Industrial vehicle

Abstract

To provide an industrial vehicle capable of preventing an obstacle sensor from detecting water droplets as obstacles even if the water droplets fall along the surface of the vehicle body during travel.SOLUTION: An industrial vehicle includes a body cover installed on the front part of a body, which has a recess 33 recessed from the outside toward the body side, and an obstacle sensor 32 detecting obstacles around the body. The body cover is positioned above the obstacle sensor 32 and has an upper panel 40 that slopes from above to below toward a scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32, and end panels extending downward from the lower end of the upper panel 40. The body cover has a first intermediate panel 50 that slopes from above to below toward the opposite side of the scanning direction. The first intermediate panel 50 has a protruding end on the scanning direction side that protrudes further in the scanning direction than the end panel, an opposite end that is located on the opposite side of the scanning direction than the scanning range of the obstacle sensor 32, and a standing panel portion that stands up from the protruding end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an industrial vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of prior art related to industrial vehicles is the work vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1. The work vehicle in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an obstacle detector that detects obstacles around the vehicle body and a mounting unit that mounts the obstacle detector to the vehicle body. The mounting unit is equipped with an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the mounting angle of the obstacle detector relative to the vehicle body, and a cover that conceals the adjustment mechanism. The provision of the cover reduces the risk that the adjustment mechanism will be easily operated by the user, causing the mounting angle of the obstacle detector to be inappropriately changed. Incidentally, this type of work vehicle is actually a tractor or combine harvester that operates in fields. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6804380 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the work vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is considered that the cover that covers the adjustment mechanism serves as a rain countermeasure function for the obstacle detector. However, in tractors and combines operating in the field, since there are relatively few obstacles in the field, the position where the obstacle detector is mounted on the vehicle body is less likely to be restricted. On the other hand, the environment in which industrial vehicles such as towing tractors and forklifts operate has relatively many other vehicles and operators. For this reason, in an industrial vehicle that travels autonomously, an obstacle sensor that detects obstacles is housed inside the vehicle body. In order for the obstacle sensor to function more efficiently, it is necessary to provide the obstacle sensor at a position closer to the outside. However, if the obstacle sensor is provided at a position closer to the outside, there is a problem that the obstacle sensor drips along the vehicle body surface and detects the falling water droplets as obstacles. Incidentally, it is also conceivable to reduce the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor so that water droplets are not detected as obstacles. However, the operating environment of industrial vehicles is different from the fields where tractors and combines operate, and there are many obstacles around, so there is a high possibility that interference with obstacles will occur frequently, and the industrial vehicle must be stopped due to interference with obstacles, which is likely to cause a decrease in the operating rate.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an industrial vehicle capable of preventing an obstacle sensor from detecting water droplets as obstacles even when water droplets fall along the vehicle body surface during traveling.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a work vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle body cover installed on the front surface portion of the vehicle body, the vehicle body cover having a recess recessed from the outside toward the vehicle body side, an obstacle sensor accommodated in the recess for detecting obstacles around the vehicle body, the vehicle body cover being located above the obstacle sensor and having an upper surface plate inclined downward from above toward the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor and an end surface plate extending downward from the lower end portion of the upper surface plate. In the work vehicle, the vehicle body cover is disposed between the obstacle sensor and the end surface plate in the vertical direction and has a first intermediate plate inclined downward from above toward the opposite side of the scanning direction, the first intermediate plate having a protruding end on the scanning direction side protruding in the scanning direction from the end surface plate, an opposite end located on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the scanning range of the obstacle sensor, and a standing plate portion rising from the protruding end.

[0007] In the present invention, during rainy weather, water droplets fall along the upper surface plate and the end surface plate of the vehicle body cover during travel. However, since the first intermediate plate protrudes in the scanning direction from the end surface plate, it receives the falling water droplets. Since the first intermediate plate is inclined downward from above toward the opposite side of the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor, the water droplets flow toward the opposite end on the opposite side of the protruding end. Further, since the first intermediate plate has a standing plate portion rising from the protruding end, the falling of water droplets from the protruding end of the first intermediate plate into the scanning range of the obstacle sensor is prevented. As a result, even when water droplets fall along the vehicle body surface during travel, it is possible to prevent the obstacle sensor from detecting the water droplets as obstacles.

[0008] Further, in the above work vehicle, the vehicle body cover may be disposed between the upper surface plate and the first intermediate plate in the vertical direction and have a second intermediate plate inclined downward from above toward the scanning direction, and the end portion of the second intermediate plate on the scanning direction side may be located on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the protruding end. In this case, when water droplets flowing on the upper surface of the second intermediate plate are generated, the water droplets flow toward the end portion of the second intermediate plate on the scanning direction side. However, since the end portion of the second intermediate plate on the scanning direction side is located on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the protruding end of the first intermediate plate, the first intermediate plate can surely receive the water droplets.

[0009] Further, in the above industrial vehicle, the opposite end may be configured to be positioned beyond the opposite end of the obstacle sensor in the direction opposite to the scanning direction. In this case, since the opposite end of the first intermediate plate is positioned beyond the opposite end of the obstacle sensor in the direction opposite to the scanning direction, the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate plate fall at a position away from the opposite end of the obstacle sensor. Therefore, the water droplets falling from the first intermediate plate do not have an adverse effect on the obstacle sensor.

[0010] Further, in the above industrial vehicle, the second intermediate plate may be configured to have a through-hole penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface. In this case, since the second intermediate plate has a through-hole, the water droplets on the second intermediate plate can be dropped from the through-hole to the first intermediate plate. Therefore, it is not necessary to concentrate the water droplets on the second intermediate plate at the end in the scanning direction, and it is possible to make the inclination of the second intermediate plate in the scanning direction approach the horizontal as much as possible.

[0011] Further, in the above industrial vehicle, the vehicle body cover may be configured to have a guide member provided from the opposite end of the first intermediate plate toward the road surface. In this case, since the vehicle body cover has a guide member provided from the opposite end of the first intermediate plate toward the road surface, the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate plate are discharged to the road surface through the guide member. Therefore, the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate plate do not remain inside the vehicle body cover.

[0012] Further, in the above industrial vehicle, the vehicle body cover may be divided into an upper cover portion having the upper panel and the end panel, and a lower cover portion for housing the obstacle sensor, and the lower cover portion may be configured to have the first intermediate plate. In this case, since the vehicle body cover is divided into an upper cover part and a lower cover part, the degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle body cover is improved compared to the case where the vehicle body cover is not divided, and it becomes easier to perform maintenance and inspection of the vehicle body cover. In particular, since the lower cover has the first intermediate plate, it becomes possible to perform maintenance and inspection on the first intermediate plate by removing the upper cover.

[0013] Also, in the above industrial vehicle, the industrial vehicle may be configured as a towing tractor. In this case, the industrial vehicle is a towing tractor, and there are relatively many obstacles around the towing tractor that performs cargo handling work including outdoors at the airport. However, even in rainy weather, it is possible to reliably prevent the obstacle sensor from misdetecting water droplets as obstacles by detecting the water droplets.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an industrial vehicle that can prevent an obstacle sensor from detecting water droplets as obstacles even when water droplets fall along the vehicle body surface during traveling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a towing tractor as an industrial vehicle according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The towing tractor of this embodiment is an unmanned towing tractor capable of autonomous driving without a driver. However, since the towing tractor of this embodiment can also be driven by a human, it is a towing tractor equipped with a driver's seat. Note that the towing tractor for specifying the direction and "up and down" are based on the driver's seat of the towing tractor.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, front wheels 12 are provided at the front part of the vehicle body 11 of the towing tractor 10 which is an industrial vehicle, and rear wheels 13 are provided at the rear part of the vehicle body 11. The front wheels 12 are steering wheels, and the rear wheels 13 are drive wheels. A driver's seat 14 is provided near the center of the vehicle body 11.

[0018] A roof 15 is provided above the driver's seat 14. The roof 15 is supported by a pair of left and right front pillars 16 and a pair of left and right rear pillars 17. The driver's seat 14 is equipped with a driver's seat 18 and a steering wheel 19 for enabling human driving. The steering wheel 19 is supported by a steering column 20 provided at the front part of the driver's seat 14. In normal autonomous driving without a driver, the operator does not board the towing tractor 10, but it is planned that the towing tractor 10 will perform autonomous driving even when the operator boards.

[0019] In front of the driver's seat 14 in the vehicle body 11, there is a battery room (not shown) where the battery 21 is housed. The upper part of the battery room is covered by an openable and closable bonnet 22 provided in the vehicle body 11. The front wheels 12 are driven by an electric motor (not shown) powered by the battery 21, but the front wheels 12 may be driven by an engine by replacing the electric motor with an engine. Also, instead of the battery 21, a power generation device using a fuel cell may be used.

[0020] At the rear of the vehicle body 11, a drawbar device 23 for connecting a towed vehicle (not shown) such as a trolley is provided. Near the drawbar device 23 at the rear of the vehicle body 11, a drawbar operation unit 24 for operating the drawbar device 23 is provided. The drawbar operation unit 24 is provided with buttons (not shown) necessary for operating the drawbar device 23. By operating the drawbar operation unit 24, the connection or disconnection of the towed vehicle to the drawbar device 23 is performed.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle body 11 has a front part forming plate 25 that forms the front part of the vehicle body 11. The front part forming plate 25 is a plate member extending in the left - right direction. The front part forming plate 25 has a plate main body part 26 facing forward, a right plate part 27 extending from the plate main body part 26 to the right, and a left plate part 28 extending from the plate main body part 26 to the left. The plate main body part 26 has a plate surface that is substantially orthogonal to the front - rear direction. The right plate part 27 is located in front of the right front wheel 12, and the right end of the right plate part 27 is located behind the plate main body part 26. The left plate part 28 is located in front of the left front wheel 12, and the left end of the left plate part 28 is located behind the plate main body part 26.

[0022] In the front part forming plate 25, openings 30 are respectively formed at the positions of the headlamps 29 so as to allow the light of the pair of left - right headlamps 29 mounted on the vehicle body 11 to pass through. Near the center of the plate main body part 26, a support member 31 for supporting an obstacle sensor 32 is provided.

[0023] The obstacle sensor 32 is a sensor that detects obstacles within a predetermined detection range including the front of the vehicle body 11, and is, for example, a 3D-LiDAR. The information on the obstacles detected by the obstacle sensor 32 is used, for example, for avoiding obstacles with respect to the towing tractor 10. In the present embodiment, the obstacle sensor 32 is installed at a position relatively close to the road surface F. The scanning range of the laser light of the obstacle sensor 32 is, for example, a range of 180° (90° to the left and right) within a circle centered on the obstacle sensor 32. By setting the search area to a range of 180°, it is possible to search for obstacles in front of and on the left and right sides of the towing tractor 10. Also, in the vertical direction, it is possible to search for obstacles within a range between a predetermined elevation angle and depression angle centered on the obstacle sensor 32. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is the direction serving as a reference for the scanning direction of the laser light and corresponds to the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32. And the front is the scanning direction, and the rear is the opposite direction of the scanning direction.

[0024] The towing tractor 10 of the present embodiment has a front body cover 35 installed on the front portion of the vehicle body 11 as a vehicle body cover. Specifically, the front body cover 35 has a recessed portion 33 recessed from the outside toward the vehicle body 11 side, and is attached to the front forming plate 25 so that the obstacle sensor 32 is accommodated. As shown in FIG. 3, the front body cover 35 has three cover bodies: an upper cover body 36, an intermediate cover body 37, and a lower cover body 38. That is, the front body cover 35 is divided into three cover bodies. Note that the recessed portion 33 may be formed in the vehicle body 11.

[0025] The upper cover body 36 is the uppermost cover body in the front body cover 35 and corresponds to the upper cover part. The upper cover body 36 has an upper surface plate 40, a front surface plate 41 as an end surface plate, a right side surface plate 42, and a left side surface plate 43. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper surface plate 40 is inclined downward from the rear to the front. The upper surface plate 40 is attached to a support member 39 provided on the front forming plate 25 by fastening a bolt B. The upper surface plate 40 is substantially trapezoidal in plan view. The front surface plate 41 extends downward from the lower end of the upper surface plate 40. The right side surface plate 42 extends downward from the right end of the upper surface plate 40. The left side surface plate 43 extends downward from the left end of the upper surface plate 40. The front portions of the right side surface plate 42 and the left side surface plate 43 are integrally formed with the front surface plate 41. The front surface plate 41 is located in front of the front end of the obstacle sensor 32 in the front-rear direction. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the elevation angle defining the vertical direction in the scanning range of the obstacle sensor 32 is indicated by a dashed line E, and the depression angle is indicated by a dashed line D.

[0026] Next, the lower cover body 38 will be described prior to the description of the intermediate cover body 37. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower cover body 38 is the lowermost cover body in the front body cover 35 and has an upper surface plate 44, a front surface plate 45, a right side surface plate 46, and a left side surface plate 47. A notch 48 is formed in the upper surface plate 44. The obstacle sensor 32 is inserted into the notch 48. Lower openings 49 extending in the left-right direction are formed in the front surface plate 45, the right side surface plate 46, and the left side surface plate 47. The front surface plate 45, the right side surface plate 46, and the left side surface plate 47 are integrally formed in the same manner as the upper cover body 36.

[0027] The intermediate cover body 37 is a cover body positioned directly below the upper cover body 36 and directly above the lower cover body 38. That is, the intermediate cover body 37 is positioned between the upper cover body 36 and the lower cover body 38 in the vertical direction. The intermediate cover body 37 is a part that covers the obstacle sensor 32 in the front body cover 35. The intermediate cover body 37 corresponds to the lower cover part that houses the obstacle sensor 32 together with the lower cover body 38. The intermediate cover body 37 has a first intermediate plate 50, a second intermediate plate 51, a front plate 52, a right side plate 53, a left side plate 54, a standing plate 55, a right inner plate 56, a left inner plate 57, and an intermediate opening 58.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the first intermediate plate 50 is disposed between the obstacle sensor 32 and the upper cover body 36. The shape of the first intermediate plate 50 in plan view is substantially trapezoidal although not shown in the drawing. The first intermediate plate 50 inclines downward from the front to the rear. That is, the first intermediate plate 50 inclines downward from above toward the opposite side of the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32. The inclination angle of the first intermediate plate 50 may be an angle at which water can flow rearward on the first intermediate plate 50. The front end 50A of the first intermediate plate 50 is positioned forward of the front panel 41 of the upper cover body 36 in the front-rear direction. The front end 50A of the first intermediate plate 50 corresponds to the protruding end on the scanning direction side that protrudes in the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32 more than the front panel 41.

[0029] The rear end 50B of the first intermediate plate 50 is positioned rearward of the rear end of the obstacle sensor 32 in the front-rear direction. The rear end 50B of the first intermediate plate 50 corresponds to the opposite end positioned on the opposite side of the scanning range of the obstacle sensor 32 from the scanning direction. Also, it can be said that the rear end 50B of the first intermediate plate 50 is positioned to exceed the opposite end of the obstacle sensor 32 in the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32.

[0030] Next, the second intermediate plate 51 will be described. The second intermediate plate 51 is disposed between the top plate 40 and the first intermediate plate 50 in the vertical direction. The shape of the second intermediate plate 51 in plan view is substantially trapezoidal, although not shown in the drawings. The second intermediate plate 51 is inclined downward from the rear to the front. That is, the second intermediate plate 51 is inclined downward from above toward the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32. The inclination angle of the second intermediate plate 51 is defined by design conditions, but is an angle at which water can flow forward on the second intermediate plate 51.

[0031] The front end 51A of the second intermediate plate 51 corresponds to the end on the scanning direction side of the obstacle sensor 32. The front end 51A is located behind the front end 50A of the first intermediate plate 50 and the front panel 41. That is, the front end 51A is located on the opposite side of the front end 50A of the first intermediate plate 50 from the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32. The rear end 51B of the second intermediate plate 51 abuts against the front forming plate 25. The second intermediate plate 51 is attached to the support member 59 provided on the front forming plate 25 by fastening bolts B.

[0032] A front plate 52 is attached to the front end 50A of the first intermediate plate 50. The front plate 52 corresponds to a standing plate portion that stands up from the front end 50A. A groove hole 60 is formed between the front plate 52 and the front end 51A of the second intermediate plate 51. The groove hole 60 is a slit-shaped hole extending in the left-right direction and is an opening for guiding water droplets flowing down along the front panel 41 to the first intermediate plate 50.

[0033] On the right side of the front plate 52, a right side plate 53 extends downward from the right side end of the second intermediate plate 51. On the left side of the front plate 52, a left side plate 54 extends downward from the left side end of the second intermediate plate 51. The front plate 52, the right side plate 53, and the left side plate 54 are integrally formed. Also, the right side plate 53 and the left side plate 54 are connected to the first intermediate plate 50.

[0034] Incidentally, a gap is formed between the upper cover body 36 and the intermediate cover body 37 in the left - right direction. In this gap, the space between the front panel 41 of the upper cover body 36 and the front panel 52 of the intermediate cover body 37 is narrow, the space between the right side panel 42 of the upper cover body 36 and the right side panel 53 of the intermediate cover body 37 is wide, and the space between the left side panel 43 of the upper cover body 36 and the left side panel 54 of the intermediate cover body 37 is wide. The vertical lengths corresponding to the right side panels 42, 53 and the left side panels 43, 54 in the gap correspond to the vertical length of the opening 30. That is, a design - like integral feeling of the front - forming plate 25 including the opening 30, the upper cover body 36 and the intermediate cover body 37 is formed. The upright plate 55 of the intermediate cover body 37 is provided so as to stand on the second intermediate plate 51 and closes the rear in the gap between the upper cover body 36 and the intermediate cover body 37.

[0035] The right inner plate 56 is formed so as to fold back from the front end of the right side panel 53 rearward. The upper end of the right inner plate 56 is connected to the lower surface of the second intermediate plate 51. The left inner plate 57 is formed so as to fold back from the front end of the left side panel 54 rearward. The upper end of the left inner plate 57 is connected to the lower surface of the second intermediate plate 51. An intermediate opening 58 is formed between the right inner plate 56 and the left inner plate 57. The intermediate opening 58 is set to a left - right width and an up - down height through which the support member 31 and the obstacle sensor 32 can be inserted.

[0036] Next, the prevention of water droplets from falling forward on the obstacle sensor 32 of the towing tractor 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. When the towing tractor 10 automatically travels outdoors, it may rain. Rainwater falls on the upper part of the vehicle body 11 of the towing tractor 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the rainwater that has fallen on the upper surface plate 40 and the bonnet 22 of the upper cover body 36 is aggregated into water droplets and flows forward along the inclination of the upper surface plate 40. A front panel 41 is provided in front of the upper surface plate 40. When the water droplets flowing on the upper surface plate 40 reach the front panel 41, the water droplets flow down along the front surface of the front panel 41. Then, the water droplets that have flowed down along the front panel 41 enter the groove hole 60 and are received by the first intermediate plate 50. The water droplets received by the first intermediate plate 50 flow backward on the first intermediate plate 50 and fall from the rear end 50B. The water droplets that have fallen from the rear end 50B head towards the road surface F.

[0037] By the way, the rainwater that has fallen on the upper surface plate 40 and the bonnet 22 not only flows to the front panel 41 of the upper cover body 36 but also flows down along the right side panel 42 and the left side panel 43. The water droplets flowing down along the right side panel 42 and the left side panel 43 may enter onto the second intermediate plate 51. The water droplets that have entered onto the second intermediate plate 51 flow forward on the second intermediate plate 51, enter the groove hole 60, and are received by the first intermediate plate 50. The water droplets received by the first intermediate plate 50 flow backward on the first intermediate plate 50 and fall from the rear end 50B. The water droplets that have fallen from the rear end 50B head towards the road surface F. Even if the water droplets received by the first intermediate plate 50 try to flow forward beyond the front end 50A, they are blocked by the front panel 52.

[0038] The towing tractor 10 according to the present embodiment has the following effects. (1) During rainy days, water droplets flow along the upper panel 40 and the front panel 41 of the front body cover 35 when the vehicle is moving. However, since the first intermediate panel 50 protrudes in the scanning direction more than the front panel 41, it receives the water droplets flowing down along the front panel 41. Since the first intermediate panel 50 is inclined downward from above toward the opposite side of the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor 32, the water droplets flow toward the rear end 50B on the side opposite to the front end 50A. Furthermore, since the first intermediate panel 50 has a front panel 52 that stands up from the front end 50A, the falling of water droplets from the front end 50A of the first intermediate panel 50 into the scanning range of the obstacle sensor 32 is prevented. As a result, even if water droplets fall along the surface of the front body cover 35 during running, the obstacle sensor 32 does not detect the water droplets as obstacles.

[0039] (2) The front body cover 35 has a second intermediate panel 51 that is disposed between the upper panel 40 and the first intermediate panel 50 in the vertical direction and is inclined downward from above toward the front. The front end 51A of the second intermediate panel 51 is located behind the front end 50A. For this reason, when water droplets flowing on the upper surface of the second intermediate panel 51 are generated, the water droplets flow toward the front end 51A of the second intermediate panel 51, but the first intermediate panel 50 can surely receive the water droplets.

[0040] (3) The rear end 50B of the first intermediate panel 50 is positioned so as to exceed the rear end of the obstacle sensor 32 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate panel 50 fall at a position away from the rear end of the obstacle sensor 32. For this reason, the water droplets falling from the first intermediate panel 50 do not have an adverse effect on the obstacle sensor 32.

[0041] (4) Since the front panel 41 of the upper cover body 36 extends so as to protrude toward the front end 50A of the lower first intermediate panel 50, the distance between the front panel 41 and the first intermediate panel 50 is shortened. For this reason, the front panel 41 can more surely guide the water droplets flowing down along the front panel 41 to the first intermediate panel 50. Furthermore, in the front body cover 35, the obstacle sensor 32 can be installed further forward.

[0042] Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 7, the front body cover 35 has a cylindrical body 61 provided from the rear end 50B of the first intermediate plate 50 toward the road surface F. The cylindrical body 61 corresponds to a guiding member that guides water droplets falling from the rear end 50B of the first intermediate plate 50 to the road surface F. The cylindrical body 61 of this modification is attached to the front surface of the front forming plate 25 such that the upper end of the cylindrical body 61 is located below the rear end 50B and the lower end (not shown) of the cylindrical body 61 is located near the road surface F.

[0043] By providing the cylindrical body 61, the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate plate 50 are caused to flow to the road surface F through the cylindrical body 61. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the water droplets flowing on the first intermediate plate 50 from remaining inside the front body cover 35. Further, the water droplets aggregated inside the front body cover 35 can be discharged to the road surface F without scattering around.

[0044] (Second Embodiment) Next, a towing tractor according to the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the configuration of the second intermediate plate is different from that of the first embodiment. For the same configurations as those in the first embodiment in this embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is incorporated and common reference numerals are used.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle body front cover 71 provided in the towing tractor 70 has an upper cover body 36, an intermediate cover body 72, and a lower cover body 38. The intermediate cover body 72 and the lower cover body 38 correspond to the lower cover portion. The intermediate cover body 72 has a first intermediate plate 50, a second intermediate plate 73, a front plate 52, a right side plate 53, a left side plate 54, a standing plate 55, a right inner plate 56, a left inner plate 57, and an intermediate opening 58. In FIG. 8, the first intermediate plate 50 is not shown.

[0046] A groove hole 60 is formed between the front end 73A of the second intermediate plate 73 and the front panel 52. The rear end (not shown) of the second intermediate plate 73 is the same as the rear end 51B of the second intermediate plate 51 in the first embodiment. A pair of slit holes 74 are formed in the second intermediate plate 73 along the upper ends of the right side panel 53 and the left side panel 54, respectively. The slit holes 74 are through holes penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface of the second intermediate plate 73.

[0047] In this embodiment, since the slit holes 74 are formed in the second intermediate plate 73, the water droplets flowing on the second intermediate plate 73 fall onto the first intermediate plate 50 through the slit holes 74. Therefore, not only can the drainage volume be increased, but it also becomes difficult for the water droplets to flow from the second intermediate plate 73 to the right side panel 53 and the left side panel 54. Also, it is not necessary to gather the water droplets flowing on the second intermediate plate 73 to the front end 73A. As a result, it becomes possible to make the inclination of the second intermediate plate 51 in the scanning direction as close to horizontal as possible.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments (including modified examples), and various changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the following changes may be made.

[0049] ○ In the above embodiments (including modified examples), the second intermediate plate is inclined downward from above in the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor, but it is not limited to this. The second intermediate plate may be, for example, horizontal, or may be inclined upward from below in the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor. ○ In the above embodiments (including modified examples), the recess is formed in the vehicle body cover, but it is not limited to this. The recess may be formed, for example, in the vehicle body itself. ○ In the above embodiments (including modified examples), the opposite end of the first intermediate plate is positioned so as to exceed the opposite end of the obstacle sensor in the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor, but it is not limited to this. The opposite end of the first intermediate plate may be positioned on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the scanning range of the obstacle sensor. ○ In the above-described embodiments (including modified examples), the vehicle body cover is divided into an upper cover portion having an upper surface plate and end surface plates, and a lower cover portion that houses an obstacle sensor. The lower cover portion is described as having a first intermediate plate, but is not limited thereto. For example, the upper cover portion and the lower cover portion of the vehicle body cover may be integrated. ○ In the above-described embodiments (including modified examples), a 3D-LiDAR is exemplified and described as the obstacle sensor, but is not limited thereto. The obstacle sensor may be, for example, a camera, a two-dimensional laser sensor, or a radar sensor. ○ In the above-described embodiments (including modified examples), an example where the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor is in front of the vehicle body is shown, but it is not limited to this. The scanning direction of the obstacle sensor is not particularly limited and may be, for example, behind the vehicle body or on the side of the vehicle body. ○ In the above-described embodiments (including modified examples), a towing tractor is exemplified and described as the industrial vehicle, but is not limited thereto. The industrial vehicle may be, for example, a forklift or an automated guided vehicle.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0050] 10, 70 Towing tractor (industrial vehicle) 11 Vehicle body 14 Driver's cab 18 Driver's seat 25 Front forming plate 32 Obstacle sensor 35, 71 Front vehicle body cover (vehicle body cover) 36 Upper cover body (upper cover portion) 37, 72 Intermediate cover body 38 Lower cover body 40 Upper surface plate 41 Front panel 50 First intermediate plate 50A Front end (projecting end) 50B Rear end (opposite end) 51, 73 Second intermediate plate 51A, 73A Front end 51B Rear end 52 Front vertical plate (vertical plate portion) 60 Grooved hole 61 Cylindrical body (inside case member) 74 Slit hole (through hole) F Road surface

Claims

1. A vehicle body, a vehicle body cover installed on the front part of the vehicle body, the vehicle body cover has a recess that is recessed from the outside toward the vehicle body side, and an obstacle sensor that is accommodated in the recess and detects obstacles around the vehicle body, the vehicle body cover, has an upper panel that is located above the obstacle sensor and is inclined downward from above toward the scanning direction of the obstacle sensor, and an end panel that extends downward from the lower end of the upper panel, in an industrial vehicle, the vehicle body cover, has a first intermediate panel that is disposed between the obstacle sensor and the end panel in the vertical direction and is inclined downward from above toward the opposite side of the scanning direction, the first intermediate panel, has a protruding end on the scanning direction side that protrudes in the scanning direction more than the end panel, an opposite end that is located on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the scanning range of the obstacle sensor, and a standing plate portion that stands up from the protruding end, and is characterized by an industrial vehicle.

2. The vehicle body cover, has a second intermediate panel that is disposed between the upper panel and the first intermediate panel in the vertical direction and is inclined downward from above toward the scanning direction, and an end portion of the second intermediate panel on the scanning direction side is located on the opposite side of the scanning direction from the protruding end, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 1.

3. The opposite end is located so as to exceed the opposite end of the obstacle sensor in the opposite direction of the scanning direction, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The second intermediate panel has a through hole that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 2.

5. The vehicle body cover has a guiding member provided from the opposite end of the first intermediate panel toward the road surface, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.

6. The vehicle body cover, has an upper cover portion having the upper panel and the end panel, and a lower cover portion that accommodates the obstacle sensor, and is divided into, the lower cover portion has the first intermediate panel, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.

7. The industrial vehicle is a towing tractor, and is characterized by the industrial vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.

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