Work vehicles

Abstract

To provide a work vehicle to / from which a battery pack is to be easily attached and detached.SOLUTION: In a work vehicle which is equipped with a vehicle body 3, a traveling gear 10, working devices 12, 14 operated hydraulically, and an electric motor that serves as a drive source for the traveling gear 10 or the working devices 12, 14. The vehicle body 3 has a body frame 18, which is a strength member and a support member for mounted equipment, at a lower part. The body frame 18 has a large plate 68 which serves as a bottom plate, the large plate 68 has a shape with a notch at a rear which is cut out so as to open towards the rear when viewed in a plane, and has a notch 70 on which the support part of the device for loading and unloading a battery pack 64 is made to abut, and the battery pack 64 is arranged above the notch 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work vehicle equipped with a hydraulically operated working device, an electric motor that serves as a drive source for the working device, and a battery pack that supplies power to the electric motor. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally known examples of work vehicles include hydraulic excavators and track loaders, each of which has a lower body to which crawlers or tires for traveling are attached, an upper body disposed on the lower body, and a hydraulically operated working device attached to the lower body or upper body.

[0003] Recently, work vehicles that are driven by electric motors instead of conventional engines have been developed (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 7025226). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7025226 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The electric motor-driven work vehicle described above is equipped with a battery pack at the rear of the upper body. Attaching and detaching the battery pack requires the use of a crane or dedicated lifting equipment. Furthermore, the work area where the battery pack can be attached and detached is limited. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a work vehicle in which the battery pack can be easily attached and detached.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problems by the means described below.

[0008] A work vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a traveling device, a hydraulically operated working device, and an electric motor that serves as a drive source for the traveling device or the working device, wherein the vehicle body has a main body frame at its lower part that is a strength member and a support member for mounted equipment, and the main body frame has a large plate that serves as a bottom plate, and the large plate has a notch at its rear that opens rearward in a plan view, and allows a battery pack to be carried in and out. cargo handling and transportation The support part of the device The battery pack It has a notch for abutment, An undercover that covers the notch is attached to the large plate, The battery pack is required to be disposed above the notch.

[0009] With the above configuration, the battery pack can be loaded and unloaded by inserting the support portion (claws in the case of a forklift) of a material handling and transporting machine such as a forklift from the rear of the vehicle body, eliminating the need to use crane equipment or dedicated lifting tools when attaching or detaching the battery pack. In other words, a work vehicle can be provided in which the battery pack can be easily attached and detached.

[0010] Preferably, the cutout is formed in a shape that exposes at least a portion forward of the center of gravity of the battery pack.

[0011] It is also preferable that a partition plate is provided above the battery pack, and a protective plate is provided on the surface of the partition plate facing the battery pack to cover the fixing members that fix the electrical components provided on the other surface of the partition plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a work vehicle in which the battery pack can be easily attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the state in which the battery pack is mounted on the work vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the state in which the battery pack is mounted on the work vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the main body frame of the work vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view of the main body frame shown in FIG. 4, seen from another direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the battery pack is attached to the main body frame. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part VIII shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram (perspective view from above the left rear) showing an example of a work vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. For ease of explanation, arrows may be used in the drawings to indicate up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions. In addition, in all drawings used to explain the embodiment, members having the same function are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations may be omitted.

[0015] First, a description will be given of the overall configuration of the work vehicle 1. A hydraulic excavator will be used as an example of the work vehicle 1. However, the work vehicle 1 is not limited to a hydraulic excavator.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body including a lower body 2 and an upper body 3 disposed on the lower body 2 (the lower body 2 and the upper body 3 may be integrally configured).

[0017] The work vehicle 1 is equipped with working devices 12, 14 that are attached to the underbody 2 and upper body 3 and are operated by hydraulic pressure (hydraulic oil at a predetermined pressure). The underbody 2 is equipped with a traveling device 10 that allows the vehicle to travel. The upper body 3 is equipped with a driver's cab 16 at the front that is equipped with operating devices in which an operator sits and operates the vehicle for travel and work. The detailed configuration of the upper body 3 will be described later.

[0018] An example of the traveling device 10 is provided with a pair of crawlers (crawlers) 26 on the left and right. However, the traveling device 10 is not limited to the crawlers 26. As another example, the work vehicle 1 may be configured to have tires (not shown) instead of the crawlers 26. The crawlers 26 are driven (traveled) by a traveling hydraulic motor 28.

[0019] An example of the working device 12 is provided with a blade 24. The blade 24 is attached to the lower body 2 so that it can swing up and down (including forward and backward). The blade 24 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder (blade cylinder) 32. However, the working device 12 is not limited to the above configuration.

[0020] An example of the working device 14 includes a boom 42, an arm 44, and an attachment (a bucket in this embodiment) 46. However, the attachment 46 is not limited to a bucket. The boom 42 is attached to the upper body 3 so as to be swingable up and down (including a front-to-rear component). In this embodiment, a boom bracket (not shown) is provided between the upper body 3 and the boom 42. The boom bracket allows the boom 42 to swing left and right (including a front-to-rear component) relative to the upper body 3. Note that the boom bracket may be omitted. The arm 44 is attached to the boom 42 so as to be swingable up and down (including a front-to-rear component). The attachment 46 is attached to the arm 44 so as to be swingable up and down (including a front-to-rear component). The boom 42 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder (boom cylinder) 52. The arm 44 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder (arm cylinder) 54. The attachment 46 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder (bucket cylinder) 56. However, the working device 14 is not limited to the above configuration.

[0021] The drive mechanism for driving the traveling hydraulic motor 28 and each hydraulic cylinder is composed of, for example, a hydraulic pump driven by a drive source, a control valve, etc. (none of which are shown). The operator operates the operating device to actuate the control valve, which controls the supply of hydraulic oil at a predetermined pressure delivered from the hydraulic pump to the traveling hydraulic motor 28 and each hydraulic cylinder. This allows the traveling device 10 to travel and the working devices 12, 14 to perform work. One or more hydraulic pumps that make up the drive mechanism may be provided depending on the configuration and load of the working devices 12, 14 and the traveling device 10, etc.

[0022] In this embodiment, the work vehicle 1 is equipped with an electric motor (not shown) as the drive source. One or more electric motors constituting the drive source are provided depending on the number of hydraulic pumps, rated output, etc.

[0023] The work vehicle 1 also includes an on-board charger 62 that supplies power to the electric motor. The power output from the on-board charger 62 is supplied to the electric motor via a battery pack 64 and an inverter (not shown). The battery pack 64 includes a first storage battery (e.g., a lithium-ion storage battery) that stores the supplied power, a control unit that controls the supply of power to the electric motor and the storage battery (first storage battery), and the like (all not shown). A second storage battery (e.g., a lead storage battery) and various switches (controllers) are connected to the battery pack 64 (all not shown).

[0024] Other mechanisms for travel and work in the work vehicle 1 according to this embodiment are similar to those of known work vehicles (hydraulic excavators), and therefore detailed description will be omitted.

[0025] Next, the configuration of the upper body 3 will be described in detail. Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the state in which the battery pack 64 is mounted on the work vehicle 1 (the battery cover 60 and counterweight 20 are not shown). Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the state in which the battery pack 64 is mounted on the work vehicle 1 (the undercover is not shown). The upper body 3 is provided with a main body frame 18 at its lower part. The main body frame 18 is a strength member for the upper body 3 and a support member for the mounted equipment. The upper body 3 is provided with a battery pack 64 attached to the main body frame 18 and supplies power to the electric motor. The upper body 3 is provided with a counterweight 20 attached to the main body frame 18 and adjusts the weight balance of the vehicle body.

[0026] 4 and 5, the main body frame 18 is integrally formed by welding together plate materials, beam materials, etc. that have been processed into a predetermined shape. Specifically, the main body frame 18 includes a large plate 68, vertical ribs 72 and 74, and a horizontal rib 76.

[0027] The large plate 68 is a plate material that serves as the bottom plate of the main body frame 18. The large plate 68 has a notch 70 at its rear. The notch 70 is formed so as to open rearward in a plan view. The large plate 68 has an undercover (not shown) that covers the notch 70 and prevents sand and dust from entering the interior of the upper body 3. The undercover is attached to the underside of the large plate 68 by a fixing member (not shown). The large plate 68 has lashing points 78, 79 (mechanisms for engaging binding members (not shown) that prevent the work vehicle 1 from drifting during transportation or parking) at the left and right rear ends spaced apart from each other across the notch 70. Attached to the tops of the lashing points 78, 79 are lashing point reinforcement members 88, 90. The vertical ribs 72, 74 are erected in pairs on the left and right sides, starting from the front of the large plate 68 and extending rearward at a distance from each other in the left-right direction along the left and right edges of the cutout 70. The horizontal rib 76 is erected so as to intersect with the vertical ribs 72, 74 and extend left-right along the front edge of the cutout 70 on the large plate 68.

[0028] Next, the mounting structure of the battery pack 64 and the counterweight 20 will be described.

[0029] The vertical rib 72 includes a first mounting base 80 for mounting the battery pack 64, and a second mounting base 82 for mounting the battery pack 64 and the counterweight 20. The vertical rib 74 includes a third mounting base 84 for mounting the battery pack 64, a floor frame (not shown), and a hydraulic oil tank (not shown), and a fourth mounting base 86 for mounting the battery pack 64, the floor frame, and the counterweight 20.

[0030] As an example, the first mounting base 80 is a plate that is roughly L-shaped in front view, extending rightward from the protruding portion 72a of the vertical rib 72 with its front portion abutting against the rear surface of the horizontal rib 76, and then bending at a roughly right angle from its end downward (toward the large plate 68). The first mounting base 80 has one mounting hole (screw hole) 80a on its top surface. However, the first mounting base 80 is not limited to this configuration.

[0031] As an example, the second mounting base 82 is a plate that is generally L-shaped in side view, extending rearward from the protruding portion 72b of the vertical rib 72 and then bending at a substantially right angle from that end along the rear end of the vertical rib 72. The second mounting base 82 is attached to the large plate 68, intersecting the front portion of the fastening point reinforcement member 88. The second mounting base 82 has one mounting hole (screw hole) 82a on its top surface. The second mounting base 82 also has a first counterweight mounting portion 92 for mounting the counterweight 20. The first counterweight mounting portion 92 has one mounting hole (screw hole) 92a. However, the second mounting base 82 is not limited to this configuration.

[0032] As an example, the third mounting base 84 is a plate that is generally L-shaped in front view, extending left front from the protrusion 74a of the vertical rib 74, straddling the horizontal rib 76, and then bending at a generally right angle from its end downward (toward the large plate 68). The third mounting base 84 has, on its top surface, one mounting hole (screw hole) 84a for mounting the battery pack 64, and three mounting holes (screw holes) 84b, 84c, and 84d for mounting the floor frame and hydraulic oil tank. However, the third mounting base 84 is not limited to this configuration.

[0033] As an example, the fourth mounting base 86 includes an upper plate 86A attached to the protrusion 74b of the vertical rib 74, and a lower plate 86B that is generally L-shaped in plan view and supports the upper plate 86A from below. The fourth mounting base 86 is attached to the large plate 68, intersecting the front portion of the fastening point reinforcement member 90. The fourth mounting base 86 (upper plate 86A) has, on its upper surface, one mounting hole (screw hole) 86a for mounting the battery pack 64, and two mounting holes (screw holes) 86b, 86c for mounting the floor frame. The fourth mounting base 86 also includes a second counterweight mounting portion 94 for mounting the counterweight 20. The second counterweight mounting portion 94 has one mounting hole (screw hole) 94a. However, the fourth mounting base 86 is not limited to this configuration.

[0034] The battery pack 64 is equipped with brackets 64A protruding from both the left and right side surfaces. The battery pack 64 is attached to the vertical ribs 72, 74 (main body frame 18) by fixing the brackets 64A to the above-mentioned mounting bases 80 (mounting hole 80a), 82 (mounting hole 82a), 84 (mounting hole 84a), and 86 (mounting hole 86a) using vibration-isolating rubber mounts 100 and fixing members 102. Figure 6 shows the state in which the battery pack 64 is fixed to the second mounting base 82. The mounting bases 80, 82, 84, and 86 are firmly fixed to the vertical ribs 72 and 74 by welding, so that the large and heavy battery pack 64 can be supported.

[0035] The battery pack 64 attached to the main body frame 18 is located above the notch 70. This allows the support portion (claws in the case of a forklift) of a material handling and transporting device such as a forklift to be inserted from the rear of the vehicle body to load and unload the battery pack 64, eliminating the need for crane equipment or dedicated hoisting devices. This means that the battery pack 64 can be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, because the battery pack 64 is supported by the vertical ribs 72, 74 in a state where it is floating above the large plate 68, the rubber mounts 100 absorb vibrations during travel and operation, suppressing vibrations transmitted to the battery pack 64.

[0036] 3, the notch 70 is formed so that at least a position forward of the center of gravity of the battery pack 64 is exposed in bottom view, which makes it possible to lift the battery pack 64 using a forklift.

[0037] The counterweight 20 is attached to the vertical ribs 72, 74 (main body frame 18) by being fixed to the counterweight mounting portions 92 (mounting hole 92a), 94 (mounting hole 94a) with fixing members (bolts, for example) 104. The counterweight 20 is also attached to the large plate 68 (main body frame 18) by being fixed to the third counterweight mounting portion 96 (mounting hole 96a) and the fourth counterweight mounting portion 98 (mounting hole 98a) provided on the large plate 68 with fixing members 104.

[0038] The counterweight 20 is fixed to three locations, the counterweight mounting portions 92, 94, and 96, by inserting a fixing member 104 from above. The counterweight 20 is fixed to one location, the counterweight mounting portion 98, by inserting a fixing member 104 from below. In conventional work vehicles, the counterweight is fixed at multiple locations (e.g., two locations) from above and multiple locations (e.g., two locations) from below. In contrast, by limiting fixing from below to one location, as in this embodiment, the effort of accessing the lower mounting portion can be eliminated.

[0039] 7 and 8, the work vehicle 1 is provided with a partition plate 106 above the battery pack 64. Electrical components (such as a DC-DC converter in this embodiment) 66 are disposed on the upper surface of the partition plate 106. The electrical components 66 are fixed to the partition plate 106 by a plurality of fixing members 108 (bolts and nuts, for example), and the fixing members 108 protrude from the lower surface of the partition plate 106 (i.e., the surface facing the battery pack 64). Two protective plates 110 are disposed on the lower surface of the partition plate 106, spaced apart from each other in the front and rear, to cover the protruding fixing members 108. As an example, the protective plate 110 is a plate extending in the left-right direction and has a protruding portion 110a that protrudes downward in a side view. The cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion 110a is a trapezoid whose upper base is longer than its lower base and which widens upward. The protective plate 110 is disposed on the underside of the partition plate 106 so that the fixing member 108 is accommodated in the protrusion 110a. As a result, when the battery pack 64 is carried in or out by a forklift, if the battery pack 64 is lifted too high, the upper surface of the battery pack 64 abuts against the protective plate 110 (the lower base of the protrusion 110a). Therefore, there is no risk of the battery pack 64 coming into contact with the fixing member 108 and being damaged. However, the configuration and arrangement position of the protective plate 110 are not limited to these. The protective plate 110 also serves as a reinforcing member for the partition plate 106.

[0040] Here, the operation for removing the battery pack 64 from the work vehicle 1 will be described. First, the battery cover 60, which is hinged to the right side cover 58 so as to be rotatable left and right (including front and rear), is opened. Next, the multiple fixing members 104 that secure the counterweight 20 to the main frame 18 (counterweight mounting portions 92, 94, 96, 98) are removed, and the counterweight 20 is removed. Also, the multiple fixing members that secure the undercover to the main frame 18 (large plate 68) are removed, and the undercover is removed. Note that it does not matter in which order the counterweight 20 and undercover are removed. Next, the electrical connector attached to the battery pack 64 is removed. Next, the multiple rubber mounts 100 and multiple fixing members 102 that secure the battery pack 64 to the main frame 18 (mounting bases 80, 82, 84, 86) are removed. Next, the claws of the forklift are inserted from the rear of the vehicle body between the upper body 3 and the lower body 2 and positioned below the notch 70. By raising the claws in this state, the claws come into contact with the underside of the battery pack 64, and by raising the claws further, the battery pack 64 is lifted by the forklift. In this state, the forklift is moved rearward from the vehicle body, and the battery pack 64 can be removed from the work vehicle 1. When attaching the battery pack 64 to the work vehicle 1, these operations can be performed in reverse order.

[0041] In this way, in the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the battery pack 64 can be attached or detached simply by removing (attaching) the counterweight 20, undercover, and fixing members that fix the battery pack 64 to the main body frame 18, and transporting the battery pack 64 out (in) with a forklift.

[0042] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a work vehicle in which the battery pack can be easily attached and detached.

[0043] As an example of the work vehicle 1, a work vehicle in which the battery pack 64 can be attached and detached (carried in and out) using a forklift has been given, but it is of course also possible to attach and detach the battery pack using crane equipment or dedicated lifting equipment as in the conventional case.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above example (hydraulic excavator), but can be similarly applied to other work vehicles (for example, track loaders, carriers, etc.). [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Work vehicles 2 Lower body 3. Upper body 10 Running gear 12, 14 Work equipment 18 Main frame 20 Counterweight 64 Battery Pack 68 large board 70 Notch 72, 74 Vertical ribs 76 Horizontal rib 80, 82, 84, 86 Mounting base 92, 94, 96, 98 Counterweight mounting points 106 Partition 110 Protection plate

Claims

1. A work vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a traveling device, a hydraulically operated working device, and an electric motor that serves as a drive source for the traveling device or the working device, The vehicle body includes a main body frame at its lower portion, which is a strength member and a support member for mounted equipment, The main body frame has a large plate that serves as a bottom plate, the large plate has a notch at the rear portion thereof that is cut out so as to open rearward in a plan view, the notch allowing a support portion of a material handling and transporting device that carries in and out the battery pack to abut against the battery pack; An undercover that covers the notch is attached to the large plate, The battery pack is disposed above the notch. A work vehicle characterized by:

2. The notch is formed in a shape that exposes at least a portion forward of the center of gravity of the battery pack.

2. The work vehicle according to claim 1,

3. A partition plate is provided above the battery pack, A protective plate is provided on the surface of the partition plate facing the battery pack to cover fixing members for fixing electrical components provided on the other surface of the partition plate.

3. The work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

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