Work vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides an inexpensive work vehicle that can detect seating even when the operator is sitting only lightly while working. [Solution] The invention provides a seat (20) on which an operator can sit, a seat bracket (101) that supports the seat (20) with respect to a pivot axis (114) at the rear end of the seat (20), a seat spring (104) that applies a force to push the seat (20) in a direction that moves the seat (20) away from the seat bracket (101), a seat support (103) that contacts the lower part of the seat (20) and supports the seat (20) when the operator sits down and the seat spring (104) is compressed, and a seat sensor (109) that is installed in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the seat surface (111) of the seat (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to work vehicles such as combines, seedling transplanters, and lawn mowers.

Background Art

[0002] In work vehicles such as tractors, seedling transplanters, and lawn mowers, in work vehicles without a cabin surrounding the driver's seat, during non-use such as when work is interrupted or when stored in a garage, dust or the like may accumulate on the seat or the seat may get wet with rain. To prevent this, a seat is known to rotate around the front end portion of the seat so that the seat surface faces downward (the seat is overturned). In such a work vehicle with a rotatable seat, a work vehicle equipped with a seating sensor for detecting the driver's seating is known (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a work vehicle having the seat configuration of Patent Document 1, since there are a rotation support portion and a rotation shaft in front of the seat surface of the seat, an operator operating the work vehicle sits shallowly at the edge and visually checks the operating portion while working. Therefore, when the input of the seating sensor becomes OFF due to sitting shallowly, it is determined that the operator has left the seat, and the safety device operates, causing the cutting device to stop.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The problems of the present invention are solved by the following technical means. The invention of claim 1 includes a seat (20) on which an operator can sit, a seat bracket (101) that supports the seat (20) about a pivot axis (114) at the rear end of the seat (20), a seat spring (104) that applies a force to the seat (20) in a direction that moves the seat (20) away from the seat bracket (101), and when the driver is seated and the seat spring (104) is compressed, a part that contacts the lower part of the seat (20) and moves forward The work vehicle comprises a seat support portion (103) that supports the seat (20), and a seating sensor (109) that detects a first position in which the seat (20) is pushed up by the seat spring (104) and a second position in which the seat support portion (103) supports the lower part of the seat (20) to detect whether the driver is leaving or sitting, wherein the seating sensor (109) is installed in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the seat surface portion (111) of the seat (20).

[0006] The invention of claim 2 is the work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a seating sensor (109) that detects a third position in which the seat (20) is rotated in a direction that moves it away from the seat bracket (101) from the first position.

[0007] The invention of claim 3 is a work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a rotation restricting device (106) that is detachable from the front end of the seat (20) and the front end of the seat bracket (101), wherein the rotation restricting device (106) restricts the rotation of the seat (20) when the front end of the seat (20) and the front end of the seat bracket (101) are attached.

[0008] The invention of claim 4 is a work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it includes a control unit (C) that, when the harvesting clutch is engaged and the traveling device (2) is stopped, disengages the harvesting clutch when the seating sensor (109) detects a range from the first position to the third position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention of claim 1, the seating sensor (109) is installed in front of the center in the front-to-back direction of the seat surface (111) of the seat (20), so that seating can be detected even if the worker sits shallowly on the seat (20) while performing harvesting work, with an inexpensive configuration.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1, the seating sensor (109) is provided to detect a third position in which the seat (20) is rotated in a direction that moves it away from the seat bracket (101) from the first position, so that the departure of the worker can be reliably detected.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, by restricting the rotation of the seat (20) with the rotation restricting device (106), it is possible to prevent the seat (20) from rotating unexpectedly while driving, and to provide a work vehicle equipped with a seat that can be driven safely.

[0012] According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, if the driver leaves the seat while the combine harvester is stopped and power is engaged by the work clutch, the drive of the operating part is stopped, thereby preventing accidents in which the driver may get caught in the moving parts when inspecting, adjusting, or cleaning the combine harvester. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a right side view of a combine harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of a combine harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a left side view of a combine harvester according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of a seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of a seat bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a view of the seats from a diagonal angle below. [Figure 7]It is an explanatory drawing of a rotation restrictor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7(A) is an explanatory drawing of a state where it has moved to a rotation restriction position, and FIG. 7(B) is an explanatory drawing of a state where it has moved to a rotatable position. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory drawing of the state of the seat. FIG. 8(A) is an explanatory drawing of the seating position, FIG. 8(B) is an explanatory drawing of the state of the seat spring in the seating position, FIG. 7(C) is an explanatory drawing of the disembarkation position, FIG. 8(D) is an explanatory drawing of the state of the seat spring in the disembarkation position, FIG. 8(E) is an explanatory drawing of a state where the rotation restrictor is separated from the rotation-restricted portion, and FIG. 8(F) is an explanatory drawing of the state of the seat spring in the state of FIG. 8(E).

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0015] For ease of understanding, for the operator who rides on the combine and operates it, the front side will be referred to as the front, the rear side as the rear, the right hand side as the right side, and the left hand side as the left side for convenience of explanation, but the present invention is not limited thereby.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the combine is provided with a traveling device 2 composed of a pair of left and right crawlers that travel on the soil surface on the lower side of the machine body frame 1, a cutting device 3 for harvesting the cereal straw in the field is provided on the front side of the machine body frame 1, a threshing device 4 for threshing and sorting the harvested cereal straw is provided on the left rear side of the cutting device 3, and an operating section 5 on which an operator rides is provided on the right rear side of the cutting device 3.

[0017] An engine room 6 for mounting the engine E is provided on the lower side of the operating section 5, a grain tank 7 for storing the threshed and sorted grain is provided on the rear side of the operating section 5, and a discharge auger (not shown) composed of a grain elevating section extending in the vertical direction for discharging the grain to the outside and a horizontal discharge extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the rear side of the grain tank 7.

[0018] At the front part of the cutting device 3, a lifting device 3A for lifting the lodged cereal straws is provided. Below the rear side of the lifting device 3A, a cutting device 3B for cutting the roots of the lifted cereal straws is provided. Behind the lifting device 3A, a conveying device 3C for conveying the cereal straws with their roots cut toward the threshing device 4 is provided.

[0019] On the left wall of the threshing device 4, a feed chain 4A for conveying the cereal straws transferred by the conveying device 3C backward is provided. Above the rear part of the feed chain 4A, an oil supply device 4B for supplying lubricating oil to the feed chain 4A is provided. When the oil supply device 4B is driven, the input of a start switch 35 for activating the scraping control described later is restricted. Thereby, it is possible to supply lubricating oil while driving the oil supply device 4B to rotate the feed chain 4A.

[0020] A front panel 11 is provided on the front side of the seat 20 of the operating unit 5. On the left part of the front panel 11, a touch panel type monitor 12 for displaying the traveling speed etc. of the traveling device 2 is provided. On the right part of the front panel 11, an operation lever 13 for performing the left - right turning of the traveling device 2 in the horizontal direction and the up - down lifting of the cutting device 3 is provided.

[0021] When the operation lever 13 is operated to the rear - tilted posture, the cutting device 3 rises to the retracted position. When it is operated to the front - tilted posture, the cutting device 3 descends to the working position for cutting the cereal straws. When the operation lever 13 is operated to the left - tilted posture, the traveling device 2 turns left. When it is operated to the right - tilted posture, the traveling device 2 turns right. The posture of the operation lever 13 is detected by an angle sensor such as a potentiometer attached to the base of the operation lever 13.

[0022] A side panel 15 is provided on the left side of the seat 20. A main shift lever 16 is provided in front of the side panel 15 for operating a continuously variable transmission that increases or decreases the output speed of the engine E and switches the direction of rotation. A sub-shift lever 17 is provided behind the main shift lever 16 for operating a transmission that increases or decreases the output speed of the continuously variable transmission. A threshing lever 18 is provided behind the sub-shift lever 17 for connecting and disconnecting the harvesting clutch and the threshing clutch.

[0023] When the main shift lever 16 is operated to the neutral position, the output rotation of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) becomes zero. When the main shift lever 16 is operated from the neutral position to the forward tilt position, the direction of rotation of the output rotation of the CVT becomes the same as the direction of rotation of the output rotation of the engine E, and increasing the tilt angle of the forward tilt position increases the output rotation of the CVT, while decreasing the tilt angle of the forward tilt position decreases the output rotation of the CVT. Furthermore, when the main shift lever 16 is operated from the neutral position to the rearward tilt position, the direction of rotation of the output rotation of the CVT becomes the opposite of the direction of rotation of the engine E, and increasing the tilt angle of the rearward tilt position increases the output rotation of the CVT, while decreasing the tilt angle of the rearward tilt position decreases the output rotation of the CVT. The position of the main shift lever 16 is detected by an angle sensor 16S, such as a potentiometer, attached to the base of the main shift lever 16.

[0024] When the sub-transmission lever 17 is operated to a rearward tilt position, the output rotation of the transmission does not increase or decrease. When the sub-transmission lever 17 is operated from a rearward tilt position to a forward tilt position, the output rotation of the transmission increases. The position of the sub-transmission lever 17 is detected by an angle sensor such as a potentiometer attached to the base of the sub-transmission lever 17.

[0025] When the harvesting lever 18 is operated to a forward tilt position, the harvesting clutch and threshing clutch are disengaged. When the harvesting lever 18 is operated to a rearward tilt position, the harvesting clutch and threshing clutch are engaged. Furthermore, when the harvesting lever 18 is operated to a neutral position located between the forward and rearward tilt positions, the harvesting clutch is disengaged and the threshing clutch is engaged. The position of the harvesting lever 18 is detected by an angle sensor, such as a potentiometer, attached to the base of the harvesting lever 18. (Seat description) In Figures 4 to 6, in the combine harvester of this embodiment, the seat 20 is positioned on the upper part of the seat bracket 101. In Figure 5, the seat bracket 101 of this embodiment is formed in the shape of a plate with an opening in the center. The shaft support portion 102 is provided in front of the center of the seat bracket 101 and is positioned opposite the rear end of the seat surface portion.

[0026] A pair of left and right seat support parts 103 are positioned behind the center of the seat bracket 101. A pair of left and right seat springs 104 are positioned on the inside of the seat support parts 103 in the left-right direction. A cushioning rubber plate 104a is positioned at the upper end of the seat springs 104.

[0027] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of the rotation restricting device according to the embodiment, where Figure 7(A) is an explanatory diagram of the device in the rotation restricting position and Figure 7(B) is an explanatory diagram of the device in the rotatable position.

[0028] A rotation restrictor 106 is positioned on the inside of the seat spring 104 in the left-right direction. In Figure 7, the rotation restrictor 106 of this embodiment has a slide support portion 107 fixed to the seat bracket 101. The slide support portion 107 has a through hole extending in the left-right direction. A restrictor hook 108 is supported on the slide support portion 107. The restrictor hook 108 has an axial slide portion 108a that is inserted into the through hole of the slide support portion 107 and is supported so as to be slidable and rotatable in the left-right direction. An operating portion 108b that is bent backward is formed at the left end of the slide portion 108a. The operating portion 108b can be grasped by the driver with their hand to operate the restrictor hook 108 in the left-right direction. A hook portion 108c that is bent to the right is formed at the rear end of the operating portion 108b.

[0029] The regulating hook 108 is formed by bending a single axial member to create parts 108a to 108c.

[0030] Furthermore, it is preferable to install vibration-damping rubber between the restricting hook 108 and the slide support part 107. By installing vibration-damping rubber, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noises and sounds caused by friction between the restricting hook 108 and the slide support part 107 due to vibrations during driving. In addition, it is possible to apply frictional resistance to the sliding movement of the restricting hook 108 with the vibration-damping rubber, thereby suppressing the restricting hook 108 from moving accidentally due to vibrations during driving. Furthermore, in order to suppress the restricting hook 108 from moving accidentally during driving, it is also possible to install a ring, hairpin, through pin, etc., on the right end of the slide part 108a as a retainer for the restricting hook 108 when it has moved to the rotation restricting position.

[0031] In Figures 4 and 5, a seating sensor 109 is supported in the front opening of the seat bracket 101. The seating sensor 109 has an arm portion 109a that extends diagonally upward and is rotatable about its lower end. The arm portion 109a can contact the lower surface of the seat 20. Therefore, when pressed by the lower surface of the seat 20, the rotation angle of the arm portion 109a changes, and the seating sensor 109 can detect the position of the seat 20 by detecting the rotation angle of the arm portion 109a. The arm portion 109a is biased by a spring (not shown) so that the tip of the arm portion 109a points upward. This allows for an inexpensive configuration.

[0032] Furthermore, it is preferable that the seating sensor 109 is not directly fixed to the seat bracket 101, but rather fixed via a spacer for position adjustment. By using a spacer, individual differences in the seating sensor 109 and positional shifts over time can be easily adjusted. In addition, it is preferable to position the seating sensor 109 in front of the seat bracket 101 so that it is in front of the center of the base portion 111 in the front-to-back direction. This allows the arm portion 109a of the seating sensor 109 to rotate and detect seating even if the worker sits shallowly on the seat 20.

[0033] In Figures 4 to 6, the seat 20 of this embodiment has a base portion 111 which is the lower part and a backrest portion 112. In Figures 4 and 6, a rotatable support portion 113 is supported at the rear end of the lower surface of the base portion 111. The rotatable support portion 113 is rotatably supported on the shaft support portion 102 via the seat rotation axis 114. Therefore, the seat 20 of this embodiment is rotatable rearward around the seat rotation axis 114.

[0034] A rotation-restricting portion 116 is supported at the front end of the lower surface of the base portion 111. A restricted hole 116a is formed at the front end of the rotation-restricting portion 116. In this embodiment, the restricted hole 116a is formed as an elongated hole extending in the front-rear direction. When the seat 20 is moved to the seating position shown in Figure 4, the rotation-restricting portion 116 moves to a position corresponding to the rotation restricting device 106. The hook portion 108c can pass through the restricted hole 116a. Therefore, the rotation restricting device 106 is movable between the rotation-restricting position shown in Figure 6(A), where the hook portion 108c passes through the restricted hole 116a, and the rotatable position shown in Figure 6(B), where the hook portion 108c is separated from the restricted hole 116a. When the rotation restricting device 106 is moved to the rotation-restricting position, the hook portion 108c catches on the restricted hole 116a, restricting the forward rotation of the seat 20. Therefore, the seat 20 is less likely to rotate unintentionally while driving, making safe driving possible.

[0035] Then, when the rotation restrictor 106 moves to a rotatable position, the seat 20 becomes able to rotate forward around the seat rotation axis 114.

[0036] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the seat state in this embodiment, where Figure 8(A) is an explanatory diagram of the seated position, Figure 8(B) is an explanatory diagram of the seat spring state in the seated position, Figure 8(C) is an explanatory diagram of the unseat position, Figure 8(D) is an explanatory diagram of the seat spring state in the unseat position, Figure 8(E) is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the rotation restrictor is separated from the rotation restricting part, and Figure 8(F) is an explanatory diagram of the seat spring state in the state of Figure 8(E).

[0037] In Figures 4, 8(A), and 8(B), when the driver 121 is seated in the seat 20, the seat 20 moves to the seated position, which is an example of a second position. In the seated position, the seat spring 104 is compressed by the weight of the seat 20 and the weight of the driver, and the seat support portion 103 comes into contact with the underside of the seat 20. In this state, the rotation restrictor 106 can be moved (operated) between the rotation restricting position and the rotatable position. At this time, the arm portion 109a comes into contact with the underside of the seat 20 and is pushed downward, and the seated position is detected by the seating sensor 109.

[0038] In Figures 8(C) and 8(D), when the driver 121 leaves the seat 20 or lifts their hips, the seat spring 104 elastically returns to its original position, causing the seat 20 to attempt to rotate backward. At this time, if the rotation restrictor 106 is in the rotation restricting position, the hook portion 108c and the restricted hole 116a catch, holding the seat 20 in the left-away position shown in Figures 8(C) and 8(D) as an example of the first position. In the left-away position, the arm portion 109a is in contact with the underside of the seat 20, similar to the seated position, but the tip is rotated upward compared to the seated position. Therefore, the rotation angle of the arm portion 109a has changed relative to the seated position, and the seat sensor 109 can detect that the seat has moved to the left-away position.

[0039] In Figures 8(E) and 8(F), when the driver 121 leaves the seat 20, if the rotation restrictor 106 is in a rotatable position, the rotation restrictor 106 does not restrict the rotation of the seat 20. Therefore, the seat spring 104 pushes the seat 20 upward, and the seat 20 moves to the separated position shown in Figures 8(E) and 8(F) as an example of a third position. In the separated position of this embodiment, the arm portion 109a is separated from the seat 20, and the arm portion 109a rotates further to its upper limit position than in the seat-leaving position. Therefore, by detecting the rotation angle of the arm portion 109a that has moved to the upper limit position, the seating sensor 109 can detect that it has moved to the separated position.

[0040] In Figure 4, the control unit C of the combine harvester in this embodiment controls the harvesting device 3 based on the detection result of the seating sensor 109. Specifically, while the harvesting device 3 is in operation, the control unit does not stop the harvesting device 3 while the seating sensor 109 detects that the seat is between the seated position and the unseaten position. Note that when the seating sensor 109 detects the unseaten position, the rotation restriction (lock) of the seat 20 by the rotation restriction device 106 is not engaged.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the travel device 2 is stopped and the harvesting device 3 is in operation, if the seat sensor 109 detects that the operator is in a distanced position or in a position between the distanced position and the distanced position, the control unit C of the combine harvester determines that the operator has stopped the combine harvester and moved away from the seat 20, and performs control to stop the harvesting device 3 by disengaging the harvesting clutch. The stopping of the harvesting device 3 may occur after a predetermined time has elapsed since detecting the operator leaving the seat, and the threshing clutch may also be disengaged to stop the driving of the threshing device 4. This prevents accidents in which the operator may get caught in moving parts during inspection, adjustment, or cleaning of the combine harvester. Furthermore, the control unit C of the combine harvester in this embodiment may be configured to notify the operator, upon detecting that the operator has left their seat, through a display on the monitor 11 indicating the operator's absence or through voice guidance, such as "The operator's movements will be stopped because the operator's absence has been detected." This allows operators around the combine harvester to be notified in advance that the operating parts of the harvesting device 3 and threshing device 4 will be stopped, thereby alerting the operators.

[0042] In this embodiment, by making the restricted hole 116a an elongated hole, the seat 20 can move within the range in which the hook portion 108c can move along the elongated hole, and when leaving the seat, the seat spring 104 can move the seat from the seated position to the left-away position. This configuration is desirable, but it is also possible to make the restricted hole 116a a round hole so that the seat 20 does not move from the seated position even when leaving the seat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Aircraft frame 2. Traveling device 3 Reaping device 4. Threshing machine 5. Control Unit 7 Glen Tank 6. Engine Room 11 monitors 12 Operating levers 16 gear levers 20 seats 101 Seat Bracket 103 Seat support section 104 Seat springs 106 Rotation restrictor 109 Seat occupancy sensor 114 Rotation axis

Claims

1. A seat (20) in which a worker can sit, A seat bracket (101) that supports the seat (20) is located around the axis of rotation (114) at the rear end of the seat (20), A seat spring (104) applies a force to the seat (20) in a direction that causes the seat (20) to move away from the seat bracket (101), When the driver is seated and the seat spring (104) is compressed, the seat support portion (103) contacts the lower part of the seat (20) and supports the seat (20), The system includes a seat sensor (109) that detects a first position in which the seat (20) is pushed up by the seat spring (104) and a second position in which the seat support (103) supports the lower part of the seat (20), thereby detecting whether the driver is leaving or sitting down. The work vehicle is characterized in that the seating sensor (109) is installed in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the seat surface (111) of the seat (20).

2. The seating sensor (109) detects a third position in which the seat (20) is rotated in a direction that moves it away from the seat bracket (101) from the first position. A work vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by being equipped with the following:

3. A rotation restricting device (106) that can be attached to the front end of the seat (20) and the front end of the seat bracket (101), wherein the rotation restricting device (106) restricts the rotation of the seat (20) when the front end of the seat (20) and the front end of the seat bracket (101) are attached, A work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by being equipped with the following:

4. When the harvesting clutch is engaged and the traveling device (2) is stopped, if the seating sensor (109) detects a range from the first position to the third position, the control unit (C) will release the harvesting clutch. A work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by being equipped with the following:

Images