Work vehicles

Abstract

To provide a work vehicle which allows a safety frame to be easily folded.SOLUTION: In a work vehicle with a safety frame 30 erected at a rear section of a traveling vehicle body, the safety frame 30 has a support column section 30a and an upper frame 30b. The safety frame also has a frame cylinder 35 which: connects the upper frame 30b to the support column section 30a so that the upper frame 30b is rotatable with respect to the support column section 30a in forward and backward directions; and switches a posture of the upper frame 30b between a storage posture in which the upper frame 30b is folded in a space between the support column section 30a and the upper frame 30b and a travel posture in which the upper frame 30b is erected on the support frame. The frame cylinder 35 has: a stroke sensor 37 with a folding angle of the upper frame 30b in the folded posture preliminarily set therein so as to prevent the upper frame 30b from being operated beyond the folding angle; and an inclination sensor 38 which detects an inclination of a vehicle so as to switch the posture of the upper frame 30b to the travel posture when an inclination angle becomes a predetermined angle or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a riding lawnmower equipped with a mower for mowing the lawn, and more particularly to a support structure for a safety frame attached to the rear of the operator's seat. [Background technology]

[0002] A known work vehicle has a lawnmower mounted below the mid-forward / backward section of the body frame so that it can be raised and lowered, a detachable collector at the rear, a safety frame erected on top of a collector support frame that supports the collector, and the upper part of the safety frame configured to be foldable (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-47758 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above technology, by folding the safety frame, it is possible to avoid situations where the upper part of the safety frame comes into contact with branches or the roof, which would impede driving, when working under trees or storing in a barn, but the folding operation must be done manually, which is inconvenient.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a work vehicle in which the safety frame can be easily folded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention relates to a work vehicle having a safety frame (30) erected at the rear of a traveling body, the safety frame (30) including a support column (30a) and an upper frame (30b), the upper frame (30b) being connected to the support column (30a) so as to be rotatable forward and backward, and a frame cylinder (35) being provided between the support column (30a) and the upper frame (30b) for switching the upper frame (30b) between a storage position in which it is folded and a traveling position in which it is erected, The frame cylinder (35) is provided with a stroke sensor (37), and the folding angle of the upper frame (30b) in the stored position is preset, and the work vehicle is characterized in that the operation beyond the folding angle is restricted. The second present invention is a work vehicle according to the first present invention, which is equipped with an inclination sensor (38) that detects the inclination of the vehicle, and is configured to switch the upper frame (30b) to a traveling position when the inclination angle reaches a predetermined angle or more. The first invention related to the present inventionIn a work vehicle having a safety frame 30 erected at the rear of a traveling body, the safety frame 30 includes a support column portion 30a and an upper frame 30b, the upper frame 30b is connected to the support column portion 30a so as to be rotatable back and forth, and a frame cylinder 35 is provided between the support column portion 30a and the upper frame 30b for switching the upper frame 30b between a stored position in which it is folded and a traveling position in which it is erected.

[0007] The second invention related to the present invention is the first invention related to the present invention. In the frame cylinder 35, a stroke sensor 37 is provided, and the folding angle of the upper frame 30b in the storage position is preset, and operation beyond the folding angle is restricted.

[0008] The third invention related to the present invention is the second invention related to the present invention. The vehicle is provided with an inclination sensor 38 for detecting the inclination of the vehicle, and when the inclination angle reaches a predetermined angle or more, the upper frame 30b is switched to the traveling position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the upper frame 30b can be easily folded and raised by the frame cylinder 35. In particular, when the folding storage position is set, contact with tree branches and the like can be avoided even when working in an orchard. Furthermore, the folding storage position can be set according to the physique of the worker, and the vehicle can be folded to a height that does not obstruct the driver's field of vision. The first invention related to the present invention According to this, the upper frame 30b can be easily folded and restored to its upright position by the frame cylinder 35. In particular, when in the folded storage position, contact with tree branches and the like can be avoided even when working in an orchard.

[0010] According to the second invention related to the present invention, the first invention related to the present invention In addition to the above effects, the folding storage posture can be set according to the physique of the worker, and the vehicle can be folded to a height that does not obstruct the driver's field of vision.

[0011] According to the third invention related to the present invention, In addition to the above effects, when there is a risk of tipping over, the upper frame 30b can be automatically put into the traveling position, thereby ensuring safe traveling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a riding lawnmower according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]1 is a front view of a riding lawnmower according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is a side view of a riding lawnmower according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of an operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are side views showing the movement of an upper frame due to the extension and contraction action of a frame cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4C is a side view of a frame cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] A mower 2 is attached to the midsection of a body frame 1 so as to be able to rise and fall freely, and a collector 4 is detachably attached to the rear of the body frame 1 via a collector support frame 3. Grass cut by the mower 2 is stored in the collector 4 through a transport duct 5.

[0015] The vehicle body frame 1 is provided with front wheels 6, 6 and rear wheels 7, 7 at the front and rear, respectively, with a cockpit 9 provided between left and right fenders 8, 8 above the rear wheels 7, 7, and a steering handle 12 attached to a steering post 11 on a floor 10, so that the front wheels 6, 6 can be steered in conjunction with each other.

[0016] An engine 14 is mounted inside a bonnet 13 in front of the steering handle 12. The rotational power of the engine 14 is appropriately reduced in speed via a transmission such as a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission (not shown) to transmit rotation to the rear wheels 7, 7 and the cutting blade (not shown) of the mower 2, enabling the vehicle to perform grass cutting work while traveling.

[0017] The transport duct 5 has its front end connected to the rear of the mower deck 2a of the mower 2, and is formed to extend between the treads of the left and right rear wheels 7, 7 below the driver's seat 9 to the rear of the body frame 1, and is configured to guide the turf grass discharged from the rear of the mower 2 toward its rear end.

[0018] A collector 4 is attached to the rear side of a collector support frame 3 formed at the rear of the vehicle body frame 1. The collector 4 is formed in a box shape with a supply port (not shown) formed on the front side, which faces the rear end of the transport duct 5 so that brought-in turfgrass can be fed in. In addition, a discharge port (not shown) is provided on the rear side of the collector 4. This discharge port is configured so that the stored turfgrass can be discharged and dropped onto the mowing ground or the like when the dump truck is unloaded, and a discharge door 21 made of a punching board or the like is configured to face this discharge port and be able to open and close. The discharge door 21 is formed so that the door section facing the discharge port and the cover section covering the upper wall are integrally formed into an inverted L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0019] The collector 4 is connected to the collector support frame 3 via a pair of upper and lower parallel lift links 22, and can be raised and lowered by the extension and contraction of a lift cylinder 19. In addition, the discharge door 21 can be rotated upward by the extension of a dump cylinder 20, and can be floated upward.

[0020] The collector 4 is constructed by stretching a breathable net 4c around the outer periphery of a box-shaped frame 4b, and a resin cover 4d is attached to the ceiling.

[0021] The body frame 1 is configured by a pair of left and right main frame sections, multiple connecting frame sections, etc., and is provided with a front axle bracket 15 and an engine mounting frame 16 at the front, a floor section 17 and a cockpit frame 18 at the middle, and the collector support frame 3 at the rear.

[0022] The collector support frame 3 includes a shielding plate portion 3b formed by pressing a sheet metal material of an appropriate width to form a reinforcing bent edge around the periphery, a cylindrical horizontal frame portion (also called a horizontal frame) 3c connected to the upper side of the shielding plate portion 3b, vertical frame portions 3d, 3d connected to the horizontal frame portion 3c and connecting and reinforcing the shielding plate portion 3b, and reinforcing vertical frame portions 3e, 3e provided at the left and right ends of the horizontal frame 3c. An opening 3a is formed in the center of the shielding plate portion 3b, slightly offset to the left and right, through which the rear end of the transport duct 5 is inserted. The lower ends of the reinforcing vertical frame portions 3e, 3e are firmly supported by a base portion 3f fixed to the rear axle case 7a. In this manner, the collector support frame 3 can be supported firmly and compactly at the rear of the body frame 1.

[0023] ROPS support brackets 26, 26 each having base flanges 26a, 26a at the upper end are fixed by welding to both left and right ends of the cylindrical horizontal frame portion 3c of the collector support frame 3.

[0024] The lower end flange of a safety frame (ROPS) 30 is connected to the base flanges of the left and right ROPS support brackets 26, 26.

[0025] The safety frame (ROPS) 30 is composed of a support part 30a and an inverted U-shaped upper frame 30b, the support part 30a is a left and right support part parallel to each other, a bracket part is fixed to each left and right, the upper frame 30b is provided to be rotatable in the front and rear direction around a horizontal pin 30d with respect to the support part 30a, and is configured so that it can be changed from a first position, which is a running posture in an upright state, to a second different position, which is a folding storage posture. The storage posture in the illustrated example is a posture in which it is rotated forward and laid down on its side, as shown in Figures 2 and 4(B).

[0026] Between the support column 30a and the upper frame 30b, a frame cylinder (also called an electric hydraulic cylinder) 35 in the form of an electric hydraulic cylinder is provided. The electric hydraulic cylinder 35 is a known one composed of a hydraulic cylinder 35a, a hydraulic pump 35b for supplying hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder 35a, an electric motor 35c for driving the hydraulic pump 35b, and a control unit (not shown). The frame cylinder 35 is provided on each of the left and right support columns, and is disposed inside the left and right support columns. The piston part of the frame cylinder 35 is connected to the upper frame 30b side, and the cylinder end side is connected to the support column 30a. Therefore, when the frame cylinder 35 is contracted, it is in the stored position, and when it is extended, it can return to the traveling position. An operation switch 36 is provided around the steering handle 12. The operation switch 36 includes a raising side switch 36a and a lowering side switch 36b. When the raising side switch 36a is ON, the frame cylinder 35 is extended, and when the lowering side switch 36b is ON, the frame cylinder 35 is contracted. Therefore, the upper frame 30b can be easily folded and restored to its upright position by the frame cylinder 35. In particular, when in the folded storage position, contact with tree branches and the like can be avoided even when working in an orchard.

[0027] The basic configuration is that it operates when the push is continued and stops when the push is released, but it is also possible to incorporate a mode in which a quick operation of the lifting switch 36a will return the device to an upright position (driving position) in one go.

[0028] A stroke sensor 37 is provided with the frame cylinder 35, and the stroke amount of the upright posture (driving posture) is set as a reference value, and the shortening amount of the frame cylinder 35 can be detected. Therefore, the forward tilt angle can be calculated by converting this shortening amount into the rotation amount of the upper frame 30b. The maximum shortening amount of the frame cylinder 35 is set in advance, and by matching it with the detection value of the stroke sensor 37, the upper frame 30b can be set to the maximum folding storage posture of any desired amount. Therefore, a mode in which the upper frame 30b can be rotated to the maximum folding storage posture of any desired amount at once by instantaneous operation of the lowering side switch 36b can be incorporated. If the set storage posture is reached and the lowering side switch 36b is still operated, the lowering output is restricted and the operation of the frame cylinder 35 is restricted. With this configuration, the folding storage posture can be set according to the physique of the operator, and the upper frame 30b can be folded to a height that does not obstruct the driver's field of vision.

[0029] Next, a configuration for restricting the storage position of the upper frame 30b will be described. An inclination sensor 38 capable of detecting left-right or front-rear inclination of the vehicle body is provided on the vehicle body frame 1, and when the detection value of the inclination sensor 38 exceeds a predetermined safety range, the operation of the lowering switch 36b for moving the upper frame 30b from the standing position (traveling position) to the folded storage position is restricted. In addition, when the upper frame 30b is in the folded storage position, it is configured to automatically return to the standing position (traveling position) due to the detection of the inclination sensor 38 exceeding the predetermined safety range. With this configuration, when there is a risk of tipping over, the upper frame 30b can be automatically brought into the standing position (traveling position), ensuring safe travel.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the operation switch 36 of the upper frame is located near the steering handle 12, for example on the meter panel, but it may be located on the support column 30a of the safety frame 30. Also, although an electric hydraulic cylinder is used as the frame cylinder, it may be in the form of an electric actuator employing a ball screw mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 30 Safety Frame 30a Strut part 30b Upper frame 35 Frame Cylinder 36 Stroke Sensor 38 Tilt Sensor

Claims

1. In a work vehicle having a safety frame (30) erected at the rear of a traveling body, the safety frame (30) includes a support column (30a) and an upper frame (30b), the upper frame (30b) is connected to the support column (30a) so as to be rotatable back and forth, and a frame cylinder (35) is provided between the support column (30a) and the upper frame (30b) for switching the upper frame (30b) between a storage position in which it is folded and a traveling position in which it is erected; The frame cylinder (35) is provided with a stroke sensor (37), the folding angle of the upper frame (30b) in the stored position is preset, and operation beyond the folding angle is restricted.

2. 2. The work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an inclination sensor (38) for detecting an inclination of the vehicle, and configured to switch the upper frame (30b) to a traveling position when the inclination angle reaches a predetermined angle or more.

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