Construction machinery

Abstract

To provide a hydraulic excavator that achieves both ease of tool retrieval from the toolbox and prevention of interference with hydraulic hoses. [Solution] The hydraulic excavator 1 comprises a self-propelled lower traveling body 2, an upper rotating body 3 rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body 2, and a working device 4 with a foot portion 4Aa provided on the front side of the upper rotating body 3. The upper rotating body 3 includes a rotating frame 5, a cab 10 provided on the left front part of the rotating frame 5, a right cover 110 provided on the right front part of the rotating frame 5 and forming a storage space, and a toolbox 18 positioned between the cab 10 and the right cover 110 and behind the foot portion 4Aa. The toolbox 18 is provided with a link mechanism 50 that allows it to move between a working position located between the front of the cab 10 and the front of the right cover 110 and a storage position located further back than the working position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydraulic excavator having a tool box on an upper revolving body.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 includes a travelable lower traveling body, an upper revolving body provided rotatably on the lower traveling body, and a working device provided on the front side in the front-rear direction of the upper revolving body. The upper revolving body includes a revolving frame on which the working device is provided on the front side, a cab provided on the left side in the left-right direction of the revolving frame, a control valve provided on the revolving frame for supplying and discharging pressure oil toward the hydraulic actuator of the working device, a fuel tank provided on the right side of the revolving frame at an interval from the cab, an equipment room located between the cab and the fuel tank for accommodating the control valve, and a tool box having an internal accommodation space. In the hydraulic excavator, the upper side of the equipment room is a maintenance opening for maintaining the control valve, and the tool box is disclosed as being provided on the upper side of the revolving frame located adjacent to the front of the maintenance opening. In this prior art, by arranging the tool box adjacent to the front of the maintenance opening provided on the upper side of the equipment room, it is intended to facilitate the extraction of tools from the tool box.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the tool box is arranged adjacent to the front of the maintenance opening, depending on the posture of the working device, the hydraulic hose that guides the hydraulic oil to each actuator that drives the working device may interfere with the tool box. For example, when using a standard work device with additional optional accessories (such as quick couplers or other attachments), the addition of a hydraulic hose for the optional accessory, in addition to the usual number of hydraulic hoses, could potentially interfere with the toolbox. Patent Document 1 did not adequately address this issue.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a construction machine that can achieve both ease of tool removal from a toolbox and prevention of interference with hydraulic hoses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a construction machine having a slewing frame, a cab provided on the left front part of the slewing frame, a right cover provided on the right front part of the slewing frame and forming a storage space, and a toolbox positioned between the cab and the right cover and behind the foot portion, characterized in that the toolbox is provided with a toolbox drive mechanism that allows the toolbox to move between a usage position located between the front of the cab and the front of the right cover and a storage position located behind the usage position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both ease of tool removal and prevention of interference with hydraulic hoses in a toolbox. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a right side view showing the external appearance of a hydraulic excavator according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing the external appearance of a hydraulic excavator, with the working equipment omitted. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the main part of the upper rotating body, seen from the front right. [Figure 4]This is a partially broken perspective view of the upper rotating body, seen from the front left, showing the movable toolbox with its lid open in its lowest position. [Figure 5] This is a partially broken perspective view of the upper rotating body, seen from the front left, showing the movable toolbox in its lowest position with the lid closed. [Figure 6] This is a partially broken perspective view of the upper rotating body of a movable toolbox, seen from the front left, with the lid closed in its uppermost position. [Figure 7] This perspective view continuously illustrates the transition state in which the toolbox moves from its lowest position to its highest position via a linkage mechanism. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a partial side view of the upper rotating body, seen from the left, showing the transition state when the toolbox is in motion. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the upper rotating body, seen from the front right, showing the right cover door opened to expose the fuel tank. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates how making the toolbox movable can prevent interference with the hydraulic hoses. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Overview of a hydraulic excavator> Figure 1 shows the overall external structure of the hydraulic excavator according to this embodiment. In Figure 1, the hydraulic excavator 1 (construction machine) comprises a crawler-type lower traveling body 2 that can move forward and backward, an upper rotating body 3 that is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body 2, and a working device 4 that is tiltable and mounted on the front side of the upper rotating body 3 to perform excavation work of earth and sand, etc.

[0011] The working device 4 includes a boom 4A, an arm 4B, a bucket 4C, a boom cylinder 4D, an arm cylinder (not shown), a bucket cylinder 4F, and the like.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper swing body 3 includes a swing frame 5 provided at the lower part of the upper swing body 3, a cab 10 provided at the left front part of the swing frame 5, a right cover 110 located at the right front part on the opposite side of the cab 10 in the left - right direction, an engine cover 108, a fuel tank 11, and a counterweight 6.

[0013] In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper swing body 3 has a left - right width dimension substantially equal to the vehicle width of the lower traveling body 2. And the hydraulic excavator 1 is configured as a so - called rear - ultra - small swing type hydraulic excavator in which when the upper swing body 3 swings on the lower traveling body 2, the outer peripheral surface of the counterweight 6 provided at the rear part of the upper swing body 3 is substantially within the vehicle width of the lower traveling body 2.

[0014] <Swing frame> As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the swing frame 5 includes a bottom plate 5A made of a thick steel plate extending in the front - rear direction, left and right vertical plates 5BL and 5BR (see FIG. 9 described later) erected on the bottom plate 5A, extending in the front - rear direction with a space in the left - right direction and approaching each other toward the front side, an upper plate 5C extending from the middle part in the front - rear direction of the left and right vertical plates 5BL and 5BR toward the front side at the upper parts of the left and right vertical plates 5BL and 5BR, a left side frame 5D arranged at a distance on the left side of the left vertical plate 5BL and extending in an arc shape in the front - rear direction, and a right side frame 5E arranged at a distance on the right side of the right vertical plate 5BR and extending in an arc shape in the front - rear direction.

[0015] The front parts of the bottom plate 5A, the left vertical plate 5BL, the right vertical plate 5BR, and the upper plate 5C serve as a support part 5F (also see FIG. 9 described later) protruding forward. By attaching the foot part 4Aa of the working device 4 (specifically, the boom 4A) to this support part 5F located at the front side of the upper swing body 3, the working device 4 is provided so as to be swingable in the left - right direction (the attachment structure is partially omitted in each figure for simplicity).

[0016] <Counterweight> The counterweight 6 is provided at the rear part of the swing frame 5 in order to balance the weight with the working device 4. An engine (not shown) is provided at the rear side part of the swing frame 5 on the front side of the counterweight 6, a heat exchange device (not shown) is arranged on the left side of the engine, and a hydraulic pump (not shown) that discharges hydraulic oil as pressure oil is attached on the right side of the engine.

[0017] <Cab> The cab 10 as a driver's cab is arranged at the left front part of the swing frame 5, specifically, on the left side of the support part 5F of the swing frame 5. The cab 10 has a front face part 10A, a rear face part 10B, a left face part 10C, a right face part 10D, and a top face part 10E. Further, a driver's seat 10S on which the seated operator rides is provided inside the cab 10, and operation levers for traveling, operation levers for work, various switches, etc. (all not shown) are arranged around the driver's seat 10S. Further, the right face part 10D is provided with a window frame 10Da and a window 10Db (right window) that can be slid open and closed in the front - rear direction within the window frame 10Da (refer to the broken - line arrow in FIG. 3). FIG. 3 shows the state where the window 10Db is open. In this state, the operator seated on the driver's seat 10S can easily access and visually recognize the right side of the cab 10 from the window frame 10Da.

[0018] <Engine cover and right cover> The engine cover 108 is located between the cab 10 and the counterweight 6 and covers the engine, hydraulic pump, heat exchange device, etc. arranged at the rear side of the swing frame 5. The engine cover 108 has a front edge (not shown) that extends in the left - right direction along the rear face part 10B of the cab 10, and this front edge forms the rearmost part of the equipment room 13 described later. The right cover 110 is provided at the right front part of the swing frame 5. Equipment to be stored such as a fuel tank 11 is stored in the storage space formed by the right cover 110.

[0019] <Fuel tank> The fuel tank 11 is located on the right side of the front swing frame 5 of the engine cover 108, spaced apart from the right side 10D of the cab 10. The fuel tank 11 is formed as a sealed rectangular parallelepiped, elongated in the vertical and vertical directions and flattened in the left and right directions, and stores fuel supplied to the engine inside.

[0020] <Equipment room> An equipment room 13 is formed on the swing frame 5 between the right side 10D of the cab 10 and the fuel tank 11. This equipment room 13 is a long space in the front-rear direction, extending from the support part 5F of the swing frame 5 to the front of the engine. Hydraulic equipment 15 and the like are housed in the equipment room 13. A base 16 is provided at the front of the equipment room 13 to cover the hydraulic equipment 15, and it has a large opening to allow maintenance of the hydraulic equipment 15.

[0021] <Tool box> A feature of this embodiment is that a toolbox 18 is movably provided in the front space of the equipment room 13, in other words, between the cab 10 and the right cover 110 of the upper slewing body 3, and at a position behind the foot portion 4Aa of the boom 4A (see dashed arrow in Figure 2). The toolbox 18 and its movable structure will be described below with reference to Figures 4 to 9.

[0022] <Detailed structure of the toolbox> In Figures 4, 5, and 6, the toolbox 18 is composed of a box body 19 and a lid 20, and its internal storage space R houses equipment including maintenance tools. Examples of equipment stored in the toolbox 18 include tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers, a grease gun for lubrication, and parts attached to the work device 4 (for example, bucket claws).

[0023] The box body 19 is formed in a flat box shape, having a rectangular bottom plate 19A, a left side plate 19BL and a right side plate 19BR, a front plate 19F, and a rear plate 19G.

[0024] The lid 20 has a roughly L-shape in side view and is formed as a front-opening structure with its rear portion rotatably attached to the rear of the box body 19. Specifically, the lid 20 has a rectangular upper plate portion 20A that roughly covers the opening 19D at the upper ends of the left and right side plates 19BL and 19BR, and a front plate portion 20B that bends from the front of the upper plate portion 20A and extends downward. The rear of the upper plate portion 20A is rotatably attached to the rear plate 19G via, for example, two hinges 20C.

[0025] <Opening and closing the lid> As shown in Figure 4, the lid 20 can be manually rotated upward using the hinges 20C as pivot points via the handle 20Ba provided on the front plate portion 20B, thereby greatly exposing the storage space R. In this exposed state, tools and other equipment can be inserted into and removed from the storage space R through the opening 19D. On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lid 20 can be manually tilted forward using the handle 20Ba and each hinge 20C as a pivot point, thereby closing the opening 19D and creating a nearly sealed storage space R.

[0026] At this time, an engagement groove 19a is provided in the right side plate 19BR, and the other end of a locking rod 20a, one end of which is connected to the right side of the upper plate portion 20A of the lid 20, is slidably engaged with the engagement groove 19a. The engagement groove 19a has a rear locking hole 19a1 at its rear end and a front locking hole 19a2 at its front end.

[0027] When the cover 20 is in the exposed state shown in Figure 4, the other end of the locking rod 20a enters into the rear locking hole 19a1 and locks in place, thereby holding the cover 20 in the position shown in Figure 4. When the lid 20 is in the sealed state shown in Figures 5 and 6, the other end of the locking rod 20a enters into the front locking hole 19a2 and locks in place, thereby holding the lid 20 in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0028] <Link mechanism> In this embodiment, the toolbox 18 is movable from a predetermined lowest position (usage position) shown in Figures 4 and 5 to a predetermined uppermost position (storage position) shown in Figure 6. That is, at the lowest position, the toolbox 18 is located between the front of the cab 10 and the front of the right cover 110. This makes it easier to access the toolbox from the outer perimeter of the vehicle when tools need to be taken out, and also makes it easier to see that it is at the lowest position from the outer perimeter of the vehicle. In other words, it prevents forgetting to store it from the lowest position to the uppermost position. Furthermore, at the uppermost position, it is configured to be located further back than at the lowest position. For this purpose, a link mechanism 50 (toolbox drive mechanism) is provided in the upper slewing body 3 between the cab 10 and the right cover 110 and behind the foot portion 4Aa. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the link mechanism 50 can move the toolbox 18 up and down and forward and backward while maintaining a substantially horizontal posture of the toolbox 18. The toolbox 18, through the function of the link mechanism 50, maintains both the bottom plate 19A of the box body 19 and the top plate 20A of the lid 20 in a nearly horizontal position.

[0029] The link mechanism 50 includes a first link member 60 and a second link member 70. One end of the first link member 60 is configured to rotate around a first pivot shaft 61, which is supported by an outer bracket portion 80A of a support member 80 fixed at an appropriate location on the upper swivel body 3. The other end of the first link member 60 is rotatably connected to a shaft 62 provided on the upper rear portion (first part) of the left and right side plates 19BL and 19BR of the box body 19 of the toolbox 18. One end of the second link member 70 is configured to rotate around a second pivot shaft 71, which is different from the first pivot shaft 61 and is supported by the inner bracket portion 80B of the support member 80. The other end of the second link member 70 is rotatably connected to a shaft 72 provided on the lower rear part (second portion) of the left and right side plates 19BL and 19BR of the toolbox 18.

[0030] <Details of the bottom and top positions> Here, the right cover 110 provided on the upper rotating body 3, as shown in Figure 9, encloses the fuel tank 11 and has an opening / closing door 110A that opens and closes to expose the fuel filler port 11A of the fuel tank 11.

[0031] At the lowest position, the lid 20 of the toolbox 18 is closed and lower than the height of the fuel filler port 11A (see Figure 9). When the toolbox 18 is at this lowest position, the bottom plate 19A of the box body 19 contacts the substantially inverted L-shaped stopper 90 (see Figures 6, 8, and 10) provided on the inner wall 110B of the right cover 110, thereby holding the toolbox 18 in place and preventing it from moving any further downward or forward.

[0032] Furthermore, at the uppermost position described above, as shown in Figure 3 above, with the lid 20 of the toolbox 18 closed, the lid 20 is higher than the lower end 10Dc of the cab 10 window 10Db and lower than the upper end 10Dd of the cab 10 window 10Db. More specifically, with the angle-adjustable backrest of the driver's seat 10S positioned approximately perpendicular to the seat surface of the driver's seat 10S, the lid 20 is lower than the upper end 10Sa of the backrest of the driver's seat 10S. When the toolbox 18 is at this uppermost position, the locking portion 95b (so-called catch) of the locking mechanism 95 fixed at an appropriate location on the upper swivel body 3 engages with the locked portion 95a (so-called striker) of the locking mechanism 95 provided on the rear plate 19G of the box body 19, thereby preventing the toolbox 18 from moving any further upward or backward. As a result, even in the case of hydraulic excavator 1, which experiences strong vibrations during operation, this feature allows it to be held in the uppermost position. The lowermost position is, in principle, when hydraulic excavator 1 is not in operation, whereas the uppermost position is when hydraulic excavator 1 may be in operation, making this holding function important. Alternatively, the locking portion may be provided on the toolbox 18 side and the locked portion on the upper swivel body 3 side.

[0033] As described above, in this embodiment, the link mechanism 50 can move the toolbox 18 up and down and forward and backward within a range from the lowest position, which is at least lower than the height position of the fuel filler port 11A, to the highest position, which is at least higher than the height position of the lower end of the window 10Db of the cab 10.

[0034] <Effects of the Embodiment> As described above, in this embodiment, the link mechanism 50 is configured to move the toolbox 18 up and down and forward and backward. The link mechanism 50 is located between the cab 10 and the right cover 110, and is provided on the front side of the upper slewing body 3, behind the foot portion 4Aa of the work device 4. As a result, when an operator wants to take a tool out of the toolbox 18, the link mechanism 50 lowers and moves the toolbox 18 forward (see Figures 4 and 5), allowing them to access the lowered toolbox 18 and easily take out the tool. On the other hand, when the operator wants to drive the work device 4 to perform excavation work, the link mechanism 50 raises and moves the toolbox 18 backward (see Figure 6), thereby increasing the distance between it and the work device 4. This prevents interference between the hydraulic hose HS supplying the working fluid to the work device 4. In other words, for example, if excavation work is performed with the toolbox 18 in the aforementioned lowest position, the hydraulic hose HS may interfere with the toolbox 18 when the boom 4A is raised, as shown in Figure 10(a). Therefore, when performing excavation work, the toolbox 18 can be moved to the aforementioned uppermost position, as shown in Figure 10(b), thereby separating the hydraulic hose HS from the toolbox 18 and preventing interference between them. As a result of the above, this embodiment makes it possible to achieve both ease of tool removal from the toolbox 18 and prevention of interference between the hydraulic fluid and the hydraulic hose HS. In addition to the above, the toolbox 18 not only slides back and forth to avoid the hydraulic hose HS, but also moves up and down, which has the effect of effectively utilizing the space below the top position (in other words, behind the bottom position) as space for arranging parts (hydraulic equipment, etc.).

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the link mechanism 50 maintains the toolbox 18 in a nearly horizontal position while it is moving up and down and back and forth. This prevents the stored tools from shifting position or falling out of the toolbox 18.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment in particular, the link mechanism 50 can be reliably constructed using two link members (first link member 60, second link member 70) that rotate around pivot axes 61 and 71 located at separate parts of the support member 80 fixed to the upper rotating body 3, and are rotatably connected to separate parts of the toolbox 18, respectively.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment in particular, the link mechanism 50 can move the toolbox 18 within a range from the lowest position (see Figures 4 and 5) to the highest position (see Figure 6). In this case, the lowest position is at least lower than the height position of the fuel filler port 11A of the fuel tank 11. This allows the operator to access the toolbox 18 with the same amount of effort (or less) as when they originally accessed the fuel filler port 11A, and ensures easy retrieval of tools from the toolbox 18.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment in particular, the link mechanism 50 can move the toolbox 18 from the lowest position to the highest position. At the highest position (see Figure 3), the height of the toolbox 18 is at least higher than the height of the lower end of the window 10Db of the cab 10. This allows the operator to easily visually confirm that the toolbox 18 is raised and stored in its uppermost position while remaining seated inside the cab 10. Furthermore, when the toolbox 18 is in the uppermost position, the operator can access the toolbox 18 while remaining inside the cab 10 by opening the window 10Db of the cab 10, allowing them to take tools out of the toolbox 18 from inside the cab 10 or store tools in the toolbox 18.

[0039] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit and technical idea. Such modifications will be described in order below. The same reference numerals are used for parts equivalent to those in the above embodiments, and their descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0040] (1) When to prevent protrusion from the right cover 110 For example, when the link mechanism 50 moves the toolbox 18 from the lowest position (see Figures 4 and 5) to the highest position (see Figure 6), it may be configured to move up and down and back and forth so that the toolbox 18 does not protrude forward from the front edge of the right cover 110 at any position when viewed from the side. In this case, by adding the above-mentioned link mechanism 50 configuration to the existing structure, it is possible to avoid the creation of a part that protrudes from the right cover 110 and prevent interference with other parts.

[0041] (2) Others In the above embodiment, a cab 10 having a front section 10A, a rear section 10B, a left side section 10C, a right side section 10D, and a top section 10E was described as an example of a driver's cab. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a canopy having a top section (roof) that covers the area above the driver's seat may also be used as the driver's cab.

[0042] Furthermore, the above description has used a hydraulic excavator 1 equipped with a crawler-type lower travel body 2 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to a hydraulic excavator equipped with a wheel-type lower travel body, for example.

[0043] In addition to what has already been described above, the methods described in the above embodiments and their respective modifications may be used in appropriate combinations.

[0044] Furthermore, although not to be exemplified individually, the present invention may be implemented with various modifications without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Hydraulic excavator (construction machinery) 2 Lower running body 3. Upper rotating body 4. Working equipment 4A Boom 4Aa Foot section 5. Swivel Frame 10 Cab 10Db window 10S Driver's Seat 11 Fuel tank 11A Fuel filler cap 18 Tool box 50 Link mechanism (toolbox drive mechanism) 60 First link member 61 First moving axle 62 axes 70 Second link member 71 Second drive axle 72 axes 80 Support member 110 Right cover 110A Opening / Closing Door HS Hydraulic Hose R Containment space

Claims

1. A self-propelled lower vehicle, An upper rotating body is mounted on the lower traveling body so as to be rotatable, The device comprises a working device having a foot portion provided on the front side of the upper rotating body, The upper rotating body is In a construction machine having a slewing frame, a cab provided on the left front part of the slewing frame, a right cover provided on the right front part of the slewing frame and forming a storage space, and a toolbox positioned between the cab and the right cover and behind the foot section, A construction machine characterized by having a toolbox drive mechanism that allows the toolbox to move between a working position located between the front of the cab and the front of the right cover and a storage position located behind the working position.

2. In the construction machine described in claim 1, The toolbox drive mechanism is This is a linkage mechanism that allows the toolbox to move up and down and forward and backward while maintaining its orientation. A construction machine characterized by the following features.

3. In the construction machine described in claim 2, The aforementioned link mechanism is A first link member, one end of which rotates about a first pivot axis on the upper rotating body, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to a first part of the toolbox, A second link member, one end of which rotates around a second pivot axis different from the first pivot axis on the upper rotating body, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to a second part of the toolbox different from the first part, A construction machine characterized by having the following features.

4. In the construction machine described in claim 1, The aforementioned right cover is, It encloses a fuel tank and has an opening / closing door that allows the fuel filler port of the fuel tank to be exposed. The aforementioned usage position is when the lid of the toolbox is closed and the lid is at a position lower than the height of the fuel filler port. A construction machine characterized by the following features.

5. In the construction machine described in claim 1, The aforementioned cab has an openable right window, Inside the aforementioned cab, a driver's seat is provided. The aforementioned storage position is such that, with the lid of the toolbox closed, the lid is higher in the height direction than the lower edge of the right window and lower in the height direction than the upper edge of the backrest of the driver's seat. A construction machine characterized by the following features.

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