotation axis S extending along the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to boom sprayers. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a boom sprayer. This boom sprayer is provided with an operating unit having a lever for performing operations related to the deployment and storage of a boom device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-7930 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In general, an operating unit for operating a boom device is provided at a predetermined position so that it can be easily operated by a user sitting in the driver's seat. However, some users find it difficult to operate the operating unit due to differences in individual physiques, operating habits, etc.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a boom sprayer having an operating unit that is easy for a user to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The boom sprayer in one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a traveling machine body (2) having a body frame (4) on which a driver's seat (8) is supported, a boom device (3) provided on the body frame (4) and configured to be operable so that a boom (23) having a nozzle for spraying liquid rotates between a deployed position in which it is open relative to the traveling machine body (2) and a stored position in which it is folded toward the traveling machine body (2), and an operation device (100) having an input unit (115) for operating a switching operation between the deployed position and the stored position of the boom device (3). The operation device (100) is attached to a support body (140) attached to the body frame (4), and the support body (140) is provided rotatably relative to the body frame (4) about a rotation axis (S) extending along the vertical direction.

[0007] In the above boom sprayer, the operating device (100) is attached to a support (140) that is rotatable about a rotation axis, so that at least one of the position and angle of the operating device (100) relative to the driver's seat (8) can be changed by rotating the support (140). This allows the user to change the position and angle of the operating device (100) to a position that is convenient for them.

[0008] The support (140) may include a first support (141) fixed to the vehicle body frame (4) and a second support (145) rotatably supported by the first support (141). The second support (145) may include a first portion (146) extending upward from the first support (141) and a second portion (148) extending horizontally from an upper end of the first portion (146). The operating device (100) may be attached to the second portion (148). In this configuration, the operating device (100) can move in a circular orbit about the rotation axis (S) as the support (140) rotates. In this case, the angle of the front of the operating device (100) relative to the driver's seat (8) may also change.

[0009] The boom device (3) may be supported on the front end of the vehicle body frame (4). The first support (141) may be fixed to either the left or right end of the front end of the vehicle body frame (4). In this configuration, when performing maintenance on the boom device (3), the front of the operation device (100) can be faced toward the boom device (3), thereby making it possible to easily operate the operation device (100) from the side of the boom device (3).

[0010] The boom device (3) may have a hydraulic cylinder (23a) for operating the boom (23). The operating device (100) may include a valve device (110) connected to the hydraulic cylinder (23a) via a piping tube. The support (140) may have at least three holding members (149) having ring-shaped portions for holding the piping tubes. The three holding members (149) may be provided so that the piping tubes are aligned with the first support (141), the second portion (148), and a connection portion (C) between the first portion (146) and the second portion (148). In this configuration, the holding members (149) are arranged along the shape of the support (140), so that the piping tubes can be aligned with the support (140). Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, a boom sprayer having an operating unit that is easy for a user to use can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boom sprayer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a body frame of an example boom sprayer. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an operating device provided on a boom sprayer. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an operating device provided on a boom sprayer. [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mounting structure of an operating device. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mounting structure of an operating device. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mounting structure of an operating device. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a boom sprayer to which an example operating device is attached, as viewed from above. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a boom sprayer to which an example operating device is attached, as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An example of a boom sprayer will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. Unless otherwise specified, terms indicating directions such as "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" are based on the boom sprayer placed on a horizontal surface so that it can be moved. In the description, the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system shown in the drawings will be referred to as appropriate.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example boom sprayer as viewed from the upper right front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vehicle frame of the boom sprayer. The example boom sprayer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a self-propelled riding management machine equipped with a traveling machine body 2, a boom device 3 which is a chemical solution spraying device, and an operation device 100 for operating the boom device 3. The boom sprayer 1 sprays a chemical solution (chemical) stored in a chemical solution tank 10 while traveling the traveling machine body 2 in a farm field. The boom sprayer 1 performs predetermined agricultural work such as spraying a chemical solution based on various operations by a driver (user).

[0015] The traveling machine body 2 includes a vehicle body frame 4 having a generally rectangular frame shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A liquid medicine tank 10 is disposed in the vehicle body frame 4 in the center in the front-rear direction. A recess is formed in the center of the front end of the liquid medicine tank 10, and a driver's seat 8 where a driver sits is disposed in this recess. An engine room 13 is disposed behind the liquid medicine tank 10. An engine as a driving source, a spray pump for spraying liquid medicine, and the like are disposed in the engine room 13. A handle 9 for controlling the traveling direction of the traveling machine body 2 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 8, and a gear shift lever for operating a hydrostatic transmission (hereinafter referred to as HST) and the like are disposed near the handle 9. An accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and the like may be disposed under the driver's seat.

[0016] A pair of front wheels 6 and a pair of rear wheels 7 are provided at the front and rear of the vehicle body frame 4 below both sides in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The front wheels 6 and the rear wheels 7 rotate when driven by the engine. In this embodiment, the vehicle is four-wheel drive, so the front wheels 6 and the rear wheels 7 rotate, but the vehicle may be front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.

[0017] The boom device 3 is provided at the front of the vehicle body frame 4. An example of the boom device 3 has a lifting device 22, a center boom 21, and a pair of side booms 23. The lifting device 22 is configured by a four-joint link mechanism. The lifting device 22 is supported at the front end of the vehicle body frame 4 so as to protrude forward from the vehicle body frame 4. The lifting device 22 is configured so that the front end side moves up and down, for example, by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder 22a. The center boom 21 is provided at the front end of the lifting device 22 and extends along the left-right direction. For example, the center boom 21 is supported so as to be able to swing left and right in a pendulum-like manner relative to the lifting device 22. The pair of side booms 23 are supported at both ends of the center boom 21, respectively. The side booms 23 are configured to be operable to rotate between an unfolded position in which they are opened relative to the traveling body 2 and a stored position in which they are folded toward the traveling body 2. For example, the base end of the side boom 23 is rotatably supported relative to the center boom 21, and can be deployed and retracted by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder 23a provided between the center boom 21 and the side boom 23.

[0018] A nozzle pipe 24 is attached to each of the center boom 21 and the side boom 23. A nozzle 25 for spraying the chemical solution is provided on each nozzle pipe 24. A plurality of nozzles 25 for spraying the chemical solution are provided along the longitudinal direction with the spray direction facing downward. For example, when spraying the chemical solution, the side boom 23 can be deployed from the state shown in FIG. 1 so as to be in a straight line with the center boom 21. Then, the chemical solution pressure delivery pump is driven while traveling by driving the engine, and the chemical solution in the chemical solution tank 10 is sprayed from the nozzle 25 via the nozzle pipes 24 of the center boom 21 and the side boom 23.

[0019] 3 and 4 are perspective views showing an example of an operating device provided on a boom sprayer. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the operating device 100 as seen from the driver's seat side. Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 2 as seen from the right front side of the body frame, with piping and the like omitted. Figs. 5 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the mounting structure of the operating device. Fig. 5 is a side view of the mounting structure of the operating device as seen from the Y direction, Fig. 6 is a side view of the mounting structure of the operating device as seen from the X direction, and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting structure of the operating device. An upper cover and a water distribution device, which will be described later, are omitted in Figs. 5 to 7.

[0020] The operating device 100 is a device for operating the switching operation of the boom device 3 between the deployed position and the stored position. In this embodiment, as described above, the lifting operation of the lifting device 22 and the rotation operation of the side boom 23 are performed by the hydraulic cylinders 22a and 23a. Therefore, the operating device 100 as an example has a valve device 110 connected to the hydraulic cylinders 22a and 23a via piping tubes. The valve device 110 as an example is a so-called stack valve, and has a connection part 112 for connecting piping tubes corresponding to each of the hydraulic cylinders 22a and 23a, and a lever 115 (input part) for controlling a valve corresponding to each of the hydraulic cylinders 22a and 23a. The valve device 110 has a lever 115A for controlling the lifting device 22, a lever 115B for controlling the side boom 23 arranged on the right side, and a lever 115C for controlling the side boom 23 arranged on the left side.

[0021] The valve device 110 may be housed in a housing 120 made of metal, for example. The housing 120 in one example has a substantially L-shape in a side view, and partially houses the valve device 110. More specifically, the housing 120 has a rectangular bottom plate portion 121 and a wall plate portion 123 standing up from one end of the bottom plate portion 121, and the bottom plate portion 121 and the wall plate portion 123 are respectively formed with opposing side walls 121a, 123a. The valve device 110 may be fixed to the wall plate portion 123 by a fastening member such as a bolt. The housing 120 also has an upper cover 125 connected to the upper end of the wall plate portion 123. The upper cover 125 is provided with an opening 125a, and the lever 115 protrudes to the outside of the housing 120 through the opening 125a. Lever 115 in one example protrudes from the position of opening 125a of upper cover 125 toward the opposite side (wall panel 123 side) from connection portion 112. That is, in this embodiment, it is assumed that an operator operates lever 115 from the outer surface 123b side of wall panel 123, and outer surface 123b side of wall panel 123 is the front side of operating device 100.

[0022] The illustrated operating device 100 includes a water distribution device 130 for adjusting the supply of chemical liquid to each nozzle pipe 24 provided on the boom device 3. The water distribution device 130 has a pressure gauge 131 for measuring the spray pressure, a water distributor 133 for distributing chemical liquid from the chemical liquid tank 10 to each nozzle pipe, and a spray cock 135 for turning the spray on and off. A pipe connected to the nozzle pipe 24 of the center boom 21 and a pair of pipes connected to the nozzle pipes 24 of the side boom 23 are connected to the water distribution device 130. In this embodiment, one edge of the upper cover 125 protrudes toward the outer surface 123b of the wall plate portion 123, and the water distribution device 130 is arranged to cover the outer surface 123b of the wall plate portion 123 while being fixed to one edge of the upper cover 125.

[0023] An example of an operating device 100 is attached to a support 140 that is attached to a vehicle body frame 4. The support 140 is provided rotatably relative to the vehicle body frame 4 about a rotation axis S that extends along the up-down direction. In other words, when the operating device 100 is disposed on the rotation axis S, the operating device 100 can rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the support 140, and when the operating device 100 is disposed at a position away from the rotation axis S, the operating device 100 can move on an orbit centered on the rotation axis S in conjunction with the rotation of the support 140.

[0024] The support 140 of the example includes a first support 141 fixed to the vehicle body frame 4 and a second support 145 rotatably supported by the first support 141. The first support 141 includes a fixed portion 142 fixed to the vehicle body frame 4 (in the illustrated example, a side surface of the vehicle body frame 4) and a support portion 144 joined to the fixed portion 142 and supporting the second support 145. The fixed portion 142 of the example has a substantially U-shape in cross section (side view) and includes a bottom wall portion 142a, a side wall portion 142b, and an upper wall portion 142c. The bottom wall portion 142a has a substantially rectangular plate shape and extends along the XY plane when fixed to the vehicle body frame 4. The side wall portion 142b is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped portion protruding upward from one end edge of the bottom wall portion 142a and extends along the XZ plane when fixed to the vehicle body frame 4. The upper wall portion 142c protrudes horizontally from the upper end of the side wall portion 142b, and extends along the XY plane so as to face the bottom wall portion 142a.

[0025] The side wall portion 142b is a portion that is fixed to a predetermined position of the body frame 4, and has bolt holes 143 for inserting bolts used for fixing to the body frame 4. The side wall portion 142b in the illustrated example has a pair of bolt holes 143a, 143b that are spaced apart in the Z direction at two locations spaced apart in the X direction. One bolt hole 143a has a larger diameter than the other bolt hole 143b so that its position can be adjusted with respect to the bolt holes formed in the body frame 4.

[0026] The support portion 144 is joined to the bottom wall portion 142a and the upper wall portion 142c. The support portion 144 in one example has a cylindrical shape and is arranged so that the rotation axis S is along the Z direction. The support portion 144 has a screw hole 144a that communicates the inside and outside of the support portion 144. A bolt 144b is screwed into the screw hole 144a, so that the rotation of the second support 145 inserted into the inside of the support portion 144 can be restricted. In this embodiment, the first support 141 is fixed to the right end portion of the front end of the body frame 4. The first support 141 in the illustrated example is arranged in an area between the base end of the right side boom 23 (the right end of the center boom) and the driver's seat 8. The fixing position of the first support 141 is not particularly limited, and the first support 141 may be fixed to the left end portion of the front end of the body frame 4, for example.

[0027] The second support 145 includes a first portion 146 and a second portion 148. The first portion 146 is supported by the support portion 144 of the first support 141 and extends upward from the support portion 144. The first portion 146 in the illustrated example has a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction. The outer diameter of the first portion 146 is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the support portion 144 of the first support 141. A stopper 147 is formed in the center of the first portion 146 in the Z direction. The stopper 147 has an annular plate shape protruding radially from the outer surface of the first portion 146. The outer diameter of the stopper 147 is larger than the inner diameter of the support portion 144 of the first support 141 (in the illustrated example, it is larger than the outer diameter of the support portion 144). The second support 145 is supported by the first support 141 by inserting a portion of the first portion 146 below the stopper 147 into the inside of the support portion 144 of the first support 141 .

[0028] The second portion 148 is a portion extending in the horizontal direction from the upper end of the first portion 146. The second portion 148 in the illustrated example has a cylindrical shape similar to the first portion 146, and extends in the horizontal direction while curving from the upper end of the first portion 146. In one example, the second support 145 may be formed by curving a single cylindrical metal tube. The second support 145 is supported by the first support 141 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the support portion 144 of the first support 141 as the center of rotation.

[0029] The operating device 100 is attached to the second portion 148 of the second support 145. In one example, the housing 120 constituting the operating device 100 is joined to the second portion 148. The position where the operating device 100 is joined is a position radially shifted from the rotation axis S of the support portion 144 of the first support 141. In this embodiment, the operating device 100 is attached to the second portion 148 so that the front surface (outer surface 123b) of the operating device 100 faces rearward with the second portion 148 of the second support 145 facing the outside of the vehicle body frame 44. That is, in this embodiment in which the first support 141 is fixed to the right front of the vehicle body frame 44, the operating device 100 is disposed so that the front surface faces forward (rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction) when the clockwise direction in a plan view is defined as the front.

[0030] The support 140 has at least three holding members 149 for holding the piping tube connected to the operating device 100. The holding member 149 in one example is formed of, for example, a metal rod, and has a ring-shaped portion through which the piping tube is inserted. The holding member 149 may be provided along the support 140. For example, the support 140 has three holding members 149A, 149B, and 149C. The holding member 149A is provided on the first support 141. In the illustrated example, the holding member 149A is provided on the upper wall portion 142c so that the piping tube to be held is along the support portion 144. The holding member 149B is provided on the housing 120 so that the piping tube to be held is along the connection portion (curved portion C) between the first portion 146 and the second portion 148 of the second support 145. The holding member 149C is provided on the housing 120 so that the piping tube to be held is aligned with the second portion 148 of the second support 145.

[0031] As described above, the boom sprayer 1 according to this embodiment includes the traveling machine body 2 having the vehicle body frame 4 on which the driver's seat 8 is supported, the boom device 3 provided on the vehicle body frame 4 and configured to be operable to rotate between a deployed position in which the side boom 23 having the nozzle 25 for spraying liquid is opened relative to the traveling machine body 2 and a stored position in which the side boom 23 is folded toward the traveling machine body 2, and the operation device 100 having a lever 115 for operating the switching operation between the deployed position and the stored position of the boom device 3. The operation device 100 is attached to a support 140 attached to the vehicle body frame 4, and the support 140 is provided rotatably relative to the vehicle body frame 4 about a rotation axis S extending along the up-down direction.

[0032] In the above-mentioned boom sprayer 1, since the operating device 100 is attached to the support 140 provided rotatably around the rotation axis S, it is possible to change the position (including the rotation position) of the operating device 100 relative to the driver's seat 8 by rotating the support 140. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the boom sprayer 1 seen from above. In the example shown in FIG. 8, for example, the second support 145 is moved clockwise around the rotation axis S, so that the operating device 100 approaches the driver's seat 8 and the rotation position of the operating device 100 advances in the clockwise direction. On the other hand, when the second support 145 is moved counterclockwise around the rotation axis S, the operating device 100 moves away from the driver's seat 8 and the rotation position of the operating device 100 advances in the counterclockwise direction. This allows the user to change the arrangement of the operating device 100 so that it is in a position, angle, etc. that is easy for the user to use.

[0033] The support 140 may include a first support 141 fixed to the vehicle body frame 4 and a second support 145 rotatably supported by the first support 141. The second support 145 may include a first portion 146 extending upward from the first support 141 and a second portion 148 extending horizontally from an upper end of the first portion 146. The operating device 100 may be attached to the second portion 148. In this configuration, the operating device 100 can move in a circular orbit about the rotation axis S as the support 140 rotates. In this case, the angle (rotational position) of the front of the operating device 100 with respect to the driver's seat 8 may also change.

[0034] The boom device 3 may be supported at the front end of the vehicle body frame 4. The first support 141 may be fixed to either the left or right end of the front end of the vehicle body frame 4. In this configuration, when performing maintenance on the boom device 3, the front of the operation device 100 can be easily operated from the side of the boom device 3 by facing the boom device 3 side. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the boom sprayer 1 seen from above. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the rotation axis S is disposed in the area between the base end of the right side boom 23 (the right end of the center boom) and the driver's seat 8, so that the front of the operation device 100 can be directed to the base end of the side boom 23 by rotating the second support 145. Also, in FIG. 9, the operation device 100 is located between the hydraulic cylinder 22a and the hydraulic cylinder 23a in the Y direction. In this case, when performing maintenance on the hydraulic cylinders 22a and 23a, the operation device 100 can be operated in the vicinity of the boom device 3 away from the driver's seat 8.

[0035] The boom device 3 may have a hydraulic cylinder 23a for operating the side boom 23. The operation device 100 may include a valve device 110 connected to the hydraulic cylinder 23a via a piping tube. The support 140 may have at least three holding members 149 having ring-shaped portions for holding the piping tubes. The three holding members 149 may be provided so that the piping tubes are aligned with the first support 141, the second portion 148, and the curved portion C which is the connection portion between the first portion 146 and the second portion 148. In this configuration, the holding members 149 are arranged along the shape of the support 140, so that the piping tubes can be aligned with the support 140.

[0036] Although the present disclosure has been specifically described based on the embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0037] For example, although an example has been shown in which second support 145 has first portion 146 and second portion 148, second support may have a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction. In this case, operating device 100 may be disposed on rotation axis S, or housing 120 may be fixed to the second support so that operating device 100 is offset from rotation axis S.

[0038] Also, a rotating platform that can rotate around a rotation axis along the up-down direction may be provided in the second portion 148 of the second support 145, and the operating device 100 may be fixed to the rotating platform. In this case, the operating device 100 can move in a circular orbit around the rotation axis S, and can rotate around the rotation axis of the rotating platform. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1...boom sprayer, 2...running body, 3...boom device, 4...vehicle frame, 8...driver's seat, 100...operating device, 140...support, 141...first support, 145...second support, 146...first part, 148...second part.

Claims

1. A traveling machine body (2) having a vehicle body frame (4) on which a driver's seat (8) is supported; a boom device (3) provided on the vehicle body frame (4), the boom (23) having a nozzle for spraying liquid being configured to be operable to rotate between an deployed position in which the boom is open toward the traveling body (2) and a stored position in which the boom is folded toward the traveling body (2); an operation device (100) having an input unit (115) for operating a switching operation of the boom device (3) between the deployed position and the stored position, The operating device (100) is attached to a support (140) attached to the vehicle body frame (4), The support body (140) is rotatably provided with respect to the vehicle body frame (4) around a rotation axis (S) extending along the vertical direction.

2. The support (140) includes a first support (141) fixed to the vehicle body frame (4) and a second support (145) rotatably supported by the first support (141), The second support (145) includes a first portion (146) extending upward from the first support (141) and a second portion (148) extending horizontally from an upper end of the first portion (146), The boom sprayer of claim 1, wherein the operating device (100) is attached to the second portion (148).

3. The boom device (3) is supported on a front end of the vehicle body frame (4), The boom sprayer according to claim 2, wherein the first support (141) is fixed to either the left or right end of a front end of the body frame (4).

4. The boom device (3) has a hydraulic cylinder (23a) for operating the boom (23), The operating device (100) includes a valve device (110) connected to the hydraulic cylinder (23a) via a piping tube, The support (140) has at least three holding members (149) having ring-shaped portions for holding the piping tube, The boom sprayer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the three retaining members (149) are arranged so that the piping tube runs along the first support (141), the second part (148), and a connection part (C) between the first part (146) and the second part (148).

Images