Construction machine

Abstract

To detect that an opening / closing cover constituting an external cover is at an open position.SOLUTION: A hydraulic shovel 1 includes: a self-propelled lower travelling body 2; an upper turning body 3 which is turnably mounted on the lower travelling body 2 and has a device storage part 16; and an external cover 12 which is provided on the upper turning body 3, and includes an engine cover 18 moving between a close position where the device storage part 16 is closed and an open position where the device storage part 16 is opened. The hydraulic shovel 1 includes an object detection sensor 25 for detecting an object existing around a vehicle body, and the object detection sensor 25 is arranged at a position where the engine cover 18 is detected in the state of being at the open position. Accordingly, when the engine cover 18 is at the open position, the engine cover 18 is detected by the object detection sensor 25, and accordingly the object detection sensor 25 is used, which can accurately detect whether or not the engine cover 18 is at the open position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to construction machinery such as a hydraulic excavator, for example.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a hydraulic excavator, which is a typical example of construction machinery, has a vehicle body composed of a self - propelled lower traveling body and an upper revolving body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body. A working device is provided on the front side of the upper revolving body, and the hydraulic excavator travels forward or backward by the lower traveling body to reach a work site and performs excavation work or the like using the working device.

[0003] Some construction machinery such as a hydraulic excavator is known to be equipped with an object detection sensor for detecting objects such as other construction machinery, structures, and workers existing in the surroundings. This object detection sensor is composed of, for example, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, etc., and notifies the operator that an object has entered the detection range formed around the construction machinery.

[0004] The upper revolving body of a hydraulic excavator is composed of a revolving frame as a base, mounted equipment such as an engine, a hydraulic pump, and a heat exchanger mounted on the revolving frame, an exterior cover provided on the revolving frame to cover the mounted equipment, a counterweight, etc. The exterior cover is composed of a plurality of covers attached to support members or the like, and some of the covers constituting the exterior cover are opening - and - closing covers attached to the support members via a hinge mechanism. This opening - and - closing cover moves between an open position and a closed position around the hinge mechanism, and holds the open position when the hydraulic excavator is stopped for inspection and maintenance of mounted equipment such as the engine. On the other hand, when the hydraulic excavator is operating, the opening - and - closing cover is held in the closed position to cover the mounted equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Here, after the hydraulic excavator is stopped and inspections, maintenance work, etc. are performed on the mounted equipment, the operator may operate the hydraulic excavator while forgetting or being unaware that the opening / closing cover is held in the open position. In this case, since the opening / closing cover held in the open position protrudes outside the vehicle body, for example, when the upper slewing body rotates, it may collide with a structure existing around the hydraulic excavator, resulting in damage to the opening / closing cover or the structure.

[0007] On the other hand, the object detection sensor according to the prior art is configured to detect an object existing behind the construction machine when the construction machine moves backward, and is provided at the rearmost part of the construction machine body and is not configured to detect the state of the machine body itself. Therefore, when detecting whether the opening / closing cover provided on the hydraulic excavator as described above is in the open position by a sensor, it is necessary to use a sensor different from the object detection sensor that detects other objects existing around, which increases the number of sensors equipped on the vehicle body. Furthermore, since parts and electrical wiring for attaching various sensors are also required, the number of parts equipped on the vehicle body further increases, the configuration becomes complicated, and malfunctions and damages of the sensors due to the vibration of the vehicle body often occur.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a construction machine that can detect other objects existing around while suppressing an increase in the number of parts equipped on the vehicle body and can detect that the opening / closing cover constituting the exterior cover is in the open position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The present invention relates to a construction machine including an opening / closing cover provided on a vehicle body and an object detection sensor that detects an object existing around the vehicle body. The opening / closing cover moves between a closed position and an open position closer to the object detection sensor than the closed position to open and close, and is arranged within the detection range of the object detection sensor in the open position.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, when the opening / closing cover is in the open position, the opening / closing cover enters the detection range of the object detection sensor. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect whether the opening / closing cover is in the open position or the closed position by using the object detection sensor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the construction machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, taking a rear swing type hydraulic excavator as an example. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are based on the viewpoint of an operator sitting in the driver's seat of the hydraulic excavator.

[0013] The hydraulic excavator 1, which is a representative example of construction machinery, includes a self-propelled crawler-type lower traveling body 2 and an upper revolving body 3 rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body 2. The lower traveling body 2 and the upper revolving body 3 constitute the vehicle body of the hydraulic excavator 1.

[0014] On the upper revolving body 3, a swing-type working device 4 is provided in front of the driver's cab 10, which will be described later, and earthwork excavation operations and the like are performed using this working device 4. On the front side of the lower traveling body 2, a dumping device (blade) 5 is provided, and leveling operations and the like are performed using this dumping device 5.

[0015] The working device 4 includes a swing post 4A swingably attached in the left-right direction to the front end of a swing frame 6, which will be described later, a boom 4B pivotally attached to the swing post 4A so as to be able to pitch, an arm (not shown) rotatably attached to the tip of the boom 4B, a bucket (not shown) rotatably attached to the tip of the arm, and a boom cylinder 4C, an arm cylinder, and a bucket cylinder (none of which are shown). Further, between the swing frame 6 and the swing post 4A, a swing cylinder (not shown) for swinging the swing post 4A in the left-right direction is provided.

[0016] The upper revolving body 3 includes a swing frame 6, mounted equipment such as an engine 7, a driver's cab 10, an exterior cover 12, a counterweight 17, a canopy 20, and the like.

[0017] The swing frame 6 serves as the base of the upper revolving body 3 and is attached to the lower traveling body 2 via a slewing device. On the front side of the swing frame 6, a support bracket 6A protruding forward is provided, and the swing post 4A of the working device 4 is swingably supported on the support bracket 6A in the left-right direction. On the rear side of the swing frame 6, a counterweight 17, which will be described later, is provided, and the counterweight 17 maintains the weight balance with the working device 4.

[0018] The engine 7 as the prime mover is disposed in front of the counterweight 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the engine 7 is mounted on the swing frame 6 in a horizontally disposed state in which a crankshaft (not shown) extends in the left and right directions, and drives the hydraulic pump 8. Note that as the prime mover, an electric motor or a hybrid prime mover combining an engine and an electric motor can be used.

[0019] A hydraulic pump 8 is provided on the left side of the engine 7. The hydraulic pump 8 sucks and pressurizes hydraulic oil when driven by the engine 7, and supplies this hydraulic oil (pressurized oil) to various hydraulic actuators mounted on the hydraulic excavator 1. A heat exchanger 9 is provided on the right side of the engine 7. The heat exchanger 9 dissipates the heat of engine cooling water, hydraulic oil, etc. heated during the operation of the hydraulic excavator 1 into the cooling air, and cools these engine cooling water, hydraulic oil, etc. The engine 7, the hydraulic pump 8, and the heat exchanger 9 constitute the mounted equipment mounted on the swing frame 6 and are covered by the exterior cover 12.

[0020] The driver's seat 10 is located in front of the counterweight 17 and provided on the swing frame 6. The driver's seat 10 is for an operator who operates the hydraulic excavator 1 to sit on. An entrance / exit for the operator to get on and off the boarding space where the driver's seat 10 is located is formed on the front left side of the driver's seat 10. Left and right operation lever devices 11 for operating the swing device and the working device 4 are provided on both the left and right sides sandwiching the driver's seat 10. Further, left and right travel lever pedal devices (not shown) for controlling the travel operation of the lower traveling body 2 are provided on the front side of the driver's seat 10.

[0021] The exterior cover 12 is disposed in front of the counterweight 17 and is supported by a support member (not shown) provided on the slewing frame 6. The exterior cover 12 includes a left cover 13, a right rear cover 14, a right front cover 15, and an engine cover 18 described later, and defines an equipment accommodation portion 16 on the slewing frame 6. Mounted equipment such as the engine 7, hydraulic pump 8, heat exchanger 9, oil storage tanks such as a hydraulic oil tank and a fuel tank (not shown) mounted on the slewing frame 6 is accommodated in the equipment accommodation portion 16 while being covered by the exterior cover 12.

[0022] The left cover 13 extends from the left end portion of the counterweight 17 to the left side of the driver's seat 10. The left cover 13 is attached to a support member or the like (not shown) provided on the slewing frame 6, and covers the hydraulic pump 8 and the like from the left side. The right rear cover 14 extends from the right end portion of the counterweight 17 to the right side of the driver's seat 10. The front end side of the right rear cover 14 is attached to a support member (both not shown) via a hinge mechanism, and the rear end side of the right rear cover 14 rotates in the front-rear direction around the hinge mechanism. Thereby, the right rear cover 14 serves as an opening / closing cover that moves between a closed position where the equipment accommodation portion 16 is closed and the heat exchanger 9 is covered from the right side, and an open position where the equipment accommodation portion 16 is opened and the heat exchanger 9 is exposed to the outside.

[0023] The right front cover 15 extends from the front end portion of the right rear cover 14 to the front end side of the slewing frame 6. The right front cover 15 is composed of a right front lower cover 15A that covers an oil storage tank (not shown) from the right side, and a right front upper cover 15B disposed above the right front lower cover 15A. The rear end side of the right front upper cover 15B is attached to a support member (both not shown) via a hinge mechanism, and the front end side of the right front upper cover 15B rotates in the vertical direction around the hinge mechanism. Thereby, the right front upper cover 15B serves as an opening / closing cover that moves between a closed position where the equipment accommodation portion 16 is closed and the oil storage tank is covered from above, and an open position where the equipment accommodation portion 16 is opened and the oil storage tank is exposed to the outside.

[0024] The counterweight 17 is located on the rear side of the driver's seat 10 and is provided at the rear end of the slewing frame 6. The counterweight 17 is composed of a heavy object in a rectangular frame shape with an inspection opening 17A provided in the central part, and is integrally formed by casting. The counterweight 17 rises upward from the rear end of the slewing frame 6 and covers the mounted equipment such as the engine 7, the hydraulic pump 8, and the heat exchanger 9 from the rear side.

[0025] The inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 is arranged at the central part of the counterweight 17 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and is composed of a rectangular corner hole penetrating the counterweight 17 in the front-rear direction. The inspection opening 17A communicates with the equipment accommodation part 16 surrounded by the exterior cover 12 and the counterweight 17, and is covered by the engine cover 18 when the engine cover 18 described later is in the closed position. Thereby, the inspection work on the engine 7, the hydraulic pump 8, etc. accommodated in the equipment accommodation part 16 can be performed from the outside of the equipment accommodation part 16 through the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17.

[0026] The upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 is a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction, and forms the same plane as the upper surface 12A of the exterior cover 12 composed of the left cover 13, the right rear cover 14, etc. The canopy attachment member 21, the object detection sensor 25, etc. described later are attached to the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17. The rear surface 17C of the counterweight 17 is an arc-shaped convex curved surface centered on the slewing center of the upper slewing body 3, and realizes the small rear slewing of the hydraulic excavator 1.

[0027] The engine cover 18 as an opening / closing cover is provided on the rear surface 17C of the counterweight 17. The engine cover 18 constitutes a part of the exterior cover 12 together with the left cover 13, the right rear cover 14, and the right front cover 15. The engine cover 18 is formed in a rectangular plate shape and covers the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 in an openable and closable manner.

[0028] Between the left and right inner peripheral surfaces of the inspection opening 17A formed in the counterweight 17 and the engine cover 18, left and right link mechanisms 19 are provided. The engine cover 18 is supported by the left and right link mechanisms 19 and moves vertically between a closed position where the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 is closed as shown in FIG. 3 and an open position where the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 is open as shown in FIG. 4. When the engine cover 18 is in the closed position, the upper edge portion 18A of the engine cover 18 is located at a position lower than the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and the upper surface 12A of the exterior cover 12. On the other hand, when the engine cover 18 is in the open position, the upper edge portion 18A of the engine cover 18 protrudes upward from the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and the upper surface 12A of the exterior cover 12. That is, the engine cover 18 in the open position protrudes outward from the vehicle body (outward of the upper swing body 3) compared to the engine cover 18 in the closed position.

[0029] When performing an inspection operation on the engine 7, hydraulic pump 8, etc. housed in the equipment housing portion 16, as shown in FIG. 4, the engine cover 18 is moved upward from the closed position and held in the open position. As a result, the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 opens and the engine 7 etc. are exposed to the outside, so that the operator can access the engine 7 etc. housed in the equipment housing portion 16 through the inspection opening 17A from the back 17C side of the counterweight 17.

[0030] The canopy 20 is attached to the counterweight 17 via a canopy attachment member 21. The canopy 20 is configured as a two-pillar type canopy including a canopy attachment member 21 fixed to the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17, left and right support columns 22 attached to the canopy attachment member 21 and extending upward, and a roof 23 provided above the left and right support columns 22 and covering the driver's seat 10 from above. An exhaust pipe 24 for discharging exhaust gas from the engine 7 is arranged at the rear side of the canopy 20. The exhaust pipe 24 extends upward from the counterweight 17, and the upper end (exhaust port) of the exhaust pipe 24 opens backward at a position higher than the head of the operator sitting on the driver's seat 10.

[0031] Next, the object detection sensor 25 used in this embodiment will be described.

[0032] The object detection sensor 25 is provided on the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17. The object detection sensor 25 detects objects such as other construction machines, structures, and workers existing around the vehicle body of the hydraulic excavator 1 (for example, behind the upper swing body 3). For this reason, the object detection sensor 25 is provided so as to detect an object existing below the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and behind the rear surface 17C of the counterweight 17. The object detection sensor 25 is constituted by, for example, a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), irradiates laser light such as infrared light toward the rear of the upper swing body 3, and detects that the laser light has bounced back when hitting an object, thereby detecting the presence of an object behind the upper swing body 3.

[0033] When the object detection sensor 25 detects the presence of an object behind the upper swing body 3, the operator is notified by a warning lamp 26 arranged on the right side of the driver's seat 10. That is, the warning lamp 26 has, for example, a green lamp and a red lamp. When the object detection sensor 25 is operating during the operation of the hydraulic excavator 1, the green lamp is lit. When the object detection sensor 25 detects an object, both the green lamp and the red lamp are lit. Therefore, the operator sitting on the driver's seat 10 can determine whether or not there is an object behind the upper swing body 3 based on the lighting color of the warning lamp 26.

[0034] Here, the object detection sensor 25 is provided to detect an object that exists below the object detection sensor 25 and is located above the engine cover 18 in the closed position. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the object detection sensor 25 has a detection range A (the range indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure) that extends in the left-right direction while inclining obliquely downward from above the counterweight 17 toward the rear, and detects an object that enters this detection range A. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the engine cover 18 is in the open position and the upper edge portion 18A protrudes above the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and the engine cover 18 is located behind the object detection sensor 25, the engine cover 18 enters the detection range A of the object detection sensor 25.

[0035] In this way, the object detection sensor 25 is configured such that the exterior cover 12 including the engine cover 18 does not enter the detection range A of the object detection sensor 25 when the engine cover 18 is in the closed position, and the engine cover 18 enters the detection range A when in the open position, that is, it is disposed on the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and behind the driver's seat 10. Thereby, it is possible to accurately detect whether the engine cover 18, which is in a position difficult to visually observe for the operator sitting in the driver's seat 10, is in the open position by using the object detection sensor 25, and it is configured to be able to notify the operator by the warning light 26.

[0036] The hydraulic excavator 1 according to the present embodiment has the configuration as described above. When performing an earthwork excavation operation using the hydraulic excavator 1, the operator sits in the driver's seat 10 and operates a travel lever and pedal device (not shown) to self-propel the hydraulic excavator 1 to a desired work location. After moving to the desired work location, the operator can perform an earthwork excavation operation or the like by operating the operation lever device 11 to swing the upper swing body 3 and pitch the working device 4.

[0037] When this hydraulic excavator 1 is in operation, the object detection sensor 25 operates to detect whether there is an object behind the upper swing body 3. That is, when there is no object within the detection range A of the object detection sensor 25, the green light of the warning lamp 26 lights up, and when an object enters the detection range A of the object detection sensor 25, the green light and the red light of the warning lamp 26 light up. In this way, the operator can determine whether there is an object behind the upper swing body 3 based on the lighting color of the warning lamp 26, and can perform excavation work or the like using the hydraulic excavator 1 while fully grasping the safety behind the upper swing body 3.

[0038] Here, when performing an inspection work on the engine 7, for example, the operator moves the engine cover 18 from the closed position to the open position to open the inspection opening 17A of the counterweight 17 with the hydraulic excavator 1 stopped. In this way, with the engine 7 exposed to the outside, the inspection work on the engine 7 is performed through the inspection opening 17A from the back surface 17C side of the counterweight 17.

[0039] At this time, after the inspection work on the engine 7 is completed, for example, the operator may forget to move the engine cover 18 to the closed position and sit in the driver's seat 10 to operate the hydraulic excavator 1 with the engine cover 18 remaining in the open position. In contrast, in this embodiment, when the engine cover 18 is in the open position, the engine cover 18 enters the detection range A of the object detection sensor 25. Therefore, the object detection sensor 25 detects that the engine cover 18 is in the open position, and the green light and the red light of the warning lamp 26 light up. As a result, even if the operator forgets to move the engine cover 18 from the open position to the closed position or fails to notice that the engine cover 18 is in the open position and operates the hydraulic excavator 1, it is possible to surely notify the operator that the engine cover 18 is in the open position.

[0040] Moreover, the object detection sensor 25 is provided on the counterweight 17 that constitutes the upper swing body 3. As a result, regardless of the swing operation of the upper swing body 3, it is possible to always detect whether the engine cover 18 is in the open position by using the object detection sensor 25. Therefore, compared with the case of providing a dedicated sensor for detecting whether the engine cover 18 is in the open position, problems such as an increase in the number of components such as cables (electrical wiring) connected to the sensor and fixtures for attaching the sensor to the vehicle body, and an increase in inspection and maintenance work for the sensors can be avoided.

[0041] Thus, the hydraulic excavator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a self-propelled lower traveling body 2, an upper swing body 3 that is swingably mounted on the lower traveling body 2 and has an equipment housing portion 16, and an exterior cover 12 that is provided on the upper swing body 3 and includes an engine cover 18 that moves between a closed position for closing the equipment housing portion 16 and an open position for opening the equipment housing portion 16. The hydraulic excavator 1 includes an object detection sensor 25 that detects an object existing around the vehicle body, and the object detection sensor 25 is disposed at a position for detecting the engine cover 18 in the open position.

[0042] According to this configuration, it is possible to accurately detect whether the engine cover 18, which is in a position difficult to visually observe for the operator sitting in the driver's seat 10, is in the open position by using the object detection sensor 25.

[0043] In the embodiment, the object detection sensor 25 is provided above the engine cover 18 in the closed position to detect an object existing below the object detection sensor 25, and the engine cover 18 in the open position protrudes outward from the vehicle body more than the engine cover 18 in the closed position. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect that the engine cover 18 in the open position protrudes outward from the vehicle body by using the object detection sensor 25.

[0044] In the embodiment, there are provided a driver's cab 10 provided on the upper revolving body 3, a working device 4 provided on the upper revolving body 3 and located on the front side of the driver's cab 10, and a counterweight 17 provided on the upper revolving body 3 and located on the rear side of the driver's cab 10, the counterweight 17 having an inspection opening 17A covered by the engine cover 18 when the engine cover 18 is in the closed position. The object detection sensor 25 is provided on the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17 and is configured to detect an object existing behind the rear surface 17C of the counterweight 17. According to this configuration, the engine cover 18 in the open position behind the rear surface 17C of the counterweight 17 can be detected by using the object detection sensor 25.

[0045] In the embodiment, the engine cover 18 moves in the vertical direction between the closed position and the open position, and the engine cover 18 in the open position protrudes above the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17. According to this configuration, it is possible to detect, by using the object detection sensor 25, that the engine cover 18 has moved to the open position and protrudes above the upper surface 17B of the counterweight 17.

[0046] In the embodiment, as the opening / closing cover, the engine cover 18 that moves in the vertical direction with respect to the counterweight 17 to open and close the inspection opening 17A is exemplified, and as the object detection sensor, the object detection sensor 25 that detects an object existing behind the upper revolving body 3 is exemplified. The configuration for detecting that the engine cover 18 is in the open position by using this object detection sensor 25 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the opening / closing cover, the right rear cover 14 that opens and closes in the left-right direction is applied, and as the object detection sensor, an object detection sensor that detects an object existing on the right side of the upper revolving body 3 is applied. The right rear cover 14 that has moved to the open position enters the detection range of this object detection sensor, and thus, it may be configured to detect that the right rear cover 14 is in the open position.

[0047] In addition, in the embodiment, an example is illustrated in which when the object detection sensor 25 detects that the engine cover 18 is in the open position, the operator is notified by the lighting color of the warning lamp 26. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a configuration using other notification means such as voice synthesis and buzzer sound may be employed.

Explanation of Signs

[0048] 1 Hydraulic excavator 2 Lower traveling body (vehicle body) 3 Upper slewing body (vehicle body) 4 Working device 7 Engine (mounted equipment) 10 Driver's seat 12 Exterior cover 12A Upper surface 16 Equipment housing 17 Counterweight 17B Upper surface 17C Rear surface 18 Engine cover (opening / closing cover) 25 Object detection sensor A Detection range

Claims

1. An opening / closing cover provided on a vehicle body, An object detection sensor that detects an object existing around the vehicle body, In a construction machine equipped with, The opening / closing cover moves between a closed position and an open position closer to the object detection sensor than the closed position to open and close, and in the open position, it is arranged within the detection range of the object detection sensor. A construction machine characterized by this.

2. The opening / closing cover moves in the vertical direction of the vehicle body to open and close, The object detection sensor is arranged above the opening / closing cover in the closed position, The opening / closing cover in the open position is arranged at a position protruding above the opening / closing cover in the closed position so as to face the object detection sensor. The construction machine according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The vehicle body has a self-propelled lower traveling body and an upper slewing body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body, The upper slewing body has a driver's seat and a counterweight arranged behind the driver's seat, An opening is formed in the counterweight that is covered by the opening / closing cover when the opening / closing cover is in the closed position, The object detection sensor is provided so as to detect an object existing behind the back surface of the counterweight. The construction machine according to claim 1, characterized by this.

4. The vehicle body has a self-propelled lower traveling body and an upper slewing body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body, The upper slewing body has a driver's seat and a counterweight arranged behind the driver's seat, The opening / closing cover moves in the vertical direction of the vehicle body to open and close, The object detection sensor is arranged above the counterweight and is provided so as to detect an object existing below the upper surface of the counterweight and behind the back surface of the counterweight, The opening / closing cover in the open position is arranged at a position overlapping the object detection sensor in the front-rear direction. The construction machine according to claim 1, characterized by this.

5. The object detection sensor is provided on the upper surface of the counterweight, The opening / closing cover in the open position protrudes above the upper surface of the counterweight. The construction machine according to claim 4, characterized by this.

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