Work vehicles

Abstract

To provide a work vehicle that makes it easy to ensure a space for arranging a device other than a battery and enables easy replacement of the battery.SOLUTION: A work vehicle comprises: a vehicle body; an electric motor mounted on the vehicle body; a battery unit that includes a battery for storing electric power to be supplied to the electric motor and is arranged in a first position at the outer side of the vehicle body in a width direction; and a movement mechanism capable of moving the battery unit from the first position to a second position at the outer side relative to the first position in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work vehicle such as a tractor. [Background technology]

[0002] A known work vehicle is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. The work vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a tractor equipped with an electric motor and a battery. The battery is located inside the hood. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-60665 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the work vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the battery is located inside the hood, making it difficult to secure a large space inside the hood for arranging other equipment (e.g., a fuel cell module, etc.). To solve this problem, it is conceivable to place the battery on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body. However, this arrangement requires that the battery be placed close to the vehicle body, which makes it difficult to replace the battery.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a work vehicle that makes it easier to secure space for arranging equipment other than the battery, and that makes it easy to perform battery replacement work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems are characterized as follows.

[0007] A work vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle body, an electric motor mounted on the vehicle body, a battery unit including a battery for storing power supplied to the electric motor and disposed at a first position on the widthwise outer side of the vehicle body, and a movement mechanism that enables the battery unit to move from the first position to a second position that is widthwise outer than the first position. an inverter connected to the electric motor, a capacitor, a storage battery that supplies power to a device other than the electric motor, and a support that supports the inverter, the capacitor, and the storage battery; Equipped with The vehicle body has a front frame that forms the front portion of the vehicle body and a transmission case connected to the rear portion of the front frame, the movement mechanism has a slide rail that has a first member that is fixed to the vehicle body and extends in the width direction, and a second member that is movable in the width direction along the first member, the slide rail has a front rail that supports the front portion of the battery unit and a rear rail that supports the rear portion of the battery unit, the front rail is fixed to the front frame, the rear rail is fixed to the transmission case, and the support body is fixed to the transmission case and supports the inverter, the capacitor, and the storage battery on the opposite side of the transmission case from the battery unit. .

[0008] In addition, work vehicles an inverter connected to the electric motor; and a cable connecting the battery unit and the inverter, and the slide rail is a first support portion The battery unit is fixed to the vehicle body via a support member, and the battery unit has a first connector to which the cable can be attached and detached, and the first connector is provided at a position either in front of, above, or inside the vehicle width direction of the battery unit, and the cable can be detached at least when the battery unit is in a second position, and a second connector that can be connected to the first connector is provided at the end of the cable, and the second connector can be pulled out from the first support member in the vehicle width direction, and when the second connector is pulled out, an end of the second connector can reach the second position or the end of the second connector can be positioned outside the second position in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] The second member may be provided with a support leg for supporting the second member on the ground.

[0012] The support leg may be changeable between a first position in which it extends in a direction along the second member and does not contact the ground, and a second position in which it extends downward from the second member and contacts the ground.

[0013] The support leg may also have a wheel that comes into contact with the ground when the support leg is in the second position.

[0015] Furthermore, when the battery unit is in the second position, a space may be formed between the vehicle body and the battery unit, allowing an operator to stand on the slide rail in the space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] In the work vehicle according to the present invention, the battery unit is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body, which makes it easier to secure space inside the hood for arranging other equipment. In addition, the battery unit can be moved to the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body, which makes it easier to replace the battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1]1 is a left side view showing an example of a work vehicle according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a right side view showing an example of a work vehicle according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view showing an example of a work vehicle according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing an example of a work vehicle according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a work vehicle. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the configuration inside the battery unit (inside the housing). [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the body, first support body, second support body, etc. of the work vehicle. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a left side view showing the battery unit divided into an upper section and a lower section. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the work vehicle with the battery unit in the second position. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a front view of the work vehicle with the battery unit in the second position. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a slide rail, which is an example of a movement mechanism. [Figure 12] 3A and 3B are front views showing a state in which the support leg is in a first position and a state in which the support leg is in a second position. [Figure 13] 10 is a left side view of the work vehicle with the support leg in a second position. FIG. [Figure 14] 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure for fixing a first support member and a second support member to a vehicle body. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the first connector and the second connector are engaged (a state in which the battery unit is in a first position) and a state in which the first connector and the second connector are disengaged (a state in which the battery unit is in a second position). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The work vehicle 1 of this embodiment is a tractor. However, the work vehicle 1 according to the present invention is not limited to tractors. For example, the work vehicle 1 according to the present invention may be an agricultural machine, construction machine, utility vehicle, etc. other than a tractor. Furthermore, the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment is an FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) that is powered by electricity generated by a fuel cell. However, the work vehicle 1 according to the present invention is not limited to vehicles that are powered by electricity generated by a fuel cell, as long as it is a vehicle that is powered by electricity.

[0020] Hereinafter, the direction in which the work vehicle 1 moves forward (the direction of arrow X1 in Figures 1 and 2) will be referred to as the forward direction, the direction in which the work vehicle 1 moves backward (the direction of arrow X2 in Figures 1 and 2) will be referred to as the rearward direction, the left side when facing forward (the direction of arrow Y1 in Figures 3 and 4) will be referred to as the left side (or left side), and the right side when facing forward (the direction of arrow Y2 in Figures 3 and 4) will be referred to as the right side (or right side). Also, the direction (the direction of arrow Y in Figures 3 and 4) that is horizontally perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction (the direction of arrow X in Figures 1 and 2) will be referred to as the vehicle body width direction (or left-right direction).

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, work vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a driver's seat 15 mounted on vehicle body 2, a cabin 3 arranged around driver's seat 15, a traveling device 4 that supports vehicle body 2 so that it can travel, a fuel tank 5 that stores fuel, and a drive device 6 that is driven by the fuel stored in fuel tank 5. In this embodiment, fuel tank 5 is a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen gas. Drive device 6 drives the traveling device 4 using the hydrogen gas stored in fuel tank 5 as an energy source.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the drive device 6 has an electric motor 7, a fuel cell module 8, and a battery unit 9 (see also FIG. 5). The electric motor 7 drives the traveling device 4. Hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell module 8 from a fuel tank 5. The fuel cell module 8 generates electricity using the hydrogen gas and supplies the electricity to the electric motor 7. The fuel cell module 8 has a fuel cell stack. The battery unit 9 stores the electricity supplied from the fuel cell module 8 (electric power supplied to the electric motor 7).

[0023] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, etc., the vehicle body 2 has a front frame 2A and a transmission case 2B. The front frame 2A forms the front part of the vehicle body 2. The transmission case 2B is connected to the rear part of the front frame 2A and forms the rear part of the vehicle body 2. The front frame 2A is formed by combining metal frame materials and the like.

[0024] The vehicle body 2 supports a cabin 3, a traveling device 4, and a drive device 6. Although the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a cabin 3, the work vehicle 1 may not be equipped with a cabin 3. For example, the work vehicle 1 may be equipped with a canopy or ROPS instead of the cabin 3.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle body 2 is provided with a fixing frame 10 for fixing a fuel tank 5. The fuel cell module 8 is provided in a position towards the front of the upper part of the vehicle body 2. The fuel cell module 8 is housed inside the hood 11. That is, the fuel cell module 8 is provided in front of the driver's seat 15, and is covered by a housing (hood 11) at the front of the vehicle.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, an upper frame portion 10a of the fixed frame 10 is provided with a tank case 12 that houses a fuel tank 5. A rear frame portion 10b of the fixed frame 10 is provided with a gas filling port (receptacle) 13 (see Figure 5) that is connected to a gas filling nozzle (not shown) of a hydrogen gas supply device installed outside the vehicle when filling the fuel tank 5 with hydrogen gas.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1 etc., the fixed frame 10 is provided on the upper part of the vehicle body 2. The fixed frame 10 is a long-axis tubular body, and is formed in an arch shape that curves upward on the vehicle body 2 so as to straddle the cabin 3 and the hood 11. More specifically, the front end of the fixed frame 10 is connected to a position below and in front of the hood 11 on the vehicle body 2, and the rear end is connected to a position below and behind the cabin 3 on the vehicle body 2. Note that the fixed frame 10 may also be formed in an arch shape that curves upward on the vehicle body 2 so as to straddle the cabin 3 at a position behind the hood 11.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, a pair of fixing frames 10 are installed side by side on both the left and right sides of the hood 11. The fixing frames 10 support the tank case 12 from below at a position above the cabin 3. In other words, the fuel tank 5 is supported on the vehicle body 2 via the two fixing frames 10 on the left and right. The fixing frames 10 have both the function of stably supporting the fuel tank 5 and the function of absorbing vibrations of the vehicle body 2 during driving and work, thereby reducing impacts on the fuel tank 5.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the left and right upper frame portions 10a are each formed in a substantially straight line in the front-to-rear direction. The tank case 12 is supported and fixed to the left and right upper frame portions 10a. The left and right rear frame portions 10b are each formed in a substantially straight line in the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 4, a pair of upper and lower connecting bars 10c extending substantially parallel to each other in the left-to-right direction are provided between the left and right rear frame portions 10b.

[0030] The tank case 12 is a box-like body that can house multiple fuel tanks 5. The tank case 12 is fixed (rigidly fixed) to the upper frame portion 10a by fixing brackets, bolts and nuts, welding, etc. The tank case 12 of this embodiment is formed from steel of a material and thickness that can thermally and physically protect the fuel tanks 5 from the outside. The tank case 12 is formed in a box shape that covers the entire fuel tanks 5 that are housed therein, but it may also be formed in a bucket shape that opens upward, or in a cover shape that opens downward.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 and other figures, the cabin 3 is located at a rearward position on the upper part of the vehicle body 2. The cabin 3 has a front support pillar 3a located forward of the driver's seat 15, a rear support pillar 3b located rearward of the driver's seat 15, and a roof 3c located above the driver's seat 15. The front support pillars 3a are located to the left and right in front of the driver's seat 15. The rear support pillars 3b are located to the left and right rear of the driver's seat 15. The roof 3c is supported by the upper parts of the front support pillars 3a and the rear support pillars 3b. A lower member 3d is connected to the lower part of the front support pillar 3a and extends rearward from the lower part. The lower member 3d extends from the lower part of the front support pillar 3a to the lower part of the fender 14. The lower member 3d forms the lower part of the entrance and exit of the cabin 3. The upper frame portion 10a of the fixed frame 10 is formed to extend in the front-to-rear direction substantially parallel to the upper surface of the roof 3c. The tank case 12 is fixed to the upper frame portion 10a above the roof 3c.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 4, the cabin 3 is provided with a windshield 16 located in front of the driver's seat 15. The windshield 16 is provided between the left and right front support pillars 3a. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an openable and closable door 17 is provided on the side of the cabin 3. The door 17 is provided in the front part between the front support pillar 3a and the rear support pillar 3b. The door 17 is provided on each of the left and right parts of the cabin 3.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a step 19 is provided on one side (left side) of the cabin 3 in the vehicle body width direction. The step 19 is a member on which workers getting on and off the cabin 3 can place their feet. Workers can use the step 19 to get on and off the cabin 3 through the left door 17. The upper end of the step 19 is attached to the lower part of the front support pillar 3a and the lower member 3d of the cabin 3, and extends below the cabin 3.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a hood 11 is provided in front of the cabin 3. The hood 11 covers the upper part of the vehicle body 2 in front of the cabin 3. In the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the width of the hood 11 (the length in the vehicle body width direction) is smaller than the width of the cabin 3 (the length in the vehicle body width direction). An electric motor 7 and a fuel cell module 8 are arranged inside the hood 11.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell module 8 is disposed above the vehicle body 2. The electric motor 7 is disposed behind the fuel cell module 8. The electric motor 7 is disposed in a position overlapping with the vehicle body 2 (front frame 2A) in a side view. The upper end of the electric motor 7 is located below the upper end of the fuel cell module 8. The lower end of the electric motor 7 is located below the lower end of the fuel cell module 8.

[0036] The traveling device 4 has front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B. The front wheels 4A are provided on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle body 2. The rear wheels 4B are provided on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body 2. As shown in FIG. 3, in the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the distance between the outer end (left end) of the left rear wheel 4B and the outer end (right end) of the right rear wheel 4B is greater than the distance between the outer end (left end) of the left front wheel 4A and the outer end (right end) of the right front wheel 4A. The distance between the outer end of the left rear wheel 4B and the outer end of the right rear wheel 4B defines the maximum vehicle width of the work vehicle 1.

[0037] A fender 14 is provided above the rear wheel 4B. The fender 14 covers the upper side of the rear wheel 4B. The fender 14 curves along the upper surface of the rear wheel 4B. The upper edge of the fender 14 extends along the lower edge of the rear part of the cabin 3 (the part rearward of the lower member 3d).

[0038] In the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, power is transmitted from the electric motor 7 to either or both of the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B. Note that either or both of the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B, which receive power from the electric motor 7 and serve as drive wheels, may be crawlers.

[0039] The fuel tank 5 is a substantially cylindrical high-pressure container made of hard synthetic resin reinforced with carbon fiber or glass fiber. One or more fuel tanks 5 are housed inside a tank case 12 provided above the cabin 3. In the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, three fuel tanks 5 are housed side-by-side, front to back, inside the tank case 12. As such, in the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the fuel tanks 5 are disposed above the cabin 3 (driver's seat 15). This allows for a high degree of freedom in the arrangement of the electric motor 7, fuel cell module 8, and battery unit 9 relative to the vehicle body 2. Furthermore, when changing the design from a conventional engine-driven vehicle to a motor-driven vehicle such as the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment, there is no need to significantly change the arrangement of the various components.

[0040] The number of fuel tanks 5 mounted is not limited to three. For example, the work vehicle 1 may be equipped with only one fuel tank 5, two fuel tanks 5, or four or more fuel tanks 5. Furthermore, the location of the fuel tank 5 is not limited to a position above the cabin 3. For example, the fuel tank 5 may be provided at the rear of the cabin 3, in the space below the driver's seat 15, or inside the hood 11.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, the fuel tank 5 is connected to a gas inlet pipe L1 and a gas outlet pipe L2 via a valve unit 18. The gas inlet pipe L1 is a gas inlet line connecting the gas filler port 13 and the valve unit 18, and guides hydrogen gas introduced into the gas filler port 13 from outside the vehicle to the fuel tank 5. The gas outlet pipe L2 is a gas outlet line connecting the fuel cell module 8 and the valve unit 18, and guides hydrogen gas stored in the fuel tank 5 to the fuel cell module 8. In this way, the fuel tank 5 stores hydrogen gas introduced into the gas filler port 13 from outside the vehicle and supplies it to the fuel cell module 8. The valve unit 18 has an on-off valve, a pressure reducing valve, etc., and adjusts the hydrogen gas stored in the fuel tank 5 to a predetermined flow rate before delivering it to the fuel cell module 8 through the gas outlet pipe L2.

[0042] The electric motor 7 has a rotating rotor and a stator with multiple coils, and rotates an output shaft at a predetermined torque and rotational speed. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric motor 7 is disposed behind the fuel cell module 8 and below the driver's seat 15. The output shaft of the electric motor 7 is connected to a power transmission mechanism inside the transmission case 2B.

[0043] It should be noted that a plurality of electric motors 7 may be mounted on the work vehicle 1. In more detail, for example, the work vehicle 1 is provided with an electric motor 7 for the front wheels 4A and an electric motor 7 for the rear wheels 4B, and the power of these electric motors 7 is output to the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B, respectively. Alternatively, an electric motor 7 is provided independently for all four wheels, the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B, and the power of these electric motors 7 is output to the corresponding front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B, respectively.

[0044] The transmission case 2B is connected to the rear of the electric motor 7. The transmission case 2B incorporates a power transmission mechanism such as a transmission, clutch, and differential gear inside, and reduces or increases the speed of the power input from the output shaft of the electric motor 7 and outputs it to the traveling device 4 (front wheels 4A and / or rear wheels 4B). The work vehicle 1 of this embodiment is provided with only one electric motor 7 on the top of the vehicle body 2, and the power of the electric motor 7 is distributed and output to the left and right rear wheels 4B inside the transmission case 2B.

[0045] The power transmission mechanism within the transmission case 2B not only outputs the power of the electric motor 7 to the traveling device 4, but also outputs a portion of that power to a PTO shaft (not shown) provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The PTO shaft is connected to the transmission case 2B and transmits the power of the electric motor 7 to a work implement E1 (see FIG. 5) that is connected to the work vehicle 1 when used. The work implement E1 is, for example, a cultivator or a baler. In this way, the work vehicle 1 of this embodiment can also operate the work implement using power generated by the fuel cell module 8.

[0046] The fuel cell module 8 is constructed by arranging a plurality of unit cells, each having two types of electrodes (positive and negative), in a stacked state inside a roughly rectangular box-shaped cell casing, and by combining the power generated by each unit cell, generates the voltage and current required to drive the electric motor 7. The fuel cell module 8 is connected to radiators 21 and 22 through refrigerant flow paths (not shown), and the electrodes are adjusted to a predetermined temperature by circulating and supplying a temperature-adjusting coolant from the radiators 21 and 22. This allows the fuel cell module 8 to maintain high power generation efficiency.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5 , the fuel cell module 8 is connected to an inverter 24 via a boost circuit 23. The boost circuit 23 boosts the voltage of the power generated by the fuel cell module 8. The inverter 24 is electrically connected to the electric motor 7. The inverter 24 converts the DC power input from the boost circuit 23 into three-phase AC power and outputs it to the electric motor 7. The fuel cell module 8 drives the electric motor 7 with the power boosted by the boost circuit 23. The work vehicle 1 also has low-voltage electrical components that operate at a lower voltage than the electric motor 7, and these low-voltage electrical components are supplied with power that has been stepped down by a step-down circuit. The work vehicle 1 of this embodiment has a battery unit 9, radiators 21, 22, and an air conditioner 25 as the low-voltage electrical components, and a first DC / DC converter 26 and a second DC / DC converter 27 as the step-down circuits.

[0048] The first DC / DC converter 26 and the second DC / DC converter 27 are step-down converters that convert the voltage of the input DC power to a lower voltage. The first DC / DC converter 26 supplies the power stepped down as described above to the battery unit 9 and the air conditioner 25. The second DC / DC converter 27 supplies the power stepped down as described above to the radiators 21 and 22. The inverter 24, the first DC / DC converter 26, and the second DC / DC converter 27 are disposed in an upper part of the vehicle body 2 below the driver's seat 15.

[0049] 1, the fuel cell module 8 and the radiators 21, 22 are housed inside the hood 11. The radiators 21, 22 are provided in front and behind the fuel cell module 8, respectively, on the upper part of the vehicle body 2. The radiators 21, 22 include a first radiator 21 disposed in front of the fuel cell module 8 and a second radiator 22 disposed behind the fuel cell module 8.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the first radiator 21 and the second radiator 22 constitute a cooling system that cools electrical components such as the fuel cell module 8, the electric motor 7, the boost circuit 23, the inverter 24, and the DC / DC converters 26, 27 using a coolant (refrigerant).

[0051] The first radiator 21 cools the coolant supplied through the first cooling flow path H1 by heat exchange with the external air. The second radiator 22 cools the coolant supplied through the second cooling flow path H2 by heat exchange with the external air. The first radiator 21 and the second radiator 22 have radiator fans 35, 36 (first fan 35 and second fan 36), respectively, and by driving the radiator fans 35, 36 to rotate, air is circulated through the first radiator 21 and the second radiator 22, respectively, thereby promoting heat exchange with the coolant.

[0052] The first radiator 21 is connected via a first cooling flow path H1 to electrical components (heat-generating components) that require cooling, such as the electric motor 7, the boost circuit 23, the inverter 24, and the DC / DC converters 26 and 27. The second radiator 22 is connected to the fuel cell module 8 via a second cooling flow path H2.

[0053] The first cooling flow path H1 has a first circulation pump 33, which circulates the coolant between the first radiator 21 and the electrical components including the electric motor 7. The second cooling flow path H2 has a second circulation pump 34, which circulates the coolant between the second radiator 22 and the fuel cell module 8. In this way, the second radiator 22 is connected to the cooling flow path H2 of the fuel cell module 8, and cools the coolant circulated between the second radiator 22 and the fuel cell module 8 through heat exchange, thereby adjusting the internal electrodes of the fuel cell module 8 to a predetermined temperature. This allows the fuel cell module 8 to maintain high power generation efficiency.

[0054] The battery unit 9 stores the power supplied to the electric motor 7. As shown in Fig. 6, the battery unit 9 includes a battery pack 9A, a battery management unit 9B, an electric circuit 9C, and a housing 9D. The battery unit 9 temporarily stores the power generated by the fuel cell module 8 and outputs the stored power to the inverter 24 etc. as appropriate.

[0055] The battery pack 9A is composed of multiple batteries 9A1. The batteries 9A1 that make up the battery pack 9A are charge-discharge type secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries. The batteries 9A1 can store the power generated by the fuel cell module 8. The battery management unit 9B is a unit that monitors the state of the batteries 9A1. The electric circuit 9C can include various electric circuits such as an ECU and a voltage conversion circuit. The housing 9D houses the battery pack 9A, the battery management unit 9B, and the electric circuit 9C.

[0056] The arrangement of the battery unit 9 will be described in detail below.

[0057] 1 to 4 and 7, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. In other words, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 (i.e., on the side of the vehicle body 2), rather than above (inside the hood 11, etc.) or below the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle body 2, but it may also be disposed on the left side of the vehicle body 2.

[0058] 1, the battery unit 9 is disposed between the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B in a side view. In other words, the battery unit 9 is disposed at a position sandwiched between the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. This makes it possible to dispose the battery unit 9 on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 without increasing the width of the work vehicle 1.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery unit 9 is disposed in a position overlapping the step 19 in a side view. In other words, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the opposite side of the vehicle body 2 from the step 19. Because the battery unit 9 is provided on the opposite side of the step 19, a wide space can be secured for arranging the battery unit 9 without being obstructed by the step 19. In addition, the battery unit 9 does not obstruct workers getting in and out of the cabin 3.

[0060] 1, the battery unit 9 is disposed in a position overlapping with the electric motor 7 in a side view. The battery unit 9 is disposed in a position overlapping with the transmission case 2B in a side view. The battery unit 9 is disposed in a position overlapping with the radiator (second radiator 22) in a side view.

[0061] 2, the battery unit 9 is disposed in a position overlapping the inverter 24 in a side view. This reduces the distance between the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24, shortening the length of the wiring connecting the two and facilitating the routing of the wiring.

[0062] 1, 2, and 7, the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24 are disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle body 2. Specifically, the inverter 24 is disposed on one side (left side) in the vehicle body width direction, and the battery unit 9 is disposed on the other side (right side) in the vehicle body width direction. However, the battery unit 9 may be disposed on the left side (left side) of the vehicle body 2, and the inverter 24 may be disposed on the right side (right side) of the vehicle body 2.

[0063] 3 and 4, the outer end 91 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located inside the outer end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the right end of the battery unit 9 is located to the left of the right end of the rear wheel 4B. As a result, even if the battery unit 9 is disposed on the outside in the vehicle body 2 width direction, the maximum vehicle width of the work vehicle 1 is not increased.

[0064] Additionally, the outer end 91 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located outboard of the outer end of the front wheel 4A in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the right end of the battery unit 9 is to the right of the right end of the front wheel 4A. By combining this arrangement with the arrangement of the outer end 91 of the battery unit 9, it is possible to increase the size of the battery unit 9 on the outside in the vehicle width direction without increasing the maximum vehicle width of the work vehicle 1.

[0065] 3 and 4, the inner end 92 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located inside the inner end of the front wheel 4A in the vehicle width direction. The width (length in the vehicle width direction) of the battery unit 9 is greater than the width of the front wheel 4A. These configurations make it possible to enlarge the battery unit 9 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0066] 7, the inner end 92 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located at the same position (or approximately the same position) as the inner end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction. The width (length in the vehicle width direction) of the battery unit 9 is smaller than the width of the rear wheel 4B. This prevents the battery unit 9 from coming into contact with the ridges, for example, when the left and right rear wheels 4B are used to travel across the ridges in a field.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is higher than the upper end of the front wheel 4A and lower than the upper end of the rear wheel 4B. The upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is also lower than the upper end of the fender 14 and higher than the lower end of the fender 14. The upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is also higher than the lower end of the cabin 3 and lower than the upper end of the cabin 3. The upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is also lower than the handle 17a of the door 17. The upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is also lower than the lamp 20 attached to the front support 3a of the cabin 3.

[0068] 1, the upper end 93 of the battery unit 9 is located below the driver's seat 15. The battery unit 9 is also located below an imaginary line SL1 (a tangent to the front wheel 4A) that connects the upper end of the driver's seat 15 and the upper part of the outer circumferential surface of the front wheel 4A. This makes it possible to avoid affecting the forward visibility of an operator seated in the driver's seat 15 of the cabin 3.

[0069] 1, the battery unit 9 overlaps with the fuel cell module 8 in the vertical direction. The battery unit 9 also overlaps with the electric motor 7 in the vertical direction. This reduces the distance between the battery unit 9 and the fuel cell module 8 and the electric motor 7, which, combined with the positional relationship between the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24 described above, makes it easier to arrange the wiring between the electric motor 7, fuel cell module 8, battery unit 9, and inverter 24.

[0070] 1, the lower end 94 of the battery unit 9 is located below the vehicle body 2. The lower end 94 of the battery unit 9 is located below the axles 4A1 of the front wheels 4A and the axles 4B1 of the rear wheels 4B. This allows the battery unit 9 to have a long vertical length.

[0071] As shown in Figures 1, 6, etc., the battery unit 9 has a lower section 9a arranged below the cabin 3 and a front section 9b arranged in front of the cabin 3. The front section 9b is a rectangular section in a side view arranged in front of the cabin 3. The lower section 9a is a rectangular section in a side view arranged below the front section 9b. In other words, the lower section 9a is the section of the battery unit 9 excluding the front section 9b (including the portion arranged below the front section 9b).

[0072] The lower portion 9a and the front portion 9b are both rectangular parallelepiped shaped. The length of the lower portion 9a in the front-to-rear direction is longer than the length of the front portion 9b in the front-to-rear direction. The length of the lower portion 9a in the up-to-down direction is longer than the length of the front portion 9b in the up-to-down direction. The width of the lower portion 9a (length in the vehicle body width direction) is equal to the width of the front portion 9b (length in the vehicle body width direction). However, the width of the lower portion 9a and the width of the front portion 9b may be different. The front portion 9b is located above the vehicle body 2 and overlaps with the hood 11 in a side view. The lower portion 9a overlaps with the vehicle body 2 (front frame 2A and transmission case 2B) in a side view.

[0073] The lower section 9a and the front section 9b are integrated so that their internal spaces communicate with each other. In other words, the lower section 9a and the front section 9b are configured as a single housing 9D. The outer shape of the battery unit 9 matches the outer shape of the housing 9D. However, the lower section 9a and the front section 9b may be configured as separate housings 9D (see FIG. 8). In FIG. 8, the boundary between the two housings 9D (the boundary between the lower section 9a and the front section 9b) is indicated by line BL1. When the lower section 9a and the front section 9b are configured as separate housings 9D, the two housings 9D are connected using a connector such as a binder or a pin.

[0074] 1, the battery unit 9 is L-shaped in side view. In this embodiment, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle body 2, and therefore the battery unit 9 is L-shaped (a shape obtained by flipping an L shape left and right) in side view from inside the vehicle body. If the battery unit 9 is disposed on the left side of the vehicle body 2, the battery unit 9 will be L-shaped in side view from outside the vehicle body.

[0075] As shown in Figure 6, the battery pack 9A is arranged in the lower section 9a. The battery management unit 9B is arranged in the lower section 9a. The electrical circuit 9C is arranged in the front section 9b. In this way, in the battery unit 9, the battery pack 9A, which is heavy, is arranged in the lower section 9a, and the electrical circuit 9C, which is lighter than the battery pack 9A, is arranged in the front section 9b. This allows the center of gravity of the work vehicle 1 to be lowered.

[0076] In this embodiment, the battery unit 9 includes both the lower portion 9a and the front portion 9b, but the battery unit 9 may include only one of the lower portion 9a and the front portion 9b. In this case, the battery unit 9 may have a rectangular shape in a side view.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 1 , the battery unit 9 overlaps with the cabin 3 in the fore-and-aft direction. More specifically, the battery unit 9 overlaps with the front support pillar 3a and the lower member 3d in the fore-and-aft direction. Furthermore, the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the fender 14 in the fore-and-aft direction. The battery unit 9 is disposed from below the front support pillar 3a to below the fender 14. Furthermore, the battery unit 9 overlaps with the lamp 20 in the fore-and-aft direction. Furthermore, the battery unit 9 overlaps with the tank case 12 in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0078] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 is disposed in front of the front support pillar 3a. The front portion 9b extends upward along the front support pillar 3a in front of the front support pillar 3a. The lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 extends in the front-rear direction along the lower member 3d below the lower member 3d. The battery unit 9 is disposed in a position that does not overlap with the door 17 in a side view. This prevents the battery unit 9 from interfering with the opening and closing of the door 17. The lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the door 17 in the front-rear direction.

[0079] 4, the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the windshield 16 in a front view. That is, a portion of the front portion 9b is disposed in front of the windshield 16. The front portion 9b is also disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the hood 11. The upper end of the front portion 9b (the upper end 93 of the battery unit 9) is located lower than the upper end of the hood 11.

[0080] 3, the battery unit 9 is disposed at a position overlapping with the cabin 3 in a plan view. The battery unit 9 is disposed at a position overlapping with the tank case 12 in a plan view. The battery unit 9 is disposed at a position overlapping with the fender 14 in a plan view. The battery unit 9 is disposed at a position overlapping with the lamp 20 in a plan view.

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 , the battery unit 9 is supported by a first support 30. The first support 30 is fixed to the vehicle body 2 (specifically, the lower part of the vehicle body 2). The inverter 24 is supported by a second support 31. The second support 31 is also fixed to the vehicle body 2 (specifically, the lower part of the vehicle body 2). In other words, the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24 are both fixed by supports (the first support 30 and the second support 31) fixed to the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the first support 30 and the second support 31 are separate members, but they may be formed from a common member. The second support 31 supports a capacitor 28 and a storage battery 29 in addition to the inverter 24. The capacitor 28 is disposed between the inverter 24 and the vehicle body 2. The storage battery 29 is disposed in front of the inverter 24. The storage battery 29 supplies power to various devices (excluding the electric motor 7) mounted on the vehicle body 2.

[0082] The first support 30 supports the battery unit 9 so that it is raised above the ground. The first support 30 may support the battery unit 9 so that it is immovable relative to the vehicle body 2, but it is preferable that the first support 30 supports the battery unit 9 so that it is movable relative to the vehicle body 2. In the present embodiment, the first support 30 supports the battery unit 9 so that it is movable relative to the vehicle body 2. Hereinafter, the first support 30 that supports the battery unit 9 so that it is movable relative to the vehicle body 2 will be referred to as a movement mechanism 40.

[0083] The movement mechanism 40 is capable of moving the battery unit 9 from a first position to a second position that is further outward in the vehicle width direction than the first position. In other words, the movement mechanism 40 is capable of moving the battery unit 9 laterally away from the vehicle body 2. In the present embodiment, since the battery unit 9 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle body 2, the movement mechanism 40 is capable of moving the battery unit 9 to the right. If the battery unit 9 is disposed on the left side of the vehicle body 2, the movement mechanism 40 is capable of moving the battery unit 9 to the left.

[0084] 3 and 4 show a state in which the battery unit 9 is in a first position P1. When the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1, the outer end 91 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located more inward than the outer end of the rear wheel 4B. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a state in which the battery unit 9 is in a second position P2. When the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, the outer end 91 of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located more outward than the outer end of the rear wheel 4B.

[0085] Preferably, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, the inner end of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located outward from the outer end of the rear wheel 4B (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In other words, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, it is sufficient that at least a part of the battery unit 9 is located outward from the outer end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction, but it is preferable that the entire battery unit 9 is located outward from the outer end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction.

[0086] When the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, if the entire battery unit 9 is located outside the outer end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction, a large space is formed between the battery unit 9 and the vehicle body 2, making it easy to replace the battery unit 9 (replace the battery pack 9A, etc.).

[0087] 11 , in this embodiment, the movement mechanism 40 has slide rails 41. By having the movement mechanism 40 have the slide rails 41, the movement direction of the battery unit 9 can be accurately determined. Therefore, the battery unit 9 can be reliably moved outward in the vehicle body width direction (from the first position P1 to the second position P2). However, the movement mechanism 40 is not limited to the slide rails 41.

[0088] The slide rail 41 is made of a rigid material such as metal. The slide rail 41 has a first member 42 and a second member 43. The first member 42 is fixed to the vehicle body 2. The first member 42 extends outward in the vehicle body width direction from the vehicle body 2. The second member 43 is movable (slidable) in the vehicle body width direction along the first member 42.

[0089] As shown in Figures 1, 11, etc., the slide rail 41 has a front rail 41A and a rear rail 41B that are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The front rail 41A supports the front of the battery unit 9. The rear rail 41B supports the rear of the battery unit 9. The front rail 41A and the rear rail 41B are connected by a base plate 41C. The base plate 41C is fixed to the second member 43. The battery unit 9 is placed on the upper surface of the base plate 41C.

[0090] 7, the slide rail 41 is fixed to the vehicle body 2. More specifically, the slide rail 41 is fixed to the vehicle body 2 via a first support member 46, which will be described later. The front rail 41A is fixed to the front frame 2A. The rear rail 41B is fixed to the transmission case 2B.

[0091] As shown in Figures 7 and 14, a first support member 46 that supports the slide rail 41 is fixed to the vehicle body 2. The first support member 46 has a first portion 46a that extends in the vehicle body width direction along the front rail 41A, a second portion 46b that extends in the vehicle body width direction along the rear rail 41B, and a third portion 46c that connects the tip (outer end) of the first portion 46a to the tip (outer end) of the second portion 46b. The first portion 46a is fixed to the front frame 2A. The second portion 46b is fixed to the transmission case 2B. The first member 42 of the slide rail 41 is attached to the first support member 46.

[0092] As shown in Fig. 7, the second support body 31 is fixed to the transmission case 2B by a second support member 55. The second support body 31 extends from the transmission case 2B toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body 2. As shown in Fig. 14, the second support member 55 is fixed to the lower part of the transmission case 2B.

[0093] The battery unit 9 can move between a first position P1 and a second position P2 by the movement of the second member 43 and the base plate 41C relative to the first member 42. The battery unit 9 is located at the first position P1 when the slide rail 41 is in the shortest state (when the amount of protrusion of the second member 43 relative to the first member 42 is maximum) (see the upper diagram in FIG. 11). The battery unit 9 is located at the second position P2 when the slide rail 41 is in the longest state (when the amount of protrusion of the second member 43 relative to the first member 42 is minimum) (see the lower diagram in FIG. 11).

[0094] 1, a fixture 47 for fixing the battery unit 9 on the base plate 41C is attached to the base plate 41C. The fixture 47 is a string-like member that is hung from the left to the right of the base plate 41C so as to press the battery unit 9 from above.

[0095] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the second member 43 of the slide rail 41 is provided with a support leg 44 that supports the second member 43 on the ground. The support leg 44 is attached to the second member 43 via a bracket 56. The bracket 56 is provided with a support shaft 53 (see FIG. 12) that rotatably supports the support leg 44. As shown in FIG. 12, the support leg 44 can rotate around the support shaft 53. This allows the support leg 44 to change its position between a first position (see FIGS. 4, phantom lines in FIG. 12, and FIG. 1) in which it extends in a direction along the second member 43 and does not contact the ground, and a second position (see FIGS. 10, solid lines in FIG. 12, and FIG. 13) in which it extends downward from the second member 43 and contacts the ground. In the first position, the support leg 44 extends in the vehicle body width direction parallel (or approximately parallel) to the second member 43.

[0096] The support legs 44 can be in a first position when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1, and in a second position when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2. This prevents the slide rails 41 from being in a cantilevered state when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2. This prevents the slide rails 41 from bending downward or deforming due to the weight of the battery unit 9. The support legs 44 can be in either the first position or the second position when the battery unit 9 is in a position between the first position P1 and the second position P2.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 11 , the slide rail 41 has a holding mechanism 60 that holds the position of the support leg 44. The holding mechanism 60 is configured to be able to switch between a first state in which the position of the support leg 44 is held in a first position and a second state in which the position of the support leg 44 is held in a second position by swinging a lever 61. The specific configuration of the holding mechanism 60 is not particularly limited, but for example, the holding mechanism 60 can be configured to include a holding member that moves in conjunction with the swing of the lever 61, and to abut against the support leg 44 in the first position when the holding mechanism 60 is in the first state, thereby holding the support leg 44 in the first position, and to abut against the support leg 44 in the second position when the holding mechanism 60 is in the second state, thereby holding the support leg 44 in the second position.

[0098] 10, 12, 13, etc., the support legs 44 preferably have wheels 45 that come into contact with the ground when in the second position. When the second member 43 is moved in the vehicle body width direction relative to the first member 42, by bringing the support legs 44 into the second position and bringing the wheels 45 into contact with the ground, the second member 43 can be moved easily and smoothly with little force relative to the first member 42.

[0099] Since the battery unit 9 moves only in the width direction of the vehicle body, the orientation of the wheels 45 may be constant, but the orientation of the wheels 45 may also be changeable to accommodate unevenness of the ground, etc. If the orientation of the wheels 45 is changeable, the wheels 45 may be in the form of casters including wheels that can rotate around an axis in the vertical direction, for example.

[0100] If the support legs 44 have wheels 45, it is preferable that the support legs 44 be changeable from the first position to the second position when the battery unit 9 is at the first position P1 or at a position between the first position P1 and the second position P2. In this way, the operation of moving the battery unit 9 outward in the vehicle width direction (pulling out the second member 43 from the first member 42) can be easily and smoothly performed by the rolling of the wheels 45 that are in contact with the ground.

[0101] The support legs 44 may be extendable instead of being position-adjustable. In this case, by extending the support legs 44, the support legs 44 can be placed in a state where they are in contact with the ground. Also, by shortening the support legs 44, the support legs 44 can be placed in a state where they are not in contact with the ground.

[0102] In this embodiment, one support leg 44 is provided on each of the front rail 41A and the rear rail 41B. In other words, one support leg 44 is provided on each slide rail 41. However, two or more support legs 44 may be provided on each slide rail 41. For example, two or more support legs 44 may be provided at intervals along the length of the slide rail 41.

[0103] As shown in the left diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 15, when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1, almost no space is formed between the vehicle body 2 and the battery unit 9 (for example, between the hood 11 and the battery unit 9). On the other hand, as shown in the right diagrams of FIGS. 9 and 15, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, a space S1 is formed between the vehicle body 2 and the battery unit 9. That is, when the battery unit 9 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, a relatively large space S1 is formed between the vehicle body 2 and the battery unit 9 (particularly, between the hood 11 and the battery unit 9). The length of this space S1 in the vehicle body width direction (i.e., the length of the gap between the vehicle body 2 and the battery unit 9) is long enough for at least one worker to fit inside. Therefore, a worker can stand on the slide rail 41 (for example, the front rail 41A) in this space S1. Therefore, the slide rail 41 can be used as a foothold for performing work on the vehicle body 2 (for example, loading and unloading the fuel tank 5). This allows the worker to perform work on the vehicle body 2 without being hindered by the battery unit 9.

[0104] As shown in Fig. 15, the work vehicle 1 is provided with a cable 50 that connects the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24. The cable 50 electrically connects the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24. The battery unit 9 has a first connector 51 to which the cable 50 can be attached and detached. The first connector 51 is provided at a position on the front side, upper side, or inner side in the vehicle width direction of the battery unit 9. A second connector 52 that can be connected to the first connector 51 is provided at the end of the cable 50.

[0105] In this embodiment, the first connector 51 is provided on the inner side of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction. The cable 50 extends from the vehicle body 2 toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. When the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2 (see the right diagram in FIG. 15 ), the battery unit 9 moves away from the vehicle body 2, allowing an operator to easily access the first connector 51. Therefore, the connector 51 allows the cable 50 to be removed when the battery unit 9 is at least in the second position P2.

[0106] The cable 50 may be removed from the first connector 51 when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1 or the second position P2. Fig. 15 shows the state in which the first connector 51 and the second connector 52 are disengaged (see arrow A1) and the cable 50 is removed from the first connector 51 when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1 (see the left diagram).

[0107] For example, if the second connector 52 (cable 50) is fixed immovably to the first support member 46, the battery unit 9 can be moved to the second position P2 by removing the cable 50 (second connector 52) from the first connector 51 when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1.

[0108] Furthermore, if the second connector 52 (cable 50) can be pulled out from the first support member 46 in the vehicle width direction, and the end of the second connector 52 does not reach the second position P2 when the second connector 52 (cable 50) is pulled out, i.e., if the length of the cable 50 is short (if it cannot be extended to the second position P2), the battery unit 9 can be moved to the second position P2 by removing the cable 50 (second connector 52) from the first connector 51 when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1.

[0109] Furthermore, if the second connector 52 (cable 50) can be pulled out from the first support member 46 in the vehicle width direction, and if the end of the second connector 52 reaches the second position P2 when the second connector 52 (cable 50) is pulled out, or if the end of the second connector 52 can be positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction than the second position P2, that is, if the cable 50 is long (can be extended to the second position P2), then the battery unit 9 can be moved to the second position P2 while the second connector 52 remains connected to the first connector 51. When the battery unit 9 has reached the second position P2 or near the second position, the cable 50 can be easily removed from the first connector 51 by removing the cable 50 (second connector 52) from the first connector 51.

[0110] The work vehicle 1 according to the above embodiment can achieve the following effects.

[0111] The work vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body 2, an electric motor 7 mounted on the vehicle body 2, and a battery unit 9 including a battery that stores power supplied to the electric motor 7, and the battery unit 9 is arranged on the outside of the vehicle body 2 in the width direction.

[0112] According to this configuration, the battery unit 9 is positioned on the widthwise outer side of the vehicle body 2, making it easier to secure space for placing other equipment (e.g., fuel cell module 8, etc.) on the widthwise inner side of the vehicle body 2 (e.g., inside the hood 11).

[0113] The work vehicle 1 also includes a traveling device 4 having front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B, and the battery unit 9 is disposed between the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B in a side view.

[0114] With this configuration, the battery unit 9 can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space formed between the front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 (a space where a fuel tank, etc., has traditionally been placed in engine-driven work vehicles). Specifically, since the front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B protrude outward (outside in the width direction) from the vehicle body 2, a space is formed between the front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, and this space can be used to arrange the battery unit 9.

[0115] The outer end of the battery unit 9 in the vehicle width direction is located outside the outer end of the front wheel 4A in the vehicle width direction and inside the outer end of the rear wheel 4B in the vehicle width direction.

[0116] According to this configuration, the battery unit 9 can be arranged without increasing the width of the work vehicle 1 while ensuring that the width of the battery unit 9 is as large as possible.

[0117] The work vehicle 1 also has a driver's seat 15 mounted on the vehicle body 2 and a cabin 3 arranged around the driver's seat 15, and the battery unit 9 has a lower portion 9a arranged below the cabin 3.

[0118] According to this configuration, the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space formed below the cabin 3. Furthermore, by arranging the lower portion 9a, which is part or all of the heavy battery unit 9, below the cabin 3, the center of gravity of the work vehicle 1 can be lowered, and the stability of the work vehicle 1 when traveling can be improved.

[0119] The battery unit 9 also has a front portion 9b disposed in front of the cabin 3.

[0120] According to this configuration, the space formed in front of the cabin 3 can be effectively utilized to arrange the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9.

[0121] The cabin 3 also has a front support 3a positioned forward of the driver's seat 15, a rear support 3b positioned behind the driver's seat 15, and a roof 3c positioned above the driver's seat 15, and the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the front support 3a in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0122] According to this configuration, the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 is located below the front support pillar 3a, which is a member having high rigidity, so that the front support pillar 3a of the cabin 3 can protect at least a portion above the lower portion 9a.

[0123] The work vehicle 1 also includes a fender 14 provided above the rear wheels 4B, and the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the fender 14 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0124] According to this configuration, the fender 14 can protect at least a portion above the lower portion 9a of the battery unit 9.

[0125] Furthermore, the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 extends upward along the front support column 3a in front of the front support column 3a.

[0126] According to this configuration, the gap between the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 and the front portion of the cabin 3 can be reduced, so that the space in front of the cabin 3 can be effectively utilized to place the battery unit 9.

[0127] The cabin 3 also includes a windshield 16 disposed in front of the driver's seat 15, and the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 overlaps with the windshield 16 in a front view.

[0128] This configuration makes it possible to ensure a large width (width in the vehicle body width direction) of the battery unit 9. Also, the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 can protect a part of the windshield 16 (the portion overlapping with the front portion 9b).

[0129] The work vehicle 1 also includes a hood 11 that covers the upper part of the vehicle body 2 in front of the cabin 3, and the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 is disposed outside the hood 11 in the width direction.

[0130] According to this configuration, the space formed in front of the cabin 3 and outside the hood 11 in the width direction can be effectively used to arrange the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9.

[0131] The upper end of the front portion 9b is located lower than the upper end of the hood 11.

[0132] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the front portion 9b of the battery unit 9 from blocking the forward visibility of the worker riding on the work vehicle 1.

[0133] In addition, a step 19 is provided on one side of the cabin 3 in the vehicle width direction, where workers can place their feet when getting on and off the cabin 3, and the battery unit 9 is positioned on the other side of the vehicle width direction, in a position that overlaps with the step 19 in a side view.

[0134] According to this configuration, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the opposite side of the step 19 in the vehicle body width direction, and therefore the battery unit 9 can be disposed without being obstructed by the step 19. Therefore, the convenience of workers getting on and off the cabin 3 is not impaired by the placement of the battery unit 9.

[0135] The upper end of the battery unit 9 is located above the upper ends of the front wheels 4A and below the upper ends of the rear wheels 4B.

[0136] With this configuration, the upper end of the battery unit 9 is higher than the upper ends of the front wheels 4A, ensuring a long vertical length for the battery unit 9. Furthermore, because the upper end of the battery unit 9 is lower than the upper ends of the rear wheels 4B, the battery unit 9 is not visible when viewed from behind, and the appearance of the work vehicle 1 when viewed from behind is not marred by the battery unit 9.

[0137] The work vehicle 1 also has a driver's seat 15 mounted on the vehicle body 2, and the battery unit 9 is positioned below an imaginary straight line SL1 connecting the upper end of the driver's seat 15 and the upper outer circumferential surface of the front wheel 4A.

[0138] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the forward visibility of the operator seated in the operator's seat 15 from being blocked by the battery unit 9.

[0139] In addition, an openable and closable door 17 is provided on the side of the cabin 3, and the battery unit 9 is positioned so as not to overlap with the door 17 in a side view, and the front-to-rear position of the lower portion 9a overlaps with the door 17.

[0140] With this configuration, the battery unit 9 is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the door 17 in a side view, which prevents the battery unit 9 from interfering with the opening and closing of the door 17. In addition, since the position of the lower portion 9a in the front-rear direction overlaps with the door 17, the battery unit 9 can be disposed in the space below the door 17.

[0141] The lower end of the battery unit 9 is located below the vehicle body 2.

[0142] According to this configuration, the battery unit 9, which is a heavy object, is positioned lower, so the center of gravity of the work vehicle 1 can be lowered, and the stability of the work vehicle 1 when traveling can be improved.

[0143] The battery unit 9 also has a battery pack 9A including a battery 9A1, an electric circuit 9C, and a housing 9D that houses the battery pack 9A and the electric circuit 9C, and the battery pack 9A is disposed in the lower portion 9a.

[0144] According to this configuration, by arranging the battery pack 9A, one of the components of the battery unit 9, in the lower portion 9a, a large space can be secured for arranging the battery pack 9A, and the capacity of the battery pack 9A can be increased. Furthermore, by arranging the battery pack 9A, which is a heavy object, in the lower portion 9a, the center of gravity of the work vehicle 1 can be lowered, and the stability of the work vehicle 1 when traveling can be improved.

[0145] The work vehicle 1 also includes a fuel cell module 8 and a fuel tank 5 that stores fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell module 8, and a battery 9A1 that stores the electric power generated by the fuel cell module 8.

[0146] According to this configuration, for a work vehicle 1 powered by a fuel cell module 8, it becomes easier to secure space on the inner side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 (for example, inside the hood 11) for arranging other equipment (for example, the fuel cell module 8, etc.).

[0147] The work vehicle 1 also includes a body 2, an electric motor 7 mounted on the body 2, a battery unit 9 including a battery that stores power supplied to the electric motor 7 and arranged at a first position P1 on the outside in the width direction of the body 2, and a movement mechanism 40 that enables the battery unit 9 to move from the first position P1 to a second position P2 that is outside the first position P1 in the width direction of the body.

[0148] According to this configuration, the battery unit 9 is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2, which makes it easier to ensure space for arranging other devices (such as the fuel cell module 8) on the inner side in the width direction of the vehicle body 2 (for example, inside the hood 11). In addition, because the battery unit 9 can be moved to the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body, it is possible to move the battery unit 9 to a position away from the vehicle body 2, which makes it easier to replace the battery.

[0149] The work vehicle 1 is also equipped with a running device 4 having front wheels 4A and rear wheels 4B, and the battery unit 9 is arranged between the front wheels 4A and the rear wheels 4B in a side view, and when in the first position P1, the outer end in the vehicle width direction is located inside the outer end of the rear wheels 4B, and when in the second position P2, the outer end in the vehicle width direction is located outside the outer end of the rear wheels 4B.

[0150] According to this configuration, when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1, the battery unit 9 does not protrude outward from the rear wheels 4B, and therefore the battery unit 9 does not increase the vehicle width of the work vehicle 1. On the other hand, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, the battery unit 9 protrudes outward from the rear wheels 4B, making it easy to replace the battery (battery pack 9A) included in the battery unit 9.

[0151] When the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, the inner end in the vehicle width direction is positioned outside the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheel 4B.

[0152] According to this configuration, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, the entire battery unit 9 is positioned outward from the rear wheel 4B, making it extremely easy to replace the battery (battery pack 9A) included in the battery unit 9.

[0153] In addition, the moving mechanism 40 has a slide rail 41 having a first member 42 fixed to the vehicle body 2 and extending in the vehicle body width direction, and a second member 43 that can move in the vehicle body width direction along the first member 42, and the battery unit 9 is supported by the second member 43 and moves between a first position P1 and a second position P2 as the second member 43 moves.

[0154] According to this configuration, the movement mechanism 40 has the slide rail 41, which makes it possible to determine the movement direction of the second member 43 relative to the first member 42. Therefore, the second member 43 can be reliably moved outward in the vehicle body width direction.

[0155] The second member 43 is provided with support legs 44 that support the second member 43 on the ground.

[0156] According to this configuration, the second member 43 can be supported on the ground by the support legs 44, and therefore the second member 43 can be prevented from bending or deforming due to the weight of the battery unit 9.

[0157] Furthermore, the support legs 44 are changeable between a first position in which they extend in a direction along the second member 43 and do not come into contact with the ground, and a second position in which they extend downward from the second member 43 and come into contact with the ground.

[0158] According to this configuration, by setting the support legs 44 in the first position, the support legs 44 do not get in the way when the battery unit 9 is in the first position P1. Furthermore, by setting the support legs 44 in the second position, the slide rails 41 can be prevented from being cantilevered when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2. This prevents the slide rails 41 from bending downward or being deformed due to the weight of the battery unit 9.

[0159] The support leg 44 also has a wheel 45 that comes into contact with the ground when the support leg 44 is in the second position.

[0160] According to this configuration, when the second member 43 is moved in the vehicle width direction relative to the first member 42, the support leg 44 is placed in the second position and the wheel 45 is brought into contact with the ground, so that the movement of the second member 43 (i.e., the movement of the battery unit 9) relative to the first member 42 can be performed easily and smoothly with little force.

[0161] The slide rail 41 also has a front rail 41A that supports the front of the battery unit 9, and a rear rail 41B that supports the rear of the battery unit 9.

[0162] With this configuration, the front and rear of the battery unit 9, which is a heavy object, are supported by the slide rails 41, thereby reducing the load on the slide rails 41 and preventing deformation of the slide rails 41.

[0163] Furthermore, when the battery unit 9 is in the second position P2, a space S1 is formed between the vehicle body 2 and the battery unit 9, and an operator can stand on the slide rail 41 in the space S1.

[0164] According to this configuration, the slide rail 41 can be used as a foothold for performing work on the vehicle body 2 (for example, loading and unloading the fuel tank 5, etc.). This allows a worker to perform work on the vehicle body 2 without being hindered by the battery unit 9.

[0165] The work vehicle 1 also includes an inverter 24 connected to the electric motor 7 and a cable 50 connecting the battery unit 9 and the inverter 24, and the battery unit 9 has a connector (first connector) 51 to which the cable 50 can be attached and detached, the connector 51 being provided at a position on the front side, upper side, or inner side of the vehicle width direction of the battery unit 9, and the cable 50 can be removed at least when the battery unit 9 is in the second position.

[0166] According to this configuration, the connector (first connector) 51 is provided at a position on the front side, upper side, or inner side in the vehicle width direction of the battery unit 9, so that the cable 50 can be easily attached to and detached from the connector 51. Furthermore, since the connector 51 allows the cable 50 to be detached when the battery unit 9 is in the second position, the cable 50 can be reliably detached by moving the battery unit 9 from the first position P1 to the second position P2.

[0167] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0168] 1 Work vehicle 2. Body 4 Running gear 4A Front wheel 4B rear wheel 7 Electric motor 9 Battery Unit 24 inverters 40 Moving mechanism 41 Slide rail 41A Front Rail 41B rear rail 42 First member 43 Second member 44 Support leg 45 wheels 50 Cable 51 Connector P1 1st position P2 2nd position S1 space

Claims

1. The car body and an electric motor mounted on the vehicle body; a battery unit including a battery that stores power to be supplied to the electric motor and that is disposed at a first position on the outer side of the vehicle body in the width direction; a movement mechanism that can move the battery unit from the first position to a second position that is located outside the first position in the width direction; an inverter connected to the electric motor, a capacitor, and a storage battery that supplies power to a device other than the electric motor; a support for supporting the inverter, the capacitor, and the storage battery; Equipped with The vehicle body has a front frame that forms a front portion of the vehicle body, and a transmission case connected to a rear portion of the front frame, the movement mechanism includes a slide rail having a first member fixed to the vehicle body and extending in the width direction, and a second member movable in the width direction along the first member, the slide rail has a front rail that supports a front portion of the battery unit and a rear rail that supports a rear portion of the battery unit; the front rail is fixed to the front frame; The rear rail is fixed to the transmission case, The support body is fixed to the transmission case and supports the inverter, the capacitor, and the storage battery on the opposite side of the transmission case from the battery unit.

2. An inverter connected to the electric motor; a cable connecting the battery unit and the inverter; Equipped with the slide rail is fixed to the vehicle body via a first support member, the battery unit has a first connector to which the cable can be attached and detached; The first connector is provided at a position on the front side, the upper side, or the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the battery unit, and is configured to connect the cable at least when the battery unit is in the second position. The cable is removable, a second connector connectable to the first connector is provided at the tip of the cable; the second connector can be pulled out from the first support member in a vehicle body width direction, 2. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when the second connector is pulled out, the end of the second connector can reach the second position or can be positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction than the second position.

3. A work vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the second member is provided with a support leg that supports the second member on the ground.

4. A work vehicle as described in Claim 3, wherein the support leg is capable of being changed between a first position in which it extends in a direction along the second member and does not come into contact with the ground, and a second position in which it extends downward from the second member and comes into contact with the ground.

5. A work vehicle as described in Claim 4, wherein the support leg has a wheel that comes into contact with the ground when in the second position.

6. A work vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein when the battery unit is in the second position, a space is formed between the vehicle body and the battery unit, allowing a worker to ride on the slide rail in the space.

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