Farm work vehicle
By positioning a pair of fertilizer tanks below the floor of the agricultural work vehicle, the workability of fertilizer replenishment is improved, addressing the inefficiencies of conventional designs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023194500
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Conventional agricultural work vehicles have poor workability when replenishing fertilizer due to the placement of the fertilizer tank behind the operator's seat, requiring lifting of the fertilizer container to a step behind the seat.
The agricultural work vehicle features a pair of fertilizer tanks arranged at both ends in the left-right direction below the floor of the traveling body, allowing for easier replenishment and improving workability.
This configuration enhances the workability of fertilizer replenishment by reducing the height required for lifting the fertilizer container and stabilizing the center of gravity of the vehicle.
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Figure 2025081024000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural work vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, a rice transplanter equipped with a fertilizer tank for supplying fertilizer to a field has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses an agricultural work vehicle equipped with a fertilizer tank.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, in conventional agricultural work vehicles, the fertilizer tank was arranged behind the seat of the traveling body. For this reason, when replenishing the fertilizer tank with fertilizer, it was necessary to lift the fertilizer container up to the step behind the seat, and the workability of the replenishment work was poor.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an agricultural work vehicle capable of improving the workability of fertilizer replenishment work.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The agricultural work vehicle according to the present invention includes a traveling body, a field working machine, and a fertilizer application device. The traveling body has a floor on which an operator rides. The field working machine is connected to the traveling body and performs work on the field. The fertilizer application device is supported by the traveling body and supplies fertilizer to the field. The fertilizer application device has a fertilizer tank. The pair of fertilizer tanks are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the traveling body in a plan view below the floor.
Effects of the Invention
[0007] According to the agricultural work vehicle of the present invention, the workability of the fertilizer replenishment work can be improved.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description will not be repeated.
[0010] (1) Overall Configuration Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the agricultural work vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the overall configuration of the agricultural work vehicle 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view of the agricultural work vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the agricultural work vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] In the following description, with reference to the operator who drives the agricultural work vehicle 1, the directions of the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are defined respectively. And in each drawing, the structure is described using front (Fr), rear (Rr), left (L), right (R), up (U), and down (Lo).
[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the agricultural work vehicle 1 includes a traveling body 10, a field working machine 20, a lifting device 30, and a fertilizer applicator 40. The agricultural work vehicle 1 is a device used, for example, for transplanting rice seedlings, and performs the seedling transplanting work with the field working machine 20 while traveling in the field by the traveling body 10. Note that the agricultural work vehicle 1 may be a vehicle used for agricultural work different from seedling transplanting, such as transplanting, sowing, or tilling of vegetables or grains.
[0013] (1-1) Configuration of the traveling body 10 First, the configuration of the traveling body 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the traveling body 10 is composed of a body capable of traveling in the field. The traveling body 10 includes a vehicle body part 11, an engine 12, a steering wheel 13, a main transmission lever 14, a sub-transmission lever 15, and a transmission case (not shown).
[0014] The vehicle body part 11 includes front wheels 11A and rear wheels 11B. The front wheels 11A are provided in a pair on the left and right with respect to the vehicle body part 11. Similarly, the rear wheels 11B are also provided in a pair on the left and right with respect to the vehicle body part 11. The vehicle body part 11 has a floor F (see Fig. 2) used when an operator boards. The floor F protrudes outward in the left-right direction.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle body part 11 includes a bonnet 11C. The bonnet 11C is provided at the front part of the vehicle body part 11. The engine 12 is provided inside the bonnet 11C. The power generated by the engine 12 is transmitted to the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B via the transmission case.
[0016] The transmission case is arranged behind the engine 12. The transmission case has a stepped transmission. The stepped transmission transmits the power generated by the engine 12 to the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B according to the operations of the main transmission lever 14 and the sub-transmission lever 15 by the operator.
[0017] The vehicle body part 11 is provided with a driver's seat 11D. An operator can sit on the driver's seat 11D. The driver's seat 11D is arranged between the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body part 11.
[0018] The steering wheel 13 is a handle for the operator to steer the agricultural work vehicle 1. The steering wheel 13 is arranged in front of the driver's seat 11D in the vehicle body part 11.
[0019] The main transmission lever 14 is a lever that accepts operations such as "forward", "reverse", and "neutral". The main transmission lever 14 is arranged next to the steering wheel 13 in the vehicle body part 11.
[0020] When the main transmission lever 14 is operated to the "forward" position, the transmission case transmits power to rotate the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B in the direction in which the agricultural work vehicle 1 moves forward. On the other hand, when the main transmission lever 14 is operated to the "reverse" position, the transmission case transmits power to rotate the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B in the direction in which the agricultural work vehicle 1 moves backward. And when the main transmission lever 14 is operated to the "neutral" position, the transmission case cuts off the power transmission to the front wheels 11A and the rear wheels 11B. The main transmission lever 14 can further switch between "low speed" and "high speed" among the forward speeds. "Low speed" is used, for example, when driving while working in the field. "High speed" is used, for example, when driving on the rural road outside the field.
[0021] The auxiliary transmission lever 15 is an operating lever that can switch the rotational speed of the engine 12.
[0022] (1-2) Configuration of the field working machine 20 Next, the configuration of the field working machine 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the field working machine 20 is arranged behind the vehicle body part 11 and is connected to the traveling body 10 via a lifting device 30. The field working machine 20 is a device for performing work in the field.
[0023] The field working machine 20 includes a seedling mounting table 21, a planting unit 22, an inter-plant spacing speed change device 23, and a PTO shaft 24.
[0024] The seedling mounting table 21 is a table on which a seedling mat on which seedlings are raised is loaded. As shown in FIG. 1, the seedling mounting table 21 is disposed in front of and above the planting unit 22. The mounting surface of the seedling mounting table 21 on which the seedling mat is placed is inclined so as to become lower toward the rear.
[0025] The seedling mounting table 21 supplies the seedlings of the seedling mat loaded on the mounting surface of the seedling mounting table 21 to the planting unit 22. The seedling mounting table 21 has a mechanism that reciprocates in the left-right direction. In other words, the seedling mounting table 21 is slidably supported in the left-right direction. Further, the seedling mounting table 21 intermittently conveys the seedling mat downward at the reciprocating end of the seedling mounting table 21. Thereby, among the seedling mats loaded on the mounting surface of the seedling mounting table 21, the seedlings located at the lower end are sequentially supplied to the planting unit 22.
[0026] The inter-plant spacing speed change device 23 is a device that changes the operating speed of a transplanting mechanism 22C described later with respect to the traveling speed of the traveling machine body 10 to change the distance between seedlings. Power from the transmission case is transmitted to the inter-plant spacing speed change device 23. The power transmitted from the transmission case is speed-changed by a gear group built in the inter-plant spacing speed change device 23 and transmitted to the planting unit 22 by the PTO shaft 24.
[0027] The PTO shaft 24 is connected to the inter-plant spacing speed change device 23 and the planting unit 22 via a universal joint.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the planting unit 22 includes a main frame (not shown), a center case (not shown), a transplanting mechanism 22C, and a planting transmission case 22D.
[0029] The main frame is a rod-shaped member having the longitudinal direction in the left-right direction. The main frame supports the seedling mounting table 21 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.
[0030] The center case is arranged at the center in the left - right direction of the main frame. The PTO shaft 24 is connected to the center case. The center case transmits the power transmitted from the inter - row speed change device 23 via the PTO shaft 24 to the planting transmission case 22D via the planting drive shaft 22G (see Fig. 1) extending in the left - right direction.
[0031] The planting transmission case 22D is arranged at a plurality of locations in the left - right direction at substantially equal intervals behind the main frame. The planting drive shaft 22G is connected to the planting transmission case 22D as an input shaft. A pair of left - right transplanting mechanisms 22C are provided in the planting transmission case 22D.
[0032] The transplanting mechanism 22C continuously plants the seedlings sequentially supplied from the seedling mounting table 21. A plurality of transplanting mechanisms 22C are provided in the field working machine 20. The number of the transplanting mechanisms 22C can be arbitrarily selected.
[0033] The transplanting mechanism 22C is driven by the power transmitted from the inter - row speed change device 23 via the PTO shaft 24. Specifically, the rotational force shifted by the inter - row speed change device 23 is transmitted to the transplanting mechanism 22C by the planting transmission case 22D.
[0034] The transplanting mechanism 22C includes a rotating case 22E and planting claws 22F. The rotating case 22E has a rotating shaft extending in the left - right direction and rotates around the rotating shaft with the transmission of power.
[0035] A plurality of planting claws 22F are arranged along the front - rear direction and attached to the rotating case 22E. In the example of Fig. 1, two planting claws 22F are attached to the rotating case 22E.
[0036] The planting claws 22F operate when the rotating case 22E rotates due to the power transmitted from the planting transmission case 22D. Specifically, the planting claws 22F pick up one - row - worth of seedlings from the seedling mat with the rotation of the rotating case 22E and perform the operation of planting them at substantially equal intervals inside the paddy field.
[0037] The field working machine 20 moves the seedling mounting table 21 in the left - right direction along the main frame. In conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the seedling mounting table 21 to the left and right, the transplanting mechanism 22C takes out seedlings from the seedling mounting table 21 and plants them in the field.
[0038] In addition, the traveling body 10 is provided with a spare seedling mounting table 25. The spare seedling mounting table 25 is provided in front of the vehicle body part 11 in a pair on the left and right with respect to the vehicle body part 11, and in four steps in the vertical direction. The spare seedling mounting table 25 is arranged outside the vehicle body part 11 in the left - right direction of the bonnet 11C. A spare seedling mat is loaded on the spare seedling mounting table 25. Note that the number of steps of the spare seedling mounting table 25 can be arbitrarily changed. When the seedling mat on the seedling mounting table 21 runs out due to planting, the operator performs an operation of moving the seedling mat on the spare seedling mounting table 25 to the seedling mounting table 21. This operation is called a seedling - replenishing operation.
[0039] (1 - 3) Configuration of the lifting device 30 Next, the configuration of the lifting device 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting device 30 includes a lifting link mechanism 31 and a lifting cylinder 32.
[0040] The lifting link mechanism 31 is composed of a parallel link including a top link and a lower link. A lifting cylinder 32 is connected to the lifting link mechanism 31.
[0041] The lifting device 30 supports the field working machine 20 in a liftable manner by extending and retracting the lifting cylinder 32. In this embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder is adopted for the lifting cylinder 32. Note that the lifting cylinder 32 may be an electric cylinder. Also, the lifting device 30 may lift the field working machine 20 by an actuator other than a cylinder.
[0042] (1 - 4) Configuration of the fertilizer application device 40 Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration of the fertilizer application device 40 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the agricultural working vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fertilizer tank 41 shown in FIG. 3.
[0043] As shown in Fig. 3, the fertilizer applicator 40 is a device that is connected to the traveling body 10 and supplies fertilizer to the field. As shown in Fig. 4, the fertilizer applicator 40 includes a fertilizer tank 41, a pump 42, a fertilizer hose 43, a fertilizer nozzle 44 (see Fig. 2), and a discharge nozzle 45.
[0044] As shown in Fig. 4, the fertilizer tank 41 is a tank that stores paste-like fertilizer. The fertilizer tank 41 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of fertilizer tanks 41 are arranged at both ends in the left-right direction below the floor F of the traveling body 10. The pair of fertilizer tanks 41 have the same size and shape as each other. A stirrer (not shown) is built into the fertilizer tank 41, and the stored fertilizer is stirred by the stirrer.
[0045] In this way, since the fertilizer tank 41 is arranged below the floor F of the traveling body 10, when replenishing the fertilizer tank 41 with fertilizer, the height of lifting the fertilizer container can be reduced. Thereby, the workability of the fertilizer replenishment work can be improved.
[0046] Also, since a pair of fertilizer tanks 41 are arranged on the left and right, the left-right direction center of gravity balance of the agricultural work vehicle 1 can be stabilized. Furthermore, since the fertilizer tank 41 is arranged below the floor F, it is possible to prevent the feet of the operator boarding the vehicle body 11 from interfering with the fertilizer tank 41. Also, it is possible to prevent the forward visibility of the operator boarding the agricultural work vehicle 1 from being blocked by the fertilizer tank 41.
[0047] As shown in Fig. 1, the fertilizer tank 41 is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The front end portion of the fertilizer tank 41 is located in front of the front wheel 11A. The rear end portion of the fertilizer tank 41 is located behind the front wheel 11A. In this way, since the fertilizer tank 41 extends so as to exceed the front wheel 11A in the front-rear direction, the center of gravity position of the fertilizer tank 41 can be brought closer to the central portion in the front-rear direction of the traveling body 10. Therefore, the front-rear direction center of gravity balance of the agricultural work vehicle 1 can be stabilized.
[0048] The pump 42 shown in Fig. 4 is arranged below the rear end of the fertilizer tank 41. The pump 42 supplies the fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 41 to the field through the fertilizer hose 43 and the fertilizer nozzle 44. In this way, since the pump 42 is arranged at the rear end of the fertilizer tank 41, the pump 42 can be arranged near the center in the front-rear direction of the traveling machine body 10. Thereby, the balance of the center of gravity in the front-rear direction of the agricultural work vehicle 1 can be made more stable.
[0049] Also, since the pump 42 is arranged below the fertilizer tank 41, the fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 41 can be efficiently supplied to the field by the pump 42.
[0050] The fertilizer hose 43 is connected to the side surface of the pump 42. The fertilizer hose 43 is laid so as to extend rearward from the pump 42 through below the traveling machine body 10 and below the seedling mounting table 21, and is connected to the fertilizer nozzle 44. Four fertilizer hoses 43 are connected to one pump 42.
[0051] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fertilizer nozzle 44 is arranged near each of the plurality of transplanting mechanisms 22C and extends rearward. The number of the fertilizer nozzles 44 is set according to the number of the transplanting mechanisms 22C. In the illustrated example, the number of the fertilizer nozzles 44 coincides with the number of the transplanting mechanisms 22C. The fertilizer nozzle 44 extracts fertilizer from the tip into the inside of the field along with the traveling operation during the seedling planting operation by the agricultural work vehicle 1.
[0052] The discharge port of the fertilizer nozzle 44 is arranged so as to be buried in the ground of the field. The tip of the fertilizer nozzle 44 can change the angle of extending rearward in a side view. Therefore, the depth of the inside of the field where the discharge port of the fertilizer nozzle 44 reaches can be adjusted.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge nozzle 45 is connected to the side surface of the pump 42. The discharge nozzle 45 is a nozzle used for discharging the fertilizer stored in the fertilizer tank 41 after the use of the agricultural work vehicle 1. The fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 41 can be discharged by the discharge nozzle 45.
[0054] At least a part of the bottom of the fertilizer tank 41 is inclined downward as it goes backward. The fertilizer tank 41 is larger in the vertical direction at the rear than at the front. In this way, since the bottom of the fertilizer tank 41 is inclined, the fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 41 can be smoothly supplied to the pump 42 by its own weight.
[0055] A supply port 41A for replenishing fertilizer is arranged at the front end of the fertilizer tank 41. A lid 41B is provided on the supply port 41A. Therefore, the workability of the operator's work of replenishing the fertilizer into the fertilizer tank 41 can be further improved.
[0056] (2) Modification In the above embodiment, a configuration in which a pair of fertilizer tanks 41 are arranged on the left and right is shown, but this is not the only case. There may be one fertilizer tank 41.
[0057] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist thereof. In addition, the plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiments can be appropriately modified. For example, a component among all the components shown in one embodiment may be added to the components of another embodiment, or some of the components among all the components shown in one embodiment may be deleted from the embodiment.
[0058] In addition, for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the invention, the drawings schematically show each component mainly. The thickness, length, number, interval, etc. of each illustrated component may be different from the actual ones for convenience in drawing preparation. Also, it goes without saying that the configuration of each component shown in the above embodiments is an example and is not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention.
[0059] This application discloses the following appendices. The following appendices do not limit the present invention.
[0060] (Appendix 1) An agricultural work vehicle comprising: a traveling machine body having a floor on which an operator rides; a field working machine connected to the traveling machine body for performing work in a field; a fertilizer application device supported by the traveling machine body for supplying fertilizer to the field. The fertilizer application device has a fertilizer tank, and the fertilizer tank is arranged in a pair at both ends in the left-right direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the traveling machine body in plan view below the floor.
[0061] (Appendix 2) The traveling machine body has front wheels and rear wheels, the fertilizer tank is formed to extend in the front-rear direction, the front end portion of the fertilizer tank is located in front of the front wheels, and the rear end portion of the fertilizer tank is located behind the front wheels. The agricultural work vehicle according to Appendix 1.
[0062] (Appendix 3) The fertilizer application device has a pump, and the pump is arranged at the rear end portion of the fertilizer tank for supplying the fertilizer in the fertilizer tank to the field. The field working machine according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2.
[0063] (Appendix 4) The pump is arranged below the fertilizer tank. The agricultural work vehicle according to Appendix 3.
[0064] (Appendix 5) The agricultural work vehicle according to Appendix 3 or Appendix 4, wherein the bottom of the fertilizer tank slopes downward toward the rear.
[0065] (Appendix 6) The agricultural work vehicle according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4, wherein a replenishment port for replenishing the fertilizer is arranged at the front end of the fertilizer tank.
Industrial Applicability
[0066] The present invention is applicable to the field of agricultural machinery.
Explanation of Signs
[0067] 1: Agricultural work vehicle 10: Traveling body 11: Vehicle body part 11A: Front wheel 11B: Rear wheel 20: Field working machine 40: Fertilizing device 41: Fertilizer tank 41A: Replenishment port 41B: Lid 42: Pump 43: Fertilizing hose 44: Fertilizing nozzle 45: Discharge nozzle
Claims
1. A traveling machine body having a floor on which an operator rides, a field working machine connected to the traveling machine body and performing work in a field, a fertilizer applicator supported by the traveling machine body and supplying fertilizer to the field are provided, the fertilizer applicator has a fertilizer tank, the fertilizer tank is arranged in a pair at both ends in the left-right direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the traveling machine body in a plan view below the floor, an agricultural work vehicle.
2. The traveling machine body has front wheels and rear wheels, the fertilizer tank is formed to extend in the front-rear direction, the front end portion of the fertilizer tank is located in front of the front wheels, the rear end portion of the fertilizer tank is located behind the front wheels, the agricultural work vehicle according to claim 1.
3. The fertilizer applicator has a pump, the pump is arranged at the rear end portion of the fertilizer tank and supplies the fertilizer in the fertilizer tank to the field, the agricultural work vehicle according to claim 2.
4. The pump is arranged below the fertilizer tank, the agricultural work vehicle according to claim 3.
5. The bottom of the fertilizer tank slopes downward toward the rear, the agricultural work vehicle according to claim 4.
6. A replenishment port for replenishing the fertilizer is arranged at the front end portion of the fertilizer tank, the agricultural work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Sulky rice transplanter
JP2001128510A