Agricultural machinery
By housing the hydrogen tank and fuel cell within bonnets, the agricultural machine minimizes the risk of malfunctions in electrical devices due to hydrogen leakage, effectively containing the hydrogen and protecting the equipment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KUBOTA CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing agricultural machines face hydrogen leakage, which can affect devices such as secondary batteries, inverters, radiators, motors, and converters, causing malfunctions and failures due to hydrogen leakage, which can affect electrical devices such as secondary batteries, inverters, radiators, and motors.
The agricultural machine is equipped with a vehicle body, at least one first bonnet and one second bonnet, housing the hydrogen tank and fuel cell in either the first or second bonnet, and electrical equipment in the other, with independent opening and closing capabilities.
This configuration suppresses the occurrence of troubles due to hydrogen leakage by containing the hydrogen tank and fuel cell within bonnets, reducing the risk of malfunctions in electrical devices.
Smart Images

Figure 2026114836000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural machine equipped with a fuel cell.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, agricultural machines such as tractors have been provided with a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen, a fuel cell that generates electricity using the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank, and a motor that is driven by the electricity generated by the fuel cell. By driving the motor, the traveling device and various devices are operated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, since this type of agricultural machine uses hydrogen, safety during hydrogen leakage is required. In addition, this type of agricultural machine includes devices (electrical devices) such as secondary batteries, inverters, radiators, motors, and converters in addition to the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell. When hydrogen leaks, these devices (electrical devices) are affected by the leaked hydrogen, and troubles such as malfunction and failure may occur. Therefore, this type of agricultural machine is also required to suppress the occurrence of troubles due to hydrogen leakage.
[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural machine capable of suppressing the occurrence of troubles due to hydrogen leakage.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The agricultural machine of the present invention comprises a vehicle body, at least one first bonnet disposed on the vehicle body, at least one second bonnet disposed on the vehicle body, a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen, a fuel cell for generating electricity using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank, and equipment other than the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell, wherein at least one of the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell is housed in either the first bonnet or the second bonnet, and the equipment is housed in the other of either the first bonnet or the second bonnet.
[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, the agricultural machine is provided with piping that connects the fuel cell and the hydrogen tank and supplies hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell, the hydrogen tank, and the piping may be housed in either the first bonnet or the second bonnet.
[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, the agricultural machine includes a pair of front wheels supported by the vehicle body and spaced apart in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a pair of rear wheels supported by the vehicle body and spaced apart in the lateral direction and positioned rearward in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels, wherein the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell are housed in the first bonnet, and the first bonnet may be positioned between the pair of front wheels, between the pair of rear wheels, or between the front wheels and the rear wheels.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the agricultural machine is supported by the vehicle body and has a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The vehicle includes a pair of front wheels spaced apart in the direction of travel, and a pair of rear wheels supported by the vehicle body, spaced apart laterally and positioned rearward in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels, the equipment is housed in the second bonnet, and the second bonnet may be positioned between the pair of front wheels, between the pair of rear wheels, or between the front wheels and the rear wheels.
[0010] The first bonnet houses the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell, the second bonnet houses the equipment, and the first bonnet may be positioned adjacent to the second bonnet in the front-rear direction or in the lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
[0011] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the agricultural machine may comprise a plurality of the second bonnets, the plurality of second bonnets arranged around the first bonnet.
[0012] The aforementioned device may include at least one of the following: a secondary battery, an inverter, a radiator, a motor, or a converter.
[0013] The first hood and the second hood may each be opened and closed independently.
[0014] The vehicle comprises a drivable vehicle body including the aforementioned vehicle body, and the vehicle body may be drivable by at least one of automatic driving and / or remote control, and may be equipped with work devices. [Effects of the Invention]
[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems caused by hydrogen leakage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0016] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a left side view of a work vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a front view of the work vehicle according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a rear view of the work vehicle according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of the work vehicle according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the agricultural machine of the same embodiment, showing the support frame assembled to the vehicle frame and gear case. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the agricultural machine of this embodiment, showing a partial perspective view of the support frame removed from the vehicle body frame and the gear case. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the agricultural machine of this embodiment, showing a perspective view of the vehicle body frame and the gear case assembled. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the agricultural machine of this embodiment, showing a partial plan view of the vehicle body frame and the gear case assembled. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the control device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the power storage device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of the support frame of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the support frame of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a left side view of the support frame of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the first cooling device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of the circulation path including the first cooling device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the second cooling device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the circulation path including the second cooling device of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of the first bonnet of the agricultural machine of this embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of the second bonnet of the agricultural machine of this embodiment as seen from the right front obliquely. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of the second bonnet of the agricultural machine of this embodiment as seen from the left rear obliquely. [Figure 21]Figure 21 is a left side view of an agricultural machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a left side view of an agricultural machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] Figure 25 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] Figure 26 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] Figure 27 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] Figure 28 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] Figure 29 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] Figure 30 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] Figure 31 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the first and second bonnets of an agricultural machine according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0017] The following description will explain an agricultural machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. The agricultural machine of this embodiment is drivable. Based on this, in the following description, the direction in which the agricultural machine moves straight (forward and backward) will be referred to as the forward / backward direction, and the direction perpendicular to the forward / backward and up / down directions will be referred to as the lateral direction. Furthermore, one side of the lateral direction, the right side when the agricultural machine is facing the direction of forward movement, will be referred to as the right, and the other side of the lateral direction, the left side when the agricultural machine is facing the direction of forward movement, will be referred to as the left.
[0018] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is an agricultural tractor to which a work device WE (hereinafter referred to as work device WE: see Figure 1) that performs a predetermined task can be attached.
[0019] The agricultural machine 1 comprises a vehicle body 2, at least one first bonnet 3 positioned on the vehicle body 2, and at least one second bonnet 4.
[0020] The vehicle body 2 includes the vehicle body 5, is capable of driving by at least one of automatic driving and / or remote control, and is capable of being fitted with the work device WE.
[0021] More specifically, the vehicle body 2 includes a body 5, front wheels 6F, 6F, and rear wheels 6R, 6R positioned behind the front wheels 6F, 6F. That is, the agricultural machine 1 includes a body 5, a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F supported by the body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction, and a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R supported by the body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction and positioned behind the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F in the longitudinal direction.
[0022] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the vehicle body 2 can support work implements WE according to the purpose. The agricultural machine 1 includes an impulse support mechanism 7, which includes device mounting parts 700, 710 to which a work impulse WE can be connected (attached and detached).
[0023] The agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is electrically powered. That is, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a motor M1 (electric motor; hereinafter referred to as the first motor M1) that drives at least one of the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R.
[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, agricultural machine 1 includes hydrogen tanks 21... for storing hydrogen and fuel cells 22 that generate electricity using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tanks 21.... In addition, agricultural machine 1 includes equipment EM other than the hydrogen tanks 21... and fuel cells 22 (hereinafter referred to as equipped equipment EM).
[0025] In agricultural machinery 1, the equipped equipment EM includes at least one of the following: a power storage device 24, an inverter EM1, forced-air cooling devices 25, 26 (radiators 25, 26), motors M1, M2, and a converter EM2. In this embodiment, agricultural machinery 1 is equipped with the following as equipped equipment EM: a power storage device 24 that supplies power to electrical equipment such as electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3 and the first motor M1; a cooling device 25 that cools the fuel cell 22 (hereinafter referred to as the first cooling device 25); and a cooling device that cools the electrical components EM1, EM2, EM2 (hereinafter referred to as the second cooling device 26).
[0026] There are many different types of electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3, some of which are liquid-cooled. The agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with liquid-cooled electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3, including an inverter EM1, a converter EM2 (DC-DC converter EM2), and a junction box EM3. The junction box EM3 includes relay devices that connect the wiring connected to the energy storage device 24 and fuel cell 22 to the wiring connected to the first motor M1, relay devices that connect the wiring connected to the energy storage device 24 and fuel cell 22 to the wiring connected to the second motor M2, relay devices that connect the wiring connected to the energy storage device 24 and fuel cell 22 to the wiring connected to the first cooling device 25 (the electric motor of the blower 251 described later), and relay devices that connect the wiring connected to the energy storage device 24 and fuel cell 22 to the wiring connected to the second cooling device 26 (the electric motor of the blower 261 described later).
[0027] In other words, the agricultural machine 1 comprises a body 5, at least one first bonnet 3 positioned on the body 5, at least one second bonnet 4 positioned on the body 5, a hydrogen tank 21, a fuel cell 22, and equipment EM.
[0028] The hydrogen tanks 21, fuel cells 22, and equipment EM are arranged on the vehicle body 5. In this embodiment, the hydrogen tanks 21, fuel cells 22, and equipment EM are indirectly supported by the vehicle body 5. That is, the agricultural machine 1 comprises a support frame 9 arranged on the vehicle body 5 (vehicle body 2) that supports the hydrogen tanks 21, fuel cells 22, and equipment EM.
[0029] This type of agricultural machine 1 (agricultural tractor 1) is an unmanned tractor that operates automatically (unmanned operation) according to a pre-set program, or remotely operated (unmanned operation) by remote control. In this embodiment, the agricultural machine 1 is a remotely operated unmanned tractor that operates by remote control. That is, the vehicle body 2 can be driven by commands from an external source.
[0030] Accordingly, agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a control device 8 for driving and operating the work implement WE (see Figures 1 and 9). In addition, agricultural machine 1 is equipped with sensing devices SE1 and SE2 for monitoring the surroundings when operating unmanned.
[0031] In this embodiment, the vehicle body 5 includes a vehicle body frame 50 and a gear case 51 positioned in front of or behind the vehicle body frame 50, as shown in Figures 5 to 8. That is, the vehicle body 5 includes the vehicle body frame 50 and the gear case 51 arranged in the front-rear direction. In the vehicle body 5 of this embodiment, the gear case 51 is positioned behind the vehicle body frame 50.
[0032] The vehicle frame 50 supports at least the front wheels 6F, 6F. In this embodiment, the vehicle frame 50 supports the front wheels 6F, 6F (a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F), and the gear case 51 supports the rear wheels 6R, 6R (a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R).
[0033] To explain in more detail, in this embodiment, the vehicle frame 50 and the gear case 51 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. That is, the vehicle body 5 has space between the vehicle frame 50 and the gear case 51 for arranging the first motor M1. In the vehicle body 5 of this embodiment, in addition to the first motor M1, a second motor M2, which will be described later, is also arranged in the space between the vehicle frame 50 and the gear case 51.
[0034] More specifically, the vehicle frame 50 and the gear case 51 each have plate portions 500 and 510 that are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and face each other. The vehicle body 5 (agricultural machine 1) also includes a connecting member 55 that connects the plate portion 500 of the vehicle frame 50 and the plate portion 510 of the gear case 51, as shown in Figures 6 to 8. The connecting member 55 is a plate-shaped member that connects at least the lower end of the plate portion 500 of the vehicle frame 50 (hereinafter referred to as the first plate portion 500) and the lower end of the plate portion 510 of the gear case 51 (hereinafter referred to as the second plate portion 510). In this embodiment, the connecting member 55 connects the lower end of the first plate portion 500 and the lower end of the second plate portion 510, and also connects the side end of the first plate portion 500 and the side end of the second plate portion 510. The connecting member 55 maintains a constant positional relationship between the vehicle frame 50 and the gear case 51.
[0035] The vehicle body frame 50 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F. That is, the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F are positioned on both sides of the vehicle body frame 50 in the lateral direction. In this embodiment, the vehicle body frame 50 has a pair of side walls 501, 501 that are spaced apart in the lateral direction and face each other. Each of the pair of side walls 501, 501 is formed in a plate shape, stands upright in the vertical direction, and extends in the front-rear direction. That is, each of the pair of side walls 501, 501 is made of a rectangular plate material, and its longitudinal direction is aligned with the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 5. The pair of side walls 501, 501 face each other in the lateral direction with a gap between them.
[0036] The vehicle frame 50 (vehicle body 5) extends laterally and includes side wall connecting portions 502 and 503 that connect a pair of side walls 501, 501. In this embodiment, the vehicle frame 50 (vehicle body 5) has a first side wall connecting portion 502 that connects the lower ends of the pair of side walls 501, 501, and a second side wall connecting portion 503 that connects the front ends (front ends in the front-rear direction) of the pair of side walls 501, 501. The first plate portion 500 is arranged to straddle the rear ends (rear ends in the front-rear direction) of the pair of side walls 501, 501. In this embodiment, the first plate portion 500 connects the rear ends of the pair of side walls 501, 501 and also functions as a side wall connecting portion.
[0037] Each of the pair of side walls 501, 501 is connected to a locking piece 504, 504 for securing the energy storage devices 24…. The locking pieces 504, 504 extend laterally outward from the upper end of the connected side wall 501. That is, the vehicle frame 50 is a pair of locking pieces 504, 504 connected to the upper ends of the pair of side walls 501, 501, and comprises a pair of locking pieces 504, 504 extending in directions away from each other. The pair of locking pieces 504, 504 extend in the front-rear direction along the side wall 501 to allow for the arrangement of multiple energy storage devices 24…. A steering device 52 for steering a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F is attached to the vehicle frame 50.
[0038] The steering device 52 is fixed to the vehicle frame 50. Specifically, the steering device 52 includes a pair of steering knuckles 520, 520 that rotatably support the front wheels 6F, 6F around an axis extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, a steering mechanism (not shown) that causes the pair of steering knuckles 520, 520 to rotate in conjunction around an axis extending vertically, and a steering case 521 that houses the steering mechanism and supports the steering knuckles 520, 520.
[0039] In this embodiment, the steering mechanism is a hydraulic mechanism. In this embodiment, a drive shaft DS (see Figure 8), which will be described later, is connected to the steering device 52, and the rotational force of the drive shaft DS is distributed to both sides in the lateral direction, thereby rotating each of the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F. That is, the steering device 52 is equipped with a power distribution mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the front wheel distribution mechanism) (not shown) that converts rotation around an axis that may extend in the front-rear direction into rotation around an axis that extends in the lateral direction and transmits it to both sides in the lateral direction.
[0040] The front wheel distribution mechanism is a gear mechanism composed of multiple gears and is housed in the steering case 521. The front wheel distribution mechanism has a pair of axles 522, 522 (hereinafter referred to as front axles 522, 522) that are spaced apart laterally, and each axle rotates around an axis that extends laterally. In this embodiment, the front wheel distribution mechanism receives drive from the drive shaft DS and rotates the pair of front axles 522, 522. Front wheels 6F, 6F are attached to each of the pair of front axles 522, 522. That is, each of the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F is connected to the front wheel distribution mechanism (the pair of front axles 522, 522). As a result, the front wheel distribution mechanism can steer and drive the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F.
[0041] The steering case 521 is connected to the vehicle frame 50, and the pair of front axles 522, 522 and the pair of steering knuckles 520, 520 are located on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body 5 (vehicle frame 50). Accordingly, the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F are also positioned laterally on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body 5 (vehicle frame 50). In other words, the agricultural machine 1 (vehicle body 5) has a pair of front axles 522, 522 to which the front wheels 6F, 6F are connected, positioned on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body 5 in the lateral direction, and each axle 522, 522 rotates around an axis extending laterally. As a result, the vehicle body 5 (vehicle frame 50) is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F.
[0042] The first motor M1 transmits power to at least one of the wheels 6F, 6R and the gear case 51. In this embodiment, the first motor M1 transmits power to the gear case 51.
[0043] More specifically, the gear case 51 houses a gear mechanism composed of multiple gears. The rotation of the output shaft of the first motor M1 is transmitted to the gear mechanism (not shown) inside the gear case 51. The gear mechanism distributes the rotational force of the first motor M1 to both sides in the lateral direction, driving each of the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R to rotate. In other words, the gear mechanism inside the gear case 51 functions as a power distribution mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the rear wheel distribution mechanism) that converts rotation around an axis that may extend in the front-rear direction into rotation around an axis that extends in the lateral direction and transmits it to both sides in the lateral direction.
[0044] Specifically, the rear wheel distribution mechanism consists of a pair of axles 511, 511 (hereinafter referred to as rear axles 511, 511) which are output shafts spaced apart laterally, and which rotate around an axis extending laterally under the drive of the first motor M1. Accordingly, each of the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R is connected to the rear wheel distribution mechanism (the pair of rear axles 511, 511).
[0045] A pair of rear axles 511, 511 are positioned on both the left and right sides of the gear case 51. Accordingly, a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R are also positioned laterally on both sides of the vehicle body 5 (gear case 51). In other words, the agricultural machine 1 (vehicle body 5) has a pair of rear axles 511, 511 positioned laterally (left and right) on both sides of the vehicle body 5 (gear case 51) at the rear in the front-rear direction relative to a pair of front axles 522, 522, and each of the rear axles 511, 511 rotates around an axis extending laterally. A pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R are attached to each of the pair of rear axles 511, 511. As described above, since the pair of rear axles 511, 511 are positioned on both the left and right sides of the gear case 51, the rear wheels 6R, 6R are also positioned on both the left and right sides of the gear case 51. In other words, the vehicle body 5 (gear case 51) is positioned between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0046] In this embodiment, the rear wheel distribution mechanism has an output shaft extending forward from the gear case 51 in the longitudinal direction, separate from the pair of rear axles 511, 511. A drive shaft DS (see Figure 8), which extends in the longitudinal direction and is connected to the front wheel distribution mechanism, is connected to the output shaft. As a result, the rear wheel distribution mechanism transmits the rotational force of the first motor M1 to the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R, and also transmits the rotational force of the first motor M1 to the front wheels 6F, 6F (front wheel distribution mechanism) via the drive shaft DS. Thus, in the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment, each of the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F and the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R can be driven. In other words, the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is four-wheel drive.
[0047] The first motor M1 is fixed to the second plate portion 510 (plate portion 510) of the gear case 51. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first motor M1 is positioned with its output shaft (axis) in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the first motor M1 is fixed to the second plate portion 510 with its output shaft passing through it. That is, the first motor M1 is positioned with its output shaft extending from the motor body to the rear in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the second plate portion 510 with the output shaft inserted through a through hole provided in the second plate portion 510. The output shaft of the first motor M1 that passes through (is inserted into) the second plate portion 510 is connected to the gear mechanism inside the gear case 51. As a result, the first motor M1 is positioned between the plate portion 500 of the vehicle body frame 50 and the plate portion 510 of the gear case 51.
[0048] As shown in Figures 1, 6, and 7, the impulse support mechanism 7 is a so-called three-point linkage mechanism. Specifically, the impulse support mechanism 7 comprises a pair of lower links 70, 70, each rotatably connected around an axis extending laterally with respect to the vehicle body 5, and a pair of lower links 70, 70 spaced apart laterally; an upper link 71, rotatably connected around an axis extending laterally with respect to the vehicle body 5, and positioned above the pair of lower links 70, 70, corresponding to the central position between the pair of lower links 70, 70; and a pair of hydraulic actuators 72, each positioned to correspond to the pair of lower links 70, 70, and each hydraulic actuator 72 swings (rotates) the corresponding lower link 70, 70.
[0049] In this embodiment, the pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link 71 are connected to the rear end of the vehicle body 5. That is, the pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link 71 are connected to the rear end face of the gear case 51 in the longitudinal direction. The pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link 71 extend in a direction intersecting the axis that serves as the center of rotation. In this embodiment, the pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link 71 extend rearward from the rear end of the vehicle body 5. The tip of each of the pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link 71 is formed in a hook shape and configured to be able to connect to the connecting part of the work implement WE in a locked state. That is, the pair of lower links 70, 70 and upper link Each of the ends of 71 is a device mounting section 700, 710 to which a working device WE (working impulse WE) can be attached. Figure 1 shows the state in which the rotary WE, which is the working impulse WE, is supported by the impulse support mechanism 7.
[0050] The agricultural machine 1 (agricultural tractor 1) is equipped with a PTO shaft 20 for inputting power to a working impulse WE supported by an impulse support mechanism 7 (see Figure 3). The PTO shaft 20 is connected to the input shaft equipped on the working impulse WE, which is supported by the impulse support mechanism 7, via a universal joint. Accordingly, the PTO shaft 20 is located at the rear end of the vehicle body 5 (gear case 51).
[0051] More specifically, the PTO (External Output Take-Off) in this embodiment includes a PTO shaft 20, an input shaft (not shown) for external output take-off to which power is input, and a rotation transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the rotation of the input shaft for external output take-off to the PTO shaft 20. In this embodiment, the output shaft of a motor M2 (electric motor: hereinafter referred to as the second motor M2) is connected to the input shaft for external output take-off. The input shaft for external output take-off and the PTO shaft 20 are arranged so that their axes are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, and the rotation transmission mechanism is interposed between the input shaft for external output take-off and the PTO shaft 20. In this embodiment, the PTO (External Output Take-Off) is housed in a gear case 51. That is, the PTO (External Output Take-Off) is housed in the gear case 51 together with the rear wheel distribution mechanism. Accordingly, the second motor M2 is fixed to the second plate portion 510 (plate portions 500, 510) of the gear case 51, similar to the first motor M1.
[0052] In this embodiment, the second motor M2 is positioned with its output shaft (axis) in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the second motor M2 is fixed to the second plate portion 510 with its output shaft passing through the second plate portion 510. That is, the output shaft of the second motor M2, which extends from the motor body, is positioned to extend towards the rear in the front-rear direction, and the output shaft is inserted through a through hole provided in the second plate portion 510, and the motor is fixed to the second plate portion 510. The output shaft of the second motor M2, which passes through (is inserted into) the second plate portion 510, is connected to an input shaft for external output extraction within the gear case 51. The PTO shaft 20 passes through the gear case 51 and extends from the gear case 51 toward the rear. As a result, the second motor M2 is positioned between the plate portion 500 of the vehicle frame 50 and the plate portion 510 of the gear case 51, similar to the first motor M1. In this embodiment, the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 are arranged side by side in the lateral direction.
[0053] As described above, in the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment, the steering mechanism of the steering device 52 is a hydraulic mechanism, and the impulse support mechanism 7 is also equipped with a hydraulic actuator (hydraulic cylinder) 72, so a hydraulic system is provided to supply hydraulic fluid to these. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump for sending hydraulic fluid toward the target (steering mechanism and hydraulic actuator 72). The input shaft of the hydraulic pump is driven via the input shaft for external output of the PTO (external output take-off mechanism).
[0054] In this embodiment, the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R are wheels that come into contact with the ground and roll when the vehicle body 5 is in motion. More specifically, each of the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R in this embodiment is a tire wheel, which includes a wheel and a tire mounted on the wheel.
[0055] In other words, the vehicle body 2 includes a body 5, a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F (tire wheels 6F, 6F) as a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, and a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R (tire wheels 6R, 6R) as a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0056] As shown in Figure 2, the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality of hydrogen tanks 21... That is, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with two or more hydrogen tanks 21... The agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with four hydrogen tanks 21... in order to secure the total hydrogen storage capacity (storage capacity). As shown in Figure 1, each hydrogen tank 21... includes a cylindrical body 210 and a pair of end caps 211, 211 that close both ends of the body 210. Each hydrogen tank 21... has its longitudinal side in the direction in which the axis (centerline) of the body 210 extends. That is, the axial length of the hydrogen tank 21... is longer than the diameter of the body 210. In this embodiment, each of the plurality (four) hydrogen tanks 21... is positioned with its centerline in the front-rear direction, and its centerlines are arranged to be parallel or substantially parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the plurality of hydrogen tanks 21... are arranged in a multi-row multi-column (matrix) configuration when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, the four hydrogen tanks 21... are arranged in a 2x2 configuration when viewed from the front. That is, the four hydrogen tanks 21... are arranged in a 2x2 configuration vertically and in a 2x2 configuration horizontally.
[0057] In this embodiment, each of the four hydrogen tanks 21... is positioned with the centerline of the body 210 extending in the front-rear direction. One end 211 of each hydrogen tank 21... is connected to a pipe 27 that connects to the fuel cell 22. Specifically, an on / off valve is attached to one end 211. The on / off valve is connected to the pipe 27 that connects to the fuel cell 22. This allows switching the supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen tanks 21... to the fuel cell 22 on and off by opening and closing the on / off valve. That is, one end of the hydrogen tank 21 in the longitudinal direction (one end 211) is connected to a pipe 27 for extracting hydrogen, which connects to the fuel cell 22. In this embodiment, the fuel cell 22 is positioned adjacent to the hydrogen tank 21. Specifically, the fuel cell 22 is positioned behind the hydrogen tank 21. Accordingly, the hydrogen tank 21 is positioned with one end 211 facing the rear. This makes the pipe 27 connecting the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22 as short as possible.
[0058] The agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a tank holder 23 that holds a plurality of hydrogen tanks 21... Specifically, since the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment has a plurality (four) of hydrogen tanks 21..., it is equipped with a tank holder 23 for integrally holding these plurality of hydrogen tanks 21.... The tank holder 23 is screw-fixed to the support frame 9. In this embodiment, since the hydrogen tanks 21... are arranged in a 2x2 configuration when viewed from the front, the tank holder 23 holds the four hydrogen tanks 21... in a 2x2 configuration.
[0059] The fuel cell 22 generates electricity by receiving hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 21... Accordingly, the fuel cell 22 is connected to the hydrogen tank 21 via the piping 27 as described above. In other words, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with piping 27 that connects the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22.
[0060] In this embodiment, the fuel cell 22 is liquid-cooled and is incorporated into a circulation path CR1 that circulates a coolant, which includes a first cooling device 25 and a circulation pump P (see Figure 15).
[0061] The energy storage device 24... is a rechargeable secondary battery. The energy storage device 24... in this embodiment is a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules BM electrically connected in series. The battery modules BM include a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in series. In this embodiment, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a plurality of energy storage devices 24... (battery packs), and the plurality of energy storage devices 24... (battery packs) are arranged along the centerline of the hydrogen tank 21... (the longitudinal direction in which the centerline of the body portion 210, described later, extends), as shown in Figures 6 and 7. That is, in this embodiment, the plurality of energy storage devices 24... are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the hydrogen tank 21... is positioned above the vehicle body 5 with the centerline of the body portion 210 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the plurality of energy storage devices 24... (battery packs) are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction below the hydrogen tank 21...
[0062] In this embodiment, all or part (in this embodiment, part) of the energy storage devices 24... are arranged between a pair of side walls 501, 501. Accordingly, the multiple energy storage devices 24... are arranged below the hydrogen tank 21... and along the longitudinal direction of the hydrogen tank 21....
[0063] More specifically, in this embodiment, the external shape of the multiple energy storage devices 24… (battery packs) is the same, and as shown in Figure 10, when viewed from the front or rear direction (front view), it exhibits a T-shape. Specifically, the energy storage device 24… is composed of three parts. That is, the energy storage device 24… has a first part 241, a second part 242, and a third part 243. The first part 241, the second part 242, and the third part 243 are formed by a casing 240 (battery case 240). In other words, the energy storage device 24… includes a casing 240 that constitutes the outer shell, and the casing 240 defines the first part 241, the second part 242, and the third part 243.
[0064] The first part 241, the second part 242, and the third part 243 are each formed in a box shape and, when viewed from the front-to-back direction, each exhibit a rectangular shape.
[0065] The external dimensions of the first part 241 in the lateral direction are set to be smaller than the distance (internal dimension) between the pair of side walls 501, 501. In other words, the external dimensions of the first part 241 are set to be such that it can be inserted between the pair of side walls 501, 501. The lengths of the first part 241, the second part 242, and the third part 243 in the front-to-back direction are set to be the same, and both front-to-back surfaces of the first part 241, the second part 242, and the third part 243 are positioned on the same plane.
[0066] The second part 242 and the third part 243 are positioned on either side of the first part 241 in the lateral direction. That is, the second part 242 is positioned to the right of the first part 241, and the third part 243 is positioned to the left of the first part 241. The vertical length of the first part 241 is set to be longer than that of the second part 242 and the third part 243. In contrast, the vertical lengths of the second part 242 and the third part 243 are set to be the same or approximately the same.
[0067] In this embodiment, the vertical length (height) of the first portion 241 is set to be more than twice the vertical length of the second portion 242 and the third portion 243. The upper surfaces of the first portion 241, the second portion 242, and the third portion 243 form the same plane. That is, the upper surfaces of the second portion 242 and the third portion 243 are positioned at the same height as the upper surface of the first portion 241. As a result, the casing 240 (energy storage device 24...) has a T-shape when viewed from the front. That is, approximately the lower half of the first portion 241 in the vertical direction protrudes downward from the lower surfaces of the second portion 242 and the third portion 243 on both sides in the horizontal direction.
[0068] As a result, the energy storage device 24… (casing 240) is such that the lower side of the first portion 241 (the portion that protrudes downward from the second portion 242 and the third portion 243) can be inserted into the vehicle frame 50 (between the pair of side walls 501, 501), and with the lower side of the first portion 241 (the portion that protrudes downward from the second portion 242 and the third portion 243) inserted into the vehicle frame 50 (between the pair of side walls 501, 501), the lower surfaces of the second portion 242 and the third portion 243 are locked to the upper ends of the pair of side walls 501, 501 (locking pieces 504, 504 in this embodiment). Accordingly, the vertical length of the portion of the first portion 241 that protrudes downward from the second portion 242 (third portion 243) is set to be less than or equal to the vertical length of the side wall 501.
[0069] In this embodiment, the first section 241 houses a plurality of battery modules BM... The plurality of battery modules BM... are stacked vertically within the first section 241.
[0070] In this embodiment, the first portion 241 houses two battery module groups G arranged horizontally, each consisting of multiple battery modules BM stacked vertically within the first portion 241.
[0071] The second section 242 houses electrical components 244, such as a monitoring unit for monitoring the battery module BM. The third section 243 forms an air passage for cooling air that cools the battery module BM, and a heat sink 245 is housed within this air passage. The air passage formed in the third section 243 extends in the front-rear direction, with one end open to the outside and the other end connected to an opening provided on either the front or rear surface of the first section 241. An exhaust pipe (not shown) connected to the outside is connected to the other opening provided on either the front or rear surface of the first section 241.
[0072] As a result, in the energy storage device 24…(battery pack) 24 of this embodiment, the cooling air from the third section 243 flows into the first section 241 from either the front or rear surface of the first section 241, and then circulates in the front-to-back direction within the first section 241, cooling the battery module BM inside the first section 241. The cooling air, heated by the heat generated by the battery module BM, is discharged to the outside from the other of the front or rear surface of the first section 241.
[0073] As described above, in this embodiment, the energy storage device 24... has the first part 241 housed inside the vehicle frame 50 (between a pair of side walls 501, 501), and the second part 242 and the third part 243 are locked to a pair of locking pieces 504, 504.
[0074] Furthermore, the upper surface of the energy storage device 24… (second part 242) is set to be lower than the upper surface of the support frame 9, which will be described later, when the second part 242 is locked to the pair of locking pieces 504, 504. Multiple energy storage devices 24… are arranged in a line in the front-to-back direction.
[0075] Multiple energy storage devices 24... are electrically connected in series, and the terminals at the uppermost and lowermost ends of the current flow (positive and negative terminals) are electrically connected to the fuel cell 22 and motors M1 and M2 (first motor M1 and second motor M2). As a result, the energy storage devices 24... store the electricity generated by the fuel cell 22 and supply the stored electricity to the first motor M1 and second motor M2.
[0076] The agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a plurality (two) of first cooling devices 25. Each of the plurality of first cooling devices 25 is a ventilated cooling device. The plurality of first cooling devices 25 are arranged on the vehicle body 5 such that the direction of airflow for the cooling air is different for each. In this embodiment, the plurality of first cooling devices 25 are arranged so that the direction of airflow for the cooling air is directed outward from the vehicle body 5. That is, each of the plurality of first cooling devices 25 is arranged so that the hot air after heat exchange is discharged to the outside.
[0077] In this embodiment, the first cooling device 25 is a forced heat exchange type radiator that exchanges heat between gas and liquid. As shown in Figure 14, the first cooling device 25 includes a heat exchanger 250 that exchanges heat between air, which is the cooling medium, and a liquid, which is the medium to be cooled, and a blower 251 that forcibly supplies air (cooling medium) to the heat exchanger 250.
[0078] The heat exchanger 250 includes a plurality of heat dissipation fins Fa... arranged at intervals, and a pipe Pa that penetrates the plurality of heat dissipation fins Fa... and through which a liquid (cooling medium) flows. Each of the plurality of heat dissipation fins Fa... is a thin metal plate (sheet) with high thermal conductivity, and is positioned facing the adjacent heat dissipation fin Fa.
[0079] Each of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... is formed in the shape of a strip (or rectangular strip), and is stacked with its longitudinal and transverse directions aligned, forming multiple ventilation passages in the stacking direction. Each of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... is a thin sheet (or foil) of a metal with high thermal conductivity, for example For example, they are made of aluminum, copper, etc. In this embodiment, multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... are stacked in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.
[0080] Multiple heat dissipation fins Fa constitute a heat dissipation fin group, forming an air passage between adjacent heat dissipation fins Fa, Fa in the stacking direction. In the heat exchanger 250 of this embodiment, each of the multiple air passages allows air to pass through in the short direction of the heat dissipation fins Fa. As a result, in the heat exchanger 250 (first cooling device 25), one end of the heat dissipation fins Fa in the short direction of the heat dissipation fin group constitutes an intake section 250a where air is drawn in, and the other end of the heat dissipation fins Fa in the short direction of the heat dissipation fin group constitutes an exhaust section 250b where air is discharged. That is, the heat dissipation fin group forms a surface at one end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... in the short direction, and forms a surface at the other end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... in the short direction. As a result, in the heat exchanger 250, one end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... in the short direction constitutes the intake section 250a, and the other end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fa... in the short direction constitutes the exhaust section 250b.
[0081] Pipe Pa is a metal pipe with high thermal conductivity. Pipe Pa is a metal tube with high thermal conductivity, and is made of, for example, aluminum or copper. Pipe Pa includes multiple straight pipe sections Pa1 that penetrate multiple heat dissipation fins Fa at multiple locations, and multiple semicircular bent pipe sections Pa2, each of which connects the ends of two adjacent straight pipe sections Pa1, Pa1, forming a curved flow path.
[0082] The blower 251 is an electric fan. Specifically, the blower 251 includes a blower blade that can rotate around a predetermined axis and an electric motor that rotates the blower blade, and blows air in the axial direction by the rotation of the blower blade. Accordingly, the blower 251 is positioned with the blower blade facing the heat exchanger 250. In this embodiment, the blower 251 is positioned facing the exhaust section 250b of the heat exchanger 250. That is, the first cooling device 25 is a suction-type radiator (heat exchange device) that forcibly supplies air to the heat exchanger 250 by the blowing (intake) of the blower 251. In this embodiment, a suction-type radiator is used for the first cooling device 25, but the first cooling device 25 may also be a push-type radiator.
[0083] In this embodiment, each of the multiple (two in this embodiment) first cooling devices 25 is supported by the second support section 90B (equipment arrangement section 506), which will be described later, as described above. As described above, the first cooling device 25 is a suction-type heat exchanger, and the blower 251 is positioned outside the heat exchanger 250. That is, in the first cooling device 25, the heat exchanger 250 is positioned inside the blower 251.
[0084] In this embodiment, the fuel cell 22 is water-cooled, and overheating is prevented by circulating the coolant, which is the cooling medium. Furthermore, if a water jacket is attached to the outer circumference of the hydrogen tanks 21, overheating of the hydrogen tanks 21 is prevented by circulating the coolant, which is the cooling medium, through the water jacket.
[0085] Accordingly, as shown in Figure 15, the first cooling device 25 supplies a cooling liquid (e.g., cooling water), which is the cooling medium, to the equipment to be cooled (fuel cell 22). That is, the first cooling device 25 is located on a circulation path CR1 that circulates the cooling medium, and the circulation path CR1 includes a circulation pump P, a liquid tank, and the equipment to be cooled (fuel cell 22 in this embodiment) at intermediate positions. That is, the pipe Pa of the first cooling device 25 is connected to the piping PB1 in the circulation path CR1. In this embodiment, since there are multiple first cooling devices 25, the pipes Pa of multiple first cooling devices 25 are directly or indirectly connected to the piping PB1 in the circulation path CR1. In this embodiment, the pipes Pa of multiple (two) first cooling devices 25 are connected in series via the piping PB1, and the cooling liquid, which is the cooling medium, is connected to multiple first The material is arranged to pass through the cooling device 25 (heat exchanger 250) in sequence.
[0086] In the first cooling device 25 with the above configuration, the liquid, which is the heat exchange medium, is cooled by exchanging heat with additional air between the heat dissipation fins Fa... as it flows through the pipe Pa. As a result, the first cooling device 25 prevents the fuel cell 22 from becoming overheated as the cooled medium (cooling liquid) is supplied to the fuel cell 22.
[0087] The second cooling device 26 is a ventilated cooling device. More specifically, the second cooling device 26 is a forced heat exchange type radiator that exchanges heat between gas and liquid. More specifically, as shown in Figure 16, the second cooling device 26 includes a heat exchanger 260 that exchanges heat between air, which is the cooling medium, and a liquid, which is the medium to be cooled, and a blower 261 that forcibly supplies air (cooling medium) to the heat exchanger 260. The heat exchanger 260 includes a plurality of heat dissipation fins Fb... arranged at intervals, and a pipe Pb that penetrates the plurality of heat dissipation fins Fb... and through which the liquid (medium to be cooled) flows. Each of the plurality of heat dissipation fins Fb... is a thin metal plate (sheet) with high thermal conductivity and is positioned face-to-face with the adjacent heat dissipation fins Fb.
[0088] Each of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... is formed in the shape of a strip (or rectangular strip), and is stacked with its longitudinal and transverse directions aligned, forming multiple air passages in the stacking direction. Each of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... is a thin sheet (or foil) of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper.
[0089] Multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... constitute a heat dissipation fin group, forming an air passage between adjacent heat dissipation fins Fb, Fb in the stacking direction. In the heat exchanger 260 of this embodiment, each of the multiple air passages allows air to pass through in the short direction of the heat dissipation fins Fb. As a result, in the heat exchanger 260 (second cooling device 26), one end of the heat dissipation fins Fb in the heat dissipation fin group in the short direction constitutes an intake section 260a where air is drawn in, and the other end of the heat dissipation fins Fb in the heat dissipation fin group in the short direction constitutes an exhaust section 260b where air is discharged. That is, the heat dissipation fin group forms a surface at one end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... in the short direction, and forms a surface at the other end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... in the short direction. As a result, in the heat exchanger 260, one end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... in the short direction constitutes an intake section 260a, and the other end of the multiple heat dissipation fins Fb... in the short direction constitutes an exhaust section 260b.
[0090] Pipe Pb is a metal pipe with high thermal conductivity. Pipe Pb is a metal tube with high thermal conductivity, and is made of, for example, aluminum or copper. Pipe Pb includes multiple straight pipe sections Pb1 that penetrate multiple heat dissipation fins Fb at multiple locations, and multiple semi-circular bent pipe sections Pb2, each of which connects the ends of two adjacent straight pipe sections Pb1,Pb1, forming a curved flow path.
[0091] The blower 261 is an electric fan. Specifically, the blower 261 includes a blower blade that can rotate around a predetermined axis and an electric motor that rotates the blower blade, and blows air in the axial direction by the rotation of the blower blade. Accordingly, the blower 261 is positioned with the blower blade facing the heat exchanger 260. In this embodiment, the blower 261 is positioned opposite the exhaust section 260b of the heat exchanger 260. That is, the second cooling device 26 is a suction-type radiator (heat exchange device) that forcibly supplies air to the heat exchanger 260 by the blowing (intake) of the blower 261. In this embodiment, a suction-type radiator is used for the second cooling device 26, but the second cooling device 26 may also be a push-type radiator.
[0092] In this embodiment, the multiple (two in this embodiment) second cooling devices 26 are supported by the second support section 90B (equipment placement section 506), similar to the first cooling device 25. As described above, 6 is a suction-type heat exchanger, and the blower 261 is positioned outside the heat exchanger 260. In other words, in the second cooling device 26, the heat exchanger 260 is positioned inside the blower 261.
[0093] In this embodiment, all or part of the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 are water-cooled, and by circulating water (coolant), which is the cooling medium, it is prevented that the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 will not overheat.
[0094] Accordingly, as shown in Figure 17, the second cooling device 26 supplies the cooling liquid, which is the cooling medium, to the equipment EM (electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 as described above) to be cooled. In other words, the second cooling device 26 is located on the circulation path CR2 that circulates the cooling medium, and the circulation path CR2 includes a circulation pump P, a liquid tank, and the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 to be cooled at intermediate positions. Specifically, the pipe Pb of the second cooling device 26 is connected to the piping PB2 within the circulation path CR2.
[0095] In the second cooling device 26 configured as described above, the coolant, which is the heat exchange medium, is cooled by exchanging heat with additional air between the heat dissipation fins Fa... as it flows through the pipe Pa. Therefore, the cooled coolant is supplied to the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3, and as a result, the second cooling device 26 prevents the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 from overheating. When multiple liquid-cooled electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 are provided, the multiple electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 are connected in series on the circulation path CR2, and the coolant is configured to flow sequentially through them, or a separate circulation path CR2 is provided for each electrical component EM1, EM2, and EM3. In the latter case, the second cooling device 26 is provided for each circulation path CR2. In this embodiment, multiple electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 are cooled by a single circulation path CR2 (second cooling device 26).
[0096] As described above, the control device 8 controls the vehicle's movement and other functions via communication (remote control), or performs so-called automatic driving control, which involves controlling the vehicle's movement and other functions based on pre-set information (programs).
[0097] As shown in Figure 9, the control device 8 comprises an arithmetic control unit 80, a storage unit 81 that stores information used in the processing of the arithmetic control unit 80, an input unit 82 that receives input signals (electrical signals) from at least a receiving device (transceiver: not shown) that receives signals from the outside, switches, sensing devices SE1, SE2 (described later), etc., and an output unit 83 that outputs control signals to the electric motors to be controlled (first motor M1, second motor M2, actuators, etc.). Based on the input signals received from the input unit 82 and the information stored in the storage unit 81, the control device 8 generates control signals to control each part of the agricultural machine 1 and outputs them to each part to be controlled.
[0098] The arithmetic control unit 80 is a CPU (EPU) and includes an arithmetic unit 800 and a control unit 801. In the control device 8 of this embodiment, the storage unit 81 includes a first storage unit 810 that temporarily or short-term stores information used for processing by the arithmetic control unit 80 (arithmetic unit 800 and control unit 801), and a second storage unit 811 that long-term stores information used for processing by the arithmetic control unit 80 (arithmetic unit 800 and control unit 801). The first storage unit 810 is a so-called memory, and the second storage unit 811 is a storage device such as a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive).
[0099] In this embodiment, when the fuel cell 22 is generating power, power can also be supplied from the fuel cell 22 to the first motor M1 and the second motor M2. That is, the first motor M1 rotates by receiving power from the fuel cell 22. The second motor M2 is powered by the fuel cell It rotates by receiving power from 22.
[0100] As shown in Figure 5, the support frame 9 is positioned on the vehicle body 5. The front end of the support frame 9 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the vehicle body frame 50, and the rear end of the support frame 9 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the gear case 51. The hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22 are positioned (mounted) on the support frame 9 directly or indirectly. In this embodiment, as described above, the hydrogen tanks 21... are held by the tank holders 23, and are therefore positioned on the support frame 9 via the tank holders 23. In this way, the support frame 9 supports the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22.
[0101] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the support frame 9 is positioned at least between the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R. The support frame 9 is provided extending from the front to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body frame 50. In this embodiment, the support frame 9 extends beyond the vehicle body frame 50 and extends from the front to the rear (over the entire length) of the vehicle body 5 in the longitudinal direction.
[0102] In this embodiment, the front end of the support frame 9 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the vehicle body frame 50, and the rear end of the support frame 9 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the gear case 51.
[0103] More specifically, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the support frame 9 is provided on the vehicle body 5, and the overall length of the support frame 9 in the longitudinal direction is set to be the same as or approximately the same as the overall length of the vehicle body 5 in the longitudinal direction. The support frame 9 includes a first support section 90A that supports the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22, and a second support section 90B that supports the equipment EM.
[0104] The first support section 90A and the second support section 90B are arranged in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the second support section 90B is located behind the first support section 90A in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the second support section 90B is configured to support the equipment EM (electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26) above the support position of the hydrogen tanks 21... and fuel cell 22 by the first support section 90A. In this embodiment, the second support section 90B supports the electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, the first cooling device 25, and the second cooling device 26 of the equipment EM. That is, in this embodiment, as described above, the energy storage device 24, the first motor M1, and the second motor M2 of the equipment EM are directly arranged on the vehicle body 5, so the electrical component EM1, the first cooling device 25, and the second cooling device 26 of the equipment EM are arranged on the second support section 90B.
[0105] The support frame 9 includes a pair of first beam sections 900, 900 arranged at intervals in the lateral direction, the pair of first beam sections 900, 900 extending in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of second beam sections 901... arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction, each of which extends in the lateral direction and connects the pair of first beam sections 900, 900 to each other. The support frame 9 of this embodiment includes a support plate 920 arranged on the first support section 90A, the support plate 920 whose upper surface constitutes a support surface S1 (hereinafter referred to as the first support surface S1) on which the hydrogen tanks 21... and fuel cells 22 are arranged. The support plate 920 is arranged across the pair of first beam sections 900, 900 and is fixed to the upper surface of the pair of first beam sections 900. The support plate 920 is set to a size that allows the hydrogen tanks 21 and fuel cells 22 to be arranged side by side. Specifically, in this embodiment, the support plate 920 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. Assuming that the support plate 920 is positioned with its shorter side in the lateral direction, the length in the shorter direction is set to be shorter than the distance between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F. The length in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 920 is set to a length that allows the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22 to be placed side by side in the front-to-back direction.
[0106] Brackets 902, 903, and 904 for fixing to the vehicle body 5 are attached to the underside of the support frame 9 (each of the pair of first beam sections 900, 900). The brackets 902, 903, and 904 are positioned to overlap the vehicle body 5 (vehicle body frame 50) and are screw-fixed to the vehicle body 5. Specifically, the support frame 9 comprises a plurality of brackets 902, 903, and 904, which are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction.
[0107] In this embodiment, the support frame 9 includes a first bracket 902 attached to the front end, which overlaps the front end of the vehicle body frame 50, and a second bracket 903 attached to the rear end, which overlaps the gear case 51. The support frame 9 in this embodiment also includes a third bracket 904 positioned between the first bracket 902 and the second bracket 903 in the front-rear direction, which overlaps the connecting member 55 located between the vehicle body frame 50 and the gear case 51.
[0108] The first bracket 902 is screw-fixed to the vehicle frame 50, and the second bracket 903 is screw-fixed to the gear case 51 (support base 530). The third bracket 904 is screw-fixed to the connecting member 55. The first bracket 902, the second bracket 903, and the third bracket 904 are set to a vertical height so that the support frame 9 is in a predetermined position (horizontal or nearly horizontal position when the agricultural machine 1 is placed on a horizontal plane).
[0109] In this embodiment, the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction (see Figure 1). In this embodiment, the hydrogen tanks 21... are positioned in front of the fuel cell 22. Accordingly, the front area of the support frame 9 is designated as the first support section 90A that supports the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22, and the rear area of the support frame 9 is designated as the second support section 90B that supports the equipped equipment EM (electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26).
[0110] In this embodiment, a tank holder 23 is positioned on the first support portion 90A. That is, the hydrogen tanks 21 are positioned on the first support portion 90A via the tank holder 23, and the fuel cell 22 is positioned directly on the first support portion 90A. On the first support portion 90A, the fuel cell 22 is positioned adjacent to the hydrogen tank 21. In this embodiment, the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22 are positioned side by side in the front-to-back direction.
[0111] In this embodiment, the support positions for electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, etc. in the second support section 90B (referred to as the second support surface S2) are set at a higher position than the support positions for the hydrogen tanks 21... (tank holders 23) and fuel cell 22 in the first support section 90A (referred to as the first support surface S1).
[0112] More specifically, the second support section 90B includes a plurality of legs 905… erected on the first beam sections 900, 900, and an equipment placement section 906 including a first support surface S1 on which electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, etc. are arranged, and the equipment placement section 906 is supported by the plurality of legs 905…. The plurality of legs 905… are arranged on the first beam sections 900, 900 at intervals in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, three legs 905, 905 are erected on each of the pair of first beam sections 900, 900 at intervals in the front-rear direction, providing a total of six legs 905….
[0113] The outer casing of the equipment placement section 906 is formed in a rectangular (approximately square) shape. In this embodiment, the equipment placement section 906 is composed of a rectangular plate in plan view, and the upper surface of the equipment placement section 906 constitutes a second support surface S2 that supports the installed equipment EM. Of the six legs 905..., four legs 905... support the four corners of the equipment placement section 906. Second support surface of the equipment placement section 906 S2 is defined by a pair of horizontal edges extending laterally and spaced apart in the front-to-back direction, and a pair of vertical edges extending in the front-to-back direction and spaced apart in the laterally direction. In this embodiment, the four corners of the rectangular frame member in plan view are supported by the legs 905..., and the equipment placement section 906 (plate) is fixed on the frame member.
[0114] Furthermore, electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3, such as the junction box EM3, are arranged in the equipment arrangement section 906. As described above, the first support section 90A is positioned in front of the second support section 90B in the front-rear direction. As a result, the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22 are positioned spaced apart in front of the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3.
[0115] Specifically, the pair of first cooling devices 25, 25 are arranged along a pair of vertical edges, and the second cooling device 26 is arranged along the rearmost of the pair of horizontal edges. Accordingly, the electrical components EM1, EM2, and EM3 are arranged within the area enclosed by the pair of first cooling devices 25, 25 and the second cooling device 26 (see Figure 4).
[0116] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in this embodiment, the first bonnet 3 houses the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, and the second bonnet 4 houses specific equipment EM (electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26) from the equipment EM.
[0117] The first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 are arranged in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, the second bonnet 4 is positioned rearward relative to the first bonnet 3. That is, in this embodiment, the hydrogen tanks 21... and the fuel cell 22 are positioned on the first support portion 90A of the support frame 9, and the equipment EM (electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26) are positioned on the second support portion 90B, so the second bonnet 4 is positioned behind the first bonnet.
[0118] The first bonnet 3 is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F. In contrast, the second bonnet 4 is positioned between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0119] In this embodiment, since the hydrogen tanks 21... are held in the tank holder 23, the first bonnet 3 covers the entire tank holder 23, thereby also covering the hydrogen tanks 21... held in the tank holder 23. In addition, the first bonnet 3 covers the fuel cell 22 along with the hydrogen tanks 21... Furthermore, since the hydrogen tanks 21 and the fuel cell 22 are connected via piping 27, the first bonnet 3 covers the piping 27 in addition to the hydrogen tanks 21 and the fuel cell 22.
[0120] More specifically, as shown in Figure 18, the first bonnet 3 consists of a front wall 30 located at the very front in the front-rear direction (hereinafter referred to as the first front wall 30), a rear wall 31 located behind the first front wall 30 (hereinafter referred to as the first rear wall 31), the first rear wall 31 facing the first front wall 30, and a pair of side walls 32, 32 (hereinafter referred to as the first side walls 32, 32) spaced apart laterally and facing each other. The structure includes a pair of first side walls 32, 32 connecting both ends of the first front wall 30 and both ends of the first rear wall 31, and a top plate 33 (hereinafter referred to as the first top plate 33) connected to the upper end of the first front wall 30, the upper end of the first rear wall 31, and the upper ends of the pair of first side walls 32, 32, which closes the opening defined by the upper end of the first front wall 30, the upper end of the first rear wall 31, and the upper ends of the pair of first side walls 32, 32.
[0121] The first front wall 30 and the first rear wall 31 are spaced apart at a distance wider than the combined length in the front-rear direction of the hydrogen tanks 21… (tank holders 23) and the fuel cell 22. In contrast, the pair of first side walls 32, 32 are spaced apart to allow for the placement of two hydrogen tanks 21… side by side in the lateral direction. In this embodiment, the pair of first side walls 32, 32 are spaced apart at a distance wider than the combined length in the lateral direction of the tank holders 23. The spacing is set to be wider than the length and wider than the total length of the fuel cell 22 in the lateral direction. However, since the first bonnet 3 is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, the total length in the lateral direction is set to be shorter than the distance between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F. The vertical length (height) of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the first side walls 32, 32 is set to be greater than or equal to the total length of the tank holder 23 in the vertical direction and greater than or equal to the total length of the fuel cell 22.
[0122] The first bonnet 3 is supported by the support frame 9 (vehicle body 5) while covering the hydrogen tanks 21…(tank holders 23) on the support frame 9. The lower end of the first bonnet 3 is airtightly connected to the support plate 920 while the first bonnet 3 is housing (covering) the hydrogen tanks 21 and fuel cell 22. That is, the lower end surfaces of the first bonnet 3 (the lower end surfaces of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the pair of first side walls 32, 32) are formed to face the upper surface of the support plate 920 (the upper surface of the outer peripheral edge).
[0123] Accordingly, a sealing member is placed between the lower end surface of the first bonnet 3 (the lower end surfaces of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the pair of first side walls 32, 32) and the upper surface of the support plate 920 (the upper surface of the outer edge). This ensures that the inside of the first bonnet 3 is airtight when the first bonnet 3 is housing (covering) the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22. The sealing member may be attached along the lower end surface of the first bonnet 3 (the lower end surfaces of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the pair of first side walls 32, 32), or it may be attached to the area of the support plate 920 that faces the lower end surface of the first bonnet 3 (the lower end surfaces of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the pair of first side walls 32, 32). The sealing member may also be a separate component and may be sandwiched between the lower end surface of the first bonnet 3 (the lower end surfaces of the first front wall 30, the first rear wall 31, and the pair of first side walls 32, 32) and the upper surface of the support plate 920. The first bonnet 3 is screw-fixed to the support frame 9 in a position that avoids the sealing member.
[0124] Furthermore, when pipes and wiring located inside the first bonnet 3 are to be brought out to the outside, holes are provided in the support plate 920 for inserting the wiring and pipes, and sealing members are also fitted to these holes to ensure an airtight seal.
[0125] The entire first bonnet 3 is openable and closable. Specifically, the entire first bonnet 3 is detachable from the vehicle body 5, and it is possible to switch between a state in which the first bonnet 3 is removed and the interior (on top of the vehicle body 5) is open, and a state in which the first bonnet 3 is attached to the vehicle body 5 and the interior (equipment on top of the vehicle body 5, such as the hydrogen tank 21, etc.) is covered.
[0126] As shown in Figure 4, the second bonnet 4 is positioned between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R in a plan view. Furthermore, the second bonnet 4 is positioned above the rear wheels 6R when viewed from the side. Consequently, the second bonnet 4 covers at least the equipment EM on the second support portion 90B. In this embodiment, electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3, the first cooling devices 25, 25, and the second cooling device 26 are positioned on the second support portion 90B, and these are covered by the second bonnet 4.
[0127] In this embodiment, the first cooling device 25 and the second cooling device 26 are arranged along the outer edge of the second support portion 90B (equipment arrangement portion 906) in a plan view. In this embodiment, the first cooling devices 25, 25 are arranged with their exhaust portions 250b facing outward in the lateral direction. That is, the pair of first cooling devices 25, 25 have their exhaust portions 250b facing opposite directions in the lateral direction. In contrast, the second cooling device 26 is arranged with its exhaust portion 260b facing rearward in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, a vent 44 is formed in the region of the second bonnet 4 facing the first cooling device 25 and the second cooling device 26. The vent 44 is an opening that connects the inside and outside of the second bonnet 4, but in this embodiment In this embodiment, a mesh member is placed in the ventilation opening 44. Furthermore, since the second bonnet 4 covers a plurality of cooling devices 25, 25, 26, ventilation openings 44 are provided in multiple areas (locations) facing each of the cooling devices 25, 25, 26.
[0128] More specifically, the second bonnet 4 consists of a front wall 40 located at the very front in the front-rear direction (hereinafter referred to as the second front wall 40), a rear wall 41 located behind the second front wall 40 (hereinafter referred to as the second rear wall 41), the second rear wall 41 facing the second front wall 40, and a pair of side walls 42, 42 (hereinafter referred to as the second side walls 42, 42) arranged with a gap between them in the lateral direction and facing each other. The structure includes a pair of second side walls 42, 42 connecting both ends of the front wall 40 and both ends of the second rear wall 41, and a top plate 43 (hereinafter referred to as the second top plate 43) connected to the upper end of the second front wall 40, the upper end of the second rear wall 41, and the upper ends of the pair of second side walls 42, 42, which closes the opening defined by the upper end of the second front wall 40, the upper end of the second rear wall 41, and the upper ends of the pair of second side walls 42, 42.
[0129] The second front wall 40 and the second rear wall 41 are positioned at a distance wider than the entire length of the second support section 90B in the front-rear direction. In contrast, the pair of second side walls 42, 42 are set to be narrower than the distance (internal dimension) between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0130] In the second bonnet 4, the second front wall 40, the second rear wall 41, and the pair of second side walls 42, 42 constitute a peripheral wall surrounding the electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3 and the multiple cooling devices 25, 25, 26 (first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26). The second bonnet 4 is supported by the support frame 9 while collectively covering the electrical components EM1, EM2, EM3 and the multiple cooling devices 25, 25, 26 (first cooling device 25, second cooling device 26) on the equipment arrangement section 906.
[0131] The second bonnet 4 is supported by the support frame 9 (equipment placement section 906) while covering the equipment EM on the equipment placement section 906. The lower end of the second bonnet 4 is formed to face the upper surface (second support surface S2) of the equipment placement section 906 while the second bonnet 4 is accommodating (covering) the equipment EM. In other words, the second bonnet 4 is placed on the upper surface (second support surface S2) of the equipment placement section 906 while covering the equipment EM on the equipment placement section 906, and is fixed to the equipment placement section 906 with screws.
[0132] The peripheral wall of the second bonnet 4 is provided with ventilation openings 44 that connect the inside and outside. In this embodiment, the ventilation openings 44 are provided in accordance with the arrangement of the first cooling device 25 and the second cooling device 26. That is, in the second bonnet 4, ventilation openings 44 are provided at positions corresponding to the first cooling devices 25 on a pair of second side walls 42, 42, and ventilation openings 44 are provided at positions corresponding to the second cooling device 26 on the second rear wall 41. Mesh is placed in the ventilation openings 44 to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the second bonnet 4.
[0133] The entire second bonnet 4 is openable and closable. Specifically, the entire second bonnet 4 is detachable from the vehicle body 5, and it is possible to switch between a state in which the second bonnet 4 is removed and the interior (on top of the vehicle body 5) is open, and a state in which the second bonnet 4 is attached to the vehicle body 5 and the interior (equipment EM on top of the vehicle body 5) is covered.
[0134] As described above, the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 are arranged in the front-to-back direction, so that, as shown in Figure 1, the first rear wall 31 of the first bonnet 3 and the second front wall 40 of the second bonnet 4 face each other. In this embodiment, the first top plate 33 of the first bonnet 3 is lower in the vertical direction than the second top plate 43 of the second bonnet 4, but the distance between the pair of first side walls 32, 32 and the distance between the pair of second side walls 42, 42 are set to be the same or approximately the same.
[0135] In this embodiment, the agricultural machine 1 has a first bonnet 3 and a second bonnet 4 positioned on the vehicle body 5. The first rear wall 31 of the first bonnet 3 and the second front wall 40 of the second bonnet 4 are located between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R (above the area between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R). The first front wall 30 (front) of the first bonnet 3 is located in front of the front wheel 6F, and the second rear wall 41 of the second bonnet 4 is located above the rear wheel 6R. In other words, the hydrogen tank 21 and fuel cell 22 on the first support section 90A and the equipment EM on the second support section 90B are separated by the first rear wall 31 and the second front wall 40 of the first bonnet 3. Furthermore, since the first bonnet 3 covers the hydrogen tank 21 and fuel cell 22 together, even if hydrogen leaks, it is prevented from leaking haphazardly to the outside. In other words, because hydrogen has a low specific gravity, if it leaks out, the hydrogen (gas) will rise and remain inside the first bonnet 3, preventing it from immediately scattering to the outside. Furthermore, since the EM equipment is housed inside the second bonnet 4, even if hydrogen were to escape from the first bonnet 3, it would not immediately come into contact with the EM equipment, thus suppressing the occurrence of problems.
[0136] As shown in Figure 4, the sensing devices SE1 and SE2 are arranged at multiple locations (four locations in this embodiment) on the front, rear, left, and right sides. This allows the sensing devices SE1 and SE2 to detect the conditions around the vehicle body 5. The agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2. This allows the agricultural machine 1 to recognize the conditions over a wide area around the vehicle body 5. The multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 are either cameras or lidar, or a combination of cameras and lidar. In this embodiment, each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 is the same camera. In this embodiment, each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 can be a wide-angle camera, a 360° camera, etc., and in this embodiment, each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 is a wide-angle camera.
[0137] Each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 is positioned on the outside of the first bonnet 3 or the outside of the second bonnet 4. In this embodiment, each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 is attached to the upper surface (outer surface) of the first top plate 33 of the first bonnet 3 and the second top plate 43 of the second bonnet 4.
[0138] More specifically, the agricultural machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with four sensing devices SE1, SE2. One of the four sensing devices SE1, SE2, is mounted on the center of the width direction at the front end of the upper surface of the first top plate 33 of the first bonnet 3, and monitors the front of the vehicle body 5. In contrast, of the remaining three sensing devices SE2, SE2, two are mounted on both ends in the lateral direction of the upper surface of the second top plate 43 of the second bonnet 4, and monitor both sides of the vehicle body 5. The remaining sensing device SE2 is mounted on the center of the width direction at the rear end of the upper surface of the second top plate 43 of the second bonnet 4, and monitors the rear of the vehicle body 5.
[0139] In this way, since each of the multiple sensing devices SE1 and SE2 is mounted on the highest position (outer surface of the first top plate 33 and second top plate 43) of the first bonnet 3 and second bonnet 4 that constitute the exterior of the agricultural machine 1, there is nothing in the surroundings that obstructs the sensing (detection) of the sensing devices SE1 and SE2, and the surroundings can be reliably detected (monitored). In addition, since the four sensing devices SE1, SE2, etc. are arranged in four locations on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle body 5, it becomes possible to monitor the entire surroundings of the vehicle body 5 (agricultural machine 1).
[0140] The agricultural machine 1 (agricultural tractor 1) of this embodiment is as described above, and since the components that could potentially cause hydrogen leakage (hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 27) are all housed together in the first bonnet 3, the hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 2 Even if hydrogen leaks in any of the seven locations, the hydrogen will remain in the first bonnet 3, preventing it from being immediately released to the outside. Therefore, by placing a gas detector inside the first bonnet 3, the presence or absence of a hydrogen leak can be reliably detected, enabling early repair or replacement. Furthermore, since the components that could potentially cause hydrogen leaks (hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 27) are housed together in the first bonnet 3, and the equipment EM is housed in the second bonnet 4, the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 are interposed between the hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 27 on the first support section 90A and the equipment EM on the second support section 90B. This prevents leaked hydrogen from directly (immediately) contacting the equipment EM, thus protecting it. Additionally, housing the equipment EM in the second bonnet 4 provides protection from external factors.
[0141] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0142] In the above embodiment, agricultural machinery 1 was defined as an agricultural tractor, but it is not limited to this. For example, agricultural machinery 1 may be a specialized machine such as a combine harvester, or a multi-purpose agricultural machine (utility vehicle: UV), in addition to an agricultural tractor. Furthermore, agricultural machinery 1 may be a construction vehicle or a civil engineering vehicle.
[0143] In the above embodiment, an agricultural machine 1 equipped with four hydrogen tanks 21, arranged vertically and horizontally (in a 2x2 grid), was described, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, one or more hydrogen tanks 21 are sufficient. That is, the size and number of hydrogen tanks 21 should be determined according to the required hydrogen storage capacity.
[0144] In the above embodiment, the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R are each fitted with tires, with the front wheels 6F, 6F being designated as the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R being designated as the rear wheels 6R, 6R, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 21, the front wheels 6F, 6F may be fitted with tires, and a crawler device (endless track running device) may be positioned behind the front wheels 6F, 6F (tires) to form a half-crawler type. In this case, the rearmost wheel in the longitudinal direction among the multiple wheels (sprockets (drive wheels), idlers (guide wheels)) around which the endless annular track belt (crawler belt) is wrapped becomes the rear wheel 6R, 6R. Conversely, the rear wheels 6R, 6R may be fitted with tires, and a crawler device (endless track running device) may be positioned in front of the rear wheels 6R, 6R (tires) to form a half-crawler type. In this case, among the multiple wheels (sprockets (drive wheels), idlers (support wheels)) around which the endlessly ring-shaped track belt (crawler belt) is wrapped, the wheel furthest forward in the longitudinal direction is the front wheel 6F, 6F.
[0145] Furthermore, the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R may be replaced with full crawler type wheels, as shown in Figure 22, with crawler devices positioned below the vehicle body 5. In this case, among the multiple wheels (sprockets (drive wheels), idlers (guider wheels)), the wheels furthest forward in the longitudinal direction become the front wheels 6F, 6F, and the wheels furthest rear in the longitudinal direction become the rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0146] Therefore, in the above embodiment, the arrangement of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 was based on the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R. However, in the case of crawler type or half-crawler type vehicles, the front wheels 6F, 6F and the rear wheels 6R, 6R are not limited to tire wheels. In other words, the term "wheel" means "something that rotates attached to the axle of the vehicle and serves to propel the vehicle forward," and therefore includes "wheels" other than tire wheels.
[0147] In the above embodiment, the second bonnet 4 is positioned behind the first bonnet 3, This is not an exhaustive list. For example, as shown in Figure 23, the second bonnet 4 may be positioned in front of the first bonnet 3. When the front-to-back arrangement of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 is reversed in this way, the arrangement of the first support portion 90A and the second support portion 90B of the support frame 9 must also be changed. Note that the arrangement described here is based on a plan view and does not refer to the vertical direction (height position). To achieve such an arrangement, it goes without saying that the planar shape of the support frame 9 must correspond to the arrangement of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4. Therefore, in the above embodiment, the upper end of the second support portion 90B of the support frame 9 (the second support surface S2 of the equipment placement portion 906) is set higher than the upper end of the first support portion 90A (the first support surface S1), but the upper ends of the first support portion 90A and the second support portion 90B may be set at the same height. In other words, the upper surface of the support plate 920 on the pair of first beam sections 900 (first support surface S1) and the upper surface of the equipment placement section 906 (second support surface S2) may be a continuous surface (same surface). In other words, the support plate 920 and the equipment placement section 906 may be made of a single plate (common plate).
[0148] As described above, when the arrangement of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 is reversed front to back, the first bonnet 3 may be positioned between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R (rear wheels 6R, 6R), and the second bonnet 4 may be positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F (front wheels 6F, 6F). In addition to being aligned in the front-to-back direction, the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 may also be aligned in the side-to-side direction. That is, either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 may be positioned between a front wheel 6F and a rear wheel 6R.
[0149] Furthermore, although one first bonnet 3 and one second bonnet 4 are provided in the above embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. For example, two or more first bonnets 3 may be provided. That is, the agricultural machine 1 may be equipped with multiple first bonnets 3, each individually housing multiple components (hydrogen tanks 21, fuel cells 22) that may leak hydrogen. Also, if there are multiple hydrogen tanks 21, each hydrogen tank 21 may be individually housed in a multiple first bonnet 3. In other words, by housing components that may leak hydrogen collectively or individually in the first bonnets 3, if hydrogen leaks, each first bonnet 3 will suppress or prevent external leakage of hydrogen.
[0150] Furthermore, the agricultural machine 1 may also be equipped with two or more second bonnets 4. That is, the agricultural machine 1 may be equipped with multiple second bonnets 4, each individually housing one of the multiple components included in the equipment EM, or it may be equipped with multiple second bonnets 4, each housing a predetermined number of the multiple components included in the equipment EM.
[0151] In other words, the arrangement and number of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 can be changed as appropriate. Accordingly, the sizes of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 can also be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration they house.
[0152] To illustrate with a specific example, as shown in Figure 24, two first bonnets 3,3 may be positioned adjacent to each other on the vehicle body 5, front to back, with second bonnets 4,4 positioned on either side of the two first bonnets 3,3. In this case, one first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F,6F, while the other first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of rear wheels 6R,6R. In contrast, the two second bonnets 4,4 are positioned between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R.
[0153] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, one first bonnet 3 may be positioned in the center of the vehicle body 5 in the longitudinal direction, and second bonnets 4 may be positioned on each of the longitudinal sides (front and rear) of the first bonnet 3. In this case, the first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F and between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R. Also, one of the second bonnets 4 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, and the other second bonnet 4 is positioned between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0154] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 26, one first bonnet 3 may be positioned in the center of the vehicle body 5 in the front-rear direction, with second bonnets 4 positioned on each of the left-right sides (right and left) of the first bonnet 3. In this case, the first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F and between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R. Also, each of the two second bonnets 4, 4 is positioned between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R.
[0155] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 27, one first bonnet 3 may be positioned in the center of the vehicle body 5 in the longitudinal direction, with second bonnets 4 positioned on each of the left and right sides (right and left) of the first bonnet 3, and also with second bonnets 4 positioned on each of the left and right sides (right and left) of the first bonnet 3. In this case, the first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F and between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R. Also, of the two second bonnets 4, 4 aligned in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first bonnet 3, one second bonnet 4 is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, and of the two second bonnets 4, 4 aligned in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first bonnet 3, the other second bonnet 4 is positioned between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R. Furthermore, each of the two second bonnets 4, 4 aligned laterally with respect to the first bonnet 3 is positioned between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R.
[0156] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 28 and 29, one first bonnet 3 may be positioned in the center of the vehicle body 5 in the longitudinal direction, one second bonnet 4 may be positioned either in front of or behind the first bonnet 3 in the longitudinal direction, and multiple (two in the figures) second bonnets 4 may be positioned in the longitudinal direction in the other of the front of or behind the first bonnet 3 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, or between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R. In contrast, the front second bonnet 4 is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, and the rear second bonnet 4 is positioned between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R.
[0157] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 30 and 31, the second bonnet 4 may be positioned on both sides (right and left) of the first bonnet 3 in the lateral direction, in the configurations of Figures 28 and 29. In this case, each of the two second bonnets 4, 4 positioned laterally relative to the first bonnet 3 is positioned between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R. Note that in Figures 26, 27, 30, and 31, the second bonnets 4, 4 are positioned on both sides of the first bonnet 3, but the second bonnet 4 may also be positioned on one side (right or left) of the first bonnet 3 in the lateral direction. Also, in the configurations shown in Figures 24 to 31, the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 may be swapped. In other words, in the above embodiment, the hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 27 are housed in the first bonnet 3, and the equipment EM is housed in the second bonnet 4. However, for example, the hydrogen tank 21, fuel cell 22, and piping 27 may be housed in the second bonnet 4, and the equipment EM may be housed in the first bonnet 3. The same applies to the embodiments described above. In this case, the sizes of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 can be appropriately changed depending on the objects to be housed.
[0158] In the above embodiment, cameras were used for the sensing devices SE1 and SE2, but this is not the only option. For example, various types of sensors can be used for the sensing devices SE1 and SE2, such as lidar (a distance measuring sensor), infrared sensors, temperature sensors (thermal sensors), etc. In other words, the sensing devices SE1 and SE2 should employ sensors necessary to ensure safety in remote operation or automated operation (unmanned operation). Furthermore, the sensing devices SE1 and SE2 mounted on the agricultural machine 1 are not limited to one type, but may employ multiple types of sensors. It should be mounted on agricultural machinery 1 (vehicle body 2 (body 5)).
[0159] In the above embodiment, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a pair (two) of first cooling devices 25, but is not limited thereto. Depending on the amount of heat generated by the equipment to be cooled (fuel cell 22), the capacity of a single first cooling device 25 may be set, or the number of first cooling devices 25 may be set. The same applies to the second cooling device 26.
[0160] In the above embodiment, the entirety of the first bonnet 3 and the entirety of the second bonnet 4 are configured to be openable and closable, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the entirety of the first bonnet 3 may be configured to be openable and closable, and a part of the second bonnet 4 may be configured to be openable and closable. Alternatively, a part of the first bonnet 3 may be configured to be openable and closable, and the entirety of the second bonnet 4 may be configured to be openable and closable. Furthermore, a part of each of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 may be configured to be openable and closable. In this case, when a part of the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 is configured to be openable and closable, the part of the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 is made into an openable and closable door.
[0161] This allows access to the interior of the first bonnet 3, enabling maintenance and inspection of equipment such as the hydrogen tank 21. Even when a portion of the second bonnet 4 can be opened and closed, it is still possible to access the interior of the second bonnet 4, enabling maintenance and inspection of the equipped equipment EM. Regarding the first bonnet 3, it is preferable to provide a sealing member around the door to suppress hydrogen leakage to the outside, so that the inside of the first bonnet 3 can be airtight when closed.
[0162] In the above embodiment, the equipment EM to be cooled by the second cooling device 26 was an electrical component consisting of an inverter EM1, a converter EM3, and a junction box EM3, but it is not limited to these. That is, the equipment EM to be cooled by the second cooling device 26 can be any equipment that is liquid-cooled, such as a first motor M1, a second motor M2, or a power storage device 24. In this case as well, it goes without saying that it is incorporated into the circulation path CR2 which includes the second cooling device 26.
[0163] The above embodiments are as described above, and the present invention (preferred embodiments thereof) provides agricultural machinery 1 as described in the following items (items 1 to 9).
[0164] (Item 1) Agricultural machine 1 comprising a vehicle body 5, at least one first bonnet 3 disposed on the vehicle body 5, at least one second bonnet 4 disposed on the vehicle body 5, a hydrogen tank 21 for storing hydrogen, a fuel cell 22 for generating electricity using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen tank 21, and equipment EM other than the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, wherein at least one of the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22 is housed in either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4, and the equipment EM is housed in the other of either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4.
[0165] According to agricultural machinery 1 of item 1-1, either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 houses at least one of the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, which are sources of hydrogen leakage. Therefore, when hydrogen leaks from the hydrogen tank 21 or the fuel cell 22, the leaked hydrogen remains inside either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4, preventing it from being immediately released to the outside. In addition, either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 houses at least one of the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, while the other of the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4 houses equipment EM other than the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22. Furthermore, the inflow of hydrogen into the vicinity of equipment EM other than the fuel cell 22 is prevented. Therefore, the agricultural machinery 1 in item 1 can suppress the occurrence of problems due to hydrogen leakage.
[0166] (Item 2) The agricultural machine 1 according to item 1, comprising a pipe 27 that connects the fuel cell 22 and the hydrogen tank 21 and supplies hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 21 to the fuel cell 22, wherein the fuel cell 22, the hydrogen tank 21, and the pipe 27 are housed in either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4.
[0167] According to item 2, agricultural machinery 1, the piping 27 connecting the fuel cell 22 and the hydrogen tank 21, and the piping 27 supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 21 to the fuel cell 22, are also housed in either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4. Therefore, even if hydrogen leaks from the piping 27 or its joints, the hydrogen will remain inside either the first bonnet 3 or the second bonnet 4.
[0168] (Item 3) The agricultural machine 1 according to item 1, comprising: a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F supported by the vehicle body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R supported by the vehicle body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction and positioned rearward in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, wherein the first bonnet 3 houses the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, and the first bonnet 3 is positioned between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R, or between the front wheels 6F and the rear wheels 6R.
[0169] According to item 3, agricultural machine 1, the first bonnet 3 houses a hydrogen tank 21 and a fuel cell 22, and the first bonnet 3 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R, or between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R, thus making effective use of the available space in the agricultural machine 1 (vehicle body 2).
[0170] (Item 4) The agricultural machine 1 according to item 1, comprising: a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F supported by the vehicle body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R supported by the vehicle body 5 and spaced apart in the lateral direction and positioned rearward in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, wherein the equipment EM is housed in the second bonnet 4, and the second bonnet 4 is positioned at one of the following locations: between the pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, between the pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R, or between the front wheels 6F and the rear wheels 6R.
[0171] According to item 4, agricultural machinery 1, the equipment EM is housed in the second bonnet 4, and the second bonnet 4 is positioned between a pair of front wheels 6F, 6F, between a pair of rear wheels 6R, 6R, or between the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R, thus making effective use of the available space in the agricultural machinery 1 (vehicle body 2).
[0172] (Item 5) The agricultural machine 1 according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the first bonnet 3 houses the hydrogen tank 21 and the fuel cell 22, the second bonnet 4 houses the equipment EM, and the first bonnet 3 is positioned adjacent to the second bonnet 4 in the front-rear direction or in the lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
[0173] According to item 5, agricultural machinery 1, a hydrogen tank 21 and a fuel cell 22, and hydrogen tank 21 The equipment EM other than the fuel cell 22 is positioned in close proximity to each other, each under protection.
[0174] (Item 6) The agricultural machine 1 according to item 4, comprising a plurality of the second bonnets 4, 4, wherein the plurality of second bonnets 4, 4 are arranged around the first bonnet 3.
[0175] According to item 6, agricultural machinery 1, since multiple second bonnets 4, 4 are arranged around the first bonnet 3, not only is it possible to make effective use of the available space, but the equipment inside the first bonnet 3 and the equipment inside the second bonnets 4 can be placed in close proximity.
[0176] (Item 7) The aforementioned equipment EM is an agricultural machine 1 as described in any one of items 1 to 6, comprising at least one of a secondary battery 24, an inverter EM1, radiators 26, 25, motors M1, M2, and a converter EM2.
[0177] According to item 7, agricultural machinery 1, the equipment EM other than the hydrogen tank 21 and fuel cell 22 includes at least one of the following: secondary battery 24, inverter EM1, radiator 26, 25, motor M1, M2, and converter EM2, thus preventing the equipment containing it from being exposed to hydrogen.
[0178] (Item 8) The agricultural machine 1 described in any one of items 1 to 7, wherein each of the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 is individually openable and closable.
[0179] According to item 8, agricultural machinery 1, since the first bonnet 3 and the second bonnet 4 can each be opened and closed individually, the equipment inside the first bonnet 3 and the equipment inside the second bonnet 4 can be maintained and inspected individually.
[0180] (Item 9) The agricultural machine 1 according to any one of items 1 to 8, comprising a drivable vehicle body 2 including the vehicle body 5, wherein the vehicle body 2 is drivable by at least one of automatic driving and remote control, and is capable of being fitted with a work device WE.
[0181] According to item 9, agricultural machinery 1, the vehicle body 2 is capable of driving by at least one of automatic driving and remote control, and is capable of being fitted with work equipment WE and thus capable of unmanned operation, thus enabling unmanned operation and unmanned driving. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0182] 1: Agricultural machinery (agricultural tractors) 2: Vehicle body 3: First bonnet 4: Second bonnet 5: Vehicle body 6F: Front wheel 6R: Rear wheel (rear wheel) 21: Hydrogen tank 22:Fuel cell 24: Secondary battery (energy storage device) 25: Radiator (Cooling device: First cooling device) 26: Radiator (Cooling device: Second cooling device) 27: Piping EM: Equipment (equipped equipment) EM1: Inverter (electrical component) EM2: Converter (DC-DC converter: electrical component) M1: Motor (First motor) M2: Motor (Second motor) WE: Working device (working implement: rotary)
Claims
1. The car body and, At least one first hood positioned on the vehicle body, At least one second hood positioned on the vehicle body, A hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen, A fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen supplied from the aforementioned hydrogen tank, The system comprises the hydrogen tank and equipment other than the fuel cell, Either the first bonnet or the second bonnet houses at least one of the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell. The other of the first bonnet or the second bonnet contains agricultural machinery in which the equipment is housed.
2. The system includes piping that connects the fuel cell and the hydrogen tank, and supplies hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the fuel cell. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell, the hydrogen tank, and the piping are housed in either the first bonnet or the second bonnet.
3. A pair of front wheels supported by the vehicle body and spaced apart in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, Supported by the vehicle body, and arranged with a gap between them in the lateral direction, and positioned on the rearward side in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels, The first bonnet houses the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the first bonnet is positioned between the pair of front wheels, between the pair of rear wheels, or between the front wheels and the rear wheels.
4. A pair of front wheels supported by the vehicle body and spaced apart in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, Supported by the vehicle body, and arranged with a gap between them in the lateral direction, and positioned on the rearward side in the longitudinal direction relative to the pair of front wheels, The equipment is housed in the second bonnet. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the second bonnet is positioned between the pair of front wheels, between the pair of rear wheels, or between the front wheels and the rear wheels.
5. The first bonnet houses the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell. The equipment is housed in the second bonnet. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the first bonnet is arranged adjacent to the second bonnet in the front-rear direction or in the lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
6. The vehicle is equipped with multiple of the aforementioned second bonnets, The agricultural machine according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of second bonnets are arranged around the first bonnet.
7. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the equipment includes at least one of a secondary battery, an inverter, a radiator, a motor, and a converter.
8. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the first bonnet and the second bonnet is individually openable and closable.
9. The vehicle comprises a drivable vehicle body including the aforementioned vehicle body, The agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body is capable of driving by at least one of automatic driving and / or remote control, and is capable of being fitted with a work device.