Work equipment

Abstract

Some work machines have an auxiliary battery as a mechanism for charging the power supply generated by a generator. However, although they have two batteries, a main battery and an auxiliary battery, the auxiliary battery is not used as a power source for driving or the power of the work parts, and is not a backup battery for long-term operation of the work machine. Therefore, we provide a work machine that can operate for long periods of time by having a main battery and an auxiliary battery, and in which the main battery serves as an auxiliary power source for the battery control controller, enabling continuous operation while retaining data. [Solution] In a work machine in which a travel unit 1a and a work unit 1b are driven by an electric motor 8, a main battery 11 and a backup battery 13 are provided to supply power to the electric motor 8, and a controller 12 is provided for battery control. The main battery 11 is an auxiliary power source for the controller 12, and when the power level of the main battery 11 falls below a predetermined value, the controller 12 switches the power supply to the backup battery 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a working machine such as a vegetable transplanter.

Background Art

[0002] There is a working machine provided with an auxiliary battery as a mechanism for charging a power source using a generator (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, although two batteries, a main battery and an auxiliary battery, are provided, the auxiliary battery is not a power source used for traveling or driving power of the working unit, nor is it a spare battery for long-time operation of the working machine.

[0005] In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a working machine that includes a main battery and a spare battery, enables long-time operation, and allows continuous operation while retaining data with the main battery serving as an auxiliary power source for a battery control controller.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The invention according to claim 1 is a working machine in which a traveling unit 1a and a working unit 1b are driven by an electric motor 8, the working machine being provided with a main battery 11 that supplies electric power to the electric motor 8, a spare battery 13, and a controller 12 for battery control, wherein the main battery 11 is an auxiliary power source for the controller 12, and the controller 12 switches power supply to the spare battery 13 when the electric energy of the main battery 11 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, by switching between the main battery 11 and the auxiliary battery 13, the work machine can be operated for a long period of time. The main battery 11 serves as an auxiliary power source for the battery control controller 12, and when the power level falls below a predetermined value, it switches to the auxiliary battery 13, allowing operation to continue while retaining data.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is the work machine described in claim 1, wherein an electric motor 8 is arranged in the front part of the machine body on the front side of the mission case 9, a main battery 11 is arranged on top of the electric motor 8, and a controller 12 is provided on a side of the battery holder 11a that holds the main battery 11 other than the battery replacement port for replacing the main battery 11.

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 2, by positioning the controller 12 near the main battery 11, there is no voltage drop, the remaining charge of the main battery 11 can be accurately measured, and durability is improved by eliminating wire breaks and poor contact. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a seedling transplanter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the main parts of the seedling transplanter shown above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] As one embodiment of the work machine of the present invention, a vegetable seedling transplanter 1 will be described in detail.

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views and main section perspective views of the seedling transplanter 1.

[0013] The seedling transplanter 1 is configured to plant vegetable seedlings with soil still attached, contained in seedling trays, into the field by a seedling planting section 1b, which consists of a seedling tray transport device 4 that moves back and forth from side to side with the seedling trays on it, a seedling take-out device that takes out seedlings one by one from the bottom of the seedling trays placed on the seedling tray transport device 4 and supplies them to a seedling planting device, and a seedling planting device that moves up and down to plant the seedlings in the field.

[0014] The operator walks along the rear of the aircraft and controls the aircraft's direction using the control handle 7 located at the rear of the aircraft.

[0015] The seedling tray used in this seedling transplanter consists of multiple seedling cells arranged vertically and horizontally, and is made of plastic with a flexible structure. Each seedling cell is connected on the front side, while the back side is independent, so vertical and horizontal grooves are formed between each cell on the back side of the seedling tray. Seedlings are grown one at a time by filling each seedling cell with soil.

[0016] An electric motor 8 is mounted at the front of the machine, and a transmission case 9 is provided behind it to which the rotational power of the electric motor 8 is transmitted. Power is then transmitted from the transmission case 9 to the driving unit 1a and the seedling planting unit 1b.

[0017] Above the electric motor 8, a main battery 11 and a battery control controller (hereinafter referred to as BMS) 12 are provided on a support stay 10 whose base is fixed to the aircraft body, and two upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13 are provided on the front side of the electric motor 8, one above the other.

[0018] A battery case 11a, which serves as a battery holder with an open front, is fixed to the support stay 10 above the electric motor 8. The main battery 11 is inserted into the battery case 11a from the opening at the front by holding the grip 11b and moving towards the rear.

[0019] On the inner deep side of the battery case 11a, a terminal (connecting device) connected to the BMS 12 via a power cable is provided, and the main battery 11 is provided with a terminal on the insertion distal end side. When the main battery 11 is inserted all the way into the battery case 11a, both terminals come into contact with each other, the power of the main battery 11 is controlled by the BMS 12 and supplied to the electric motor 8, and the power of the main battery 11 serves as the power for the BMS 12 itself (the main battery 11 also serves as the auxiliary battery for the BMS 12).

[0020] The main battery 11 is held by the grip portion 11b, inserted rearward from the opening in the front face of the battery case 11a, and locked in the stored state. When the grip portion 11b is pulled forward from the battery case 11a with a force exceeding a predetermined level, the lock is released and the main battery 11 can be pulled out, so that it can be easily replaced with a new fully charged main battery 11 when the power is exhausted.

[0021] On the front side of the electric motor 8, upper and lower support stays 14L, 14U are protruded forward, and battery cases 13a, 13a with open left sides are respectively fixed to the upper surfaces of the support stays. Upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 having the same configuration as the main battery 11 are respectively inserted rightward from the openings on the left sides of the upper and lower battery cases 13a, 13a by their grip portions and stored therein.

[0022] On the inner deep sides of the upper and lower battery cases 13a, 13a, terminals (connecting devices) connected to the BMS 12 via power cables 15a, 15b respectively are provided, and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 are each provided with a terminal on the insertion distal end side. When the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 are inserted all the way into the upper and lower battery cases 13a, 13a respectively, both terminals come into contact with each other, the power of the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 is controlled by the BMS 12 and supplied to the electric motor 8, and the power of the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 serves as the power for the BMS 12 itself (the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 together with the main battery 11 also serve as the auxiliary battery for the BMS 12).

[0023] The upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 are each held by a grip and locked in a state of being inserted rightward from the opening on the left side of the upper and lower battery cases 13a, 13a and stored therein. When the grip is held and pulled leftward from the upper and lower battery cases 13a, 13a with a force greater than a predetermined value, the lock is released and the batteries can be pulled out, allowing easy replacement with new charged upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 when the power runs out.

[0024] The BMS 12 is provided with a monitor 12a on the upper surface and various switches 12b on the front surface.

[0025] The BMS 12 controls the power of the main battery 11 and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 and supplies the power to the electric motor 8.

[0026] That is, when the electric energy of the main battery 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the BMS 12 supplies the power of the main battery 11 to the electric motor 8. When the electric energy of the main battery 11 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value (note that even when it is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the main battery 11 still has a stored electric capacity that supplies power to the BMS 12 itself), the BMS 12 supplies the power of the upper spare battery 13 to the electric motor 8. When the electric energy of both the main battery 11 and the upper spare battery 13 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, the BMS 12 supplies the power of the lower spare battery 13 to the electric motor 8.

[0027] The monitor 12a displays the stored electric capacity, voltage and current value of each of the main battery 11 and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13, and indicates which of the main battery 11 and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 is currently in use.

[0028] The various switches 12b include an on / off switch for the monitor 12a, a display changeover switch, and a manual changeover switch for switching between the main battery 11 and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 for supplying power to the electric motor 8.

[0029] Therefore, after checking the stored electric capacity, voltage and current value displays of each of the main battery 11 and the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 on the monitor 12a, the battery can be manually switched to the main battery 11 or the spare battery 13 to be used via the manual changeover switch.

[0030] In short, by automatically or manually switching between the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13, the seedling transplanter 1 can be operated for extended periods.

[0031] The main battery 11 then becomes an auxiliary power source for the BMS 12, and when the power level falls below a predetermined value, it connects to the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13, allowing operation to continue while retaining data.

[0032] Furthermore, the electric motor 8 is positioned at the front of the aircraft, in front of the mission case 9, and the main battery 11 is placed on top of the electric motor 8. The battery control BMS 12 is provided on the side of the battery case 11a that holds the main battery 11, excluding the opening for replacing the main battery 11 (battery replacement port). By positioning the BMS 12 near the main battery 11, there is no voltage drop, the remaining charge of the main battery 11 can be accurately measured, and durability is improved without wire breaks or poor contact (if the BMS 12 were positioned near the control handle 7 at the rear of the aircraft, it would be easier to operate and check, but the measurement accuracy and durability would be poor, the cost would be high and it would not be versatile).

[0033] Furthermore, since the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13,13 are located away from the control handle 7 (operator), and the transmission case 9 etc. are located between the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13,13 and the control handle 7 (operator), even if the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13,13 explode, it is possible to prevent harm to the operator.

[0034] Furthermore, since the upper and lower spare batteries 13, 13 are located at the front of the aircraft, they also serve as front weights, resulting in good front-to-rear balance.

[0035] Furthermore, although the above description shows an embodiment in which the BMS12 is positioned above the electric motor 8, the BMS12 may also be positioned in front of or to the left or right of the electric motor 8. In short, by positioning the BMS12 close to the electric motor 8, the expensive power cable can be shortened, making it cheaper and improving safety. Moreover, since the BMS12, which needs to be cooled, is located at the front of the aircraft, heat is less likely to accumulate and it is easier to air cool.

[0036] Furthermore, by positioning the BMS12 on the left and right sides of the electric motor 8, even if a bonnet is provided to cover the top of the aircraft, the BMS12 will protrude from the bonnet, making it less likely for heat to build up. By allowing the hot air after air cooling to escape from the left and right sides, it is possible to prevent the hot air from hitting the aircraft body, such as the mission case 9.

[0037] Furthermore, although the above describes an embodiment in which power cables are provided for the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13, it is also possible to configure the system so that when battery 11 (13) runs out, the coupler is switched to whichever of the main battery 11 and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13 still has charge stored, using a single power cable.

[0038] Since the distances between the electric motor 8, the main battery 11, and the upper and lower auxiliary batteries 13, 13 are approximately the same, only one power cable is needed, and the power cable will not bend or be too short. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1a Running section 1b Working part 8 Electric motor 9 Mission Case 11 Main Battery 11a Battery holder (battery case) 12 controllers 13 Spare batteries

Claims

1. A work machine in which a traveling section (1a) and a working section (1b) are driven by an electric motor (8), wherein a main battery (11) and a backup battery (13) are provided to supply power to the electric motor (8), and a controller (12) for battery control is provided, wherein the main battery (11) is an auxiliary power source for the controller (12), and the controller (12) switches the power supply to the backup battery (13) when the amount of power in the main battery (11) falls below a predetermined value.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that an electric motor (8) is positioned at the front of the machine body in front of the mission case (9), a main battery (11) is positioned on top of the electric motor (8), and a controller (12) is provided on a side of the battery holder (11a) that holds the main battery (11) other than the battery replacement port for replacing the main battery (11).

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