Agricultural machine

Abstract

To provide an agricultural machine including a telescopic member with a protection structure capable of preventing damage to the telescopic member, attached thereto, and connecting member used as the protection structure.SOLUTION: An agricultural machine includes a first component, a second component, a telescopic member whose one end is rotationally connected to the first component and that changes a position of the second component relative to the first component by telescopic motion, and a connecting member rotationally connected to the second component and rotationally connected to the other end of the telescopic member, where the connecting member includes a first contact part coming into contact with the second component, when the connecting member is rotationally turned in a first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural machine equipped with an extendable member, and in particular to an agricultural machine equipped with an extendable member to which a protective structure is attached, and a connecting member used as the protective structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known agricultural machines that are coupled to the rear of a traveling body such as a tractor, in which the working section is offset to the side of the traveling body or tilted to an angle that matches an inclined working surface (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). Also known is a device in which the left and right side working sections can be opened and closed (folded and unfolded) relative to the central working section (Patent Document 3). For such offsetting, tilting and opening / closing operations, telescopic members such as electric hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders and hydraulic cylinders are used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-99286 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-102212 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2020-178641 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional agricultural working machines, the telescopic member is directly attached to the working unit, etc. For example, as shown in Fig. 12(a), the base end pivot part 153a1 of the cylinder body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153 is directly pivotally supported to the tilt cylinder mounting part 147 erected on the upper surface of the working unit 14, and as shown in Fig. 12(b), the base end pivot part 124a1 of the cylinder body 124a of the offset cylinder 124 is directly pivotally supported to the offset cylinder mounting part 121b erected on the side surface of the offset frame 121 of the working unit 14. In a structure that uses such an extendable member to change the position of the working part, there is a problem in that if a large force is applied to the working part, the rods of the extendable member (rod 153b of tilt cylinder 153, rod 124b of offset cylinder 124) may be damaged, such as being deformed. This is particularly noticeable in electric hydraulic cylinders and electric cylinders, which have rods with relatively small diameters, where the rods are likely to be damaged, such as bent, when a compressive force is applied to the rods in the axial direction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural machine equipped with an extendable member to which a protective structure is attached, which can solve the above problems and prevent damage to the extendable member, and a connecting member used as the protective structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve such problems, the present invention has the following configuration. A first component; A second component; and an extendable member having one end rotatably connected to the first component and extending and contracting to change the position of the second component relative to the first component; A connecting member that is rotatably connected to the second component member and to the other end of the telescopic member, The agricultural machine, characterized in that the connecting member has a first abutment portion that abuts against the second component member when rotated in a first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] An agricultural machine including a first component, a second component, and an extendable member whose one end is rotatably connected to the first component and whose extension changes the relative position of the second component with respect to the first component, By providing a connecting member that is rotatably connected to the second component member and to the other end of the telescopic member, In addition, one end of the elastic member and the second component member are slidably connected to each other, It is possible to provide an agricultural work machine that can prevent the rod of the telescopic member from being damaged, such as being deformed, even if a large force is applied to the second component member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a stored state of the grass cutter 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an offset state of the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an up-down rotation state of the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a tilt cylinder 153 when the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is rotated up and down and when it is horizontal. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram showing a tilt connecting member 16 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 11 is a diagram showing how the tilt cylinder 153 is protected in the upward pivoting state of the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how an offset cylinder 124 is protected in an offset state of the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a tilt cylinder 153 in an upward pivoting state of a grass cutter 1 according to a first modified example of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9]11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a tilt cylinder 153 in an upward pivoting state of a grass cutter 1 according to a second modified example of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram showing a tilt connecting member 16 according to a third modified example of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a tilt cylinder 153 in an upward pivoting state of a grass cutter 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a mounting structure of a tilt cylinder 153 and an offset cylinder 124 of a conventional grass cutter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, a grass cutter 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate. For ease of explanation, terms indicating directions such as up, down, front, rear, right, and left are used, but the direction in which gravity acts is downward, and the opposite is upward. The direction in which the traveling vehicle body 2 moves is forward, and the opposite is backward. Furthermore, when facing forward, the right side is the right side, and the left side is the left side.

[0010] [Overall structure] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a stored state of a grass mower 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an offset state. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the up-down rotation (tilt) state of the grass cutter 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention in the offset state, where Figure 3(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the right end portion has been rotated (rotated downward) so that it faces downward (clockwise when viewed from behind), and Figure 3(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the right end portion has been rotated (rotated upward) so that it faces upward (counterclockwise when viewed from behind) in the offset state. 1 to 3, a tilt connecting member 16 and an offset connecting member 17, which will be described later, are omitted.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the grass cutter 1 in the first embodiment includes a mounting section 11, an offset mechanism section 12, a power transmission section 13, a working section 14, and a rotation mechanism section 15. The mounting section 11 is a mounting unit 12a. The grass cutter 1 is connected to a traveling body 2 such as a tractor by a mounting part 11. The mounting part 11 and a working part 14 are connected via an offset mechanism part 12 and a power transmission part 13. As a result, the grass cutter 1 moves forward as the traveling body 2 moves, and the working part 14 performs grass cutting work.

[0012] As will be described later, the working unit 14 can be moved by the operation of the offset mechanism unit 12 from a rear position of the traveling body 2 as shown in Fig. 1 to a position offset to the right side of the traveling body 2 as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, the offset mechanism unit 12 and the power transmission unit 13 are disposed above and to the left of a rotor cover 142 of the working unit 14, which will be described later. In the first embodiment, grass cutting work can be performed at any position between the rear position of the traveling body 2 as shown in Fig. 1 and the position offset to the right outside of the traveling body 2 as shown in Fig. 2.

[0013] 1 is referred to as a stored state, and a state in which the working unit 14 is located on the outside of the traveling body 2 is referred to as an offset state. As shown in FIG 2, in the offset state, a state in which the working unit 14 is located at the outermost position, that is, the position (maximum offset position) most to the side with respect to the traveling direction of the traveling body 2 (right outer side in this embodiment 1) is referred to as a maximum offset state. In addition, the range in which mowing work can be performed between the stored state shown in Figure 1 and the maximum offset state shown in Figure 2 can be set arbitrarily. For example, it may be set so that mowing work cannot be performed in the stored state, or mowing work can be performed only at specific locations between the stored state and the maximum offset state, and so on, so that mowing work can only be performed in a specific range or specific location.

[0014] [Installation part] The mounting portion 11 is connected to a three-point link mechanism 22 (only a lower link is shown here) provided between two rear tires 21 of the traveling vehicle body 2. The three-point link mechanism 22 is usually composed of a top link, a lift rod, a lower link, etc. The three-point link mechanism 22 is a known mechanism, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The mounting section 11 includes a hitch frame 111 extending in the left-right direction, which is the width direction of the traveling body 2. The hitch frame 111 has a top link connecting part 1111 connected to the top link and a lower link connecting part 1112 connected to the lower link, and is configured to be connectable to a three-point link mechanism 22 provided at the rear of the traveling body 2. A gear box 112 is provided at the lower center of the hitch frame 111, and this gear box 112 is provided with a grass cutter input shaft 113 that receives power from the traveling body 2. Power is transmitted to the grass cutter input shaft 113 from the PTO shaft 23 provided on the traveling body 2 via a universal joint (not shown).

[0015] [Offset mechanism] The offset mechanism 12 is a mechanism for offsetting the working unit 14 between a stored position and a maximum offset position. Specifically, the offset mechanism 12 can move the working unit 14 from a rear position of the traveling body 2 as shown in FIG. 1 to a maximum offset position to the side (outer right in the present embodiment 1) with respect to the traveling direction of the traveling body 2 as shown in FIG. 2. The offset mechanism 12 has the same structure as the conventional agricultural machine shown in FIG. 12(b) except that an offset connecting member 17 is interposed between the offset cylinder 124 and the offset frame 121 as described later, and has an offset frame 121 (see FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 12(b)), a link rod 122, a support frame 123, and an offset cylinder 124 (expandable member). In the present embodiment 1, the support frame 123 supports a front gear case 134 (described later) of the power transmission unit 13 to which the working unit 14 is rotatably connected, and is configured to offset to the right together with the working unit 14.

[0016] One end (front side) of the offset frame 121 and the link rod 122 is rotatably connected to the hitch frame 111, and the other end (rear side) of the offset frame 121 and the link rod 122 is rotatably connected to the support frame 123. With the above configuration, the hitch frame 111, the offset frame 121, the link rod 122, and the support frame 123 form a parallelogram link mechanism with the respective rotation centers as vertices. With this link mechanism, the offset mechanism unit 12 can offset move the working unit 14 while maintaining the angle of the working unit 14 with respect to the traveling direction of the traveling body 2.

[0017] The offset cylinder 124 is a power source (actuator) of the offset mechanism 12, and in this embodiment, is configured as an electric hydraulic cylinder. The power source of the offset mechanism 12 can be configured as an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like, instead of the electric hydraulic cylinder. As described later, a tip-side pivot part 124b1 (one end) provided on the tip side of the rod 124b of the offset cylinder 124 is connected to a cylinder mounting part 1113 of the hitch frame 111, and a base-side pivot part 124a1 (the other end) provided on the base side of the cylinder body 124a is connected to a cylinder mounting part 171 (first connecting part) of an offset connecting member 17 described later that is rotatably connected to a connecting member mounting part 121a provided on a side surface of the rear part of the offset frame 121 (see FIG. 7(a)). The offset mechanism 12 is driven by the expansion and contraction of the offset cylinder 124, and the offset amount (movement amount in the offset direction) of the working unit 14 can be controlled. That is, the offset cylinder 124 has a tip side pivot portion 124b1 (one end portion) rotatably connected to the mounting unit 11 (first component member) having the hitch frame 111, and a base side pivot portion 124a1 (the other end portion) rotatably connected to the offset connecting member 17. The offset connecting member 17 is rotatably connected to the offset frame 121 that supports the working unit 14 (second component member), and the offset cylinder 124 is connected to the offset frame 121 via the offset connecting member 17.

[0018] In this embodiment 1, the offset cylinder 124 is configured so that when it is retracted, the working unit 14 is at a rear position of the traveling body 2, and when it is extended, the working unit 14 is at an offset position. However, the offset cylinder 124 may be configured conversely so that when it is extended, the working unit 14 is at a rear position of the traveling body 2, and when it is retracted, the working unit 14 is at an offset position. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the working unit 14 is structured so that it can be offset to the outside right of the traveling body 2, but conversely, it may be structured so that it can be offset to the outside left, or even so that it can be offset to both the outside left and right. In addition, the connecting member mounting portion 121a has the same shape and structure as the offset cylinder mounting portion 121b of the conventional agricultural machine shown in Figure 12(b), and the offset connecting member 17 can be mounted directly between the offset cylinder mounting portion 121b and the offset cylinder 124 of the conventional agricultural machine.

[0019] [Power transmission section] The power transmission unit 13 is a mechanism for transmitting power from the traveling body 2 received by the mower input shaft 113 of the mounting unit 11 to the working unit 14. The mower 1 of the first embodiment employs a chain drive mechanism, and the power transmission unit 13 has at least a drive sprocket 131, a driven sprocket 132, and a roller chain 133. The power transmission unit 13 also includes a shaft (not shown) connected to the driven sprocket 132 and extending downward, a first bevel gear (not shown) connected to the lower end of this shaft, and a front gear case 134 that houses this first bevel gear. The roller chain 133 is wound around the driving sprocket 131 and the driven sprocket 132. The driving sprocket 131, the driven sprocket 132, and the roller chain 133 are disposed above the offset mechanism unit 12, more specifically, above the offset frame 121. Furthermore, on the working unit 14 side of the power transmission unit 13, a cylindrical portion 135 through which a shaft connected to the driven sprocket 132 is inserted extends downward. The cylindrical portion 135 is divided into an upper cylindrical portion 135a and a lower cylindrical portion 135b, and these upper cylindrical portion 135a and lower cylindrical portion 135b are connected to be relatively rotatable around the axis of the shaft connected to the driven sprocket 132. Of these, the support frame 123 is fixed to the lower cylindrical portion 135b, and a flange portion 135b1 for mounting the front gear case 134 is provided at the lower end of the lower cylindrical portion 135b.

[0020] The driving sprocket 131 is driven by the power received by the grass cutter input shaft 113 from the traveling body 2, and the power from the driving sprocket 131 is transmitted to the driven sprocket 132 by a roller chain 133. The power from the driven sprocket 132 is transmitted via a first bevel gear to a working unit input shaft 145a of the working unit 14, which will be described later. Note that a belt drive mechanism may be used instead of the above-mentioned chain drive mechanism for the power transmission unit 13. Also, a universal joint may be used as the power transmission unit 13. Furthermore, instead of being provided with the power transmission unit 13, the grass cutter 1 may be provided with a drive source such as an electric motor or hydraulic motor, and the power of the drive source may be transmitted directly to the working unit 14, or the power of the drive source may be transmitted to the working unit 14 via another power transmission means.

[0021] [Working section] The working unit 14 is supported by the offset mechanism 12. In detail, the working unit 14 is supported by a rear gear case 145 attached to a rotor cover 142 being rotatably connected to a front gear case 134 connected to a flange portion 135b1 of a lower cylindrical portion 135b fixed to a support frame 123 of the offset mechanism 12, as described later. As described above, the support frame 123 is rotatably connected to the offset frame 121, and the working unit 14 moves in an offset manner by extending and contracting the offset cylinder 124 while maintaining a constant angle with respect to the traveling direction of the traveling body 2.

[0022] The working unit 14 has a working rotor 141, a rotor cover 142, a side plate 143, a blade drive unit 144, a working unit input shaft 145a, a second bevel gear (not shown), a rear gear case 145 that houses the second bevel gear, a connecting member mounting portion 146, and a gauge roller 148. 3(a), the work rotor 141 includes a rotating shaft 141a (a rotating shaft to which a grass cutting blade is attached) disposed between side plates 143 at both ends, and when the working unit 14 is in a horizontal state, extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the traveling body 2. Although not shown in detail, a plurality of brackets 141b each having a pair of support parts are radially provided on the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 141a, and a grass cutting blade 141c is attached to the brackets 141b.

[0023] Note that instead of providing a plurality of brackets 141b, each having a pair of support portions, on the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 141a, a plurality of pairs of protruding portions may be provided on the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 141a. The grass cutting blade 141c is made of two so-called flail blades stacked together, but the shape and structure of the grass cutting blade are not limited and any other shape and structure may be used. Furthermore, the grass cutting blade 141c may be attached via another member such as a shackle or ring, rather than directly to the bracket 141b.

[0024] The working unit 14 rotates the rotary shaft 141a and cuts weeds and the like with the grass cutting blade 141c. In the first embodiment, the rotating shaft 141a rotates clockwise when viewed from the left. As a result, the grass cutting blade 141c cuts the weeds, etc., by smashing them from the rear to the front below the rotating shaft 141a. The cut weeds, etc., pass through the rotor cover 142 and the side plate 143, and are finally discharged rearward from the gap between the rotor cover 142 and the ground.

[0025] The rotor cover 142 is a cover member disposed to cover the front, top, and rear of the work rotor 141. The rotor cover 142 has the effect of preventing the scattering of weeds cut by the grass cutting blade 141c, soil adhering to the weeds, and pebbles that have fallen to the work surface (ground surface), and also returns the cut weeds to the grass cutting blade 141c to crush them finely. A connecting member attachment portion 146 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the rotor cover 142. The connecting member attachment portion 146 is connected to a tilt cylinder 153 (expandable member) of the rotation mechanism portion 15 described later via a tilt connecting member 16 of the rotation mechanism portion 15 described later. In addition, the connecting member attachment portion 146 has the same shape and structure as the tilt cylinder attachment portion 147 of the conventional agricultural work machine shown in Fig. 12(a), and the tilt connecting member 16 can be attached directly between the tilt cylinder attachment portion 147 and the tilt cylinder 153 of the conventional agricultural work machine. The side plate 143 rotatably supports the rotary shaft 141a via a ball bearing or the like, and also supports the rotor cover 142. In the first embodiment, a blade drive unit 144 is provided on the side plate 143 at the left end.

[0026] The power transmission means in the working unit 14 will now be described. The power transmitted to the driven sprocket 132 of the power transmission unit 13 is transmitted to a working unit input shaft 145a, which is the power input unit of the working unit 14, via a first bevel gear provided at the lower end of the shaft of the driven sprocket 132. In this embodiment 1, the working unit input shaft 145a is provided on the right side (inside) of the blade driving unit 144 which is provided on the left side (outside) of the left side panel 143, but it may also be configured to be provided on the left side (outside) of the blade driving unit 144.

[0027] The power transmitted to the working unit input shaft 145a is transmitted to the blade driving portion 144 via a second bevel gear provided at the rear end of the working unit input shaft 145a. The power transmitted to the blade drive unit 144 is then transmitted to the rotary shaft 141 a of the work rotor 141 . That is, the power transmitted from the power transmission unit 13 to the working unit input shaft 145a is transmitted by the blade driving unit 144 directly to the rotation shaft 141a. The front gear case 134 and the rear gear case 145 are rotatable relative to each other around the axis of the working unit input shaft 145a, and are capable of responding to the vertical rotation of the working unit 14 by the rotation mechanism unit 15 described below.

[0028] In the blade drive unit 144, the power transmitted from the working unit input shaft 145a is transmitted to the drive pulley shaft, then from the drive pulley 144a to the driven pulley 144b via a belt (not shown), and finally from the driven pulley shaft to the rotating shaft 141a, thereby driving the work rotor 141. The driven pulley shaft and the rotating shaft 141a are concentric. In the first embodiment, a belt drive is used for the blade drive unit 144, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any other power transmission means such as a chain drive or a gear drive may be used.

[0029] The gauge roller 148 has a pair of left and right arms 148a supported so as to swing on swing fulcrums provided on each of the two side plates 143, and a roller body 148b journaled on the arms 148a. The height between the roller body 148b and the rotating shaft 141a can be changed by changing and fixing the swing position of the arm 148a, thereby adjusting the cutting height of the grass cutting blade 141c. The gauge roller 148 is a driven roller that rolls on the mowing surface following the movement of the working unit 14, and in this embodiment 1, when the mower 1 and the traveling body 2 are moving forward, it rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left. The gauge roller 148 in this embodiment 1 is provided with a scraper member (not shown) for removing grass and the like adhering to the roller body 148b. The scraper member is bridged between the pair of arms 148a at the rear end side of the arms 148a, and is disposed so as to face the gauge roller 148.

[0030] [Rotation mechanism] Figure 4 is an enlarged peripheral view of the tilt (up and down rotation) cylinder 153 of the grass cutter 1 of embodiment 1 of the present invention when it is rotated up and down and when it is horizontal, Figure 4(a) is a view of the working unit 14 rotated (upward rotation) so that the right end portion is upward (counterclockwise when viewed from behind), Figure 4(b) is a view of the working unit 14 in a horizontal state, and Figure 4(c) is a view of the working unit 14 rotated (downward rotation) so that the right end portion is downward (clockwise when viewed from behind). The turning mechanism 15 is a mechanism for turning the working unit 14 up and down about a turning shaft 151 extending in the front-rear direction, which is the traveling direction of the traveling body 2. The turning mechanism 15 is made up of the turning shaft 151, a support arm 152, a tilt cylinder 153, a turning shaft bracket 154 (see FIGS. 4 and 6), and a tilt connecting member 16. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the working unit 14 is in an offset state and rotated (clockwise as viewed from behind) by the rotating mechanism 15 so that the right end portion faces downward. The state shown in Fig. 3(a) is a state in which the working unit 14 performs grass cutting work on an inclined surface (slope, etc.) located below the traveling surface of the traveling body 2. 3(b), the working unit 14 is in the offset state and rotated (counterclockwise as viewed from behind) by the rotating mechanism 15 so that the right end portion faces upward. The state shown in FIG. 3(b) is a state in which the working unit 14 performs grass cutting work on an inclined surface (slope, etc.) located above the traveling surface of the traveling body 2.

[0031] The structure of the rotation mechanism 15 is such that the working unit 14 can be rotated up and down at any position between the stored state and the maximum offset state. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the tilt cylinder 153 is configured so that when it is contracted, the right end of the working unit 14 faces downward, and when it is extended, the right end of the working unit 14 faces upward. However, the tilt cylinder 153 may be configured conversely so that when it is extended, the right end of the working unit 14 faces downward, and when it is contracted, the right end of the working unit 14 faces upward.

[0032] The rotation shaft 151 of the rotation mechanism 15 has a rear end fixed to the front part of the front gear case 134 so as to be concentric with the working unit input shaft 145a. The upper side of the support arm 152 is fixed to the rotation shaft 151. In other words, the rotation shaft 151 and the support arm 152 are fixed so as not to rotate with respect to the front gear case 134. The front end of the rotating shaft 151 is rotatably connected to a rotating shaft bracket 154 provided on the front side of the upper surface of the rotor cover 142 . With this configuration, the pivot bracket 154 is capable of rotating about the pivot 151 relative to the support arm 152 (front gear case 134) (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Further, a tip end pivot portion 153b1 of a rod 153b of a tilt cylinder 153, which will be described later, is rotatably supported on the lower side of the support arm 152. In the first embodiment, an electric hydraulic cylinder is used as the tilt cylinder 153, and has a cylinder body 153a and a rod 153b. A base end side pivot part 153a1 is provided on the base end side of the cylinder body 153a, and a tip end side pivot part 153b1 is provided on the tip end side of the rod 153b. Note that the tilt cylinder 153 is not limited to an electric hydraulic cylinder, and an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like may also be used. A base end side pivot portion 153a1 of the cylinder body 153a is rotatably supported on a cylinder attachment portion 161 (first connecting portion) of the tilt connecting member 16 described later. A tip end pivot portion 153b1 of the rod 153b is rotatably supported on the lower end of the support arm 152. That is, the tilt cylinder 153 has the tip side pivot portion 153b1 (one end) of the rod 153b connected to the offset mechanism unit 12 (first component member) via the front gear case 134 to which the support arm 152 is fixed, and the base side pivot portion 153a1 (the other end) of the cylinder body 153a connected to the working unit 14 (second component member) via the tilt connecting member 16.

[0033] With this configuration, when the tilt cylinder 153 is extended from a horizontal state of the working unit 14 as shown in Fig. 4(b), the working unit 14 rotates upward about the rotation shaft 151, and tilts upward so that the right end of the working unit 14 is at the highest, as shown in Fig. 4(a). When the tilt cylinder 153 is contracted from a horizontal state of the working unit 14 as shown in Fig. 4(b), the working unit 14 rotates downward about the rotation shaft 151, and tilts downward so that the right end of the working unit 14 is at the lowest, as shown in Fig. 4(c).

[0034] FIG. 5 is a six-view diagram showing the tilt connecting member 16 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Connecting member for rotation mechanism (connecting member for tilt)] The tilt connecting member 16 is a member that is interposed between the tilt cylinder 153 and the rotor cover 142 of the working unit 14 to connect them. 5, tilt connecting member 16 is mainly composed of first member 16a and second member 16b, which are connected together to form an integral structure. Note that tilt connecting member 16 is not limited to being composed of two main members, and may be composed entirely of one main member or three or more main members. The first member 16a is provided with a cylinder mounting part 161 (first connecting part) rotatably attached to the base end side pivot part 153a1 of the cylinder main body 153a, and the second member 16b is provided with a working unit mounting part 162 (second connecting part) rotatably attached to the connecting member mounting part 146 erected on the rotor cover 142. The cylinder mounting part 161 and the working unit mounting part 162 are arranged substantially vertically side by side when viewed from the front. With a configuration in which a tilt connecting member 16 is interposed between the base end of this cylinder body 153a and the connecting member mounting portion 146 of the working unit 14, when an external force F (see Figure 6, etc.) that rotates the working unit 14 in the vertical direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, the tilt connecting member 16 rotates between the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14, thereby preventing the external force F from being directly applied to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0035] Further, the tilt connecting member 16 is provided with a first contact portion 163 at one end in the left-right direction and a second contact portion 164 at the other end. More specifically, the first member 16a is provided with the first contact portion 163 that contacts the rotor cover 142 near the end (one end in the longitudinal direction) on the offset side (right side), and the second member 16b is provided with the second contact portion 164 that contacts the rotor cover 142 near the end (other end in the longitudinal direction) on the storage side (left side). In the first embodiment, the first contact portion 163 includes a rubber elastic body 165 serving as a shock absorber. The second contact portion 164 includes a bolt 166, and the distance between the second contact portion 164 and the rotor cover 142 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the bolt 166 (the amount of downward protrusion relative to the contact plate 16b1 described below). In other words, the rotation range of the tilt connecting member 16 can be adjusted.

[0036] The first member 16a has one contact plate 16a1 having a first contact portion 163, and two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 having a cylinder mounting portion 161. The two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 are fixed to the contact plate 16a1 by welding so as to be (approximately) perpendicular to the one contact plate 16a1 and to face each other. The abutment plate 16a1 is bent in the middle in the longitudinal direction to correspond to the shapes of the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 (see the dotted line in the front view of FIG. 5), and a first abutment portion 163 is provided near the end (one end in the longitudinal direction) on the offset side (right side), and a notch portion that engages with the joining member 16c is provided near the end (the other end in the longitudinal direction) on the storage side (left side). The first abutment portion 163 side of the abutment plate 16a1 is formed wider than other portions, so that two elastic bodies 165 described later can be attached in parallel in the width direction. Two elastic bodies 165 constituting a first abutment portion 163 that abuts against the rotor cover 142 are attached side by side by bolts to the lower surface of the end portion on the offset side (opposite side to the second member 16b) of the abutment plate 16a1. In the first embodiment, the two elastic bodies 165 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the abutment plate 16a1 (the width direction of the abutment plate 16a1), but this is not limited thereto and they may be arranged in any manner, such as in the longitudinal direction. The number of elastic bodies 165 may be one, or three or more. Note that, instead of the elastic body 165, a bolt capable of adjusting the amount of downward projection from the abutment plate 16a1 may be attached to the lower surface of the end portion on the offset side of the abutment plate 16a1 to serve as the first abutment portion 163, or a protruding member such as a pin having a fixed amount of downward projection may be attached to serve as the first abutment portion 163, or a convex portion protruding downward may be integrally formed on the lower surface of the end portion on the offset side of the abutment plate 16a1 to serve as the first abutment portion 163. Furthermore, the lower surface of the end portion on the offset side of the abutment plate 16a1 may directly serve as the first abutment portion 163 that abuts against the rotor cover 142.

[0037] The two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 are members that are roughly inverted L-shaped when viewed from the front and are arranged in parallel. A cylinder mounting portion 161 is provided near the end portion on the storage side of each of the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 (the middle of the tilt connecting member 16 as a whole in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the tilt connecting member 16). The cylinder attachment portion 161 is formed as two concentric holes that pivotally support the base end side pivot portion 153a1 of the cylinder main body 153a. Furthermore, the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 each have a notch with which a joining member 16c, which will be described later, is engaged.

[0038] The second member 16b has one abutment plate 16b1 having a second abutment portion 164, and one attachment plate 16b2 having a working unit attachment portion 162. The abutment plate 16b1 and the attachment plate 16b2 are attached by an engagement portion that allows a notch provided on the offset side of the abutment plate 16b1 to engage with a notch provided on the end of the attachment plate 16b2 on the storage side. A bolt 166 that constitutes a second contact portion 164 that contacts the rotor cover 142 is attached to the underside of the contact plate 16b1 on the side opposite to the mounting plate 16b2 (the storage side). In the first embodiment, only one bolt 166 is provided, but two or more bolts may be attached. Instead of the bolt 166 whose downward protrusion amount relative to the abutment plate 16b1 is adjustable, a protruding member such as a pin whose downward protrusion amount is fixed may be attached to serve as the second abutment portion 164, or a convex portion that protrudes downward may be integrally formed on the lower surface of the storage side end of the abutment plate 16b1 to serve as the second abutment portion 164. Furthermore, the lower surface of the storage side end of the abutment plate 16b1 may directly serve as the second abutment portion 164 that abuts against the rotor cover 142. The working unit mounting portion 162 is formed by attaching a tubular member 1621 to both sides of a hole provided near the center of one mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b (for the tilt connecting member 16 as a whole, near the middle in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the tilt connecting member 16).

[0039] The first member 16a and the second member 16b are disposed such that one mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b is sandwiched between two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 of the first member 16a that are disposed in parallel. A joint member 16c is attached by engaging with a notch provided on the end of the offset side (first member 16a side) of the mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b. The joint member 16c is attached by engaging with notches formed in the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 of the first member 16a. Also, a notch formed near the end of the abutment plate 16a1 of the first member 16a on the storage side is engaged with the joining member 16c, thereby attaching the first member 16a and the joining member 16c. The first member 16a and the second member 16b are fixed together by these three engagement points. Although not shown, the first member 16a and the second member 16b are also fixed together by inserting bolts through holes provided in the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 of the first member 16a and holes provided in the mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b and fastening nuts to the bolts.

[0040] As described above, the cylinder mounting portion 161 is arranged as two concentric holes near the ends of the two mounting plates 16a2, 16a3 of the first member 16a on the second member 16b side, or, as the tilt connecting member 16 as a whole, near the middle part in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the tilt connecting member 16, and the working unit mounting portion 162 is arranged as one hole near the center of the one mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b, or, as the tilt connecting member 16 as a whole, near the middle part in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the tilt connecting member 16. The cylinder mounting portion 161 and the working portion mounting portion 162 are arranged near the middle of the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the tilt connecting member 16, with an appropriate distance between them in a direction (up-down direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tilt connecting member 16. The tilt connecting member 16 of this embodiment 1 has been described above, but the shape and structure of the tilt connecting member 16 are not limited to those of this embodiment 1, and may have any shape and structure as long as it is configured to be rotatable between the two components, the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14, and the external force F applied to the working unit 14 is not directly transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0041] 6 is a diagram showing how the tilt cylinder 153 is protected when the right end of the working unit 14 of the grass cutter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is rotated (rotated upward) so that the right end of the working unit 14 faces upward. (a) is a diagram showing a state in which no external force F is applied to the working unit 14 and only the weight of the working unit 14 is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, (b) is a diagram showing a state in which an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it downward and a force in the compression direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and (c) is a diagram showing a state in which an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it upward and a force in the tension direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. When the working unit 14 receives an external force F in the up-down rotation direction due to shaking of the traveling vehicle body, unevenness of the ground, contact with an obstacle, etc., the force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and the tilt cylinder 153 may be damaged. In particular, the tilt cylinder 153 of the first embodiment is an electric hydraulic cylinder, and the rod 153b has a small diameter. Therefore, when a force of a predetermined value or more is applied in a direction to contract the tilt cylinder 153, that is, in a direction to compress the rod 153b in the axial direction, the tilt cylinder 153 may be damaged, such as bent. In particular, when the external force F is an impact force, the possibility of damage increases.

[0042] However, in this embodiment 1, the tilt connecting member 16 is rotatably connected to the rotor cover 142 of the working unit 14 and the cylinder body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153, and therefore, an external force (especially an impact force) applied to the working unit 14 is mitigated by the action of the tilt connecting member 16 as a link mechanism and applied to the tilt cylinder 153, thereby preventing the tilt cylinder 153 from being damaged. Furthermore, when the working unit 14 is rotated (rotated upward) so that the right end of the working unit 14 faces upward, unlike the state shown in FIG. 6(a) (same as FIG. 4(a)), a force that rotates the working unit 14 downward, i.e., a compressive force may be applied to the tilt cylinder 153 due to the weight of the working unit 14. At this time, the tilt connecting member 16 rotates clockwise (first direction) as viewed from the rear with the working unit mounting portion 162 as the rotation axis, and the first abutment portion 163 of the tilt connecting member 16 abuts against the rotor cover 142. Then, the compressive force is transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153 via the rotation of the tilt connecting member 16, with the force in the direction compressing the tilt cylinder 153 being neutralized, and the load on the tilt cylinder 153 can be alleviated. The same applies to the case where working unit 14 is rotated (rotated downward) so that the right end portion of working unit 14 faces downward, and a compressive force is applied to tilt cylinder 153 due to the weight of working unit 14 itself.

[0043] 6(b), in the first embodiment, in particular, when an external force F that may damage the rod 153b and rotate the working unit 14 downward is applied, that is, when an impact force in the compression direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, the first contact portion 163 is provided with a rubber elastic body 165 so as to more effectively cushion the impact. The rotation of the tilt connecting member 16 in the clockwise direction (first direction) as viewed from the rear with the working unit mounting portion 162 as the rotation axis prevents the compression force from being directly applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and when the elastic body 165 comes into contact with the rotor cover 142, the elastic body 165 deforms to absorb the impact force, thereby making it possible to more effectively cushion the impact force applied to the tilt cylinder 153. 6(a) and (b), elastic body 165 appears to be immersed in rotor cover 142. The contact point between elastic body 165 and rotor cover 142 is forward of the top of rotor cover 142 and below the top of rotor cover 142, so in FIG. 6, which is a drawing as seen from behind, the contact point is hidden by the top of rotor cover 142 and cannot be seen. However, for the sake of explanation, a part of elastic body 165 that is actually hidden and cannot be seen is drawn, so in FIGS. 6(a) and (b), elastic body 165 only appears to be immersed in rotor cover 142. In reality, the elastic body 165 is located slightly away from the contact point in FIG. 6(a), and in FIG. 6(b) it is in contact with the contact point and is in a compressed state.

[0044] The shock absorbing body constituting the first abutment portion 163 is not limited to a rubber elastic body, but may be a coil spring as in variant example 2 described below, or may be a device that uses a fluid such as a damper (shock absorber) to attenuate impact. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6(c), when an external force F is applied to the working unit to rotate it upward, a pulling force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. However, the tilt connecting member 16 rotates counterclockwise (second direction) when viewed from behind with the working unit mounting portion 162 as the rotation axis, thereby mitigating the transmission of the force pulling the tilt cylinder 153 to the tilt cylinder 153. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the tilt connecting member 16 is provided with an elastic body 165 that constitutes the first abutment portion 163, but the tilt connecting member 16 may not be provided with the elastic body 165 that constitutes the first abutment portion 163, and the abutment point of the first abutment portion 163 of the rotor cover 142 may be provided with the elastic body 165, or the tilt connecting member 16 may be provided with the elastic body 165 that constitutes the first abutment portion 163, and the abutment point of the first abutment portion 163 of the rotor cover 142 may be provided with the elastic body 165.

[0045] In addition, in the first embodiment, both the first abutment portion 163 and the second abutment portion 164 are provided, but it is sufficient that there is at least an abutment portion in the rotation direction (first direction in the first embodiment) of the tilt connecting member 16 (with the working unit mounting portion 162 as the rotation axis) when a compressive force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. In other words, it is not necessary to provide an abutment portion by, for example, extending the opposite side of the abutment portion of the tilt connecting member 16. Furthermore, when the working unit 14 is rotated (tilted) up and down and the tilt connecting member 16 rotates due to the weight of the working unit 14, if there is an abutment portion in the rotation direction of the tilt connecting member 16, it is possible to support the rotation of the tilt connecting member 16 due to the weight of the working unit 14. In other words, it is not necessary to provide an abutment portion by, for example, extending the opposite side of the abutment portion of the tilt connecting member 16.

[0046] Incidentally, in the first embodiment, when the working unit 14 is in a horizontal state, both the first contact portion 163 and the second contact portion 164 of the tilt connecting member 16 are separated from the rotor cover 142, as shown in FIG. 4(b). As shown in Fig. 4(a), when the right end of the working unit 14 is rotated so that the right end is directed upward, and as shown in Fig. 4(c), when the right end of the working unit 14 is rotated so that the right end is directed downward, both the first contact portion 163 and the second contact portion 164 are separated from the rotor cover 142. However, when the working unit 14 is rotated up and down as shown in Fig. 4(a), the positional relationship between the first contact portion 163 and the second contact portion 164 and the rotor cover 142 may vary depending on the shape and structure of the tilt connecting member 16, the position of the connecting portion between the tilt cylinder 153 and the tilt connecting member 16 and the connecting portion between the working unit 14 and the tilt connecting member 16 relative to the center of gravity of the working unit 14, whether the gauge roller 148 is in contact with the grass cutting surface, and the like.

[0047] In this embodiment 1, when the first abutment portion 163 abuts against the rotor cover 142, the second abutment portion 164 is moved away from the rotor cover 142, and when the second abutment portion 164 abuts against the rotor cover 142, the first abutment portion 163 is moved away from the rotor cover 142. That is, the tilt connecting member 16 can be in three states: a state in which the first abutment portion 163 abuts against the rotor cover 142 and the second abutment portion 164 is away from the rotor cover 142; a state in which both the first abutment portion 163 and the second abutment portion 164 are away from the rotor cover 142; and a state in which the first abutment portion 163 is away from the rotor cover 142 and the second abutment portion 164 abuts against the rotor cover 142. With this configuration, the working unit 14 can freely rotate around the rotation axis of the working unit mounting portion 162 of the tilt connecting member 16 between a state in which the first abutment portion 163 abuts against the rotor cover 142 and the second abutment portion 164 is away from the rotor cover 142, and a state in which the first abutment portion 163 is away from the rotor cover 142 and the second abutment portion 164 abuts against the rotor cover 142, and can thereby rotate (tilt) up and down within the rotation range of the tilt connecting member 16 without the tilt cylinder 153 extending or retracting.

[0048] As described above, the working unit 14 is provided with a gauge roller 148 that moves together with the working unit 14 and rolls over the mowing surface. The gauge roller 148 follows the left-right inclination and unevenness of the mowing surface, generating an external force F that tries to rotate the working unit 14 up and down. However, the working unit 14 can freely rotate around the rotation axis of the working unit mounting part 162 of the tilt connecting member 16, and therefore can follow the left-right inclination and unevenness of the mowing surface without contracting the tilt cylinder 153. In this way, when the tilt connecting member 16 is provided not for the purpose of preventing damage to the tilt cylinder 153 due to the external force F, but for the purpose of enabling the working unit 14 to follow the left-right inclination and unevenness of the grass mowing surface, it is sufficient that the connecting members provided above and below are only the cylinder mounting part 161 (first connecting part) rotatably attached to the base end side pivot part 153a1 of the cylinder main body 153a and the working unit mounting part 162 (second connecting part) rotatably attached to the connecting member mounting part 146 erected on the rotor cover 142, and it is not necessary to provide both the first abutment part 163 and the second abutment part 164 extending in the left-right direction. In other words, it is sufficient that the connecting member is configured to be able to rotate around the cylinder mounting part 161 (first connecting part) and the working unit mounting part 162 (second connecting part) as the rotation axis when an external force due to the left-right inclination or unevenness of the grass mowing surface is applied to the working unit 14.

[0049] [Connecting parts for offset mechanism (offset connecting parts)] 7 is a diagram showing how the offset cylinder 124 is protected in the offset state of the grass cutter 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a diagram showing a state in which no external force F is applied to the working unit 14, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which an external force F is applied that rotates the working unit 14 clockwise in a top view, and a force in the compressive direction is applied to the offset cylinder 124. Note that the link rod 122 and the support frame 123 are omitted, but have the same structure as those shown in FIG. 12(b). In the first embodiment, an electric hydraulic cylinder is used as the offset cylinder 124, and has a cylinder body 124a and a rod 124b. A base end side pivot part 124a1 is provided on the base end side of the cylinder body 124a, and a tip end side pivot part 124b1 is provided on the tip end side of the rod 124b. Note that the offset cylinder 124 is not limited to an electric hydraulic cylinder, and an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like may also be used.

[0050] The tip end pivot portion 124b1 of the rod 124b is pivotally supported on the cylinder attachment portion 1113 of the hitch frame 111 so as to be freely rotatable. A base end side pivot portion 124a1 of a cylinder body 124a of the offset cylinder 124 is pivotally supported on an offset connecting member 17 so as to be freely rotatable. An offset connecting member 17 is interposed between the cylinder body 124a and the offset frame 121. The offset connecting member 17 consists of a first member 17a and a second member 17b. The first member 17a is provided with a cylinder mounting portion 171 (first connecting portion) which is rotatably attached to the base end pivot portion 124a1 of the cylinder main body 124a, and the second member 17b is provided with an offset frame mounting portion 172 (second connecting portion) which is rotatably attached to the connecting member mounting portion 121a which is erected on the offset frame 121.

[0051] With a configuration in which an offset connecting member 17 is interposed between the base end of this cylinder body 124a and a connecting member mounting portion 121a erected on the offset frame 121, when an external force F is applied to the working portion 14, the offset connecting member 17 rotates between the offset cylinder 124 and the offset frame 121, thereby preventing the external force F from being directly applied to the offset cylinder 124.

[0052] In addition, the first member 17a is provided with a first abutment portion 173 near the end (one end in the longitudinal direction) on the working unit 14 side (rear side) that abuts against the offset frame 121, and the second member 17b is provided with a second abutment portion 174 near the end (the other end in the longitudinal direction) on the mounting unit 11 side (front side) that abuts against the offset frame 121. In the first embodiment, the first contact portion 173 is configured with a rubber elastic body 175 serving as a shock absorber. Instead of the elastic body 175, a bolt with an adjustable protruding amount may be attached to serve as the first abutment portion 173, or a protruding member such as a pin with a fixed protruding amount may be attached to serve as the first abutment portion 173, or a convex portion may be integrally formed at the end portion on the working unit 14 side to serve as the first abutment portion 173. Furthermore, the surface of the end portion on the working unit 14 side may directly serve as the first abutment portion 173 that abuts against the offset frame 121. In addition, the second contact portion 174 is formed of a bolt 176 whose protrusion amount is adjustable, and the distance between the second contact portion 174 and the offset frame 121 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the bolt 176. In other words, the rotation range of the offset connecting member 17 can be adjusted. Instead of bolt 176 with an adjustable protruding amount, a protruding member such as a pin with a fixed protruding amount may be attached to serve as second abutment portion 174, or a convex portion may be integrally formed on the end portion on the mounting portion 11 side to serve as second abutment portion 174. Furthermore, the surface of the end portion on the mounting portion 11 side may serve as second abutment portion 174 that abuts against offset frame 121 as it is.

[0053] The shapes of the first member 17a and the second member 17b of the offset connecting member 17 are slightly different from the shapes of the first member 16a and the second member 16b of the tilt connecting member 16 connected to the tilt cylinder 153 described above, but since the offset connecting member 17 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the tilt connecting member 16, detailed explanations will be omitted. In addition, like the tilt connecting member 16, the offset connecting member 17 is configured so that when the first abutment portion 173 abuts against the offset frame 121, the second abutment portion 174 moves away from the offset frame 121, and when the second abutment portion 174 abuts against the offset frame 121, the first abutment portion 173 moves away from the offset frame 121. In other words, the offset connecting member 17 can be in three states: a state in which the first abutment portion 173 abuts against the offset frame 121 and the second abutment portion 174 is away from the offset frame 121; a state in which both the first abutment portion 173 and the second abutment portion 174 are away from the offset frame 121; and a state in which the first abutment portion 173 is away from the offset frame 121 and the second abutment portion 174 abuts against the offset frame 121.

[0054] When the working unit 14 receives an external force F in the forward / backward rotation direction due to shaking of the traveling vehicle body, unevenness of the ground, contact with an obstacle, etc., the force is applied to the offset cylinder 124 via the offset frame 121, and the offset cylinder 124 may be damaged. In particular, the rod 124b has a small diameter, and when a force is applied in a direction that contracts the offset cylinder 124, that is, in a direction that compresses the rod 124b in the axial direction, the rod 124b may be damaged, such as by bending. In particular, when the external force F is an impact force, the possibility of damage increases.

[0055] However, in this embodiment 1, the offset connecting member 17 is rotatably connected to the offset frame 121 and the cylinder body 124a between the offset frame 121 and the base end of the cylinder body 124a, so that the external force (especially the impact force) applied to the working unit 14 is mitigated by the action of the offset connecting member 17 as a link mechanism and applied to the offset cylinder 124, thereby preventing the offset cylinder 124 from being damaged. For example, during grass cutting operation, if the front of the working unit 14 comes into contact with an obstacle or other reason, as shown in FIG. 7(b), an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 causing it to rotate clockwise when viewed from above, i.e., if a compressive force is applied to the offset cylinder 124, the offset connecting member 17 rotates counterclockwise (first direction) when viewed from above with the offset frame mounting portion 172 as the rotation axis, thereby mitigating the transmission of the external force F to the offset cylinder 124. In addition, although not shown, when an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 causing it to rotate counterclockwise when viewed from above, that is, when a tensile force is applied to the offset cylinder 124 due to the external force on the working unit 14, the offset connecting member 17 reduces the transmission of the external force F to the offset cylinder 124.

[0056] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7(b), in order to more effectively absorb the impact, particularly when an impact force in the compression direction that may damage the rod 124b is applied, the first contact portion 173 is provided with a rubber elastic body 175. The offset connecting member 17 rotates counterclockwise (first direction) in top view about the offset frame mounting portion 172 as a rotation axis to absorb the force in the compression direction applied to the offset cylinder 124, and when the elastic body 175 contacts the offset frame 121, the elastic body 175 deforms to absorb the impact force, thereby making it possible to more effectively absorb the impact force applied to the offset cylinder 124. In Figures 7(a) and (b), elastic body 175 appears to be immersed in offset frame 121. Offset frame 121 has a generally H-shaped cross section, and the contact point between elastic body 175 and offset frame 121 is in a recessed area, and the contact point is hidden and cannot be seen in Figure 7, which is a top view. However, for the purpose of explanation, a part of elastic body 175 that is actually hidden and cannot be seen is drawn, and therefore in Figures 7(a) and (b), elastic body 175 only appears to be immersed in offset frame 121. In reality, the elastic body 175 is located slightly away from the contact point in FIG. 7(a), and is in a compressed state in contact with the contact point in FIG. 7(b).

[0057] The shock absorbing body is not limited to an elastic body, and may be a body that uses a fluid such as a damper (shock absorber) to attenuate the shock. Also, the shock absorbing body does not necessarily have to be installed. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the offset connecting member 17 has an elastic body 175 that constitutes the first abutment portion 173, but the offset connecting member 17 may not have the elastic body 175 that constitutes the first abutment portion 173, and the abutment point of the first abutment portion 173 of the offset frame 121 may have the elastic body 175, or the offset connecting member 17 may have the elastic body 175 that constitutes the first abutment portion 173, and the abutment point of the first abutment portion 173 of the offset frame 121 may have the elastic body 175. In addition, both the first contact portion 173 and the second contact portion 174 are provided, but it is sufficient that there is a contact portion in at least the direction in which the offset connecting member 17 rotates (first direction) when a compressive force is applied to the offset cylinder 124. In other words, it is not necessary to provide a contact portion by, for example, extending the side opposite to the contact portion of the offset connecting member 17.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment 1, the tilt connecting member 16 and the offset connecting member 17 are provided on both the tilt cylinder 153 side and the offset cylinder 124, respectively. However, depending on the specific configurations of the tilt cylinder and the offset cylinder and the way in which the actual external force F is applied to the working unit 14, the tilt connecting member 16 or the offset connecting member 17 may be provided on either the tilt cylinder 153 side or the offset cylinder 124.

[0059] [Variation 1] 8 is an enlarged view of the tilt cylinder 153 in a state where the right end of the working unit 14 of the grass cutter 1 of the first modified example of the present invention is rotated (rotated upward) so that the upper end faces upward, (a) is a view showing a state where an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it upward, and a force in a tensile direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and (b) is a view showing a state where an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it downward, and a force in a compressive direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. Note that the rotating shaft 151 and the support arm 152 are omitted, but the structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 4(b). In the present modified example 1, unlike the first embodiment, the second contact portion 164 is also configured with an elastic body 165 made of rubber. With this configuration, even if an impact force in the tensile direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, as shown in Figure 8 (a), the elastic body 165 deforms and absorbs the impact force, thereby making it possible to significantly reduce the impact force applied to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0060] [Variation 2] 9 is an enlarged view of the tilt cylinder 153 in a state where the right end of the working unit 14 of the grass cutter 1 of the second modified example of the present invention is rotated (rotated upward) so that the upper end faces upward, (a) is a view showing a state where an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it upward, and a tensile force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and (b) is a view showing a state where an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it downward, and a compressive force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. Note that the rotating shaft 151 and the support arm 152 are omitted, but the structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 4(b). In the present modified example 2, unlike the first embodiment, a coil spring is used as the elastic body 165. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 9(b), when a compressive impact force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, the elastic body 165, which is a coil spring, deforms and absorbs the impact force, thereby making it possible to significantly reduce the impact force applied to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0061] [Variation 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a tilt connecting member 16 according to the third modified example of the present invention. The tilt connecting member 16 of the third modified example differs from the tilt connecting member 16 of the first embodiment in the shapes of the contact plate 16a1 and the two mounting plates 16a2 and 16a3 of the first member 16a, and the mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b. In particular, the major difference is the shape of the mounting plate 16b2 of the second member 16b, and in this third modification, a recess 16b3 is provided on one side of the mounting plate 16b2 on the rotor cover 142 side (offset frame 121 side). The recess 16b3 is provided to prevent interference between other components provided on the rotor cover 142 or the offset frame 121 and the second member 16b. Moreover, the tilt connecting member 16 of the third modified example of the present invention can also be used as the offset connecting member 17. In this case, when another component is provided on the offset frame 121, the recess 16b3 makes it possible to prevent interference between this component and the second member 16b.

[0062] [Embodiment 2] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the tilt cylinder 153 when the right end of the working unit 14 of the grass cutter 1 of embodiment 2 of the present invention is rotated (rotated upward) so that the upper right end portion faces upward, (a) is a view of a state in which an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it downward, and a tensile force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, and (b) is a view of a state in which an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it upward, and a compressive force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153. In embodiment 1, a tilt connecting member 16 is interposed between the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14, and the tilt connecting member 16 acts as a link mechanism so that the external force applied to the working unit 14 is reduced and transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153. In embodiment 2, the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 are slidably connected to each other, so that the external force applied to the working unit 14 is reduced and transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0063] A tilt cylinder attachment portion 149 for attaching a base end portion of a cylinder body 153a of a tilt cylinder 153 is provided upright on the rotor cover 142 of the working portion 14. That is, the tilt cylinder 153 has the tip side pivot portion 153b1 (one end) of the rod 153b connected to the offset mechanism portion 12 (first component member) via the front gear case 134 to which the support arm 152 is fixed, and the base end portion (the other end) of the cylinder body 153a connected to the working portion 14 (second component member) via the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 having a sliding pin 153a2 and a sliding hole 1491. The tilt cylinder attachment portion 149 has an attachment plate 149a extending in the left-right direction, and a contact plate 149b attached so as to be perpendicular to the attachment plate 149a (extending in the front-rear direction). The mounting plate 149a is formed with a slide hole 1491 which is an elongated hole extending in the left-right direction (the axial direction of the tilt cylinder 153). A sliding pin 153a2 slidably inserted into the sliding hole 1491 is connected to the base end of the cylinder body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153, so that the base end of the cylinder body 153a and the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 are slidably connected to each other.

[0064] In this way, because the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 are slidably connected, when an external force is applied to the working unit 14, the external force is mitigated by the sliding of the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 and is transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153, thereby preventing damage to the tilt cylinder 153, particularly to the rod 153b.

[0065] As the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 slide, the sliding pin 153a2 can move freely between the left and right ends of the sliding hole 1491, so that within this range, the working unit 14 can freely rotate (tilt) up and down even if the tilt cylinder 153 does not extend or retract. Then, in the second embodiment as well, the working unit 14 can follow the inclination and unevenness in the left-right direction of the grass cutting surface.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment 2, a rubber elastic body 1492 is attached to the abutment plate 149b of the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149, and an abutment body 153a3 that abuts against the elastic body 1492 is provided at the base end of the cylinder main body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153. As shown in Fig. 11(b), when an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it upward and a force in the compression direction is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, the abutting body 153a3 of the tilt cylinder 153 abuts against the elastic body 1492 of the tilt cylinder mounting part 149 before the sliding pin 153a2 abuts against the right end of the sliding hole 1491. In addition to the sliding of the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14, the elastic body 1492 further reduces the impact transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153, so that damage to the tilt cylinder 153, particularly the rod 153b, can be more effectively prevented. In Fig. 11(b), the abutting body 153a3 appears to be fitted into the elastic body 1492, but in reality, the elastic body 1492 is compressed and deformed by the abutting body 153a3.

[0067] In this embodiment 2, the sliding hole 1491 is provided in the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 of the working unit 14, and the sliding pin 153a2 is provided in the cylinder body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153, but conversely, the sliding pin may be provided in the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 of the working unit 14, and the sliding hole may be provided in the cylinder body 153a of the tilt cylinder 153. In addition, a combination of a sliding hole and a sliding pin is used as a configuration for slidably connecting the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 to each other, but this is not limited to this, and a combination of a sliding groove and a sliding piece, or two cylindrical members fitted together in the axial direction, etc. may also be used. The shock absorbing body is not limited to the rubber elastic body 1492, but may be a coil spring as in the modified example 2 of the embodiment 1, or may be a device that uses a fluid such as a damper (shock absorber) to attenuate shock. Also, the shock absorbing body does not necessarily have to be installed. In this embodiment 2, an elastic body 1492 is provided on the abutment plate 149b of the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149, but the elastic body 1492 is not limited to being provided on the abutment plate 149b of the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149, and may be provided on the abutment body 153a3 of the tilt cylinder 153, or may be provided on both the abutment plate 149b and the abutment body 153a3. In addition, the contact body 153a3 itself may be made of an elastic body. In this case, the elastic body 1492 may or may not be attached to the contact plate 149b. Furthermore, it is also possible to have the base end portion of the cylinder body 153a come into contact with the elastic body 1492 at an appropriate location without attaching the contact body 153a3 to the base end portion of the cylinder body 153a.

[0068] In addition, the abutment plate 149b of the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 may be provided on the tilt cylinder 153 side of the sliding hole 1491 of the mounting plate 149a, and a notch may be provided in the abutment plate 149b through which the base end of the tilt cylinder 153 can be inserted, and an elastic body 1492 may be attached to this abutment plate 149b, so that the base end of the tilt cylinder 153 or the abutment body 153a3 attached to the sliding pin 153a2 abuts against this elastic body 1492. In this configuration, when an external force F is applied to the working unit 14 to rotate it downward and a tensile force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153, the abutment body 153a3 of the tilt cylinder 153 abuts against the elastic body 1492 of the tilt cylinder mounting portion 149 before the sliding pin 153a2 abuts against the left end of the sliding hole 1491. In this case, in addition to the sliding between the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14, the elastic body 1492 further reduces the impact transmitted to the tilt cylinder 153, thereby more effectively preventing damage to the tilt cylinder 153, particularly to the rod 153b. It is preferable that the elastic body 1492 is provided at a location where the cylinder main body 153a comes into contact when a compressive force is applied to the tilt cylinder 153.

[0069] It goes without saying that the sliding mechanism used between the tilt cylinder 153 and the working unit 14 described above may be used between the offset cylinder 124 and the offset frame 121.

[0070] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, variant 1, variant 2, variant 3 and embodiment 2, a grass cutter has been used as an example of an agricultural work machine, but the agricultural work machine may be any machine that allows the agricultural work machine or a part of it to be displaced, such as one that can rotate up and down or move offset, or one that allows part of the agricultural work machine to be folded and unfolded, and examples of such machines include a ridge painting machine, a harrow, a rotary tiller, a rice transplanter, a boom sprayer, etc.

[0071] As described above, the grass cutter 1 of embodiment 1, variant 1, variant 2, variant 3 and embodiment 2 of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to embodiment 1, variant 1, variant 2, variant 3 and embodiment 2, and even if there are design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention, they are included in the present invention. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment 1, variant 1, variant 2, variant 3 and embodiment 2 can be combined by reusing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1. Grass trimmer 11 Mounting part 111 Hitch frame 1111 Top link connection part 1112 Lower link connection 1113 Cylinder mounting part 112 Gearbox 113 Grass trimmer input shaft 12 Offset mechanism 121 Offset Frame 121a Connecting member attachment part 121b Offset cylinder mounting part 122 Link rod 123 Support Frame 124 Offset Cylinder 124a Cylinder body 124a1 Proximal pivot 124b Rod 124b1 Tip side pivot 13 Power transmission section 131 Drive sprocket 132 Driven sprocket 133 Roller Chain 134 Front gear case 135 Cylindrical part 135a Upper cylindrical part 135b Lower tubular part 135b1 Flange part 14 Working section 141 Working rotor 141a Rotating shaft 141b Bracket 141c grass cutting blade 142 Rotor cover 143 Side Panel 144 Blade drive unit 144a Drive pulley 144b Driven pulley 145 Rear gear case 145a Working input shaft 146 Connecting member attachment part 147 Tilt cylinder mounting part 148 Gauge Roller 148a Arm 148b Roller body 149 Tilt cylinder mounting part 149a Mounting plate 149b Contact plate 1491 Sliding hole 1492 Elastic body 15 Rotation mechanism 151 Rotating shaft 152 Support Arm 153 Tilt cylinder 153a Cylinder body 153a1 Proximal pivot 153a2 Sliding pin 153a3 Contact body 153b Rod 153b1 Tip side pivot 154 Pivot bracket 16 Tilt connecting member 16a First member 16a1 Contact plate 16a2, 16a3 mounting plate 16b Second member 16b1 Contact plate 16b2 Mounting plate 16b3 Recess 16c Joint material 161 Cylinder mounting part 162 Work part attachment part 1621 Cylindrical member 163 1st contact part 164 2nd contact part 165 Elastic Body 166 Volts 17 Offset connecting member 17a First member 17b Second member 171 Cylinder mounting part 172 Offset frame mounting part 173 1st contact part 174 Second contact part 175 Elastic Body 176 Volts 2 Running vehicle 21 Rear tires 22 Three-point linkage mechanism 23 PTO shaft

Claims

1. A first component member; A second component member; an extendable member having one end rotatably connected to the first component and extending and contracting to change the position of the second component relative to the first component; A connecting member that is rotatably connected to the second component member and to the other end of the telescopic member, The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a first abutment portion that abuts against the second component member when the connecting member is rotated in a first direction.

2. 2. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a second abutment portion that abuts against the second component member when the connecting member rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. 2. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first contact portion is constituted by an impact absorbing material and / or the contact point of the second component member corresponding to the first contact portion is provided with an impact absorbing material.

4. 3. An agricultural machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the first abutment portion is constituted by an impact absorbing material and / or the abutment portion of the second component member corresponding to the first abutment portion is equipped with an impact absorbing material, and / or the second abutment portion is constituted by an impact absorbing material and / or the abutment portion of the second component member corresponding to the second abutment portion is equipped with an impact absorbing material.

5. An agricultural machine described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first direction is the direction in which the connecting member rotates when an external force is applied to the second component member such that a force is applied to the telescopic member in a direction that contracts the telescopic member.

6. A first component member; A second component member; An agricultural work machine including an extendable member, one end of which is rotatably connected to the first component and which changes a relative position of the second component with respect to the first component by extension and retraction, An agricultural machine, characterized in that one end of the telescopic member and the second component member are slidably connected to each other.

7. 7. The agricultural machine according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one end portion and the second component member is provided with a shock absorbing body capable of coming into contact with the other of the one end portion and the second component member.

8. A connecting member is rotatably connected to the other end of an extendable member, the one end of which is rotatably connected to a first component of an agricultural working machine and the other end of which is rotatably connected to a second component of the agricultural working machine, and the connecting member is rotatably connected to the second component, A connecting member comprising a first contact portion that contacts the second component member when rotated in a first direction.

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