Work vehicle

Abstract

To improve a structure which takes cooling air from a cooling device into a housing which houses cooling object devices to realize a compact duct pipe structure.SOLUTION: A work vehicle 1 includes: a cooling device 51; a first cooling object device 50 and a second cooling object device 37 which are cooled by cooling air discharged from the cooling device 51; a first cooling housing 24 which houses the first cooling object device 50; and a second cooling housing 36 which houses the second cooling object device 37. The first cooling housing 24 is provided with an intake port 24h for taking air which is discharged from the second cooling housing 36 after cooling the second cooling object device 37.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a work vehicle for performing operations such as agricultural work.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, regarding agricultural work and the like using work vehicles, the work form has shifted from the manual operation form in which the operator gets into the vehicle to the remote control type work form in which the operator remotely controls the vehicle using a terminal device or the like, or the autonomous driving type work form in which the vehicle is driven by GPS along a route set in the field. That is, the work form is shifting to a work form in which the work vehicle runs unmanned.

[0003] Therefore, regarding the form of the vehicle as well, it is conceivable to change from the conventional tractor type equipped with a driver's seat to a more convenient form for executing the intended work such as agricultural work. For example, an unmanned work vehicle including a vehicle body and left and right traveling structures having wheels and the like arranged on both left and right sides of the vehicle body is used, and the vehicle body is arranged in a state of being spanned over ridges, and the left and right traveling structures are arranged on both left and right sides of the ridges to perform agricultural work or the like.

[0004] In addition, in such a work vehicle, it is conceivable to arrange a battery as a driving power source for a work device or the like connected to the vehicle body in the vehicle body, and to arrange another battery as a driving source for an electric motor for driving the wheels in the traveling structure.

[0005] Here, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique for cooling a battery pack mounted on a work vehicle or the like with an air cooling system is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In the above-described unmanned work vehicle, when a battery is separately mounted on both the vehicle body and the traveling structure, when considering a configuration in which air from the air conditioner is sent as cooling air to the cases for storing the respective batteries, the duct structure is important in configuring such an air-cooling system.

[0008] In realizing this duct structure, in addition to the problem of how to efficiently send cooling air to the battery cases distributed on the vehicle body and the traveling structure as described above, various problems need to be solved, such as making a compact piping structure in consideration of the arrangement space of other devices. The duct structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a simple configuration in which cooling air is circulated between the battery case and the air conditioner, and does not consider the arrangement of the battery pack in the work vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, in order to realize compact piping of the duct and shortening of the duct, it is conceivable to devise the passage structure of the cooling air in the case for storing the battery. However, the battery case structure shown in Patent Document 1 does not show a technical solution in this regard.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cooling device, a first cooling target device and a second cooling target device cooled by cooling air discharged from the cooling device, a first cooling housing for housing the first cooling target device, and a second cooling housing for housing the second cooling target device, and an intake port for taking in air discharged from the second cooling housing after cooling the second cooling target device is provided in the first cooling housing.

[0011] In the first cooling housing, a cooling air passage for blowing the cooling air from the cooling device onto the first device to be cooled and an exhaust air passage for discharging the air after cooling the first device to be cooled to the cooling device may be formed. The air from the second cooling housing introduced into the first cooling housing from the intake may be merged with the air in the exhaust air passage.

[0012] In the first cooling housing, a first air guiding device for guiding air from the cooling air passage to the exhaust air passage and a second air guiding device for guiding air from the intake to the exhaust air passage may be provided.

[0013] In the first cooling housing, a partition plate may be provided above the first device to be cooled, and a space below the partition plate in the first cooling housing may be the cooling air passage, and a space above the partition plate may be the exhaust air passage.

[0014] In the first cooling housing, a vertical communication passage communicating the outlet of the cooling air passage and the inlet of the exhaust air passage may be provided along the end of the partition plate. A first air guiding device for guiding air from the cooling air passage to the lower part of the communication passage may be provided at the outlet of the cooling air passage. At the upper part of the communication passage, the intake and a second air guiding device for guiding the air introduced from the intake to the inlet of the exhaust air passage may be provided.

[0015] The first air guiding device and the second air guiding device may be fans.

[0016] At least one of the first device to be cooled and the second device to be cooled may be a battery.

[0017] The work vehicle includes a vehicle body and a traveling structure provided on the side of the vehicle body, and the cooling device and the first cooling housing may be arranged on the vehicle body, and the second cooling housing may be arranged on the traveling structure.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, by providing an intake port for taking in air from the second cooling housing in the first cooling housing, the duct from the second cooling housing can be shortened to the intake port of the first cooling housing without extending it to the cooling device. In the first cooling housing, the air after cooling the first device to be cooled and the air after cooling the second device to be cooled can be merged and discharged. By shortening the duct and the like, a large free space for arranging other devices can be secured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the work vehicle 1 according to the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 14 are views showing one embodiment (the first embodiment) of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 5 is a front view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the work vehicle 1. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the work vehicle 1.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the work vehicle 1 with the vehicle body 2 raised. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the work vehicle 1 with the right part of the vehicle body 2 expanded. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the structure of the center battery case 24. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the structure of the side battery case 36. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the water cooling circuit R1 in the vehicle body 2. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the water cooling circuit R2 in the traveling structure 3. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the control system structure of the work vehicle 1.

[0022] In the following description, the direction pointed by the arrow X1 in FIG. 1 is defined as the front, the direction pointed by the arrow X2 as the rear, the direction pointed by the arrow Y1 as the left, the direction pointed by the arrow Y2 as the right, the direction pointed by the arrow Z1 as the upper, and the direction pointed by the arrow Z2 as the lower.

[0023] Examples of the work performed by the work vehicle 1 include, but are not limited to, work related to agriculture, work related to industry (such as civil engineering and construction), work related to transportation, etc. In the case of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the work performed by the work vehicle 1 is work related to agriculture (farming). Hereinafter, the case where the work performed by the work vehicle 1 is farming will be described as an example. In this case, the work vehicle 1 is an agricultural work vehicle.

[0024] The basic structure of the work vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, FIG. 14, etc. The work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a left traveling structure 3L disposed on the left side of the vehicle body 2, and a right traveling structure 3R disposed on the right side of the vehicle body 2. Hereinafter, each of the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R may be referred to as the traveling structure 3.

[0025] The vehicle body 2 is provided with a PTO shaft 65 (see FIG. 14) for transmitting driving force to a work device (implement) connected to the work vehicle 1 at its rear end portion or the like, and a connecting device 60 (see FIG. 14) for connecting the work device to the work vehicle 1 can be mounted.

[0026] Regarding the structure of the connecting device 60, various structures can be considered according to the type of work implement (implement), etc. A typical structure is a three-point link mechanism having a pair of left and right lower links and one top link.

[0027] In addition, it is assumed that the work implement can be connected to a part other than the rear end of the vehicle body 2 of the work vehicle 1 (for example, the front end) and can receive driving force from the work vehicle 1. Alternatively, the work vehicle 1 can be provided with a work implement in a state where it is mounted on the vehicle body 2, for example, without providing a connecting device.

[0028] The configuration of the vehicle body 2 disposed between the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R and various devices provided on the vehicle body 2 will be described.

[0029] The vehicle body 2 has a vehicle body frame structure 20, a center battery case (front main body case) 24 supported by the vehicle body frame structure 20, and a PTO case (rear main body case) 26.

[0030] The vehicle body frame structure 20 has a vehicle body center frame 21, a left vehicle body side frame 22L disposed on the left side of the vehicle body center frame 21, and a right vehicle body side frame 22R disposed on the right side of the vehicle body center frame 21. Hereinafter, each of the left vehicle body side frame 22L and the right vehicle body side frame 22R may be referred to as the vehicle body side frame 22.

[0031] A flat plate-shaped support member 23 (see FIG. 2 etc.) is fixedly provided at the lower part of the portion from the front end to the middle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body center frame 21, and a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped center battery case 24 is suspended from the support member 23. The upper end portion of the center battery case 24 is engaged with the support member 23 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

[0032] A situation detection device 10 and a positioning device 11 for detecting the situation around the work vehicle 1 (such as the presence or absence of obstacles, the growth degree of crops growing in the ridges, the width of the ridges, etc.) are provided on the upper part of the support member 23 or the vehicle body center frame 21.

[0033] In the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, since the extension portions 43a of the ducts 43L and 43R are bridged on the vehicle body center frame 21 as described later, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, a stay 10d straddling these is provided on the vehicle body center frame 21, and the situation detection device 10 and the positioning device 11 are provided on the stay 10d.

[0034] Note that the situation detection device 10 and the positioning device 11 may be provided on the vehicle body 2 (vehicle body center frame 21) without interfering with ducts or the like, and the attachment structure to the vehicle body 2 is not limited.

[0035] For example, in another embodiment (second embodiment) described later shown in FIG. 16, since there are no extension portions 43a of the ducts 43L and 43R on the vehicle body center frame 21, the situation detection device 10 is directly attached to a support member 23 provided immediately below the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21 without passing through the stay 10d.

[0036] Each vehicle body side frame 22 is connected to the vehicle body center frame 21 so as to be relatively movable in the left - right direction. On the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21, a pair of width - changing cylinders 8A and 8B extending in the left - right direction are provided as a vehicle body deforming device (actuator) 80 (see FIG. 14) for changing the left - right width of the vehicle body 2, that is, for deforming the vehicle body 2. Hereinafter, each of the pair of width - changing cylinders 8A and 8B may be referred to as a width - changing cylinder 8.

[0037] The width - changing cylinder 8A expands and contracts to change the distance between the vehicle body center frame 21 and the left vehicle body side frame 22L. The cylinder body of the width - changing cylinder 8A is attached to the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21, the piston rod extends leftward from the cylinder body, and the tip of the piston rod is attached to the upper part of the left vehicle body side frame 22L.

[0038] The width-changing cylinder 8B expands and contracts to change the distance between the vehicle body center frame 21 and the right vehicle body side frame 22R. The cylinder body of the width-changing cylinder 8B is attached to the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21 in front of or behind (in this embodiment, in front of) the cylinder body of the width-changing cylinder 8A. The piston rod extends rightward from the cylinder body, and the tip of the piston rod is attached to the upper part of the right vehicle body side frame 22R.

[0039] In this way, due to the expansion and contraction movement of each width-changing cylinder 8, the vehicle body side frame 22 advances and retreats with respect to the vehicle body center frame 21, and the left and right widths of the vehicle body 2 are changed as described above, and the vehicle body 2 is deformed.

[0040] For example, as shown in FIG. 9, by extending the piston rod of the width-changing cylinder 8B, the right vehicle body side frame 22R moves away from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the right, and the vehicle body 2 is deformed so that the right part of the vehicle body 2 expands.

[0041] Accordingly, the right traveling structure 3R connected to the right vehicle body side frame 22R also moves to the right together with the right vehicle body side frame 22R, and the vehicle width, which is the distance in the left-right direction between the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R and the corresponding distance between the left and right wheels 5, increases.

[0042] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 9, if the piston rod of the width-changing cylinder 8A is extended, the left vehicle body side frame 22L and the left traveling structure 3L move away from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the left, and the vehicle body 2 is deformed so that the left part of the vehicle body 2 expands. Also in this way, the vehicle width can be changed.

[0043] Regarding the deformation of the vehicle body 2 in the direction of expanding the vehicle width, both the width-changing cylinders 8A and 8B may be extended or contracted to move both the left and right vehicle body side frames 22L and 22R. Also, the expansion and contraction movements of the width-changing cylinders 8A and 8B may be synchronized.

[0044] Note that the width change cylinder 8 as a vehicle body deformation device for changing the left - right width of the vehicle body 2 may be a cylinder of any structure as long as it functions as a vehicle body deformation device 80, such as a hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder, an electric cylinder, etc.

[0045] Also, as long as the vehicle body deformation device 80 has the function of changing the left - right width of the vehicle body 2, it does not necessarily have a structure with a cylinder like the width change cylinder 8. For example, it may have a structure in which a screw rod is rotated by a motor to move the vehicle body side frame 22 forward and backward with respect to the vehicle body center frame 21.

[0046] As for the entire vehicle body 2, the left vehicle body side frame 22L of the vehicle body frame structure 20 is connected to the left running frame 30L of the left running structure 3, and the right vehicle body side frame 22R is connected to the right running frame 30R of the right running structure 3 via a plurality of mast structures 31 (see FIG. 1 etc.) arranged between the vehicle body 2 (each vehicle body side frame 22) and each running structure 3 (each running frame 30) so as to be relatively vertically movable. Thus, the vehicle body 2 can move (lift and lower) vertically with respect to the left and right running structures 3.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, etc., the work vehicle 1 is provided with a pair of left - right vehicle body lift cylinders 9, that is, a left vehicle body lift cylinder 9L and a right vehicle body lift cylinder 9R, as an actuator (hydraulic actuator) for lifting and lowering the vehicle body 2, that is, as a vehicle body moving device 90 (see FIG. 14) for relatively moving the vehicle body 2 with respect to the left and right running structures 3.

[0048] The cylinder bottom, which is the upper end of each vehicle body lift cylinder 9 (left vehicle body lift cylinder 9L, right vehicle body lift cylinder 9R), is connected to the upper part of the vehicle body side frame 22 (left vehicle body side frame 22L, right vehicle body side frame 22R). On the other hand, the piston rod head, which is the lower end of each vehicle body lift cylinder 9, is supported by a bracket or the like protruding inward of the vehicle from the inner end of the running frame 30 (left running frame 30L, right running frame 30R) inside the vehicle.

[0049] Normally, the piston rods of the left body lifting cylinder 9L and the right body lifting cylinder 9R are contracted, and the body 2 is arranged at the lowest position in its vertical movement range as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6, etc. When the left body lifting cylinder 9L and the right body lifting cylinder 9R simultaneously extend the piston rods with the same stroke, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire body 2 rises. Specifically, due to the extension of the piston rods of the left body lifting cylinder 9L and the right body lifting cylinder 9R, the body 2 moves upward with respect to the left and right traveling structures 3 while being guided by the mast structure 31.

[0050] In addition, it is also conceivable to adjust the inclination of the body 2 in the left - right direction by differentially expanding and contracting the left body lifting cylinder 9L and the right body lifting cylinder 9R. For example, when the left traveling structure 3L becomes lower than the right traveling structure 3R due to the inclination of the ground to the lower left, and the body 2 inclines to the lower left, by extending only the left body lifting cylinder 9L, the left part of the body 2 is moved relatively upward with respect to the left traveling structure 3L, so that the body 2 can be held horizontally in the left - right direction.

[0051] Note that the body lifting cylinders 9 do not have to be a pair on the left and right, and are not limited in terms of quantity or in the position within the body 2. Also, the actuator for moving the body 2 in the vertical direction does not have to be a telescopic actuator like the body lifting cylinder 9. For example, it may be configured to move the body 2 in the vertical direction by the rotation of an electric motor.

[0052] In this embodiment, as described above, the width - changing cylinder 8 which is the body deformation device 80 and the body lifting cylinder 9 which is the body moving device 90 are hydraulic actuators. As shown in FIG. 14, the telescopic movement is controlled by the control device 15 by controlling the respective control valves in the control valve unit 27.

[0053] Note that, in Fig. 14, the width change cylinder 8 and the body lift cylinder 9 are described as the width change cylinders 8A and 8B, respectively, and the body lift cylinders 9L and 9R, respectively, and the control device 15 can individually control the expansion and contraction movements thereof.

[0054] As shown in Figs. 2, 5, 7, etc., a battery (center battery) 50 is housed in the center battery case 24. Considering the weight balance of the center battery 50, which is a heavy object, in the entire working vehicle 1, or for other reasons (for example, in relation to the layout of the devices in the vehicle body 2), the center battery case 24 is movable relative to the vehicle body center frame 21 (vehicle body frame structure 20) in the front-rear direction. That is, the vehicle body 2 is also deformed when the center battery case 24 moves back and forth relative to the vehicle body center frame 21.

[0055] Note that, in order to move the center battery case 24 back and forth relative to the vehicle body center frame 21, for example, a battery moving actuator 81, which is a hydraulic cylinder, may be provided as a vehicle body deforming device 80 (see Fig. 14). Alternatively, without providing such a vehicle body deforming device, an operator may directly push or pull the center battery case 24 by hand to move it back and forth relative to the vehicle body center frame 21.

[0056] An air conditioner unit (air temperature adjusting device) 51 is provided in front of the center battery case 24, and a radiator 52 is provided immediately in front of the air conditioner unit 51. The radiator 52 is arranged at the front end of the vehicle body 2, and nothing is arranged in front of the radiator 52 in the vehicle body 2. The front surface of the radiator 52 is not shielded by other members, and the radiator 52 can efficiently take in outside air and improve the heat exchange efficiency. A radiator fan 52a is provided at the rear of the radiator 52. That is, an air cooling device and a water cooling device are provided immediately in front of the center battery case 24.

[0057] The air conditioner unit 51 and the radiator fan 52a can be operated with the power supplied from the center battery 50 and / or the side battery 37, and as shown in FIG. 14, for example, based on the detection result of the temperature detection device 18 provided in the work vehicle 1, the output is controlled by the control device 15.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 10, the center battery case 24 is connected to the air conditioner unit 51 without passing through a duct, and the cooling air discharged from the air conditioner unit 51 is introduced into the center battery case 24 to cool the center battery 50, and the cooling air after cooling the center battery 50 is configured to return to the air conditioner unit 51. The structure of this center battery case 24 will be described in detail later in relation to the piping of the duct between the air conditioner unit 51 and the side battery case 36 described later.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the PTO case 26 is supported by the vehicle body center frame 21 behind the center battery case 24. A PTO shaft 65 (see FIG. 14) for transmitting power to a work device connected to the PTO case 26 and the like is pivotally supported on the PTO case 26, and for example, it protrudes rearward from the rear end of the PTO case 26 as the rear end portion of the vehicle body 2.

[0060] Inside or outside the PTO case 26, a work system electric unit E1 and a hydraulic system electric unit E2 as electrical equipment shown in FIG. 12 are provided. The work system electric unit E1 is an electrical component unit for driving control of the PTO shaft 65, and has an electric motor 54 as a work system prime mover and an inverter 53 for output control of the electric motor 54.

[0061] The hydraulic system electric unit E2 is an electrical component unit for controlling the drive of a hydraulic pump 57 that supplies hydraulic oil to hydraulic actuators provided in the work vehicle 1, including the aforementioned width change cylinder 8 and vehicle body lift cylinder 9 provided in the vehicle body 2, the lift cylinder 61 and attitude adjustment cylinder 63 (see FIG. 14) provided in the connecting device 60, the steering cylinder 35 provided in the traveling structure 3, etc. It has an electric motor 56 as a hydraulic system prime mover and an inverter 55 (see FIG. 12) for controlling the output of the electric motor 56.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the electric motor 56 and the inverter 55 as the hydraulic system electric unit E2 are arranged below the PTO case 26, and the hydraulic pump 57 is connected to the electric motor 56.

[0063] The electric motor 54 of the work system electric unit E1 obtains power from the center battery 50 and / or the side battery 37 and is driven, and drives the PTO shaft 65 with its output. The inverter 53 converts the direct current from the center battery 50 into an alternating current and applies the alternating current to the electric motor 54 at a set voltage and / or frequency.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 14, by controlling the set values of the voltage and / or frequency of the inverter 53 by the control device 15, the output rotation speed and / or torque of the electric motor 54 are controlled, and thereby the rotation speed and / or torque of the PTO shaft 65 are controlled.

[0065] Note that a transmission mechanism for transmitting the output of the electric motor 54 to the PTO shaft 65 may be provided in the PTO case 26. This transmission mechanism may have gears, an endless belt, or other structures. Further, this transmission mechanism may be a stepped or continuously variable transmission mechanism. Furthermore, a clutch, a braking device, etc. may be provided in this transmission mechanism.

[0066] The electric motor 56 of the hydraulic system electric unit E2 obtains power from the center battery 50 and / or the side battery 37 and is driven, and drives the hydraulic pump 57 with its output. The inverter 55 converts the direct current from the center battery 50 into an alternating current, and applies the alternating current to the electric motor 56 at a set voltage and / or frequency.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 14, by controlling the set values of the voltage and / or frequency of the inverter 55 by the control device 15, the output rotational speed and / or torque of the electric motor 56 are controlled, and thereby the rotational speed and / or torque of the hydraulic pump 57 are controlled.

[0068] On the premise that the connecting device 60 is a three-point link mechanism, the left and right lower links of the connecting device 60 are connected to the left and right lift arms, so that the left and right lower links move up and down following the up and down movement of the left and right lift arms due to the telescopic movement of the left and right lift cylinders 61. Thereby, the working device mounted on the left and right lower links and the top link in the connecting device 60 moves up and down (lifts).

[0069] Further, by adjusting the difference between the distance between the left lift arm and the left lower link and the distance between the right lift arm and the right lower link by the telescopic movement of the attitude adjustment cylinder 63, the inclination angle of the working device mounted on the connecting device 60 in the left and right directions is adjusted.

[0070] With this configuration, for example, even if the working device during agricultural work is about to tilt left and right due to the slope of the field, by adjusting the distance between the lift arm and the lower link by the telescopic movement of the attitude adjustment cylinder 63, the working device is held in a horizontal state in the left and right directions, and for example, a good ridge without inclination in the left and right directions can be formed in the working track of the working device which is a ridging device.

[0071] As described above, a working device can be connected to the connecting device 60 mounted on the PTO case 26 or the like. Further, the working device connected to the vehicle body 2 via the connecting device 60 can receive a driving force from the PTO shaft 65 (see FIG. 14) protruding from the PTO case 26.

[0072] Examples of the work implement include, but are not limited to, an implement for performing work related to agriculture (agricultural work), an implement for performing work related to civil engineering, an implement for performing work related to construction, and an implement for performing work related to transportation. In the case of the embodiments described below, the work implement is an implement for performing agricultural work.

[0073] Examples of the work implement for performing agricultural work include, for example, a spraying device that sprays a sprayed material such as fertilizer or chemicals, a seeding device that sows seeds, a tilling device that tills the soil, a plowing device (plow) that plows the soil, a weeding device that weeds, and a soil heaping device that heaps soil. However, the work implement only needs to be an implement for performing agricultural work, and its type is not particularly limited.

[0074] Further, when the work implement is an electric work implement, instead of being driven by the power taken out from the PTO shaft 65, it may be driven by the power taken out to the outside of the vehicle body 2 via a power line from the center battery 50 and / or the side battery 37.

[0075] Note that the work implement may be connected to the work vehicle 1 while being disposed on the side or the front of the vehicle body. Further, for example, when the work implement is disposed in front of the work vehicle 1, the connecting device 60 may be mounted on, for example, the center battery case 24, and the work implement disposed in front of the work vehicle 1 may be connected to the work vehicle 1 via the connecting device 60 mounted on the front portion of the vehicle body 2 in this manner.

[0076] Further, in addition to the PTO shaft 65 provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 2, or instead of the PTO shaft 65, for example, a front PTO shaft may be provided forward from the center battery case 24, and the work implement in front of the work vehicle 1 may be driven by the front PTO shaft. Note that examples of such a front-mounted type work implement for agricultural work (implement) include a combine unit formed by combining, for example, a harvesting unit, a threshing unit, and a sorting unit of a combine.

[0077] Further, the connecting device 60 may be detachable from the PTO case 26 or the like. Further, a mounting portion to which the connecting device 60 can be attached may be provided at a portion other than the PTO case 26 in the vehicle body 2, for example, the center battery case 24, so that the work device can be connected to the work vehicle 1 in front of the vehicle body 2.

[0078] Furthermore, the work device may be mounted on, for example, the upper part of the vehicle body frame structure 20 in the vehicle body 2 of the work vehicle 1 without passing through the connecting device 60. In this case, a PTO shaft for transmitting driving force to the work device may be provided so as to protrude upward from the upper part of the vehicle body frame structure 20 (for example, the vehicle body center frame 21).

[0079] The work vehicle 1 includes hydraulic actuators such as the width change cylinder 8 and the vehicle body lift cylinder 9 provided on the vehicle body 2, and further the steering cylinder 35 provided on the traveling structure 3. In addition, the connecting device 60 mounted on the vehicle body 2 may include hydraulic actuators such as the lift cylinder 61 and the attitude adjustment cylinder 63 described above.

[0080] For the operation control of these hydraulic actuators, one or more control valve units 27 are attached to the outside of the PTO case 26 or the like. Each control valve unit 27 incorporates a control valve that controls the flow of hydraulic oil between the hydraulic pump 57 and the hydraulic actuator to be hydraulically controlled, and also has ports for fluidly connecting the control valve to the hydraulic pump 57, the hydraulic actuator, etc. via oil pipes or the like.

[0081] Note that one control valve unit 27 may be configured by combining control valves for different hydraulic actuators to be hydraulically controlled. Also, not only outside the PTO case 26 as described above, but also a configuration in which a control valve is provided inside the PTO case 26 may be adopted.

[0082] Furthermore, when the control valve of the control valve unit 27 is an electromagnetic valve or the like, the control valve unit 27 may be electrically connected to the control device 15 or the like by an electric wire or the like.

[0083] Instead of the battery 50, an internal combustion engine (engine) may be disposed inside the center battery case 24 or the like, and the hydraulic pump 57 for operating the hydraulic actuator described above may be driven by the engine output, and the PTO shaft 65 may be driven by transmitting the engine output to the PTO shaft 65.

[0084] As described above, the vehicle body 2 can be "deformed" by the center battery case 24 moving in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body center frame 21 and each of the left and right vehicle body side frames 22 moving in the left-right direction with respect to the vehicle body center frame 21. The width change cylinder 8 functions as a vehicle body deformation device (actuator) for deforming the vehicle body 2.

[0085] Also, the vehicle body 2 can "move" in the vertical direction relative to the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R. The vehicle body lifting cylinder 9 functions as a vehicle body moving device (actuator) for moving the vehicle body 2.

[0086] As described above, the shape of the work vehicle 1 composed of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R changes by the vehicle body 2 itself deforming or the entire vehicle body 2 moving vertically relative to the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R. The shape of this work vehicle 1 shall be referred to as the "vehicle shape".

[0087] As shown in FIG. 14, the vehicle body deformation device 80 including the width change cylinder 8, the battery moving actuator 81, etc., and the vehicle body moving device 90 including the vehicle body lifting cylinder 9, etc. are collectively referred to as the vehicle shape change device 100. The control device 15 controls each device included in the vehicle shape change device 100.

[0088] As described above, in addition to the width change cylinder 8, the battery moving actuator 81, and the vehicle body lifting cylinder 9 included in the vehicle shape change device 100, the lift cylinder 61, the attitude adjustment cylinder 63, etc. included in the connecting device 60 are all hydraulic actuators and are operated by the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 57 driven by the electric motor 56 of the hydraulic system electric unit E2.

[0089] Now, at the front part of the vehicle body 2, as described above, in the immediate front of the center battery case 24, an air conditioner unit 51 included in the air cooling device 110 (see FIG. 14) and a radiator 52 (with a radiator fan 52a) included in the water cooling device 120 (see FIG. 14) are arranged. Among these, the structure of the cooling air circulation circuit (duct) from the air conditioner unit 51 will be described in detail later. Here, the structure of the circulation circuit of the cooling water cooled by the radiator 52, which is configured within the vehicle body 2, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.

[0090] At the front part of the vehicle body 2, the radiator 52 is arranged so as to extend in the left - right direction and the up - down direction. The wind generated by the rotation of the radiator fan 52a arranged immediately behind the radiator 52 is blown onto the radiator 52, and it is configured to promote heat exchange (cooling) in the radiator 52.

[0091] In the space behind the radiator 52 and below the air conditioner unit 51 within the vehicle body 2, a pair of electric cooling water pumps 58A, 58B, and a reservoir tank 59 (see FIGS. 5, 7, etc.) are provided.

[0092] The electric cooling water pump 58A sucks the cooling water from the reservoir tank 59 and supplies it to the inverter 53 and the electric motor 54 of the working system electric unit E1 to cool them, and the electric cooling water pump 58B sucks the cooling water from the reservoir tank 59 and supplies it to the inverter 55 and the electric motor 56 of the hydraulic system electric unit E2 to cool them.

[0093] Note that either of the pair of electric cooling water pumps 58 shown in FIG. 5 etc. can be used as the electric cooling water pump 58A for the working system electric unit E1, and either can be used as the electric cooling water pump 58B for the hydraulic system electric unit E2.

[0094] The radiator 52 is a cooling device (air-cooling device) that cools the cooling water discharged from the electric cooling water pumps 58A and 58B and circulated in the traveling structure 3. The radiator fan 52a is driven by obtaining power from the center battery 50 and / or the side battery 37, and promotes the heat exchange of the cooling water in the radiator 52.

[0095] Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, a water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R1 is configured in the vehicle body 2 to provide a cooling water passage for circulating the cooling water among the radiator 52 (radiator fan 52a), the electric cooling water pumps 58A and 58B, the working system electric unit E1, the hydraulic system electric unit E2, and the like.

[0096] That is, the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R1 includes, as a parallel circuit, a cooling water supply circuit for the working system electric unit E1 (such as the electric motor 54) and a cooling water supply circuit for the hydraulic system electric unit E2 (such as the electric motor 56). The electric cooling water pumps 58A and 58B are provided as pumps that individually discharge the cooling water into their respective cooling water supply circuits. Therefore, the cooling water can be efficiently supplied to each cooling target device (that is, each of the working system electric unit E1 and the hydraulic system electric unit E2), and the flow of each cooling water can be individually controlled.

[0097] Next, the structure of the traveling structure 3 will be described. Each traveling structure 3 includes a traveling frame 30 and a pair of wheel units 4. The pair of wheel units 4 includes a front wheel unit 4F supported at the front portion of the traveling frame 30 and a rear wheel unit 4R supported at the rear portion of the traveling frame 30.

[0098] Each wheel unit 4 includes one wheel 5 and a wheel drive case 32 that supports an axle 5a that is the central axis of the wheel 5. The wheel 5 of the front wheel unit 4F is the front wheel 5F, and the wheel 5 of the rear wheel unit 4R is the rear wheel 5R.

[0099] Incidentally, the front wheels 5F and the rear wheels 5R have substantially the same diameter. Alternatively, the front wheels 5F and the rear wheels 5R may have different diameters. Further, at least one of the front wheels 5F and the rear wheels 5R may be a driving wheel (driving sprocket) of the crawler-type traveling device.

[0100] Furthermore, the traveling frame 30 of the left traveling structure 3L is the left traveling frame 30L, and the front wheel unit 4F supported at the front portion of the left traveling frame 30L is the left front wheel unit 4FL having the left front wheel 5FL, and the rear wheel unit 4R supported at the rear portion of the left traveling frame 30L is the left rear wheel unit 4RL that pivotally supports the left rear wheel 5RL.

[0101] On the other hand, the traveling frame 30 of the right traveling structure 3R is the right traveling frame 30R, and the front wheel unit 4F supported at the front portion of the right traveling frame 30R is the right front wheel unit 4FR that pivotally supports the right front wheel 5FR, and the rear wheel unit 4R supported at the rear portion of the right traveling frame 30R is the right rear wheel unit 4RR that pivotally supports the right rear wheel 5RR.

[0102] Above the wheel drive case 32 of each wheel unit 4, a traveling motor 7 and a gear mechanism or the like for transmitting the output of the traveling motor 7 are housed, and from the upper portion, a rotating cylinder portion 32a shown in FIGS. 5, 6, etc. extends vertically downward. The rotating cylinder portion 32a is connected to the upper portion of the wheel drive case 32 so as to be relatively rotatable.

[0103] Inside the rotating cylinder portion 32a, a vertical transmission shaft having an axial center in the vertical (up and down) direction is rotatably supported around the axial center. The central axis (axle) 5a of the wheel 5 is inserted and supported at the lower end portion of the rotating cylinder portion 32a. In other words, the axle 5a protrudes outward to the left and right from the lower portion of the rotating cylinder portion 32a of the wheel drive case 32, and the wheel 5 provided around the axle 5a is disposed on the left and right outer sides of the rotating cylinder portion 32a.

[0104] Further, inside the upper part of the wheel drive case 32, a transmission mechanism having a bevel gear, an endless belt, or the like that interlocks and links the output shaft of the traveling motor 7 and the upper part of the transmission shaft on the vertical axis of the rotating cylinder part 32a is housed. Further, inside the lower part of the rotating cylinder part 32a, a transmission mechanism having a bevel gear or the like that interlocks and links the lower part of the vertical transmission shaft inside the rotating cylinder part 32a and the axle 5a of the wheel 5 is housed.

[0105] Note that hereinafter, it may be described that the traveling frame 30 supports the axle 5a, on the basis that the traveling frame 30 supports the wheel drive case 32 that pivotally supports the axle 5a of the wheel 5.

[0106] With the above configuration, inside the wheel drive case 32, the output of the traveling motor 7 is transmitted to the wheel 5 via a transmission mechanism such as a bevel gear mechanism, and thereby the wheel 5 is driven. That is, the left front wheel 5FL, the right front wheel 5FR, the left rear wheel 5RL, and the right rear wheel 5RR are drive wheels driven by the output of the traveling motor 7 each has.

[0107] Hereinafter, the traveling motor 7 of the front wheel unit 4F in each traveling structure 3 may be referred to as a front traveling motor 7F, and the traveling motor 7 of the rear wheel unit 4R may be referred to as a rear traveling motor 7R.

[0108] Further, the traveling motor 7 of the left front wheel unit 4FL in the left traveling structure 3L may be referred to as a left front traveling motor 7FL, and the traveling motor 7 of the left rear wheel unit 4RL may be referred to as a left rear traveling motor 7RL. The traveling motor 7 of the right front wheel unit 4FR in the right traveling structure 3R may be referred to as a right front traveling motor 7FR, and the traveling motor 7 of the right rear wheel unit 4RR may be referred to as a right rear traveling motor 7RR.

[0109] The upper part of the wheel drive case 32 that houses the traveling motor 33 or the like is attached and fixed to the traveling frame 30. On the other hand, the rotating cylinder part 32a is rotatable around the vertical axis with respect to the upper part.

[0110] The wheel drive case 32 is externally provided with a steering gear mechanism 34 for relatively rotating the rotating cylinder portion 32a with respect to the upper portion of the wheel drive case 32. The steering gear mechanism 34 is provided with an arm, and a steering cylinder 35 is interposed between the arm and the traveling frame 30.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 14 and the like, when the steering cylinder 35 expands and contracts according to a command from the control device 15 or the like, the arm rotates, whereby the steering gear mechanism 34 operates, and the rotating cylinder portion 32a of each wheel drive case 32 rotates about its vertical axis while supporting the wheel 5. That is, the wheel 5 is a drive wheel driven by the traveling motor 7 as described above, and is a steering wheel that can rotate relative to the traveling frame 30 in the left-right direction, that is, can change the angle in the left-right direction.

[0112] Each traveling motor 7 is an electric motor, and the traveling motors 7 of the front wheel unit 4F and the rear wheel unit 4R are driven by obtaining electric power from the side battery 37 and / or the center battery 50. Further, an inverter 6 for output control of the traveling motor 7 is provided in the traveling structure 3. As shown in FIG. 14, the inverter 6 is controlled by the control device 15 to control the output rotation speed and the output rotation direction of the corresponding traveling motor 7.

[0113] In the block diagram of FIG. 14, only the combination of the traveling motor 7 and the inverter 6 for one wheel unit 4 is shown, but the wheel unit 4 here represents each of the four wheel units 4FL, 4FR, 4RL, and 4RR, and the control device 15 controls the inverter 6 for each individual wheel unit 4 to individually control the rotation speed and the rotation direction of each wheel 5.

[0114] The traveling frame 30 of each traveling structure 3 supports the side battery 37, the front inverter 6F for the front traveling motor 7F of the front wheel unit 4F, and the rear inverter 6R for the rear traveling motor 7R of the rear wheel unit 4R.

[0115] The side battery 37 is housed in a side battery case 36 supported by a traveling frame 30 between the front wheel 5F and the rear wheel 5R as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. By the traveling frame 30, a front inverter 6F for the front traveling motor 7F is supported immediately in front of the side battery case 36, and a rear inverter 6R for the rear traveling motor 7R is supported immediately behind the side battery case 36.

[0116] Hereinafter, the side battery 37 supported by the left traveling frame 30L of the left traveling structure 3L may be referred to as the left side battery 37L, the front inverter 6F supported by the left traveling frame 30L may be referred to as the left front inverter 6FL, and the rear inverter 6R supported by the left traveling frame 30L may be referred to as the left rear inverter 6RL.

[0117] Also, the side battery 37 supported by the right traveling frame 30R of the right traveling structure 3R may be referred to as the right side battery 37R, the front inverter 6F supported by the right traveling frame 30R may be referred to as the right front inverter 6FR, and the rear inverter 6R supported by the right traveling frame 30R may be referred to as the right rear inverter 6RR.

[0118] Also, in each traveling structure 3, the front traveling motor 7F and the front inverter 6F are electrically connected, and the combination of the front traveling motor 7F and the front inverter 6F may be referred to as a front traveling system electric unit E3F (see FIG. 13). On the other hand, the rear traveling motor 7R and the rear inverter 6R are electrically connected, and the combination of the rear traveling motor 7R and the rear inverter 6R may be referred to as a rear traveling system electric unit E3R (see FIG. 13).

[0119] Furthermore, the combination of the left front inverter 6FL and the left front drive motor 7FL in the left traveling structure 3L is referred to as the left front traveling system electric unit E3FL, and the combination of the left rear inverter 6RL and the left rear drive motor 7RL is referred to as the left rear traveling system electric unit E3RL. Similarly, in the right traveling structure 3R, the combination of the right front inverter 6FR and the right front drive motor 7FR may be referred to as the right front traveling system electric unit E3FR, and the combination of the right rear inverter 6RR and the right rear drive motor 7RR may be referred to as the right rear traveling system electric unit E3RR (see Fig. 21).

[0120] Note that, similar to the aforementioned drive motor 7 and inverter 6, only one steering cylinder 35 is shown in the block diagram of Fig. 14. However, this steering cylinder 35 means the one provided in each wheel unit 4. The control device 15 individually controls the steering angle (left and right turning angles) of each wheel 5 by controlling the control valve for the steering cylinder 35 of each wheel unit 4.

[0121] Each steering cylinder 35 may be configured with something other than a hydraulic cylinder, such as an air cylinder or a water pressure cylinder. In addition to such a telescopic actuator, the actuator for steering the wheel 5 may be configured to rotate the rotating cylinder portion 32a by outputting a rotational force, such as an electric motor or a hydraulic motor.

[0122] At the front of each traveling frame 30, a radiator 71, a radiator fan 71a, a pair of electric cooling water pumps 72A and 72B, and a reservoir tank (cooling water storage tank) 73 are provided.

[0123] As shown in Fig. 13, the electric cooling water pump 72A sucks the cooling water from the reservoir tank 73 and supplies it to the front drive motor 7F and the front inverter 6F (front traveling system electric unit E3F) of the front wheel unit 4F to cool them. The electric cooling water pump 72B sucks the cooling water from the reservoir tank 73 and supplies it to the rear drive motor 7R and the rear inverter 6R (rear traveling system electric unit E3R) of the rear wheel unit 4R to cool them.

[0124] Note that either one of the pair of electric cooling water pumps 72 provided at the front part of each traveling frame 30 shown in FIG. 1 or the like may be used as the electric cooling water pump 72A for the front traveling system electric unit E3F, and either one may be used as the electric cooling water pump 72B for the rear traveling system electric unit E3R.

[0125] The radiator 71 is a cooling device (air cooling device) that cools the cooling water discharged from the electric cooling water pumps 72A and 72B and circulated in the traveling structure 3. The radiator fan 71a is driven by obtaining power from the side battery 37 and / or the center battery 50, and promotes the heat exchange of the cooling water in the radiator 71.

[0126] Note that as shown in FIG. 2 or the like, the front end portion of the traveling frame 30 is inclined rearward from the left and right inner sides to the left and right outer sides in plan view, and the radiator 71 is arranged to extend in the vertical direction along the front end portion of the traveling frame 30, and as shown in FIG. 2 or the like, in plan view, it is arranged in an inclined shape parallel to the front end portion of the inclined traveling frame 30. That is, the radiator 71 is arranged in an inclined shape such that the front end is closer to the left and right inner sides and the rear end is closer to the left and right outer sides.

[0127] Nothing is arranged in front of the radiator 71 thus arranged at the front end portion of the traveling frame 30 (traveling structure 3). For this reason, the front surface of the radiator 71 is not shielded by other members, and the radiator 71 can efficiently take in outside air, and the heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

[0128] Further, the radiator 71 is arranged in an inclined shape as described above in plan view so as to face the upper front part of the grounding (tread) surface of the front wheel 5F above the front of the front wheel 5F. In this way, the radiator 71 is arranged at the front part of the traveling frame 30 so as to fit within the limited left and right width of the traveling frame 30 without protruding from the left and right ends (the end on the vehicle body 2 side and the end opposite to the vehicle body 2) of the traveling frame 30.

[0129] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, etc., since the left and right outer end faces of the traveling frame 30 are substantially flush with the left and right outer end faces of the wheels 5 (front wheels 5F and rear wheels 5R) supported by the traveling frame 30, the radiator 71 does not protrude beyond the left and right outer ends of the wheels 5.

[0130] Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, in each traveling structure 3, a water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2 is configured by providing a cooling water passage for circulating cooling water among the radiator 71, electric cooling water pumps 72A and 72B, the front traveling system electric unit E3F, the rear traveling system electric unit E3R, etc.

[0131] That is, the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2 includes, as parallel circuits, a cooling water supply circuit for the front traveling system electric unit E3F (such as the front traveling motor 7F) and a cooling water supply circuit for the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (such as the rear traveling motor 7R). Since a pair of electric cooling water pumps 72 are provided as pumps for individually discharging cooling water into these parallel cooling water supply circuits, cooling water can be efficiently supplied to each cooling target device (that is, each of the front traveling system electric unit E3F (such as the front traveling motor 7F) and the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (such as the rear traveling motor 7R)), and the flow of each cooling water can be individually controlled.

[0132] It should be noted that the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2 provided in the left traveling structure 3L may be referred to as the left water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2L, and the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2 provided in the right traveling structure 3R may be referred to as the right water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2R.

[0133] Next, a first embodiment regarding the air-cooling system in the work vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11, etc. As described above, the work vehicle 1 is provided with an air conditioner unit 51 at the front part of the vehicle body 2.

[0134] The air conditioner unit 51 has a compressor, a heat exchanger, an air outlet, an air inlet 51a, etc. The air compressed by the compressor is cooled by the heat exchanger, and the air is discharged from the air outlet as cooling air, and the air after cooling each equipment to be cooled is recovered through the air inlet 51a.

[0135] The work vehicle 1 includes, as equipment to be cooled by the cooling air discharged from the air conditioner unit 51 as an air-cooled cooling device, a center battery 50 provided on the vehicle body 2, side batteries 37 provided on the left and right traveling structures 3, and the like.

[0136] That is, the cooling air from the air conditioner unit 51 provided on the vehicle body 2 is distributed and supplied to the equipment to be cooled respectively arranged at three positions of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R.

[0137] The duct structure in the air-cooling system according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 and the like constitutes a cooling air circulation circuit for supplying the cooling air from such an air conditioner unit 51 to each equipment to be cooled and recovering it.

[0138] First, in the present embodiment, the center battery case 24 for housing the center battery 50 has a cooling air inlet 24a at the lower part of the front end and a cooling air outlet 24b at the upper part of the front end as shown in FIG. 10. A discharge manifold 41a is provided between the air outlet provided at the rear part of the air conditioner unit 51 and the cooling air inlet 24a at the front end of the center battery case 24.

[0139] The center battery case 24 has a horizontally plate-shaped partition plate 24e extending in the front-rear direction inside. The space below the partition plate 24e is used as a cooling air passage 24c for applying air as cooling air to the center battery 50 as the equipment to be cooled and passing it through, and the space above the partition plate 24e is used as an exhaust passage 24d for sending the air after cooling the center battery 50 to the cooling air outlet 24b.

[0140] The partition plate 24e is disposed at a position higher than approximately half the height of the center battery case 24 in the vertical direction, and the vertical width of the cooling air passage 24c is larger than the vertical width of the exhaust air passage 24d. That is, within the center battery case 24, a relatively large volume of space for applying cooling air to the center battery 50 can be ensured.

[0141] Further, the partition plate 24e insulates between the exhaust air passage 24d and the cooling passage 24c. Specifically, the partition plate 24e is formed of a heat insulating material or provided with a heat insulating material so that the temperature of the warmed air passing through the exhaust air passage 24d is not transmitted to the cooling air passage 24c.

[0142] Within the center battery case 24, a partition plate 24f extending in the vertical direction is connected to the rear end of the partition plate 24e, and the partition plates 24e and 24f are arranged in an inverted L shape when viewed from the left side. The space behind the partition plate 24f is used as a communication passage 24g. In this way, the rear part of the cooling air passage 24c and the rear part of the exhaust air passage 24d communicate with each other via the vertical communication passage 24g.

[0143] The cooling air that is temperature-adjusted by the air conditioner unit 51 and discharged from the discharge manifold 41a is introduced into the center battery case 24 through the cooling air inlet 24a at the front end of the center battery case 24 without passing through a duct. The cooling air introduced from the cooling air inlet 24a flows rearward within the cooling air passage 24c and is applied to the center battery 50 on the way to cool the center battery 50.

[0144] After cooling the center battery 50 within the cooling air passage 24c, the cooling air is conversely warmed by the center battery 50 and becomes hotter than when it was introduced from the cooling air inlet 24a into the cooling air passage 24c. The thus-heated cooling air moves upward within the communication passage 24g and flows into the exhaust air passage 24d above the cooling air passage 24c.

[0145] Furthermore, the cooling air after cooling the center battery 50 flows forward in the exhaust passage 24d and is discharged forward of the center battery case 24 from the cooling air outlet 24b at the front end of the center battery case 24.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 10, etc., an air conditioner case 40 for housing the air conditioner unit 51 is provided immediately in front of the center battery case 24, and the air intake port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51 is open toward the space in the air conditioner chamber 40a in the air conditioner case 40.

[0147] The cooling air discharged from the cooling air outlet 24b to the outside of the center battery case 24 is sucked into (returned to) the air conditioner unit 51 through the space in the air conditioner chamber 40a and the air intake port 51a.

[0148] Note that an intake manifold (see the intake manifold 51b in FIG. 19) communicating with the air intake port 51a may be provided in the air conditioner unit 51, and a duct from the cooling air outlet 24b to the intake manifold may be provided.

[0149] Also, in the center battery case 24, a fan 45 is disposed at a location where the rear end of the cooling air passage 24c and the lower part of the communication passage 24g communicate below the vertical partition plate 24f.

[0150] The fan 45 is configured to suck air in the front cooling air passage 24c and discharge it to the rear communication passage 24g.

[0151] That is, the fan 45 sucks the air flowing into the cooling air passage 24c from the cooling air inlet 24a at the rear end of the cooling air passage 24c and guides it to the communication passage 24g, thereby causing a rearward cooling air flow in the cooling air passage 24c.

[0152] Also, the fan 45 causes an upward air flow in the communication passage 24g and a forward air flow in the exhaust passage 24d by discharging air rearward.

[0153] In this way, the fan 45 smoothens the flow of the cooling air from the cooling air inlet 24a to the cooling air outlet 24b within the center battery case 24.

[0154] Next, a configuration for cooling air circulation between the air conditioner unit 51 and the side battery cases 36L and 36R of the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R will be described.

[0155] The work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a cooling device provided on the vehicle body 2, at least one cooling target device cooled by the cooling air discharged from the cooling device, and a plurality of ducts for circulating the cooling air between the cooling device and the cooling target device. The vehicle body 2 has a first end portion and a second end portion facing each other in a first direction, and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion in the first direction. The air conditioner unit 51 is provided at the first end portion of the vehicle body 2. Among the plurality of ducts, the duct extending from the air conditioner unit 51 to the cooling target device has a first extension portion extending in the first direction in the range from the first end portion to the intermediate portion, and a second extension portion extending in a direction different from the first direction at the intermediate portion.

[0156] The cooling device is the air conditioner unit 51 which is an air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner) in the present embodiment, but any device that discharges cooling air for cooling the cooling target device may be used, such as a fan. Also, a heat pump type using engine heat or the like may be used.

[0157] Also, as the cooling target device, in the present embodiment, it is the battery (the center battery 50 provided on the vehicle body 2 and the side batteries 37 provided on each traveling structure 3), but any device that can be cooled by the cooling air may be used, and hydraulic devices such as hydraulic pumps or electrical equipment such as electric motors may also be used as the cooling target device.

[0158] Moreover, a structure in which at least one device to be cooled is cooled by a plurality of ducts may be used. In the present embodiment, for example, the forward duct 42 and the return duct 43, which will be described later and are used to cool the side battery 37 provided in one of the left and right traveling structures 3, correspond to the plurality of ducts. Also, the pair of left and right forward ducts 42L and 42R, which will be described later and are used to cool the left and right side batteries 37L and 37R, also correspond to the plurality of ducts.

[0159] The vehicle body 2 has a first end portion and a second end portion that face each other in the first direction, and an intermediate portion that is between the first end portion and the second end portion in the first direction. The cooling device is provided at the first end portion of the vehicle body 2. In the present embodiment, the first direction is the front-rear direction, the first end portion is the front end portion, and the second end portion is the rear end portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first end portion may be the rear end portion and the second end portion may be the front end portion, or the first direction may be, for example, the left-right direction, and the first end portion and the second end portion may be the left end portion and the right end portion. Furthermore, the first direction may be an oblique direction.

[0160] Among the plurality of ducts described above, the duct extending from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the device to be cooled has a first extension portion extending in the first direction in the range from the first end portion to the intermediate portion, and a second extension portion extending in a direction different from the first direction at the intermediate portion of the vehicle body 2.

[0161] In the present embodiment, the intermediate portion of the vehicle body 2, which is the second extension portion (the extension portion 42b, which will be described later in the present embodiment) extending in a direction different from the first direction, is set as the position corresponding to the side battery case 36 disposed at a substantially intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the traveling structure 3 in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the side battery case 36 is disposed at a position closer to the rear end portion of the traveling structure 3, the intermediate portion of the vehicle body 2 provided with the second extension portion may be defined as a position closer to the rear end of the vehicle body 2. Alternatively, the side battery case 36 may remain disposed at a substantially intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the traveling structure 3, and the intermediate portion of the vehicle body 2 provided with the second extension portion may be set as a position closer to the rear end of the vehicle body 2 and behind the side battery case 36.

[0162] Further, in the present embodiment, the direction in which the second extending portion extends in a direction different from the first direction is defined as the left - right direction. However, this portion is not limited to extending in such a direction and may extend in the up - down direction. Also, if the first direction is a direction other than the front - rear direction, it is conceivable to define that direction as the front - rear direction.

[0163] Hereinafter, with respect to the structure of an air - cooling system in which the equipment to be cooled by the cooling air discharged from the air - conditioner unit 51 as a cooling device is the center battery 50 provided in the vehicle body 2 and the side batteries 37 provided in the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, while explaining the air - cooling system according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 and the like, the structures common to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 and the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 to 20 will also be described.

[0164] First, the cooling - air circulation structure between the air - conditioner unit 51 and the side battery 37 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10 and the like, as a discharge port of the cooling air from the air - conditioner unit 51 to the side - battery case 36, a discharge manifold 41b protruding above the vehicle body 2 (the vehicle - body center frame 21) is provided above the air - conditioner unit 51.

[0165] In order to supply the cooling air discharged from the air - conditioner unit 51 to the side battery 37, a forward - path duct 42 extends from the air - conditioner unit 51 to the side battery 37. That is, the forward - path duct 42 corresponds to the duct among the plurality of ducts that allow the cooling air to flow between the cooling device (air - conditioner unit 51) and the equipment to be cooled (side battery 37) and extends from the cooling device (air - conditioner unit 51) to the equipment to be cooled (side battery 37).

[0166] Specifically, the forward - path duct 42 extends from the discharge manifold 41b disposed at the front - end portion of the vehicle body 2 to the cooling - air inlet 36a (see FIG. 11) of the side - battery case 36 which is a housing for accommodating the side battery 37, and is piped so as to pass through the upper part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the vehicle - body side frame 22) in the range from the front - end portion (an example of the first end portion) of the vehicle body 2 to the mid - portion in the front - rear direction.

[0167] On the upper part of the vehicle body side frame 22 (the upper part of the vehicle body 2), the forward duct 42 has a first extension part 42a that extends in the front-rear direction (an example of the first direction) along the vehicle body side frame 22 to the middle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2. Further, the forward duct 42 bends at the middle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2 on the vehicle body side frame 22 and extends outward to the left and right toward the traveling structure 3 outside the vehicle body 2 in the left-right direction. That is, the forward duct 42 has a bending part as the rear end of the extension part 42a and has an extension part (second extension part) 42b that extends in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction from the rear end of the extension part 42a.

[0168] The configuration of the forward duct 42 described above is the same in both the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 and the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0169] On the other hand, in order to return the cooling air after cooling the side battery 37 to the air conditioner unit 51, a return duct 43 is extended from the side battery 37. Specifically, the return duct 43 is extended from the cooling air outlet 36b (see FIG. 11) of the side battery case 36 which is a housing for accommodating the side battery 37.

[0170] In this embodiment (the first embodiment) and the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the return duct 43 extends to the vicinity of the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51, and has a structure for returning the cooling air after cooling the side battery 37 in the traveling structure 3 to the air conditioner unit 51 in the vehicle body 2. That is, in this embodiment, the return duct 43 corresponds to a duct that extends from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the cooling target device (side battery 37) among a plurality of ducts for circulating the cooling air between the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the cooling target device (side battery 37).

[0171] Therefore, in this embodiment (the first embodiment) and the third embodiment, the return duct 43 first has an extension portion 43b that extends in the left - right direction (a direction different from the front - rear direction (the first direction)) from the side battery case 36 provided in the traveling structure 3 toward the vehicle body 2 on the left and right inner sides thereof. This extension portion 43b is arranged in parallel with the extension portion (the second extension portion) 42b of the forward duct 42 that also extends in the left - right direction.

[0172] Furthermore, in this embodiment (the first embodiment) and the third embodiment, the return duct 43 passes through the upper part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21), connects its outlet end to the upper end of the air - conditioner case 40, and returns the cooled air from the outlet end to the air suction port 51a through the air - conditioner chamber 40a in the air - conditioner case 40. In the upper part of the vehicle body 2, the return duct 43 has an extension portion (the first extension portion) 43a that extends in the front - rear direction in the range from the front end portion (the first end portion) of the vehicle body 2 to the mid - front - rear portion, and this extension portion 43a and the extension portion (the first extension portion) 42a of the forward duct 42 are arranged in parallel.

[0173] Note that in the second embodiment described later, which is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 etc., the return duct 43 does not extend to the air - conditioner unit 51, but is connected to the center battery case 24, combines the air after cooling the side battery 37 with the air after cooling the center battery 50, and then returns it to the air suction port 51a of the air - conditioner unit 51.

[0174] That is, in the second embodiment, since the return duct 43 is connected to the center battery case 24 supported by the vehicle body 2, although it has the left - right direction extension portion 43b, it does not have the front - rear direction extension portion (the first extension portion) 43a that is arranged in the upper part of the vehicle body 2.

[0175] On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the forward duct 42 is extended from the discharge manifold 41b to the cooling air inlet 36a of the side battery case 36 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, has the front - rear direction extension portion 42a in the upper part of the vehicle body 2, and has the left - right direction extension portion 42b from the vehicle body 2 to the traveling structure 3, and there is no change in this regard.

[0176] That is, as a structure common to the first and second embodiments, at least the forward duct 42 of the forward duct 42 and the return duct 43 has an extension portion (first extension portion) 42a extending in the front-rear direction (first direction) as described above, and further, in the middle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2, it is a duct having an extension portion 42b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction. Further, the return duct 43 has at least an extension portion 43b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction in which the extension portion 42a of the forward duct 42 extends, and the extension portion 43b is arranged in parallel with the extension portion (second extension portion) 42b extending in the left-right direction of the forward duct 42.

[0177] Here, the side battery case 36 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, in the side battery case 36 of each traveling structure 3, a cooling air inlet 36a is provided at the lower part of the front end face 36f, and a cooling air outlet 36b is provided at the upper part of the rear end face 36r. In FIG. 11, "36s" indicates the left and right outer side faces between the front end face 36f and the rear end face 36r of the side battery case 36.

[0178] The cooling air inlet 36a connected to the forward duct 42 is provided at the lower part of the side battery case 36, and the cooling air outlet 36b connected to the return duct 43 is provided at the upper part of the side battery case 36, so that the warmed air after cooling the side battery 37 in the side battery case 36 does not warm the cooling air before cooling, and the cooled air can be efficiently discharged from the side battery case 36.

[0179] Further, one of the cooling air inlet 36a and the cooling air outlet 36b is arranged closer to the left and right inner sides, and the other is arranged closer to the left and right outer sides, so that the flow of the cooling air forms a diagonal line in the left and right directions in plan view from the front cooling air inlet 36a to the rear cooling air outlet 36b in the side battery case 36, and the cooling effect of the side battery 37 can be maximally exerted.

[0180] Note that the layout of the cooling air inlet 36a connected to the forward duct 42 and the cooling air outlet 36b connected to the return duct 43 in the side battery case 36 is not limited to the layout shown in FIG. 11. For example, at least one of the cooling air inlet 36a and the cooling air outlet 36b may be provided on the left and right outer side surfaces 36s or the left and right inner side surfaces on the opposite side thereof.

[0181] In addition, in this embodiment, considering the routing of the ducts and the like, the cooling air inlet 36a and the forward duct 42 connected thereto are arranged closer to the left and right inner sides, and the cooling air outlet 36b and the return duct 43 connected thereto are arranged closer to the left and right outer sides. Note that the side battery case 36 in FIG. 11 has the cooling air inlet 36a on the right side and the cooling air outlet 36b on the left side, so it is the left side battery case 36L.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the front inverter 6F is provided along the front end face 36f of the side battery case 36 on the left and right outer sides of the forward duct 42 connected to the cooling air inlet 36a of the side battery case 36, and the rear inverter 6R is provided along the rear end face 36r of the side battery case 36 on the left and right inner sides of the return duct 43 connected to the cooling air outlet 36b of the side battery case 36.

[0183] Note that the side battery 37, which is the device to be cooled, includes a left side battery 37L, which is a left device to be cooled arranged in the left traveling structure 3L, and a right side battery 37R, which is a right device to be cooled arranged in the right traveling structure 3R.

[0184] Correspondingly, as a structure common to the first to third embodiments, a plurality of ducts for circulating cooling air between the air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device) and the left and right side batteries 37L and 37R (devices to be cooled) include a left forward duct 42L extending to the left side battery 37L and a right forward duct 42R extending to the right side battery 37R for supplying the cooling air discharged from the air conditioner unit 51 to the left and right side batteries 37L and 37R, and a left return duct 43L extending from the left side battery 37L and a right return duct 43R extending from the right side battery 37R for returning the cooling air after cooling the left and right side batteries 37L and 37R to the air conditioner unit 51.

[0185] Among these forward ducts 42L, 42R and return ducts 43L, 43R, at least the left forward duct 42L and the right forward duct 42R extend from the air conditioner unit 51 to the left side battery 37L and the right side battery 37R respectively, and are ducts having an extending portion (first extending portion) 42a extending in the front-rear direction (first direction) in the range from the front end portion (first end portion) to the middle portion in the front-rear direction (middle portion). Further, an extending portion (second extending portion) 42b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction (first direction) of the left forward duct 42L and an extending portion (second extending portion) 42b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction (first direction) of the right forward duct 42R extend in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vehicle body 2.

[0186] And the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R each have an extending portion 43b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction (first direction), and the extending portion 43b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction (first direction) of the left return duct 43L and the extending portion 43b extending in the left-right direction different from the front-rear direction (first direction) of the right return duct 43R extend in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vehicle body 2.

[0187] Hereinafter, the specific piping routes of the forward duct 42 and the return duct 43 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and the like, and the layout of a plurality of ducts including the left and right forward ducts 42L and 42R and the left and right return ducts 43L and 43R will be described in detail.

[0188] The forward duct 42 is piped so as to pass through the upper part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the vehicle body side frame 22) from the discharge manifold 41b to the cooling air inlet 36a of the side battery case 36 of each traveling structure 3.

[0189] That is, the left forward duct 42L is piped so as to pass through the upper left part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the left vehicle body side frame 22L) from the left part of the discharge manifold 41b to the cooling air inlet 36a of the left side battery case 36L of the left traveling structure 3L. On the other hand, the right forward duct 42R is piped so as to pass through the upper right part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the right vehicle body side frame 22R) from the right part of the discharge manifold 41b to the cooling air inlet 36a of the right side battery case 36R of the right traveling structure 3R.

[0190] Further, the return duct 43 is piped so as to pass through the upper part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21) from the cooling air outlet 36b of the side battery case 36 of each traveling structure 3 to the upper end of the air conditioner case 40.

[0191] That is, the left return duct 43L is piped so as to pass through the upper left part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper left part of the vehicle body center frame 21) from the cooling air outlet 36b of the left side battery case 36L of the left traveling structure 3L to the left part of the upper end of the air conditioner case 40. On the other hand, the right return duct 43R is piped so as to pass through the upper right part of the vehicle body 2 (the upper right part of the vehicle body center frame 21) from the cooling air outlet 36b of the right side battery case 36R of the right traveling structure 3R to the right part of the upper end of the air conditioner case 40.

[0192] As can be seen from the plan view of FIG. 9 and the like, 42L, 42R, 43L, and 43R have extending portions 42a and 43a that extend linearly in the front-rear direction.

[0193] These extension parts 42a and 43a are arranged in parallel with each other in the front-rear direction within a range from the front part of the vehicle body 2 to a position that becomes the middle part in the front-rear direction (in the front-rear direction, the position corresponding to the side battery case 36 (more precisely, the front end of the side battery case 36) in the left and right traveling structures 3) at the upper part of the vehicle body 2.

[0194] Regarding the left-right arrangement of the extension parts 42a and 43a of the ducts 42L, 42R, 43L, and 43R, at the upper part of the vehicle body center frame 21, the extension part 43a of the left return duct 43L and the extension part 43a of the right return duct 43R are juxtaposed in parallel on the left and right. On the left side of the extension part 43a of the left return duct 43L, the extension part 42a of the left forward duct 42L is arranged on the left vehicle body side frame 22L. On the right side of the extension part 43a of the right return duct 43R, the extension part 42a of the right forward duct 42R is arranged on the right vehicle body side frame 22R.

[0195] The left forward duct 42L extends obliquely upward from the front end connected to the discharge manifold 41b arranged on the vehicle body center frame 21, bends backward above the left vehicle body side frame 22L, and from there, extends the front-rear direction extension part 42a above the left vehicle body side frame 22L.

[0196] Furthermore, the left forward duct 42L bends substantially at a right angle in a plan view from the front-rear direction extension part 42a arranged on the left vehicle body side frame 22L at a position slightly in front of the front end of the left side battery case 36L of the left traveling structure 3L, extends the left-right direction extension part 42b to the left, crosses over to the left traveling frame 30L, bends at a position directly in front of the left side battery case 36L, and extends downward, and is connected to the cooling air inlet 36a at the front end of the left side battery case 36L.

[0197] The right forward duct 42R extends obliquely upward from the front end connected to the discharge manifold 41b arranged on the vehicle body center frame 21, bends backward above the right vehicle body side frame 22R, and from there, extends the front-rear direction extension part 42a above the right vehicle body side frame 22R.

[0198] Furthermore, the right return duct 42R is disposed on the front-rear direction extending portion 42a arranged on the right vehicle body side frame 22R at a position slightly forward of the front end of the right side battery case 36R of the right traveling structure 3R in the front-rear direction. The right return duct 42R bends substantially at a right angle in plan view from the front-rear direction extending portion 42a and extends the left-right direction extending portion 42b to the right. Then, it extends over the right traveling frame 30R, bends at a position directly in front of the right side battery case 36R, and extends downward to be connected to the cooling air inlet 36a at the front end of the right side battery case 36R.

[0199] The left return duct 43L is disposed on the front-rear direction extending portion 43a arranged on the vehicle body center frame 21 at a position slightly rearward of the front end of the left side battery case 36L of the left traveling structure 3L in the front-rear direction. The left return duct 43L bends substantially at a right angle in plan view from the front-rear direction extending portion 43a and extends the left-right direction extending portion 43b to the left. Then, it extends over the left traveling frame 30L beyond the left vehicle body side frame 22L, further bends, extends rearward above the left side battery case 36L, bends again at the rear of the left side battery case 36L, and extends downward to be connected to the cooling air outlet 36b at the rear end of the left side battery case 36L.

[0200] The right return duct 43R is disposed on the front-rear direction extending portion 43a arranged on the vehicle body center frame 21 at a position slightly rearward of the front end of the right side battery case 36R of the right traveling structure 3R in the front-rear direction. The right return duct 43R bends substantially at a right angle in plan view from the front-rear direction extending portion 43a and extends the left-right direction extending portion 43b to the left. Then, it extends over the right traveling frame 30R beyond the right vehicle body side frame 22R, further bends, extends rearward above the right side battery case 36R, bends again at the rear of the right side battery case 36R, and extends downward to be connected to the cooling air outlet 36b at the rear end of the right side battery case 36R.

[0201] Now, the work vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and the like has a structure in which the "vehicle shape" can be changed, and is provided with a duct that can be expanded and contracted in response to such a "change in vehicle shape".

[0202] The ducts 42 and 43 serving as the above-described cooling air passages are such expandable ducts. Note that other expandable ducts are also conceivable. For example, when the work vehicle 1 is equipped with an engine as a prime mover, the intake pipe or exhaust pipe of the engine may be such an expandable duct. Further, what is circulated through the duct may be a cooling medium, and in addition to the air as the cooling air as described above, a refrigerant gas or the like is also conceivable.

[0203] Here, the "change in vehicle shape" may be considered to be the relative movement of the "first part and the second part that are linked so as to be relatively movable to each other" provided in the work vehicle 1, but it is not limited to such a form. For example, any part of the work vehicle (for example, a cover covering the frame, etc.) is made of a material having plasticity, stretchability, elasticity, etc., and the part itself deforms due to its physical properties, or any part of the work vehicle (for example, a roof member covering the boarding seat when the vehicle is provided with a boarding seat) is detachable, and changing the vehicle shape based on the attachment and detachment of the part may also fall under the "change in vehicle shape".

[0204] Further, the "first part and the second part that are linked so as to be relatively movable to each other" in the above-described structure correspond to the center battery case (front body case) 24 and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (such as the vehicle body center frame 21) that are linked so as to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction to each other, the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frame 22 (left vehicle body side frame 22L, right vehicle body side frame 22R) that are linked so as to be relatively movable in the left-right direction to each other, and the vehicle body 2 (vehicle body side frame 22) and the traveling structure 3 (traveling frame 30) that are linked so as to be relatively movable in the up-down direction to each other.

[0205] However, the "first part and second part linked so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other" is not limited to the above. For example, when a working device such as a rotary tiller is connected to the vehicle body 2 via a three-point link type connecting device 60, the vehicle body 2 and the working device move relatively in the vertical direction by the expansion and contraction of a lift cylinder 61 provided in the connecting device 60, and such a vehicle body 2 and working device may also correspond to the "first part" and "second part". Further, the shape of the vehicle of the work vehicle 1 also changes depending on whether the connecting device 60 or the working device is mounted or not. Thus, the "first part" and "second part" may be any part in the work vehicle 1 as long as they are parts linked so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other.

[0206] Also, when the "change in vehicle shape" is the "relative movement of the first part and second part linked so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other", the "duct that can expand and contract in response to the change in vehicle shape" is considered to be a "duct having an expansion and contraction part extending across the first part and the second part linked so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other and capable of expanding and contracting in response to the relative movement of the first part and the second part".

[0207] Further, it is conceivable to provide the above-described expansion and contraction part in a part of the duct disposed between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2, with one of the aforementioned "first part and second part linked so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other" being the first part of the vehicle body 2 and the other being the second part of the vehicle body 2. Alternatively, it is conceivable that one of the first part and the second part is the vehicle body 2 and the other is the traveling structure 3.

[0208] As the "portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle body 2", in the above-described structure, for example, a portion disposed between the discharge manifold 41b (which can move integrally with the center battery case 24) and the air conditioner case 40 of the vehicle body 2 and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (such as the vehicle body center frame 21), or a portion disposed between the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frames 22 (left vehicle body side frame 22L and right vehicle body side frame 22R) can be considered, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle body center frame 21 may be divided into a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion may be linked to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction, and a telescopic portion may be provided in the corresponding portion of the duct extending across the front portion and the rear portion.

[0209] Further, the duct may have at least one telescopic portion in a portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle body 2 or in a portion disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, and a plurality of telescopic portions may be provided in the portion. Also, such telescopic portions are not limited to a plurality of them provided in series in the portion. For example, the duct may have a U-turn shape, and there may be a plurality of portions disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle body 2, or there may be a plurality of portions interposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3. In such a case, telescopic portions may be provided in each of the plurality of portions.

[0210] The above-described forward duct 42 and return duct 43, and the return duct 44 in the third embodiment described later correspond to the ducts having the telescopic portions described above. Hereinafter, the structure of the telescopic portions of each duct will be described in detail.

[0211] As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the front end portions of the ducts 42 and 43 piped are extended forward from the front end of the upper portion of the vehicle body frame structure 20, bent downward from the extension portions 42a and 43a, and connected to the discharge manifold 41b and the air conditioner case 40 (or intake manifold) provided in the air conditioner unit 51.

[0212] The air conditioner case 40 is continuously provided with the center battery case 24, and the discharge manifold 41b is connected to the air conditioner case 40. When the center battery case 24 moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body frame structure 20, the air conditioner case 40 and the discharge manifold 41b also move integrally with the center battery case 24.

[0213] The ducts 42 and 43 each have telescopic portions 42c and 43c that can expand and contract in the front-rear direction in the front-rear extending portions 42a and 43a. As shown in FIG. 8, when the air conditioner case 40 that houses the air conditioner unit 51 and the discharge manifold 41b move relative to the vehicle body frame structure 20 in the front-rear direction together with the center battery case 24 due to the operation of the battery movement actuator 81 or the like, the telescopic portions 42c and 43c expand and contract in response to the movement.

[0214] That is, the ducts 42 and 43 extend across the discharge manifold 41b and the air conditioner case 40 (first part), which are linked to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction with respect to each other, and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (second part), and are ducts having telescopic portions 42c and 43c that can expand and contract in response to the relative movement in the front-rear direction. That is, the supply duct 42 has a telescopic portion 42c that can expand and contract in the front-rear direction in the front-rear direction portion disposed between the discharge manifold 41b (the first part of the vehicle body 2) and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (the second part of the vehicle body), and the return duct 43 has a telescopic portion 43c that can expand and contract in the front-rear direction in the front-rear direction portion disposed between the air conditioner case 40 (the first part of the vehicle body 2) and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (the second part of the vehicle body 2).

[0215] The forward duct 42 has a front end connected to the discharge manifold 41b, which is in front of the front-rear extending portion 42a, extending upward and outward on the left and right sides, and spanning from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the vehicle body side frame 22. Note that the discharge manifold 41b is a part that can move relative to the vehicle body side frame 22 integrally with the vehicle body center frame 21 as long as it does not move relative to the vehicle body frame structure 20 together with the center battery case 24. The front end of the forward duct 42 spanning across the discharge manifold 41b and the vehicle body side frame 22 is thus spanning across the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frame 22.

[0216] On the other hand, the return duct 43 has an extending portion 43b that bends at the rear end of the front-rear extending portion 43a and extends in the left-right direction, spanning from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the vehicle body side frame 22.

[0217] In this way, the ducts 42 and 43 have telescopic portions 42d and 43d that are stretchable in the left-right direction at portions that extend in the left-right direction and span from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the vehicle body side frame 22. As can be seen in FIG. 9, when the vehicle body side frame 22 moves relative to the vehicle body center frame 21 in the left-right direction due to the operation of the width change cylinder 8 or the like, the telescopic portions 42d and 43d expand and contract accordingly.

[0218] That is, the ducts 42 and 43 extend across the vehicle body center frame 21 (the first part) and the vehicle body side frame 22 (the second part) that are linked to be relatively movable in the left-right direction with respect to each other, and have telescopic portions 42d and 43d that are stretchable in accordance with the relative movement in the left-right direction at the left-right direction portion disposed between the vehicle body center frame 21 (the first part of the vehicle body 2) and the vehicle body side frame 22 (the second part of the vehicle body 2).

[0219] The ducts 42 and 43 extend further outward in the left and right directions from the telescopic portions 42d and 43d on the side frame 22 of the vehicle body, and are bridged to the traveling structures 3 on the left and right outer sides of the vehicle body 2, and are connected to the side battery case 36. After the ducts 42 and 43 are bridged over the upper part of the traveling frame 3, they are bent and have telescopic portions 42e and 43e that can be telescoped in the vertical direction in the portion extending downward to the cooling air inlet 36a and the cooling air outlet 36b. As can be seen in FIG. 8, when the vehicle body 2 moves vertically relative to the traveling structure 3 due to the operation of the vehicle body lifting cylinder 9 or the like, the telescopic portions 42e and 43e expand and contract according to the movement.

[0220] That is, the ducts 42 and 43 extend across the vehicle body 2 (the first part) and the traveling structure 3 (the second part) arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body 2, which are linked so as to be relatively movable in the vertical direction with respect to each other, and have telescopic portions 42e and 43e that can be telescoped according to the relative movement in the vertical direction in the vertical portion arranged between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0221] Further, the work vehicle 1 includes a traveling structure 3 provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, the vehicle body 2 is relatively movable with respect to the traveling structure 3, and the ducts 42 and 43 are provided with a plurality of telescopic portions in the portion arranged between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2 and in the portion arranged between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0222] That is, the forward duct 42 is a duct provided with a plurality of telescopic portions 42c and 42e in the portion arranged between the discharge manifold 41b (the first part) of the vehicle body 2 and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (the second part) and in the portion arranged between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, and is also a duct provided with a plurality of telescopic portions 42d and 42e in the portion arranged between the vehicle body center frame 21 (the first part) and the vehicle body side frame 22 (the second part) and in the portion arranged between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0223] In addition, the return duct 43 is a duct provided with a plurality of expansion joints 43c and 43e. The expansion joint 43c is provided in the front-rear direction portion disposed between the air conditioner case 40 (first part) of the vehicle body 2 and the vehicle body frame structure 20 (second part), and the expansion joints 43d and 43e are provided in the portion disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3. Also, the expansion joints 43d and 43e are provided in the portion disposed between the center frame 21 (first part) of the vehicle body and the side frame 22 (second part) of the vehicle body, and the portion disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0224] As described above, the ducts 42 and 43 may have a plurality of expansion joints in the portion disposed between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2, or may have a plurality of such portions, and each of these portions may have an expansion joint. The same applies to the portion disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0225] When the work vehicle 1 includes a cooling device provided in the first part or the second part, and a device to be cooled provided in the traveling structure 3 and cooled by a cooling medium supplied from the cooling device, the duct provided with a plurality of expansion joints in the portion disposed between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2 and the portion disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3 may extend between the cooling device and the device to be cooled as a passage for the cooling medium.

[0226] In the present embodiment, the ducts 42 and 43 having a plurality of expansion joints as described above extend between the air conditioner unit 51 provided in the air conditioner case 40 corresponding to the first part or the second part of the vehicle body 2 and the side battery 37 provided in the traveling structure 3.

[0227] In addition, the vehicle body 2 has a third part that is relatively movable with respect to the second part, and the ducts 42 and 43 are provided with a plurality of expansion joints in the portion disposed between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2 and the portion disposed between the second part and the third part of the vehicle body 2.

[0228] Incidentally, the forward duct 42 is a duct provided with a plurality of expansion and contraction portions 42c and 42d in a longitudinal portion disposed above the side frame 22 of the vehicle body and in a lateral portion disposed between the discharge manifold 41b and the side frame 22 of the vehicle body.

[0229] On the other hand, the return duct 43 is a duct provided with a plurality of expansion and contraction portions 43c and 43d in a portion disposed between the air conditioner case 40 (first portion) of the vehicle body 2 and the vehicle body center frame 21 (second portion) which is a part of the vehicle body frame structure 20, and in a portion disposed between the vehicle body center frame 21 (second portion) and the side frame 22 (third portion) of the vehicle body.

[0230] As described above, the ducts 42 and 43 may have a plurality of expansion and contraction portions in the portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle body 2, or may have a plurality of such portions, and each of these portions may have an expansion and contraction portion. The same applies to the portion disposed between the second portion and the third portion.

[0231] Also, in the present embodiment, in the vehicle body 2, the portions that are relatively movably linked are three, namely the first to third portions. However, it is sufficient that there are at least three portions corresponding to such first to third portions, and even if there are four or more, the above structure can be applied. Therefore, the expansion and contraction portions provided in such portions of the vehicle body 2 are not limited to two, such as the expansion and contraction portions 42c and 42d or the expansion and contraction portions 43d and 43d like the ducts 42 and 43, and may be provided according to the number of corresponding portions.

[0232] Further, in the case where the work vehicle 1 includes a traveling structure 3 provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, an air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device) provided in an air conditioner case 40 (first part of the vehicle body 2), and a side battery 37 (device to be cooled) disposed in the traveling structure 3 and cooled by a cooling medium supplied from the air conditioner unit 51, the return duct 43 extends in the front-rear direction from the air conditioner unit 51 to the vehicle body center frame 21 (second part of the vehicle body 2) as a passage for the cooling medium, bends at the vehicle body center frame 21, extends in the left-right direction from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the vehicle body side frame 22 (third part of the vehicle body 2), and extends in the vertical direction from the vehicle body side frame 22 to the side battery 37.

[0233] As can be seen in FIG. 2 and the like, since the first extension 43a of the return duct 43 on the vehicle body center frame 21 is piped immediately beside the left and right inner sides of the vehicle body side frame 22, the supply duct 42 extends immediately upward from the discharge manifold 41b to the outside of the vehicle body side frame 22 in the left-right direction, has a telescopic part 42d in the left-right direction at this extension to the outside in the left-right direction, and the first extension 42a in the front-rear direction is piped immediately beside the left and right outer sides of the first extension 43a of the return duct 43. Since the supply duct 42 has a telescopic part 42c at this first extension 42a, the telescopic part 42c in the front-rear direction is behind the telescopic part 42d in the left-right direction. The supply duct 42 bends behind the telescopic part 42c in the front-rear direction and extends a second extension 42b in the left-right direction to the traveling structure 3, and has a telescopic part 42e in the vertical direction at the part extending across the traveling structure 3.

[0234] However, if the first extension 43a of the return duct 43 is moved closer to the inner side in the left - right direction (the middle part in the left - right direction of the vehicle body center frame 21) than the position shown in FIG. 2, the first extension 42a of the forward duct 42 can also be piped above the vehicle body center frame 21, which is more to the inner side in the left - right direction than the vehicle body side frame 22. In this case, similar to the piping route of the return duct 43 described above, the forward duct 42 as a passage for the cooling medium extends in the front - rear direction from the air - conditioner unit 51 to the vehicle body center frame 21 (the second part of the vehicle body 2), bends at the vehicle body center frame 21, extends in the left - right direction from the vehicle body center frame 21 to the vehicle body side frame 22 (the third part of the vehicle body 2), and extends in the vertical direction from the vehicle body side frame 22 to the side battery 37. Thus, it becomes possible to pipe along this route.

[0235] As described above, the ducts 42 and 43 have expandable and contractible portions 42c - 42e, 43c - 43e. Thus, regardless of the deformation of the vehicle body 2 or the relative movement between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the state where the ducts are piped without being disconnected between the air - conditioner unit 51 and the side - battery case 36 can be maintained.

[0236] In this way, in the work vehicle 1, a single duct 42, 43 has a plurality of portions that span across separately - connected parts that can move relative to each other (for example, the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frame 22, etc.), and these plurality of portions have expandable and contractible portions. In this embodiment, each duct 42, 43 has three portions that span across separately - connected parts that can move relative to each other, and correspondingly has three expandable and contractible portions 42c - 42e, 43c - 43e. However, it is not limited to this, and the number of expandable and contractible portions of each duct may be more than three or less than three.

[0237] In addition, the expansion and contraction directions of the respective expansion and contraction parts correspond to the relative movement directions of the separate parts across which the ducts are laid as described above. In the present embodiment, the relative movement directions of the parts across which the above three parts are laid are different, and for each of the ducts 42 and 43, the expansion and contraction parts 42c and 43c expand and contract in the front - rear direction, the expansion and contraction parts 42d and 43d expand and contract in the left - right direction, and the expansion and contraction parts 42e and 43e expand and contract in the up - down direction, so that a single duct can expand and contract in various directions. However, the expansion and contraction directions of the plurality of expansion and contraction parts in a single duct are not limited to this, and for example, the plurality of expansion and contraction parts in a single duct may be able to expand and contract in the same direction.

[0238] That is, the number of the expansion and contraction parts and the expansion and contraction directions of the expansion and contraction parts when each duct has a plurality of expansion and contraction parts are determined corresponding to what kind of structure is the structure for changing the vehicle shape of the above - mentioned work vehicle 1, and also corresponding to how each duct is extended in a route corresponding to a cooling device (in this embodiment, the air - conditioner unit 51) and a device to be cooled (in this embodiment, the side battery 37), and is not limited to the above - described embodiment.

[0239] Note that instead of the above - described expansion and contraction structure, in preparation for the deformation of the vehicle body 2 and the relative movement between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the ducts 42 and 43 made of a flexible material are pre - bent so that, for example, as the vehicle body 2 rises, the bent part changes to a linearly extended state. However, in this case, when the vehicle body 2 is not rising, the ducts 42 and 43 must be bent so as to bulge greatly from the vehicle body 2, and it is difficult to realize a compact piping.

[0240] In this regard, in the case of the ducts 42 and 43 according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle body 2 is not rising, the expansion and contraction parts 42e and 43e are not bent but are in a contracted state, so that the state along the vehicle body side frame 22 and the traveling frame 30 is maintained, and a compact piping can be realized.

[0241] The telescopic parts 42c to 42e and 43c to 43e of the ducts 42 and 43 may be configured by, for example, bellows hoses, but are not limited thereto, and relative movement between the center battery case 24 and the vehicle body frame structure 20 as described above, relative movement between the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frame 22, and / or relative movement between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3. Any member may be used as long as it has a structure that can expand and contract in response to the movement.

[0242] Also, various considerations can be made regarding the range and / or extent within which the telescopic parts should be provided among the parts where the telescopic parts are to be provided in each duct. For example, when providing a telescopic part 43d that can expand and contract in the left - right direction in the left - right extending part 43b of the return duct 43 in response to the relative movement between the vehicle body center frame 21 and the vehicle body side frame 22, the telescopic part 43d is divided into two parts, namely, the left - right outer part and the left - right inner part, and a non - telescopic part of the return duct 43 may be provided between these two parts that serve as the telescopic parts. Thereby, the axial length of each part as the telescopic part 43d becomes shorter, and it becomes possible to apply a short bellows hose to each of these parts.

[0243] Next, a second embodiment of the air - cooling system in the work vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 16 and the like. Note that the description of the same configuration as that in the first embodiment will be omitted. Also, members and parts with the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment have the same configuration or function as the corresponding members and parts in the first embodiment.

[0244] The air - cooling system shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is an embodiment of an air - cooling system applied to a work vehicle 1 including a cooling device, a first cooling target device and a second cooling target device cooled by the cooling air discharged from the cooling device, a first cooling housing that houses the first cooling target device, and a second cooling housing that houses the second cooling target device, and the first cooling housing is provided with an intake port for taking in the air discharged from the second cooling housing after cooling the second cooling target device.

[0245] That is, in the present embodiment, the cooling device is the air conditioner unit 51, the first device to be cooled is the center battery 50, the first cooling housing is the center battery case 24, the second device to be cooled is the side battery 37, the second cooling housing is the side battery case 36, and an inlet 24h for taking in the air discharged from the side battery case 36 is provided in the center battery case 24.

[0246] However, various cooling devices and devices to be cooled can be considered as described in the above description of the duct structure. Also, it is not limited which of the plurality of devices to be cooled in the work vehicle 1 is the first device to be cooled and which is the second device to be cooled. For example, the side battery 37 can be the first device to be cooled, the center battery 50 can be the second device to be cooled, and an inlet for taking in the air discharged from the center battery case 24 can be provided in the side battery case 36 that houses the side battery 37.

[0247] Alternatively, one of the first device to be cooled and the second device to be cooled can be the left side battery 37L, the other can be the right side battery 37R, and one of the first cooling housing and the second cooling housing can be the left side battery case 36L, and the other can be the right side battery case 36R.

[0248] Alternatively, the first device to be cooled and / or the second device to be cooled can be other than a battery.

[0249] In the present embodiment, a cooling air passage 24c for blowing the cooling air from the air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device) onto the center battery 50 (first device to be cooled) and an exhaust air passage 24d for discharging the air after cooling the center battery 50 to the air conditioner unit 51 are formed in the center battery case 24 (first cooling housing), and the air from the side battery case 36 (second cooling housing) introduced into the center battery case 24 through the inlet 24h merges with the air in the exhaust air passage 24d.

[0250] In addition, inside the center battery case 24 (the first cooling housing), a first air guiding device that guides air from the cooling air passage 24c to the exhaust air passage 24d and a second air guiding device that guides air from the intake port 24h to the exhaust air passage 24d are provided. In the present embodiment, the first air guiding device is a fan 45, and the second air guiding device is a fan 46. However, it is not limited to such a fan, and for example, simple plate materials or guide members such as ribs integrally formed with the housing may be used.

[0251] In addition, inside the center battery case 24 (the first cooling housing), a partition plate is provided above the first device to be cooled, and the space below the partition plate 24e in the center battery case 24 is the cooling air passage 24c, and the space above the partition plate 24e is the exhaust air passage 24d.

[0252] Inside the center battery case 24 (the first cooling housing), along the end of the partition plate 24e, a vertical communication passage 24g that communicates the outlet of the cooling air passage 24c and the inlet of the exhaust air passage 24d is provided. At the outlet of the cooling air passage 24c, a fan 45 (the first air guiding device) that guides air from the cooling air passage 24c to the lower part of the communication passage 24g is provided, and at the upper part of the communication passage 24g, an intake port 24h and a fan 46 (the second air guiding device) that guides the air introduced from the intake port 24h to the inlet of the exhaust air passage 24d are provided.

[0253] In the air-cooling system according to the second embodiment, the return duct 43 (the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R) for returning the cooling air after cooling the side battery 37 to the air conditioner unit 51 does not directly return the cooling air to the air conditioner unit 51 (the intake manifold 76), but has a structure that returns it into the center battery case 24, and is shortened compared to that of the first embodiment.

[0254] That is, as shown in FIG. 15, an intake port 24h is provided at the upper part of the rear end of the center battery case 24, and the outlet ends of the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R are connected to the intake port 24h. Note that a pair of intake ports 24h may be provided, and the outlet ends of the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R may be connected to the respective intake ports 24h, or there may be one intake port 24h, and the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R may be merged and then connected to the intake port 24h.

[0255] The intake port 24h faces the upper part of the communication passage 24g in the center battery case 24, that is, the inlet part of the exhaust passage 24d. The air flow from the intake port 24h to the exhaust passage 24d is configured to be a linear horizontal flow, so that air smoothly flows from the intake port 24h to the exhaust passage 24d.

[0256] Thus, the cooling air (air) after cooling the left and right side batteries 37L, 37R is introduced from the left and right side battery cases 36L, 36R into the center battery case 24 through the left and right return ducts 43L, 43R and the intake port 24h. Here, it merges with the cooling air (air) after cooling the center battery 50 that has entered the communication passage 24g from the cooling air passage 24c and risen, and is discharged from the cooling air outlet 24b through the exhaust passage 24d and returned to the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51.

[0257] Note that in the center battery case 24, the exhaust passage 24d may be divided (separated) into a passage for air from the intake port 24h and a passage for air from the cooling air passage 24c, and the air passing through these passages may merge after exiting the cooling air outlet 24b and be inhaled into the air suction port 51a.

[0258] Regarding the division of the exhaust passage 24d, for example, a parallel partition plate may be provided above the partition plate 24e so that the exhaust passage 24d is divided into two upper and lower passages, and the rear end of this partition plate is connected to the rear end wall of the center battery case 24, and the intake port 24h may be provided on the rear end wall of the center battery case 24 above this partition plate.

[0259] In this way, with the partition plate provided above the partition plate 24e, the air after cooling the side battery 37 from the intake port 24h and the air after cooling the center battery 50 from the cooling air passage 24c are completely separated. The air after cooling the side battery 37 passes through the passage above the partition plate in the exhaust passage 24d, and the air after cooling the center battery 50 passes through the passage below the partition plate in the exhaust passage 24d, and is discharged into the air-conditioning chamber 40a from the cooling air outlet 24b.

[0260] Alternatively, the exhaust passage 24d may be divided into left and right passages, one of the passages being connected to the intake port 24h to serve as a passage for the air after cooling the side battery 37, and the other passage being connected to the cooling air passage 24c to serve as a passage for the air after cooling the center battery 50.

[0261] Also, in the second embodiment, since the outlet ends of the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R are connected to the rear end portion of the center battery case 24, as can be seen in FIG. 16, in the first embodiment, the longitudinal extension portions 43a of the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R that were spanned on the vehicle body center frame 21 are omitted.

[0262] That is, in the first embodiment, the extension portions 42a, 43a of the four ducts 42L, 42R, 43L, 43R were piped in parallel above the vehicle body frame structure 20, whereas in the second embodiment, only the extension portions 42a of the two ducts 42L, 42R are piped in parallel above the vehicle body frame structure 20 (the left and right vehicle body side frame portions 22L, 22R).

[0263] That is, in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the return duct 43 is a duct having an extension portion (first extension portion) 43a that extends from the air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device) to the side battery 37 (device to be cooled) and extends in the front-rear direction (the first direction). The extension portion (first extension portion) 42a of the supply duct 42 and the extension portion (first extension portion) 43a of the return duct 43 are arranged in parallel. In the vehicle body 2, a center battery 50 (second device to be cooled) that is cooled by the cooling air from the air conditioner unit 51 is provided separately from the side battery 37 (device to be cooled). An exhaust passage 24d for discharging the cooling air after cooling the center battery 50 to the air conditioner unit 51 is formed in a center battery case 24 that is a housing for housing the center battery 50 (second device to be cooled). The return duct 43 is connected to the center battery case 24 and communicates with the exhaust passage 24d in the center battery case 24.

[0264] With such reduction of the ducts, a space for arranging devices other than the ducts is secured at the upper part of the vehicle body frame structure 20. For example, in the first embodiment, it was necessary to attach the situation detection device 10 via the stay 10d straddling the extension portions 43a of the return ducts 43L and 43R. In the second embodiment, between the extension portions 42a of the left and right supply ducts 42L and 42R piped on the left and right vehicle body side frames 22L and 22R, a wide area that is not covered by the ducts is secured on the upper end surface of the support member 23 provided directly below the vehicle body center frame 21. Therefore, the situation detection device 10 can be directly attached to the upper end surface of the support member 23 without providing a stay for straddling the ducts.

[0265] Also, in the present embodiment, inside the center battery case 24, in addition to the fan 45 provided in the first embodiment, a fan 46 is arranged at a position facing the intake port 24h above the communication passage 24g. The position of this fan 46 corresponds to the position through which the aforementioned linear horizontal air flow from the intake port 24h to the exhaust passage 24d passes. That is, the fan 46 is arranged so as to promote the linear horizontal air flow from the intake port 24h to the exhaust passage 24d.

[0266] The fan 46 sucks in the air flowing into the center battery case 24 from the intake port 24h and discharges it to the upper part of the communication passage 24g and the rear end part of the exhaust passage 24d, thereby causing a forward airflow from the intake port 24h to the exhaust passage 24d. Thereby, the cooling air from the intake port 24h is merged into the flow of the cooling air from the cooling air passage 24c and guided to the cooling air outlet 24b.

[0267] In the first embodiment, since the outlet end of the return duct 43 was connected to the air conditioner case 40, it was preferable to have the air conditioner case 40 that houses the air conditioner unit 51. However, in the second embodiment, the outlet end of the return duct 43 is connected to the center battery case 24. Therefore, it is not always necessary to provide the air conditioner case 40, and various variations can be considered regarding the arrangement relationship between the center battery case 24 and the air conditioner unit 51.

[0268] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, an air conditioner case 40 separate from the center battery case 24 may be eliminated and the air conditioner unit 51 may be provided inside the center battery case 24. In this case, there is no cooling air outlet 24b for discharging the air that has passed through the exhaust passage 24d to the outside from the center battery case 24, and the air that has passed through the exhaust passage 24d is taken into the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51 inside the center battery case 24.

[0269] Also, as shown in FIG. 18, the air conditioner unit 51 may be arranged outside the center battery case 24, the air conditioner case 40 may be eliminated, and the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51 may be directed to the outside air. In this case, the air that has passed through the exhaust passage 24d is discharged from the cooling air outlet 24b of the center battery case 24, mixed with the outside air, and taken into the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51.

[0270] Note that the center battery case 24 illustrated in FIGS. 10, 15, 17, and 18 described above has, inside, an exhaust air passage 24d for discharging the cooling air after cooling the center battery 50, separate from the cooling air passage 24c for blowing the cooling air against the center battery 50 as the equipment to be cooled.

[0271] Such a center battery case 24 may be replaced, for example, with a center battery case 24 having a configuration without the exhaust air passage 24d (the partition plate 24e constituting the same), as shown in FIG. 19.

[0272] Hereinafter, an air-cooling system according to a third embodiment having the center battery case 24 shown in FIG. 19 and the air-cooling duct structure shown in FIG. 20 will be described.

[0273] That is, the center battery case 24 in FIG. 19 is provided with a cooling air inlet 24a connected to the discharge manifold 41a at the front end portion, while a cooling air outlet 24b is provided at the rear end portion of the center battery case 24.

[0274] Inside the center battery case 24, no passage for a flow in a direction different from that of the cooling air flowing rearward from the cooling air inlet 24a, such as the exhaust air passage 24d, is provided. The air that has flowed into the center battery case 24 from the cooling air inlet 24a at the front end portion of the center battery case 24 flows backward in the entire amount over substantially the entire area inside the center battery case 24 and is discharged from the cooling air outlet 24b at the rear end portion of the center battery case 24.

[0275] Then, in order to return the cooling air after cooling the center battery 50 inside the center battery case 24 to the air suction port 51a of the air conditioner unit 51, a return duct 44 is provided outside the center battery case 24.

[0276] The inlet end of the return duct 44 is connected to the cooling air outlet 24b at the rear end of the center battery case 24. Most of the return duct 44 is spanned above the center battery case 24 so as to extend in the front-rear direction on the upper part of the vehicle body 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, the return duct 44 has an extension 44a that extends in the front-rear direction parallel to the extensions 42a and 43a of the ducts 42 and 43 from the front part of the vehicle body 2 to the middle part in the front-rear direction corresponding to the rear end of the center battery case 24.

[0277] When applying the center battery case 24 and the return duct 44 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 to the first embodiment having return ducts 43L and 43R that extend to, for example, an air conditioner case 40 that houses the air conditioner unit 51, it is preferable to arrange the extension 44a of the return duct 44 between the left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R on the vehicle body center frame 21.

[0278] Also, the front end of the return duct 44 from the center battery case 24 is connected to the upper end of the air conditioner case 40, similarly to the front ends of the return ducts 43L and 43R from the side battery cases 36, and is structured to discharge air into the space within the air conditioner case 40.

[0279] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, an intake manifold 51b communicating with the air intake port 51a may be provided at the front part of the air conditioner unit 51, and the front ends (outlet ends) of the return ducts 43L, 43R, and 44 may be connected to the intake manifold 51b.

[0280] Also, as shown in FIG. 20, between the front end of the return duct 44 and the front end of the extension 44a on the vehicle body center frame 21, it is preferable to provide an expansion / contraction part 44c that can expand and contract corresponding to the front-rear movement of the center battery case 24, similarly to the expansion / contraction part 43c of the return duct 43.

[0281] That is, in the third embodiment, in addition to the side battery 37, the vehicle body 2 is provided with a center battery 50 that is cooled by the cooling air from the air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device). At least one duct 44 extending from the air conditioner unit 51 (cooling device) to the center battery 50 has an extension part (first extension part) 44a extending in the front-rear direction (first direction) in the range from the front end part (first end part) to the mid-front-rear part (mid-part) of the vehicle body 2.

[0282] Now, in the work vehicle 1, various forms of circuit structures can be considered for supplying the temperature-adjusted medium discharged from the temperature adjustment device to the temperature adjustment target equipment.

[0283] As the temperature adjustment device, in addition to the air conditioner unit (air temperature adjustment device) 51 as the aforementioned air cooling device 110 (see FIG. 14) and the radiator 52 as the water cooling device 120 (see FIG. 14), a heater or the like can be considered. As the temperature adjustment medium, air, water, refrigerant gas, etc. can be considered.

[0284] As the temperature adjustment target equipment, batteries such as the aforementioned center battery 50 and side battery 37, electrical equipment such as the aforementioned work system electric unit E1, hydraulic system electric unit E2, traveling system electric unit E3 (front traveling system electric unit E3F, rear traveling system electric unit E3R), and hydraulic equipment such as the control valve unit 27 can be considered.

[0285] When the battery is the temperature adjustment target equipment, as the temperature adjustment medium, air as the cooling air can be considered, and it can be cooled by an air cooling device 110 such as the air conditioner unit 51. Note that the battery can also be cooled by the cooling water generated by the heat exchange action of the radiator 52 which is the water cooling device 120.

[0286] When electrical equipment such as an electric motor and an inverter is the temperature adjustment target equipment, as the temperature adjustment medium, cooling water can be considered, and it can be cooled by the cooling water generated by the radiator 52 as the water cooling device 120.

[0287] Further, when hydraulic devices such as a hydraulic pump 57 and various hydraulic actuators are temperature control target devices, fins or the like are formed on a case that houses such hydraulic devices, and the case is cooled by cooling air from an air conditioner unit 51 as an air cooling device 110, or a water jacket is formed on the case, and cooling water from a radiator 52 as a water cooling device 120 is fed into the water jacket to cool the case, etc. can be considered.

[0288] Alternatively, as an oil cooler for cooling the hydraulic oil supplied to the hydraulic pump 57 and the hydraulic actuator, or the lubricating oil replenished to each part of the work vehicle 1, for example, an air conditioner unit 51 as an air cooling device or a radiator 52 as a water cooling device can be used, etc. Alternatively, a temperature control device as an oil cooler may be provided separately from the air conditioner unit 51 and the radiator 52.

[0289] When a heater is used as the temperature control device, as the temperature control medium, warm water heated by the heater can be considered. For example, when the place where the work vehicle 1 is used is in a low temperature area and the lubrication efficiency of lubricating oil or the like decreases, circulating the warm water in the work vehicle 1 to warm the lubricating oil can be considered.

[0290] And, when the vehicle structure of the work vehicle 1 of the present application is composed of a vehicle body 2 and left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R arranged on both left and right sides of the vehicle body 2, several patterns can be considered as the structure of a temperature control system for supplying the temperature control medium generated by the temperature control device to temperature control target devices D1, D2L, and D2R provided in the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R, respectively.

[0291] First, the temperature adjustment system TS1 shown in FIG. 21 will be described. The work vehicle 1 to which this temperature adjustment system TS1 is applied includes a vehicle body 2 and left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body 2. In the vehicle body 2, a first device D1 and a first adjustment device T1 for adjusting the temperature of the first device D1 are arranged. On one of the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, a second device D2L (or D2R) and a second adjustment device T2L (or T2R) for adjusting the temperature of the second device D2L (or D2R) are arranged. On the other of the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, a third device D2R (or D2L) and a third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) for adjusting the temperature of the third device D2R (or D2L) are arranged.

[0292] That is, the temperature adjustment system TS1 is an independent type of temperature adjustment system in which each of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R is provided with an individually independent temperature adjustment device T1, T2L, T2R and a temperature adjustment circuit C1, C2L, C2R as an individually independent closed circuit.

[0293] Regarding the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L) which are the temperature adjustment targets in this independent type temperature adjustment system TS1, various things can be considered and are not limited. Also, each is not limited to a single device and may be composed of a plurality of devices.

[0294] For example, the first device D1 is a work system electric unit E1 (inverter 53 and electric motor 54) which is an electric device for driving and controlling a work device connected to the vehicle body 2 and / or a hydraulic pump 57 or the like as a hydraulic device for controlling a hydraulic actuator equipped on the vehicle body 2. Further, the first device D1 may include a hydraulic system electric unit E2 (inverter 55 and electric motor 56) for driving the hydraulic pump 57.

[0295] Also, for example, the second device D2L (or D2R) and the third device D2R (or D2L) are traveling motors 7 (7F, 7R) for driving the wheels 5 (front wheels 5F, rear wheels 5R) of the respective traveling structures 3L, 3R.

[0296] In addition, as the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R), and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) in this independent temperature adjustment system TS1, various ones can be considered, and the device structure is not limited. Note that it is preferable that they are devices corresponding to the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L), which are the respective temperature adjustment targets.

[0297] For example, it is conceivable that at least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R), and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) is a radiator for water cooling (water temperature adjustment), an air temperature adjustment device for air cooling (air temperature adjustment), or a heater for water temperature adjustment or the like.

[0298] In addition, the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R), and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) may be provided at any position in each of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R.

[0299] In the work vehicle 1 adopting the independent temperature adjustment system TS1, a first adjustment circuit C1 for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the first adjustment device T1 and the first device D1 is provided in the vehicle body 2, and a second adjustment circuit C2L (or C2R) for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R) and the second device D2L (or D2R) is provided in one traveling structure 3L (or 3R), and a third adjustment circuit C2R (or C2L) for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) and the third device D2R (or D2L) is provided in the other traveling structure 3R (or 3L).

[0300] As the first adjustment circuit C1, the second adjustment circuit C2L (or C2R), and the third adjustment circuit C2R (or C2L), various ones can be considered, and the device structure is not limited. Note that it is preferable that they are devices corresponding to the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L), which are the respective temperature adjustment targets.

[0301] For example, at least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R), and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) includes a radiator and a radiator fan, and the first adjustment circuit C1, the second adjustment circuit C2L (or C2R), and the third adjustment circuit C2R (or C2L) connected to the radiator may include a cooling water storage tank and a cooling water discharge pump.

[0302] The water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) system including the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R1 for cooling the work system electric unit E1 in the vehicle body 2, the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R2 for cooling the hydraulic system electric unit E2, and the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R3F for cooling the front traveling system electric unit E3F and the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R3R for cooling the rear traveling system electric unit E3R provided for each traveling structure 3 shown in FIG. 12 in the work vehicle 1 described above is an application example of an independent type temperature adjustment system TS1.

[0303] In the embodiment including the water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuits R1, R2, R3L, and R3R shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 described above, corresponding to the first device D1 being the work system electric unit E1 and / or the hydraulic pump 57 or the like, and the second device D2L (or D2R) and the third device D2R (or D2L) being the traveling motors 7 (7F, 7R), all of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R), and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) are radiators (radiators 52, 71).

[0304] The first adjustment device T1 includes a radiator 52 and a radiator fan 52a, the second adjustment device T2L (or T2R) and the third adjustment device T2R (or T2L) each include a radiator 71 and a radiator fan 71a, the first adjustment circuit C1 includes a reservoir (cooling water storage) tank 59 and an electric cooling water (cooling water discharge) pump 58, and the second adjustment circuit C2L (or C2R) and the third adjustment circuit C2R (or C2L) each include a reservoir (cooling water storage) tank 73 and an electric cooling water (cooling water discharge) pump 72.

[0305] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and the like, the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R each have wheels 5, and the second adjusting device T2L (or T2R) and the third adjusting device T2R (or T2L) are respectively arranged so as to face the ground contact surfaces of the wheels 5 of the traveling structures 3L and 3R.

[0306] Furthermore, the second adjusting device T2L (or T2R) and the third adjusting device T2R (or T2L) are radiators 71, and each is inclined in the front-rear direction in front of the wheels 5 (front wheels 5F).

[0307] In FIG. 21, a radiator 52 and a radiator fan 52a are provided for the temperature adjusting device T1 in the vehicle body 2, an electric motor 54 etc. as a working system electric unit E1 and an electric motor 56 etc. as a hydraulic system electric unit E2 are provided for the temperature adjusting target device D1, a water-cooled cooling (temperature adjusting) circuit R1 is provided for the temperature adjusting circuit C1, a radiator 71 and a radiator fan 71a are provided for the temperature adjusting devices T2L, T2R in the left and right traveling structures 3L, 3R, a traveling system electric unit E3 (E3FL, E3FR, E3RL, E3RR), that is, a front traveling motor 7F and a rear traveling motor 7R etc. are provided for the temperature adjusting target devices D2L, D2R, and water-cooled cooling (temperature adjusting) circuits R2L, R2R are applied to the temperature adjusting circuits C2L, C2R, showing an application example of the independent type temperature adjusting system TS1.

[0308] The temperature adjusting system TS2 shown in FIG. 22 is provided with a temperature adjusting device T3 in any one of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R (in this embodiment, it is provided in the vehicle body 2, but it may be provided in any one), and is provided with a temperature adjusting circuit C3 for supplying the temperature adjusting medium from the temperature adjusting device T3 to the temperature adjusting target devices D1, D2L, D2R provided in the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R.

[0309] The temperature adjustment circuit C3 has a branch circuit that branches into the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R. Inside the vehicle body 2, a branch temperature adjustment circuit C3a is provided to supply the temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T3 to the temperature adjustment target device D1 provided in the vehicle body 2. Inside the left traveling structure 3L, a branch temperature adjustment circuit C3b is provided to supply the temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T3 to the temperature adjustment target device D2L provided in the left traveling structure 3L. Inside the right traveling structure 3R, a branch temperature adjustment circuit C3c is provided to supply the temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T3 to the temperature adjustment target device D2R provided in the right traveling structure 3R.

[0310] The cooling medium discharged from the temperature adjustment device T3 (similar to the temperature adjustment system TS1, various types are conceivable) passes through the common medium supply passage C3d and then branches into the branch temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c, and is circulated so as to go around each of the branch temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c. During this process, the respective temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, and D2R are cooled (sequentially if there are multiple devices), and eventually return to the confluence point to the common medium return passage C3e. The confluent medium flows back to the temperature adjustment device T3 through the medium return passage C3e and undergoes the temperature adjustment action again.

[0311] That is, the temperature adjustment system TS2 is a branched type temperature adjustment system provided with a temperature adjustment circuit C3 in which the branch temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c are branched from one temperature adjustment device T3 to the temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, and D2R provided in the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R respectively.

[0312] Note that the temperature adjustment circuit C3 in the temperature adjustment system TS2 of FIG. 22 is structured to branch into the branch temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c via a common medium supply passage C3d extending from the discharge port of the temperature adjustment device T3, but it is not limited to this, and it may also be structured to branch directly into the branch temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c from the discharge port of the temperature adjustment device T3.

[0313] Also, in FIG. 22, although the position where the temperature adjustment circuit C3 branches from the common medium supply passage C3d to the branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c is at the rear part of the vehicle body 2, it is not limited thereto, and it may branch from the common medium supply passage C3d to the branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c at any position of the work vehicle 1.

[0314] Further, in the temperature adjustment system TS2 in FIG. 22, the temperature adjustment circuit C3 in the temperature adjustment system TS2 has a structure in which the medium that has passed through the branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c is collected (merged) in the common medium return passage C3e extending from the suction port of the temperature adjustment device T3 and then returned to the suction port of the temperature adjustment device T3. However, it is not limited thereto, and the medium outlets of the respective branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c may be directly connected to the suction port of the temperature adjustment device T3.

[0315] Also, in FIG. 22, although the position where the temperature adjustment circuit C3 collects the cooling (temperature adjustment) medium that has passed through the branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c and merges it into the common medium return passage C3e is at the rear part of the vehicle body 2, it is not limited thereto, and the branched temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, and C3c may be merged into the common cooling (temperature adjustment) medium return passage C3e at any position of the work vehicle 1.

[0316] That is, the work vehicle 1 to which the branched type temperature adjustment system TS2 in FIG. 22 is applied includes the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L provided on the left side of the vehicle body 2, the right traveling structure 3R provided on the right side of the vehicle body 2, a temperature adjustment device T3 disposed in any one of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R, temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, D2R including devices whose temperatures are adjusted by the temperature adjustment device T3, namely, a first device D1 disposed in the vehicle body 2, a second device D2L disposed in the left traveling structure 3L, and a third device D2R disposed in the right traveling structure 3R, and a temperature adjustment circuit C3 that sends a temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T3 to the temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, D2R. The temperature adjustment circuit C3 branches from the temperature adjustment device T3 and is connected to the first device D1, the second device D2L, and the third device D2R, respectively.

[0317] Regarding the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L) whose temperatures are to be adjusted in this branched temperature adjustment system TS2, various types are conceivable and not limited. Also, each is not limited to a single device and may be composed of a plurality of devices.

[0318] For example, in the work vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 and the like, it is conceivable to use the center battery 50, the work system electric unit E1 (inverter 53 and electric motor 54), the work system electric unit E1 (inverter 55 and electric motor 56), and / or hydraulic devices such as the hydraulic pump 57 as the first device D1, and the side battery 37, the front traveling system electric unit E3F (inverter 6F and traveling motor 7F), and / or the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (inverter 6R and traveling motor 7R) as the second device D2L and / or D2R.

[0319] Also, as the adjustment device T3 in this branched temperature adjustment system TS2, various types are conceivable and the device structure is not limited. Note that it is preferably a device corresponding to the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L) which are the temperature adjustment target devices.

[0320] For example, when at least one of the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L) as the device to be cooled is a battery, the adjustment device T3 may be an air temperature adjustment device, and the battery may be cooled by the cooling air discharged therefrom, or the adjustment device T3 may be a radiator and a radiator fan, and the battery may be cooled by the cooling water generated by the heat exchange of the radiator and the radiator fan.

[0321] When constructing a water-cooled branch-type temperature control system TS2 as the adjustment device T3 with a radiator and a radiator fan on the work vehicle 1, the radiator as the adjustment device T3 may be the radiator 52 and the radiator fan 52a of the vehicle body 2, or may be the radiator 71 and the radiator fan 71a provided on either the left traveling structure 3L or the right traveling structure 3R.

[0322] Also, the positions of the radiator and the radiator fan as the adjustment device T3 are not limited to the positions of the radiators 52, 71 and the radiator fans 52a, 71a as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 and the like, and may be other positions suitable for circulating the cooling water between the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L).

[0323] Regarding the capacity (size) of the radiator as the adjustment device T3, considering the supply of the cooling water to the first device D1, the second device D2L (or D2R), and the third device D2R (or D2L), it may be larger than each of the adjustment devices T1, T2L, and T2R in the independent-type temperature control system TS1, and is not limited.

[0324] The temperature control circuit C3 in the branch-type temperature control system TS2 includes a first temperature control circuit C3a that circulates a temperature control medium between the temperature control device T3 and the first device D1, a second temperature control circuit C3b that circulates a temperature control medium between the temperature control device T3 and the second device D2L (or D2R), and a third temperature control circuit C3c that circulates a temperature control medium between the temperature control device T3 and the third device D2R (or D2L).

[0325] As described above, when the branched temperature adjustment system TS2 applied to the work vehicle 1 is a water cooling system using the adjustment device T3 as a radiator, in the first temperature adjustment circuit C3a that supplies cooling water to, for example, the work system electric unit E1 (such as the electric motor 54) and the hydraulic system electric unit E2 (such as the electric motor 56) as the first device D1, a pair of cooling water discharge pumps 58 for discharging cooling water to each of the work system electric unit E1 (such as the electric motor 54) and the hydraulic system electric unit E2 (such as the electric motor 56), and at least one cooling water storage (reservoir) tank 59 are preferably provided.

[0326] Also, in this case, for each of the second device and the third devices D2L and D2R, for example, in each of the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b and the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c that supply cooling water to the front traveling system electric unit E3F (such as the front traveling motor 7F) and the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (such as the rear traveling motor 7R), a pair of cooling water discharge pumps 72 for discharging cooling water to each of the front traveling system electric unit E3F (such as the front traveling motor 7F) and the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (such as the rear traveling motor 7R), and at least one cooling water storage (reservoir) tank 73 are preferably provided.

[0327] Also, the air-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) system that supplies the cooling air from one air conditioner unit 51 to the center battery 50 in the vehicle body 2 and the side batteries 37 provided for each of the left and right traveling structures 3 in the work vehicle 1 described above is one of the application examples of the branched temperature adjustment system TS2.

[0328] In the air-cooling system according to the foregoing first embodiment, the cooling air passage 24c and the exhaust air passage 24d in the center battery case 24 shown in FIG. 10 correspond to the first temperature adjustment circuit C3a that circulates air between the air conditioner unit 51 and the center battery 50 as the first device D1. The left forward duct 42L, the left side battery case 36L, and the left return duct 43L shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 etc. correspond to the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b (or the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c) that circulates air between the air conditioner unit 51 and the left side battery case 36L as the second device D2L. The right forward duct 42R, the right side battery case 36R, and the right return duct 43R correspond to the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c (or the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b) that circulates air between the air conditioner unit 51 and the right side battery case 36R as the third device D2R.

[0329] In the air-cooling system according to this first embodiment, the cooling air passages 24c, the left forward duct 42L, and the right forward duct 42R corresponding to the passage portions from the discharge ports (discharge manifolds 41a, 41b) of the air conditioner unit 51 to the first to third devices of the first to third temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, C3c branch off immediately. Also, the exhaust air passages 24d, the left return duct 43L, and the right return duct 43R corresponding to the passage portions from the first to third devices of the first to third temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, C3c remain separated from each other (without merging), and their terminal ends are directly connected to the air conditioner unit 51 (such as the air conditioner case 40 that houses it).

[0330] However, also in the air-cooling system of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, common medium passages (confluence passages) C3d, C3e that are passages integrating the temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, C3c which are branch circuits may be provided. Also, regarding the integration (confluence) of such medium passages, it is not necessary to integrate all three temperature adjustment circuits C3a, C3b, C3d, and it is also possible to integrate only any two of them.

[0331] For example, the forward ducts 42L and 42R shown in FIG. 2 etc. (corresponding to the passage portions up to the second device D2L (or D2R) and the third device D2R (or D2L) in the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b and the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c) may be integrated into a single forward duct so as to correspond to a common cooling (temperature adjustment) medium passage (combined passage) C3d within the range from the air conditioner unit 51 (discharge manifold 41b) at the front end of the vehicle body 2 to the rear end of the first extension portion 42a (the location where it bends to the second extension portion 42b).

[0332] Also, the return ducts 43L and 43R shown in FIG. 2 etc. (corresponding to the passage portions of the medium after passing through the second device and the third device in the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b and the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c) may be integrated into a single return duct so as to correspond to a common medium return passage (combined passage) C3e within the range from the air conditioner unit 51 (air intake 51a) to the rear end of the first extension portion 43a (the location where it bends to the extension portion 43b).

[0333] Also, in the air-cooling system according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the exhaust passage 24d in the center battery case 24 is a passage that integrates the communication passage 24g corresponding to the passage after passing through the first device D1 of the first temperature adjustment circuit C3a and the return ducts 43L and 43R corresponding to the passages after passing through the second device D2L (or D2R) and the third device D2R (or D2L) of the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b and the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c, and corresponds to the medium return passage D3e shown in FIG. 22.

[0334] Note that, as described above, the exhaust passage 24d may be divided into the passage of air from the intake 24h and the passage of air from the cooling air passage 24c. In this case, for the first temperature adjustment circuit C3a composed of the cooling air passage 24c and the communication passage 24g, it is provided up to the air intake 51a of the air conditioner unit 51 while remaining separated from the second temperature adjustment circuit C3b and the third temperature adjustment circuit C3c. On the other hand, the passages after passing through the second device D2L (or D2R) and the third device D2R (or D2L), which are the return ducts 43L and 43R, are integrated (merged) into the passage portion of the divided exhaust passage 24d that communicates with the intake 24h.

[0335] The temperature adjustment system TS3 shown in FIG. 23 is provided with a temperature adjustment device T4 on any one of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R (in this embodiment, it is provided on the vehicle body 2, but it may be provided on any of them). The temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T4 sequentially circulates through the temperature adjustment target device D1 of the vehicle body 2, the temperature adjustment target device D2L of the left traveling structure 3L, and the temperature adjustment target device D2R of the right traveling structure 3R (in this embodiment, it is in the order of the temperature adjustment target device D2R of the right traveling structure 3R, the temperature adjustment target device D1 of the vehicle body 2, and the temperature adjustment target device D2L of the left traveling structure 3L, but any order may be used). The temperature adjustment circuit C4 is formed by a single circulation circuit that connects the temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, and D2R in series throughout the work vehicle 1.

[0336] Next, the configuration of the control system in the work vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, the work vehicle 1 is equipped with a positioning device 11. The positioning device 11 can detect the position of the vehicle body 2 (positioning information including latitude and longitude) by means of a satellite positioning system (positioning satellite) such as D-GPS, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, or QZSS. That is, the positioning device 11 receives the satellite signal (position of the positioning satellite, transmission time, correction information, etc.) transmitted from the positioning satellite and detects the position of the vehicle body 2 (for example, latitude and longitude) based on the satellite signal.

[0337] The positioning device 11 includes a receiving device 12 and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 13. The receiving device 12 is a device having an antenna or the like for receiving the satellite signal transmitted from the positioning satellite and is attached to the vehicle body 2. The inertial measurement unit 13 includes an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration, a gyro sensor for detecting angular velocity, and the like. The inertial measurement unit 13 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The inertial measurement unit 13 can detect the roll angle, pitch angle, yaw angle, etc. of the vehicle body 2. Note that the yaw angle may also be detected by installing a plurality of positioning devices 11.

[0338] As shown in FIG. 14, the work vehicle 1 is equipped with a communication device 14. The communication device 14 includes a communication circuit for performing communication via an in-vehicle network and a wireless communication circuit for performing wireless communication. The wireless communication circuit can communicate wirelessly directly or indirectly with an external device by communication standards such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark) of the IEEE802.11 series, BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area), LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network), etc.

[0339] As another example, for example, a communication circuit capable of wireless communication with an external device may be provided in the communication device 14 by means of a mobile phone communication network or a data communication network, etc. The external device is, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a PDA, or a server, etc.

[0340] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, etc., the work vehicle 1 is equipped with at least one situation detection device 10 for detecting the situation around the work vehicle 1 so that, for example, it starts after confirming the safety of the surroundings.

[0341] The situation detection device 10 has a camera (imaging device) 10a, a sensor 10b, and a calculation unit 10c (see FIG. 14). In the case of this embodiment, the situation detection device 10 is equipped with both the camera 10a and the sensor 10b, but it may be equipped with only one of them.

[0342] The camera 10a is composed of, for example, a CCD camera equipped with a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) image sensor or a CMOS camera equipped with a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, etc.

[0343] The camera 10a images the surroundings of the work vehicle 1 and generates an image signal. The calculation unit 10c consists of a computer or the like including a signal processing circuit that processes the generated image signal. The signal processing circuit detects the state of the object (presence or absence of the object, position of the object, type of the object, size of the object, etc.) based on the image signal output from the camera 10a.

[0344] The sensor 10b is an optical sensor and is composed of, for example, a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).

[0345] The LiDAR (laser sensor) irradiates pulsed measurement light (laser light) millions of times per second from a light source such as a laser diode, and scans in the horizontal or vertical direction by reflecting the measurement light with a rotating mirror, and projects it onto a predetermined detection range (sensing range).

[0346] Then, the LiDAR receives the reflected light of the measurement light by the object with a light receiving element. The signal processing circuit of the calculation unit 10c detects the state of the object (presence or absence of the object, position of the object, type of the object, size of the object, etc.) based on the light receiving signal output from the light receiving element of the LiDAR.

[0347] Further, the signal processing circuit detects the distance to the object based on the time from when the measurement light is irradiated by the LiDAR until the reflected light is received (TOF (Time of Flight) method). Note that the method for detecting the distance by the LiDAR may be a method other than the TOF method.

[0348] As described above, the optical sensor 10b may be provided with, for example, an auxiliary acoustic sensor to improve the detection accuracy.

[0349] The sonic sensor is composed of, for example, an air ultrasonic sensor such as a sonar. The air ultrasonic sensor transmits a measurement wave (ultrasonic wave) to a predetermined detection range by a transmitter, and receives a reflected wave obtained by reflecting the measurement wave from an object by a receiver. The signal processing circuit detects the state of the object (presence or absence of the object, position of the object, type of the object, size of the object, etc.) based on the signal output from the receiver.

[0350] Further, the signal processing circuit detects the distance to the object based on the time from when the measurement wave is transmitted by the air ultrasonic sensor until the reflected wave is received (TOF (Time of Flight) method). Note that the method for detecting the distance by the sonic sensor may be a method other than the TOF method.

[0351] The situation detection device 10 detects the situation around the work vehicle 1 (the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R). The situation detection device 10 detects obstacle information indicating whether there are any obstacles or people in the vicinity of the work vehicle 1 that may come into contact as the situation around the work vehicle 1.

[0352] The situation detection device 10 detects road information which is information regarding the road on which the left and right traveling structures 3 can travel as the situation around the work vehicle 1. Specifically, the situation detection device 10 detects road information which is a value regarding the road on which the traveling structure 3 can travel. The situation detection device 10 detects, for example, the width of the traveling road as the road information.

[0353] The width of the traveling road detected by the situation detection device 10 is the width of an object on which the work vehicle 1 attempts to travel straddling between the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R. The situation detection device 10 detects, for example, the width of a ridge provided on the ground or the width of an obstacle that obstructs traveling existing on the ground as the width of the traveling road.

[0354] In addition, the situation detection device 10 detects, as road information, for example, the height of the traveling road. The height of the traveling road detected by the situation detection device 10 is the height of an object that the vehicle body 2 attempts to straddle and travel between the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R. The situation detection device 10 detects, as the height of the traveling road, for example, the height of ridges provided on the ground, the height of obstacles that impede traveling existing on the ground, and the like.

[0355] Obstacles that impede traveling are, for example, grooves and holes formed on the ground, crops planted on the ground, obstacles on the ground (for example, stones and artificial installations), and the like. Typically, the situation detection device 10 can detect the height of crops planted on the ground as the height of the obstacle.

[0356] The height of the crops detected by the situation detection device 10 is the height from the ground where the wheels 5 of the traveling structure 3 are in contact with the ground to the upper end of the crops. For example, when the crops are planted in ridges, since the wheels 5 of the traveling structure 3 are in contact with the ground between the ridges rather than on the ridges, the height of the crops detected by the situation detection device 10 is "the height of the crops themselves + the height of the ridges".

[0357] The situation detection device 10 may detect the inclination in the left - right direction of the ground as the situation around the work vehicle 1. In this case, the situation detection device 10 can detect the height of the ground on which the left traveling structure 3L travels and the height of the ground on which the right traveling structure 3R travels as the situation around the work vehicle 1. For this reason, the situation detection device 10 may be mounted on each of the left traveling frame 30L and the right traveling frame 30R.

[0358] Also, in this case, as the situation detection device 10, for example, an inclination sensor that detects the inclination in the left - right direction of the work vehicle 1 (vehicle body 2) can be used. Further, a camera 10a may be used as the situation detection device 10, and the calculation unit 10c may be configured to detect the inclination in the left - right direction of the ground based on the image captured by the camera 10a.

[0359] Furthermore, in addition to the situation detection device 10 that detects the situation around the work vehicle 1, the work vehicle 1 is provided with a detection device that detects the state of the work vehicle 1 itself.

[0360] In FIG. 14, as a detection device that detects the state of the work vehicle 1 itself, a distance detection device 16 that detects the lateral distance between the left traveling structure 3L and the right traveling structure 3R corresponding to the vehicle width, which is the distance between the left and right wheels 5, and a vehicle height detection device 17 that detects the vehicle height, which is the vertical distance from the ground contact point of the wheel 5 to the lowest part of the vehicle body 2, are illustrated. In addition, it is conceivable that a rotation speed detection device that detects the rotation speed of the electric motor 54, a rotation speed detection device that detects the rotation speed of the wheel 5, and the like are provided.

[0361] As shown in FIG. 14, the control device 15 provided in the work vehicle 1 is a device that performs various controls on the work vehicle 1. The control device 15 includes an arithmetic unit (such as a CPU) and a storage unit (such as a RAM and a ROM). The storage unit may include an external memory provided outside the control device 15. The control device 15 is connected to various devices and mechanisms shown in FIG. 14 via an in-vehicle LAN (in-vehicle network) such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) or a communication line.

[0362] The control device 15 controls the operations of various devices and mechanisms communicably connected to the control device 15 by the arithmetic unit executing various control programs stored in the storage unit.

[0363] The control device 15 has control units such as an automatic driving control unit 15A, a distance change control unit 15B, a height change control unit 15C, and a position change control unit 15D. The functions of these control units are realized by the arithmetic unit executing a predetermined control program stored in the storage unit.

[0364] The automatic driving control unit 15A of the control device 15 controls the automatic driving of the work vehicle 1. The automatic driving control unit 15A can execute line-type automatic driving control and autonomous automatic driving control.

[0365] In line-type automatic driving control, the automatic driving control unit 15A controls the inverter 6 for output control of the traveling motor 7 of each wheel unit 4 so that the work vehicle 1 (vehicle body 2) moves along a preset planned traveling line, controls the rotational speed of the corresponding wheel 5, and also controls each control valve in the control valve unit 27 for controlling the extension amount of the steering cylinder 35 of each wheel unit 4 to control the direction (steering angle) of the corresponding wheel 5.

[0366] In autonomous-type automatic driving control, the automatic driving control unit 15A makes settings such as the traveling direction (steering direction) and vehicle speed (speed) of the vehicle body 2 based on the result of detecting the position of the work vehicle 1 (vehicle body 2) by the positioning device 11, and controls the inverter 6 for output control of the traveling motor 7 of each wheel unit 4 so that the set steering angle (direction) and vehicle speed are achieved, controls the rotational speed of the corresponding wheel 5, and also controls the control valve unit 27 (control valve) for controlling the extension amount of the steering cylinder 35 of each wheel unit 4 to control the direction (steering angle) of the corresponding wheel 5.

[0367] Note that the line-type automatic driving control and the autonomous-type automatic driving control may be switchable by a switch or the like. Also, the automatic driving control unit 15A may be configured to be capable of executing either one of the line-type automatic driving control and the autonomous-type automatic driving control. Note that the configuration of the automatic driving control unit 15A is not limited to the above-described configuration.

[0368] Furthermore, based on the obstacle information obtained by sensing (detecting an object) the surroundings of the work vehicle 1 by the situation detection device 10, the automatic driving control unit 15A determines whether the stopped work vehicle 1 should be started, whether the traveling work vehicle 1 should be stopped, or whether it should be steered to change the traveling direction, or whether the drive of the working device during work should be stopped, and / or whether the working device should be raised, etc., and controls the inverter 6 for output control of the traveling motor 7 in the traveling structure 3, the steering cylinder 35, the inverter 53 for output control of the electric motor 54 in the working system electric unit E1, the inverter 55 for output control of the electric motor 56 in the hydraulic system electric unit E2, etc. to realize the determined state.

[0369] As described above, since the control device 15 of the work vehicle 1 includes the automatic driving control unit 15A, the work vehicle 1 can perform automatic driving (driverless operation) without the operator boarding. Therefore, the work vehicle 1 of the illustrated embodiment does not have a driver's seat for the operator to sit on.

[0370] However, the work vehicle 1 may be a vehicle on which the operator boards and performs automatic driving. Alternatively, the work vehicle 1 may be a vehicle on which the operator boards and drives to perform driving. When the work vehicle 1 is a vehicle on which the operator boards, a driver's seat is provided on the vehicle body 2.

[0371] Based on information regarding the width of the travel path included in the road information acquired by the detection of the situation detection device 10, information regarding the distance between the left travel structure 3L and the right travel structure 3R detected by the distance detection device 16, etc., the distance change control unit 15B of the control device 15 controls the control valve unit 27 (control valve) for the expansion and contraction of the width change cylinder 8A and / or the width change cylinder 8B as the vehicle body deformation device so that the distance between the left travel structure 3L and the right travel structure 3R corresponds to the width of the travel path where the distance is detected, that is, so that the left and right wheels 5 are correctly arranged in the furrow.

[0372] Based on information regarding the height of the travel path included in the road information acquired by the detection of the situation detection device 10, information regarding the vehicle height detected by the vehicle height detection device 17, etc., the height change control unit 15C of the control device 15 controls the control valve unit 27 (control valve) for the expansion and contraction of the vehicle body lift cylinder 9 as the vehicle body movement device so that the vehicle height, which is the vertical distance from the ground contact point of the wheel 5 to the bottom end of the vehicle body 2, corresponds to the height of the travel path where the height is detected, that is, so that the vehicle body 2 straddles the crops growing on the travel path.

[0373] In addition, based on information such as the inclination in the left - right direction of the ground acquired by the detection of the situation detection device 10, the height change control unit 15C of the control device 15 adjusts the inclination in the left - right direction of the vehicle body 2. To do so, in order to adjust the difference in the piston rod extension amounts of the left vehicle body lifting cylinder 9L and the right vehicle body lifting cylinder 9R, which are vehicle body moving devices, the control valve unit 27 (control valve) for the expansion and contraction control of the left vehicle body lifting cylinder 9L and the right vehicle body lifting cylinder 9R is controlled.

[0374] In addition, the position change control unit 15D of the control device 15 measures the slip ratios of the front wheels 5F and the rear wheels 5R from the detection results of a rotation speed detection device that detects, for example, the rotation speed of the wheels 5. For example, if the slip ratio of the front wheels 5F is high, it is conceivable to cause an external device to give a warning display to move the center battery case 24 forward via the communication device 14.

[0375] Also, when the work vehicle 1 is equipped with a battery moving actuator 81 (vehicle body deformation device 80) for moving the center battery case 24 back and forth as shown in FIG. 14, the position change control unit 15D operates the battery moving actuator 81 to move the center battery case 24 (when the battery moving actuator 81 is a hydraulic actuator, the corresponding control valve is controlled).

[0376] Furthermore, the work vehicle 1 is equipped with one or more temperature detection devices 18. Based on the detection results of the temperature detection devices 18, the control device 15 controls the outputs of the air - conditioning unit 51, which is an air - cooling (air - conditioning) device 110, and the radiator fans 52a, 71a, etc., which are water - cooling devices 120. By doing so, it effectively cools (adjusts the temperature) of the center battery 50, the left and right side batteries 37L, 37R, etc., which are the cooling (temperature adjustment) targets, the electrical equipment such as the work - system electric unit E1, the hydraulic - system electric unit E2, and the traveling - system electric units E3 (E3F, E3R), and the hydraulic equipment such as the control valve unit 27.

[0377] The actions or effects of each component of the work vehicle 1 described above will be explained below.

[0378] (Item A1) The work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) provided on the vehicle body 2, at least one device to be cooled (batteries 37, 50) cooled by cooling air discharged from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), and a plurality of ducts 42, 43, 44 for circulating the cooling air between the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the device to be cooled. The vehicle body 2 has a first end portion and a second end portion (front end portion and rear end portion) facing each other in a first direction (front-rear direction), and an intermediate portion (front-rear intermediate portion) between the first end portion and the second end portion in the first direction. The cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) is provided at the first end portion (front end portion) of the vehicle body 2. Among the plurality of ducts 42, 43, 44, the ducts 42, 43 extending from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the device to be cooled have first extension portions 42a, 43a extending in the first direction (front-rear direction) in a range from the first end portion (front end portion) to the intermediate portion (front-rear intermediate portion), and have a second extension portion 42b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) at the intermediate portion (front-rear intermediate portion).

[0379] With the above configuration, the ducts 42, 43 branched to the left and right traveling structures 3L, 3R are arranged in a state where they converge at the first extension portions 42a, 43a, so that the piping is compact, looks good, and a wide arrangement space for the devices arranged around can be secured.

[0380] (Item A2) The work vehicle 1 according to Item A1, wherein the first extension portions 42a, 43a are arranged on an upper portion of the vehicle body 2 (vehicle body frame structure 20).

[0381] With the above configuration, the first extension portions 42a, 43a of the duct 42 can be piped together on the upper portion of the vehicle body 2, which is convenient for maintenance, and a wide arrangement space for other devices in the middle and lower portions of the vehicle body 2 can be secured.

[0382] (Item A3) The plurality of ducts 42, 43, 44 include a forward duct 42 extending to the device to be cooled (battery 37) for supplying the cooling air discharged from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the device to be cooled, and a return duct 43, 44 extending from the device to be cooled (batteries 37, 50) for returning the cooling air after cooling the device to be cooled (batteries 37, 50) to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51). At least the forward duct 42 of the forward duct 42 and the return ducts 43, 44 is a duct having the first extension portion 42a. The work vehicle 1 according to item A1 or A2.

[0383] With the above configuration, the first extension portion 42a of the forward duct 42 can be piped in a converged state, and a compact piping can be realized.

[0384] (Item A4) The return duct 43 has an extension portion 43b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction), and the extension portion is arranged in parallel with the second extension portion 42b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) of the forward duct 42. The work vehicle 1 according to item A3.

[0385] With the above configuration, the extension portions of the forward duct 42 and the return duct 43 in a direction different from the first direction can be piped in a compact and visually neat state.

[0386] (Item A5) The forward duct 42 is connected to the lower part of the housing (side battery case 36) that houses the device to be cooled (side battery 37), and the return duct 43 is connected to the upper part of the housing (side battery case 36). The work vehicle 1 according to item A3 or A4.

[0387] With the above configuration, inside the housing (side battery case 36), the cooling air flowing in from the lower part of the housing connected to the forward duct 42 becomes hot enough to cool the device to be cooled (side battery 37) and rises, and can be efficiently discharged to the return duct 43 connected to the upper part of the housing.

[0388] (Item A6) The work vehicle 1 described in Item A5, wherein the device to be cooled is the battery (side battery) 37.

[0389] With the above configuration, the battery 37, which tends to become hot in the work vehicle 1, can be effectively cooled.

[0390] (Item A7) The return duct 43 is a duct having a first extension portion 43a that extends from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the device to be cooled (battery 50) and extends in the first direction (front-rear direction). The first extension portion 42a of the supply duct 42 and the first extension portion 43a of the return duct 43 are arranged in parallel. The work vehicle 1 according to any one of Items A3 to A6.

[0391] With the above configuration, although the return duct 43 extends to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), since the first extension portion 43a is arranged in parallel with the first extension portion 42a of the supply duct 42, a compact piping structure can be realized and it looks good.

[0392] (Item A8) A second device to be cooled (center battery 50) that is cooled by the cooling air from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) is provided on the vehicle body 2 separately from the device to be cooled (side battery 37). At least one duct 44 that extends from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the second device to be cooled (center battery 50) has a first extension portion 44a that extends in the first direction (front-rear direction) in a range from the first end portion (front end portion) to the middle portion (mid portion in the front-rear direction) of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 according to Item A7.

[0393] With the above configuration, the duct 44 connected to the second device to be cooled (battery 50) also has a first extension portion 44a, and a converged state can be ensured together with the other ducts 42 and 43.

[0394] (Item A9) In the vehicle body 2, a second device to be cooled (battery 50) that is cooled by the cooling air from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) is provided separately from the device to be cooled (battery 37). An exhaust passage 24d for discharging the cooling air after cooling the second device to be cooled (battery 50) to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) is formed in a housing (center battery case 24) that houses the second device to be cooled (battery 50). The return duct 43 is connected to the housing (center battery case 24) and communicates with the exhaust passage 24d in the housing (center battery case 24). The work vehicle 1 according to any one of Items A3 to A6 above.

[0395] With the above configuration, the return duct 43 for returning the cooling air after cooling the second device to be cooled (battery 50) to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) can be shortened and the first extension portion 43a can be eliminated. Therefore, a wider arrangement space for other devices can be secured in the upper part of the vehicle body 2 and the like.

[0396] (Item A10) The work vehicle according to Item A9, wherein the second device to be cooled is a battery (center battery) 50.

[0397] With the above configuration, the battery 50, which tends to become hot in the work vehicle 1, can be effectively cooled.

[0398] (Item A11) The work vehicle 1 according to any one of Items A1 to A10, including a left traveling structure 3L provided on the left side of the vehicle body 2 and a right traveling structure 3R provided on the right side of the vehicle body 2, and the device to be cooled (side battery 37) includes a left device to be cooled (left side battery 37L) arranged in the left traveling structure 3L and a right device to be cooled (right side battery 37R) arranged in the right traveling structure 3R.

[0399] With the above configuration, the structure such as item A1 can be applied to the duct structure for supplying the cooling air from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the devices to be cooled (side batteries 37) arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body 2.

[0400] (Item A12) The plurality of ducts 42 and 43 include a left forward duct 42L extending to the left device to be cooled (left battery 37L) and a right forward duct 42R extending to the right device to be cooled (right battery 37R) for supplying the cooling air discharged from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the devices to be cooled (batteries 37), and a left return duct 43L extending from the left device to be cooled (left battery 37L) and a right return duct 43R extending from the right device to be cooled (right battery 37R) for returning the cooling air after cooling the devices to be cooled (batteries 37) to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51). At least the left forward duct 42L and the right forward duct 42R extend from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to each of the left device to be cooled (left battery 37L) and the right device to be cooled (right battery 37R), and are ducts having a first extension 42a extending in the first direction (front-rear direction) in the range from the first end (front end) to the middle part (midway between the front and rear). The second extension 42b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) of the left forward duct 42L and the second extension 42b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) of the right forward duct 42R extend in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vehicle body 2. The left return duct 43L and the right return duct 43R each have an extension 43b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction), and the extension 43b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) of the left return duct 43L and the extension 43b extending in a direction different from the first direction (front-rear direction) of the right return duct 43R extend in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 according to item A11.

[0401] With the above configuration, the forward duct 42 and the return duct 43 for circulating the cooling air between the left and right cooling target devices (battery 37) arranged on both left and right sides of the vehicle body 2 and the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) can be piped compactly.

[0402] (Item A13) The first direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2, and the direction different from the first direction (longitudinal direction) is the lateral direction of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 described in any one of Items A1 to A12.

[0403] With the above configuration, the first extension portions 42a and 43a of the plurality of ducts 42 and 43 can be arranged in a converged state by extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2. On the other hand, by having the extension portions 42b and 43b that extend in the lateral direction, it is possible to pipe and connect to the cooling target device (battery 37) compactly.

[0404] (Item A14) The first end portion is the front end portion of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 described in Item A13.

[0405] With the above configuration, the cooling device (air conditioner unit) 51 is arranged at the front end portion of the vehicle body 2 where it is easy to take in outside air for generating cooling air, and the generation efficiency of the cooling air by the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) can be enhanced.

[0406] (Item B1) A cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), a first device to be cooled (center battery 50) and a second device to be cooled (side battery 37) that are cooled by the cooling air discharged from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), a first cooling housing (center battery case 24) that houses the first device to be cooled (center battery 50), and a second cooling housing (side battery case 36) that houses the second device to be cooled (side battery 37). An intake port 24h is provided in the first cooling housing (center battery case 24) for taking in the air discharged from the second cooling housing (side battery case 36) after cooling the second device to be cooled (side battery 37). A work vehicle 1

[0407] With the above configuration, the return duct 43 for sending the air after cooling the second device to be cooled (side battery 37) from the second cooling housing (side battery case 36) can be shortened, contributing to the compactification of the piping structure such as ducts in the work vehicle 1 and the improvement of the freedom of layout of devices.

[0408] (Item B2) In the first cooling housing (center battery case 24), a cooling air passage 24c for directing the cooling air from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the first device to be cooled (center battery 50) and an exhaust air passage 24d for discharging the air after cooling the first device to be cooled (center battery 50) to the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) are formed. The air from the second cooling housing (side battery case 36) introduced into the first cooling housing (center battery case 24) through the intake port 24h merges with the air in the exhaust air passage 24d. The work vehicle 1 described in Item B1

[0409] With the above configuration, the discharge routes of the air after cooling the first device to be cooled (center battery 50) and the air after cooling the second device to be cooled (side battery 37) are unified into one exhaust air passage 24d, contributing to the reduction of the number of pipes for discharging the air.

[0410] (Item B3) In the first cooling housing (center battery case 24), there are provided a first air guiding device (fan 45) that guides air from the cooling air passage 24c to the exhaust air passage 24d, and a second air guiding device (fan 46) that guides air from the intake port 24h to the exhaust air passage 24d. The work vehicle 1 according to item B2.

[0411] With the above configuration, the air from the cooling air passage 24c and the air from the intake port 24h are reliably guided to the exhaust air passage 24d, contributing to improvement of cooling efficiency and the like.

[0412] (Item B4) In the first cooling housing (center battery case 24), a partition plate 24e is provided above the first cooling target device (center battery case 24). In the first cooling housing (center battery case 24), the space below the partition plate 24e is the cooling air passage 24c, and the space above the partition plate 24e is the exhaust air passage 24d. The work vehicle 1 according to item B2 or B3.

[0413] With the above configuration, the exhaust air passage 24d is reliably formed above the cooling air passage 24c by the partition plate 24e.

[0414] (Item B5) In the first cooling housing (center battery case 24), a vertical communication passage 24g that communicates the outlet of the cooling air passage 24c and the inlet of the exhaust air passage 24d is provided along the end of the partition plate 24e. At the outlet of the cooling air passage 24c, a first air guiding device (fan 45) that guides air from the cooling air passage 24c to the lower part of the communication passage 24g is provided. At the upper part of the communication passage 24g, a second air guiding device (fan 46) that guides the intake port 24h and the air introduced from the intake port 24h to the inlet of the exhaust air passage 24d is provided. The work vehicle 1 according to item B4.

[0415] With the above configuration, by utilizing the tendency of the warmed air after cooling to rise, the cooled air can be smoothly guided to the exhaust air passage 24d formed above the cooling air passage 24c.

[0416] (Item B6) The first air guiding device and the second air guiding device are the fan 45, 46, and the work vehicle 1 described in any one of Items B3 to B5.

[0417] With the above configuration, the air flow in the first cooling housing (center battery case 24) can be surely realized by the air suction effect and the air blowing effect of the fans 45, 46.

[0418] (Item B7) At least one of the first cooling target device and the second cooling target device is the battery 37, 50, and the work vehicle 1 described in any one of Items B1 to B6.

[0419] With the above configuration, among the work vehicles 1, the batteries 37, 50 that require temperature management to enable the electrical equipment and the like to operate well can be surely cooled.

[0420] (Item B8) The work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2 and a traveling structure 3 provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the first cooling housing (center battery case 24) are arranged on the vehicle body 2, and the second cooling housing (side battery case 36) is arranged on the traveling structure 3, as described in any one of Items B1 to B7.

[0421] With the above configuration, for the first cooling housing (center battery case 24) and the second cooling housing (side battery case 36) that are dispersedly arranged on the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the effect of unifying the discharge routes as described above can also be achieved.

[0422] (Item C1) A work vehicle equipped with ducts 42, 43, 44 that can expand and contract in response to changes in the vehicle shape.

[0423] With the above configuration, even in a work vehicle with a special structure in which the vehicle shape changes, when the shape changes, the ducts can expand and contract, so that the connection between the devices by the ducts can be maintained.

[0424] (Item C2) The work vehicle 1 according to Item C1, comprising a first part and a second part that are linked to be relatively movable with respect to each other, wherein the ducts 42, 43, 44 extend across the first part and the second part, and have expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, 43e, 44c that can expand and contract according to the relative movement between the first part and the second part.

[0425] With the above configuration, by arranging the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, 43e, 44c at locations with high effects of the expansion and contraction, the functions of the piped ducts can be reliably maintained.

[0426] (Item C3) The work vehicle 1 according to Item C2, wherein one of the first part and the second part is the vehicle body 2, and the other is the traveling structure 3 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body 2.

[0427] With the above configuration, the ducts 42, 43 connecting the devices arranged on the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3 respectively can be of a structure having expansion and contraction parts 42e, 43e that can expand and contract.

[0428] (Item C4) The work vehicle 1 according to Item C3, wherein the vehicle body 2 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the traveling structure 3, and the ducts 42, 43 have the expansion and contraction parts 42e, 43e in the vertical part arranged between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0429] With the above configuration, corresponding to the vehicle body 2 rising or the like and changing the vertical position with respect to the traveling structure 3, the expansion and contraction parts 42e, 43e expand and contract in the vertical direction, and the ducts 42, 43 can maintain the function as ducts that are passages for the cooling medium.

[0430] (Item C5) The work vehicle 1 according to item C4, comprising a cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) provided on the vehicle body 2 and a device to be cooled (battery 37) provided on the traveling structure 3 and cooled by a cooling medium supplied from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), wherein the ducts 42 and 43 extend between the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the device to be cooled (battery 37) as passages for the cooling medium.

[0431] With the above configuration, even when the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the device to be cooled (battery 37) are separately arranged on the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, they are surely connected by the ducts 42 and 43 having expandable and contractible portions 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, and 43e.

[0432] (Item C6) One of the first part and the second part is the first part of the vehicle body 2, and the other is the second part of the vehicle body 2. The ducts 42 and 43 have the expandable and contractible portions 42c, 42d, 43c, and 43d in a portion disposed between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items C2 to C5.

[0433] With the above configuration, even when the first part and the second part move relative to each other and the vehicle body 2 is deformed, the expandable and contractible portions 42c, 42d, 43c, and 43d expand and contract, so that the ducts 42 and 43 can maintain their function as ducts for the cooling medium.

[0434] (Item C7) The first part of the vehicle body 2 (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) and the second part (vehicle body frame structure 20) are relatively movable in the front-rear direction, and the ducts 42, 43, 44 have the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 43c, 44c in the front-rear direction part arranged between the first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) and the second part (vehicle body frame structure 20) of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 described in item C6.

[0435] With the above configuration, even when the first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) and the second part (vehicle body frame structure 20) of the vehicle body 2 move relative to each other in the front-rear direction, the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 43c, 44c expand and contract in the front-rear direction, so that the ducts 42, 43, 44 can maintain their function as ducts for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0436] (Item C8) The first part (vehicle body center frame 21) and the second part (vehicle body side frame 22) of the vehicle body 2 are relatively movable in the left-right direction, and the ducts 42, 43 have the expansion and contraction parts 42d, 43d in the left-right direction part arranged between the first part (vehicle body center frame 21) and the second part (vehicle body side frame 22) of the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 described in item C6 or C7.

[0437] With the above configuration, even when the first part (vehicle body center frame 21) and the second part (vehicle body side frame 22) of the vehicle body 2 move relative to each other in the left-right direction, the expansion and contraction parts 42d, 43d expand and contract in the left-right direction, so that the ducts 42, 43 can maintain their function as ducts for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0438] (Item C9) The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items C6 to C8, comprising a traveling structure 3 provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, the vehicle body 2 being relatively movable with respect to the traveling structure 3, and the ducts 42, 43 having a plurality of the telescopic portions 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, 43e provided in portions disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the vehicle body 2 and in portions disposed between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3.

[0439] With the above configuration, even when the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2 move relative to each other, and even when the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3 move relative to each other, the telescopic portions 42c, 42d, 42e provided in the corresponding parts expand and contract, so that the duct 42 can maintain its function as a duct for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0440] (Item C10) The work vehicle 1 according to item C9, comprising a cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) provided in the first part or the second part of the vehicle body 2, and a device to be cooled (battery 37) provided in the traveling structure 3 and cooled by a cooling medium supplied from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51), the duct 42 extending between the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the device to be cooled (battery 37) as a passage for the cooling medium.

[0441] With the above configuration, even when the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) and the device to be cooled (battery 37) are separately arranged on the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the two are surely connected by the duct 42 having the telescopic portions 42c, 42d, 42e that can expand and contract.

[0442] (Item C11) The vehicle body 2 has a third part that is relatively movable with respect to the second part, and the ducts 42 and 43 have a plurality of the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, 43c, and 43d. The expansion and contraction parts 42c and 43c are provided in a part disposed between the first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) of the vehicle body 2 and the second part (center vehicle body frame 21), and the expansion and contraction parts 42d and 43d are provided in a part disposed between the second part (center vehicle body frame 21) of the vehicle body 2 and the third part (side vehicle body frame 22). The work vehicle 1 according to any one of Items C6 to C10 is provided with such expansion and contraction parts.

[0443] With the above configuration, when the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2 move relative to each other, and when the second part and the third part of the vehicle body 2 move relative to each other, the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, 43c, and 43d provided in the corresponding parts expand and contract respectively. Therefore, the ducts 42 and 43 can maintain their function as ducts for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0444] (Item C12) The first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) of the vehicle body 2 and the second part (vehicle body frame structure 20) are relatively movable in the front-rear direction, and the second part (center vehicle body frame 21) of the vehicle body 2 and the third part (side vehicle body frame 22) are relatively movable in the left-right direction. The ducts 42 and 43 have a plurality of the expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, and 43e. The expansion and contraction parts 42c, 42d, and 42e are provided in a front-rear direction part disposed between the first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) of the vehicle body 2 and the second part (vehicle body frame structure 20), and the expansion and contraction parts 43c, 43d, and 43e are provided in a left-right direction part disposed between the second part (center vehicle body frame 21) of the vehicle body 2 and the third part (side vehicle body frame 22). The work vehicle 1 according to Item C11 is provided with such expansion and contraction parts.

[0445] With the above configuration, even when there is relative movement in the front-rear direction between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2, and even when there is relative movement in the left-right direction between the second part and the third part of the vehicle body 2, the telescopic parts 42c, 42d, 43c, and 43d provided in the corresponding parts expand and contract respectively. Therefore, the ducts 42 and 43 can maintain their function as ducts for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0446] (Item C13) The work vehicle 1 according to item C12, comprising a traveling structure 3 provided on the side of the vehicle body 2, a cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) provided in the first part (center battery case 24, air conditioner case 40, discharge manifold 41b) of the vehicle body 2, and a cooling target device (battery 37) disposed on the traveling structure 3 and cooled by a cooling medium supplied from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51). The ducts 42 and 43 extend in the front-rear direction as passages for the cooling medium from the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) to the second part (vehicle body center frame 21) of the vehicle body 2, bend at the second part (vehicle body center frame 21) of the vehicle body 2, and extend in the left-right direction from the second part (vehicle body center frame 21) to the third part (vehicle body side frame 22) of the vehicle body 2, and extend in the vertical direction from the third part (vehicle body side frame 22) of the vehicle body 2 to the cooling target device (battery 37).

[0447] With the above configuration, the cooling device (air conditioner unit 51) on the vehicle body 2 and the cooling target device (battery 37) on the traveling structure 3 are connected, and the duct 42 is piped in a good route to achieve a compact and efficient piping structure in the work vehicle 1. By providing the above-described telescopic parts 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, and 43e in such a duct 43, due to the expansion and contraction of the telescopic parts 42c, 42d, 42e, 43c, 43d, and 43e corresponding to the relative movement between the first part and the second part of the vehicle body 2, the relative movement between the second part and the third part, or the relative movement between the vehicle body 2 and the traveling structure 3, the duct 43 can maintain its function as a duct for the passage of the cooling medium.

[0448] (Item D1) The work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, and left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body 2. In the vehicle body 2, a first device D1 (a working system electric unit E1, a hydraulic system electric unit E2) and a first adjustment device T1 (a radiator 52) for adjusting the temperature of the first device D1 (the working system electric unit E1, the hydraulic system electric unit E2) are arranged. In one of the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R (the left traveling structure 3L), a second device D2L (a left front traveling system electric unit E3FL, a left rear traveling system electric unit E3RL) and a second adjustment device T2L (a radiator 71) for adjusting the temperature of the second device D2L are arranged. In the other of the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R (the right traveling structure 3R), a third device D2R (a right front traveling system electric unit E3FR, a right rear traveling system electric unit E3RR) and a third adjustment device T2R (a radiator 71) for adjusting the temperature of the third device D2R are arranged.

[0449] With the above configuration, in the work vehicle 1 in a state where devices D1, D2L, and D2R (a working system electric unit E1, a hydraulic system electric unit E2, a left front traveling system electric unit E3FL, a left rear traveling system electric unit E3RL, a right front traveling system electric unit E3FR, a right rear traveling system electric unit E3RR) to be temperature-adjusted are provided both in the vehicle body 2 and in the left and right traveling structures 3, since the respective adjustment devices T1, T2L, and T2R (radiators 52, 71) are provided both in the vehicle body 2 and in each traveling structure 3, the temperature adjustment effect of each device can be enhanced. Even if some trouble occurs in the temperature adjustment action for a certain device, the devices provided in other parts (the vehicle body 2 or the traveling structure 3) can be free from the influence. Further, even in a state where the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R are separated, since the adjustment devices for temperature adjustment of each device are provided in the vehicle body 2 and in the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R respectively, the connection points for piping or the like for sending the temperature adjustment medium for temperature adjustment of each device can be reduced between the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, improving maintainability and the like.

[0450] (Item D2) The work vehicle 1 according to item D1, wherein at least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L, and the third adjustment device T2R is a radiator 52, 71.

[0451] With the above configuration, the water cooling effect by the radiators 52, 71 can be surely imparted to the corresponding devices D1, D2L, D2R (working system electric unit E1, hydraulic system electric unit E2, left front traveling system electric unit E3FL, left rear traveling system electric unit E3RL, right front traveling system electric unit E3FR, right rear traveling system electric unit E3RR).

[0452] (Item D3) The first adjustment device is a radiator 52, and the work vehicle 1 according to item D2, which is disposed at the front portion of the vehicle body 2.

[0453] With the above configuration, the radiator 52 is disposed at a position where it is easy to take in air for heat exchange, and the temperature adjustment effect can be enhanced.

[0454] (Item D4) The vehicle body 2 is provided with a first adjustment circuit C1 (R1) for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the first adjustment device T1 (radiator 52) and the first device D1 (working system electric unit E1, hydraulic system electric unit E2), and the one traveling structure 3 (left traveling structure 3L) is provided with a second adjustment circuit C2L (R2L) for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the second adjustment device T2L (radiator 71) and the second device D2L (left front traveling system electric unit E2L), and the other traveling structure 3 (right traveling structure 3R) is provided with a third adjustment circuit C2R (R2R) for circulating a temperature adjustment medium between the third adjustment device T2R (radiator 71) and the third device D2R (right front traveling system electric unit E2R). The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items D1 to D3.

[0455] With the above configuration, adjustment circuits C1, C2L, and C2R are configured to circulate a temperature adjustment medium between the adjustment devices T1, T2L, and T2R and the devices D1, D2L, and D2R, which are separately provided for the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, respectively. Even if there is a problem in any of the circuits, the other circuits are not affected, and it is easy to maintain the temperature adjustment effect of each device in the work vehicle 1. Further, when separating and connecting between the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L and 3R, the trouble of separating and connecting pipes between the adjustment circuits C1, C2L, and C2R can be saved, and the maintainability is excellent.

[0456] (Item D5) At least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L, and the third adjustment device T2R includes radiators 52 and 71 and radiator fans 52a and 71a, and the first adjustment circuit R1 (C1), the second adjustment circuit R2L (C2L), or the third adjustment circuit R2R (R2R) connected to the radiators 52 and 71 includes a cooling water storage tank 59 and 73 and a cooling water discharge pump 58 and 72. The work vehicle 1 described in Item D4.

[0457] With the above configuration, a water-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) circuit R1, R2L, R2R (C1, C2L, C2R) including a radiator or the like is configured in at least one of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R.

[0458] (Item D6) The work vehicle 1 according to any one of Items D1 to D5, wherein at least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L, and the third adjustment device T2R is an air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51).

[0459] With the above configuration, an air-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) action by an air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51) can be exerted on at least one of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R.

[0460] (Item D7) The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items D1 to D6, wherein at least one of the first adjustment device T1, the second adjustment device T2L, and the third adjustment device T2R is a heater.

[0461] With the above configuration, it is possible to exert a temperature adjustment action on the equipment provided on at least one of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R, for example, by supplying warm water heated by a heater.

[0462] (Item D8) The left and right traveling structures 3 each have wheels 5, and the second adjustment device T2L (radiator 71) and the third adjustment device T2R (radiator 71) are each arranged so as to face the ground contact surface of the wheel 5 of the traveling structure 3. The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items D1 to D6.

[0463] With the above configuration, the adjustment device (radiator 71) can be arranged on the traveling structure 3 with a limited left - right width so as not to protrude as much as possible from the range within the left - right width of the ground contact surface of the wheel 5.

[0464] (Item D9) The second adjustment device T2L and the third adjustment device T2R are radiators 71, and each is inclined with respect to the front - rear direction in front of the wheel 5. The work vehicle 1 according to item D8.

[0465] With the above configuration, when the radiator 71 is arranged in a posture facing directly in the front - rear direction, it has a considerably large width in the left - right direction. By inclining it with respect to the front - rear direction, it is provided on the traveling structure 3 so as to fit within the left - right width of the ground contact surface of the wheel 5 as described above in the left - right direction.

[0466] (Item D10) The first device D1 is an electrical device (working system electric unit E1) for driving and controlling a working device connected to the vehicle body 2 and / or a hydraulic device (hydraulic pump 57) for controlling a hydraulic actuator (width change cylinder 8, vehicle body lift cylinder 9) equipped on the vehicle body 2. The work vehicle 1 according to any one of items D1 to D9.

[0467] With the above configuration, the temperature adjustment action by the first adjustment device T1 (such as the air conditioner unit 51 and the radiator 52) can be exerted on the electrical equipment and hydraulic equipment that particularly require temperature adjustment (cooling) among the components of the vehicle body 2.

[0468] (Item D11) The second device D2L and the third device D2R are each the work vehicle 1 described in Items D1 to D10, which is a traveling motor 7 that drives the wheel 5 of the traveling structure 3.

[0469] With the above configuration, the temperature adjustment action by the second adjustment device T2L and the third adjustment device T2R (such as the radiator 71) can be exerted on the traveling motor 7, which is the main drive device in the traveling structure 3.

[0470] (Item E1) A work vehicle 1 comprising a vehicle body 2, a left traveling structure 3L provided on the left side of the vehicle body 2, a right traveling structure 3R provided on the right side of the vehicle body 2, a temperature adjustment device T3 (radiator 52) disposed in any one of the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R, temperature adjustment target devices including a first device D1 disposed in the vehicle body 2, a second device D2L disposed in the left traveling structure 3L, and a third device D2R disposed in the right traveling structure 3R, which are devices whose temperatures are adjusted by the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiator 52), and a temperature adjustment circuit C3 that sends a temperature adjustment medium from the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiator 52) to the temperature adjustment target devices, wherein the temperature adjustment circuit C3 branches from the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiator 52) and is respectively connected to the first device D1, the second device D2L, and the third device D2R.

[0471] With the above configuration, the temperature adjustment medium from one temperature adjustment device T3 (radiator 52) can be supplied to a plurality of temperature adjustment target devices provided in the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L, 3R via the branched temperature adjustment circuit C3, and by sharing the temperature adjustment device T3, the effect of reducing the number of parts and cost can be obtained.

[0472] (Item E2) The temperature adjustment circuit C3 includes a first temperature adjustment circuit (branch circulation circuit) C3a that circulates a temperature adjustment medium between the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiators 52, 71) and the first device D1, a second temperature adjustment circuit (branch circulation circuit) C3b that circulates a temperature adjustment medium between the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiators 52, 71) and the second device D2L, and a third temperature adjustment circuit (branch circulation circuit) C3c that circulates a temperature adjustment medium between the temperature adjustment device T3 (radiators 52, 71) and the third device D2R. The work vehicle according to Item E1, which includes these components.

[0473] With the above configuration, among the vehicle body 2, the left traveling structure 3L, and the right traveling structure 3R, for example, in each traveling structure 3, a circulation circuit of the temperature adjustment medium is configured to circulate the temperature adjustment medium among a plurality of devices so as to surround the front traveling system electric unit E3F (front traveling motor 7F) and the rear traveling system electric unit E3R (rear traveling motor 7R), and then return to the common temperature adjustment device T3 (radiators 52, 71).

[0474] (Item E3) The work vehicle 1 according to Item E1 or E2, wherein the temperature adjustment device T3 is radiators 52, 71.

[0475] With the above configuration, the water cooling effect by the radiators 52, 71 can be surely applied to the devices D1, D2L, D2R provided in the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 3L, 3R.

[0476] (Item E4) The work vehicle 1 according to Item E3, wherein at least one of the first device D1, the second device D2L, and the third device D2R is a battery 50, 37 cooled by the cooling water from the radiators 52, 71.

[0477] With the above configuration, among the work vehicle 1, the batteries 50, 37 that require temperature management to enable the electrical equipment and the like to operate well can be surely cooled.

[0478] (Item E5) Among the first device D1, the second device D2L, and the third device D2R, at least one is an electrical equipment (working system electric unit E1, hydraulic system electric unit E2, traveling system electric units E3FL, E3FR, E3RL, E3RR) cooled by cooling water from radiators 52 and 71, in the work vehicle 1 described in Item E3 or E4.

[0479] With the above configuration, the traveling motor 7, which is an electrical equipment that particularly requires temperature adjustment (cooling) among the traveling structures 3, can be subjected to the temperature adjustment action by the second adjustment device T2L and the third adjustment device T2R (radiator 71, etc.).

[0480] (Item E6) The work vehicle 1 described in any one of Items E1 to E5, wherein the temperature adjustment device T3 is an air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51).

[0481] With the above configuration, the air-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) action by the air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51) can be exerted on the temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, and D2R provided on the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R.

[0482] (Item E7) Among the first device D1, the second device D2, and the third device D3, at least one is a battery 50 cooled by cooling air from an air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51), in the work vehicle 1 described in Item E6.

[0483] With the above configuration, the air-cooled cooling (temperature adjustment) action by the air temperature adjustment device (air conditioner unit 51) can be exerted on the temperature adjustment target devices D1, D2L, or D2R provided on any one of the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R.

[0484] (Item E8) The work vehicle 1 described in Item E1 or E2, wherein the temperature adjustment device T3 is a heater.

[0485] With the above configuration, it is possible to supply a temperature-adjusted refrigerant such as warm water whose temperature is adjusted by a heater to the temperature-adjustment target devices D1, D2L, and D2R provided in the vehicle body 2 and the left and right traveling structures 2L and 3R.

[0486] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0487] 1 Work vehicle 2 Vehicle body 3 Traveling structure 3L Left traveling structure 3R Right traveling structure 24 Center battery case 24c Cooling air passage 24d Exhaust air passage 24e Partition plate 24g Communication passage 24h Intake port 36 Side battery case 37 Side battery 43 Return duct 50 Center battery 51 Air conditioner unit

Claims

1. A cooling device, a first device to be cooled and a second device to be cooled that are cooled by the cooling air discharged from the cooling device, a first cooling housing that houses the first device to be cooled, a second cooling housing that houses the second device to be cooled, and is provided with a work vehicle, in which an intake port for taking in air discharged from the second cooling housing after cooling the second device to be cooled is provided in the first cooling housing.

2. In the first cooling housing, a cooling air passage for applying the cooling air from the cooling device to the first device to be cooled and an exhaust air passage for discharging the air after cooling the first device to be cooled to the cooling device are formed, The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air from the second cooling housing introduced into the first cooling housing through the intake port merges with the air in the exhaust air passage.

3. The work vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a first air guiding device for guiding air from the cooling air passage to the exhaust air passage and a second air guiding device for guiding air from the intake port to the exhaust air passage are provided in the first cooling housing.

4. In the first cooling housing, a partition plate is provided above the first device to be cooled, The work vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the space below the partition plate in the first cooling housing is the cooling air passage, and the space above the partition plate is the exhaust air passage.

5. In the first cooling housing, a vertical communication passage that communicates the outlet of the cooling air passage and the inlet of the exhaust air passage is provided along the end of the partition plate, At the outlet of the cooling air passage, a first air guiding device for guiding air from the cooling air passage to the lower part of the communication passage is provided, The work vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at the upper part of the communication passage, the intake port and a second air guiding device for guiding the air introduced from the intake port to the inlet of the exhaust air passage are provided.

6. The work vehicle according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the first air guiding device and the second air guiding device are fans.

7. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device to be cooled and the second device to be cooled is a battery.

8. A vehicle body, a traveling structure provided on the side of the vehicle body, and is provided with The cooling device and the first cooling housing are arranged on the vehicle body, The work vehicle according to claim 1, 2 or 7, wherein the second cooling housing is arranged on the traveling structure.

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