Protective cover for heavy machinery and method of use

Abstract

To provide a protection cover capable of effectively protecting surroundings of a driver seat of a heavy machine stopped outside from rain, snow, sunlight and the like, suppressing aging deterioration, increasing weather resistance and durability, facilitating maintenance and reducing costs.SOLUTION: A protection cover having a main surface part 2m, a left side surface part 2p, and a right side surface part 2q, of which a whole body is made of a waterproof flexible sheet material R, is provided with: a cover substrate part 2 covering surroundings Mo of a driver seat Mod of a heavy machine M and the surroundings Mo including an operation part ahead of the driver seat Mod; an attachment part 3 having a plurality of outer hole parts 3o... having a specific inner diameter and arranged apart with specific intervals along a peripheral edge part 2e of the cover substrate part 2, and at least one inner hole part 3i... arranged in an intermediate part Xm of the cover substrate part 2 and having a specific inner diameter; and rod members 5f, 5r fixed on a front end edge part 2mf and a rear end edge part 2mr of the main surface part 2m along the end edge part 2mf, 2mr.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective cover for heavy machinery that covers the area around the driver's seat of a heavy machinery such as a mini excavator to protect the area around the driver's seat, and a method for using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, known protective means for protecting the area around the driver's seat of a heavy machine by covering the area around the driver's seat include the protective means for a construction machine described in Patent Document 1 and the protective means for a work machine described in Patent Document 2.

[0003] The protective means used in the construction machinery of Patent Document 1 is intended to protect the windows provided in the cab, and specifically, a head guard is provided on the top surface of the cab, and a front protective cover, a rear protective cover, a left protective cover, and a right protective cover are stored in a space within the head guard so that they can be inserted and removed.When the cab is not in use, the front protective cover, rear protective cover, left protective cover, and right protective cover are removed from within the head guard, and the upper and lower front windows of the cab are covered with the front protective cover, the rear window is covered with the rear protective cover, the front left window and rear left window are covered with the left protective cover, and the front right window and rear right window are covered with the right protective cover, thereby protecting them from thrown stones, etc.

[0004] Furthermore, the protective means used in the work machine of Patent Document 2 is intended to provide a work machine equipped with a canopy of simple structure that effectively prevents palm leaves and the like from hitting the operator during work. Specifically, the work machine has a driver's seat and canopy mounted on an upper rotating body, and the canopy has a roof that covers the area above the driver's seat, a number of pillars that support the roof, and a leaf guard that covers the area around the driver's seat. The leaf guard has a swingable door section, and the door section is equipped with a stopper that regulates the swinging movement. The stopper has an outer clamping section, an inner clamping section, and an opening / closing lever, and by operating the opening / closing lever, the inner clamping section is displaced between a closed position where it can come into contact with the pillar, and an open position where it cannot come into contact, and in the closed position, the pillar is clamped between the outer clamping section and the inner clamping section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-52583 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-193511 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the conventional protection means used in the above-mentioned construction machines and the like have the following problems.

[0007] The protective measures used involve combining multiple panel members or multiple net panel members, which significantly increases costs, increases the overall size and weight, makes storage difficult, and makes it difficult to secure storage space.Furthermore, installation and removal are time-consuming and inefficient, which are fundamental negative aspects.

[0008] In particular, since they are attached to construction machinery (heavy machinery) with a cabin made of a body frame or body panel that covers all or part of the driver's seat, they are configured as a protective means dedicated to each individual heavy machinery, and cannot be used on heavy machinery that does not have a cabin, i.e., heavy machinery where the area around the driver's seat is exposed, and therefore lack flexibility and versatility.

[0009] In the past, there was no adequate means of protection for heavy machinery that did not have a cabin, and when heavy machinery was parked and stored outdoors, rain, snow, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc. caused deterioration over time of the driver's seat, which was made of a vinyl chloride sheet, and the area around the driver's seat, such as the operating panel made of plastic material located in front of the driver's seat, resulting in a decrease in weather resistance and durability, making maintenance more difficult and causing problems such as the driver's seat tearing, discoloration, and other deterioration in appearance, as well as being prone to malfunctions.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for heavy machinery that solves the problems present in the background art, and a method for using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the protective cover 1 for heavy equipment according to the present invention is a protective cover that protects the area around the driver's seat Mo of the heavy equipment M by covering the area around the driver's seat Mo, and is characterized by comprising at least a main surface portion 2m, a left side surface portion 2p, and a right side surface portion 2q, and is formed entirely from a single waterproof flexible sheet member R, a cover base 2 that covers the area around the driver's seat Mo including the driver's seat Mod of the heavy equipment M and the operating unit in front of the driver's seat Mod, an attachment portion 3 that has a plurality of outer hole portions 3o... with a predetermined inner diameter that are provided at predetermined intervals along the peripheral portion 2e of the cover base 2 and are attached to the heavy equipment M using a fixing rope 7c, and at least one inner hole portion 3i... with a predetermined inner diameter that is provided in an attachment piece 32 attached to the intermediate portion Xm of the cover base 2 and is attached to the heavy equipment M using a fixing rope 7a, and rod members 5f, 5r fixed to the front end edge portion 2mf and / or the rear end edge portion 2mr of the main surface portion 2m along the end edge portions 2mf, 2mr.

[0012] On the other hand, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method of using a protective cover 1 for heavy machinery according to the present invention is to use a protective cover 1 that protects the area around the driver's seat Mo by covering the area around the driver's seat Mo of a heavy machinery M, the method comprising: a cover base 2 having at least a main surface portion 2m, a left side surface portion 2p, and a right side surface portion 2q, and formed entirely from a single waterproof flexible sheet member R, and covering the area around the driver's seat Mo including the driver's seat Mod of the heavy machinery M and an operating unit in front of the driver's seat Mod; a plurality of outer hole portions 3o... having a predetermined inner diameter that are provided at predetermined intervals along the peripheral edge portion 2e of the cover base 2 and are attached to the heavy machinery M using fixing ropes 7c; and a plurality of outer hole portions 3o... having a predetermined inner diameter that are provided on an attachment piece 32 attached to an intermediate portion Xm of the cover base 2 and are attached to the heavy machinery M using fixing ropes 7a. The method includes a first step (S1-S3) of folding the heavy equipment protective cover 1r in advance and mounting it behind the driver's seat Mod of the heavy equipment M, a second step (S6-S11) of pulling out the front edge portion 2mf of the heavy equipment protective cover 1 forward to cover the area around the driver's seat Mo, and a third step (S12-S16) of inserting at least one fixing rope 7a... into the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... and using the fixing rope 7a... to fix the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... to the fixing portion Xc... of the heavy equipment M.

[0013] In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when configuring the heavy machinery protective cover 1, the cover base 2 can be formed with a rectangular main surface 2m and triangular or trapezoidal left and right side surface portions 2p and 2q, and the boundary portions between the main surface 2m and the left side surface 2p and between the main surface 2m and the right side surface 2q can be formed to be foldable with folding positions Lp and Lq. Furthermore, the inner holes 3i... can be provided at two locations, left and right, of the intermediate portion Xm in the fore-and-aft direction of the main surface 2m. On the other hand, when using the heavy equipment protective cover 1, in the first step (S1-S3), the boundary portions between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p of the cover base 2, and between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q are folded to folding positions Lp, Lq, and then the heavy equipment protective cover 1 can be rolled up, and in the third step (S12-S16), the inner hole portions 3i, 3i arranged in two locations on the left and right sides can be suspended by fixing ropes 7b, 7b hooked to the roof Mr, which is the fixed portion Xc of the heavy equipment M, and two intermediate portions of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q, which are spread out relative to the main surface portion 2m, can be folded alternately to form a three-layer overlapping portion 2xm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The heavy machinery protective cover 1 and the method for using the same according to the present invention have the following significant effects.

[0015] (1) The heavy equipment protective cover 1 has at least a main surface 2m, a left side surface 2p, and a right side surface 2q. The entire cover is formed from a single waterproof flexible sheet member R. The cover base 2 covers the driver's seat Mod and the area around the driver's seat Mo, including the operating parts in front of the driver's seat Mod. The cover base 2 also includes a mounting portion 3 having a plurality of outer holes 3o... each having a predetermined inner diameter and spaced at predetermined intervals along the periphery 2e of the cover base 2 and at least one inner hole 3i... each having a predetermined inner diameter and located in the middle portion Xm of the cover base 2. The cover base 2 also includes rod members 5f, 5r fixed to the front edge 2mf and / or the rear edge 2mr of the main surface 2m along the edge portions 2mf, 2mr. This allows the cover to be rolled up, resulting in a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive product. Furthermore, the cover has the basic advantage of being easy to store.

[0016] (2) It is highly flexible and versatile, and can be used for heavy machinery M that does not have a cabin. Even when the heavy machinery M is parked and stored outdoors, it can effectively protect the driver's seat Mod and the area around the driver's seat Mo, including the operating unit located in front of the driver's seat Mod, from rain, snow, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc., thereby suppressing deterioration over time and improving weather resistance and durability. This not only simplifies maintenance and reduces costs, but also prevents or significantly reduces deterioration of the appearance of the driver's seat, such as tears and discoloration, as well as breakdowns.

[0017] (3) When using the heavy equipment protective cover, the heavy equipment protective cover 1r is folded in advance and mounted behind the driver's seat Mod in a first step (S1-S3), and when in use, the heavy equipment protective cover 1r is positioned above the area around the driver's seat Mo by pulling out the front edge portion 2mf of the heavy equipment protective cover 1 forward in a second step (S6-S11), and at least one fixing rope 7a... is inserted into the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... and this fixing rope 7a... is used to fix the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... to the fixing portion Xc... of the heavy equipment M. Therefore, the heavy equipment protective cover can be attached to and detached (stored) from the heavy equipment M easily and quickly.

[0018] (4) In a preferred embodiment, when constructing the heavy equipment protective cover 1, if the cover base 2 is formed with a rectangular main surface portion 2m and a triangular or trapezoidal left side surface portion 2p and right side surface portion 2q, it can be used in a rational manner as a cover that covers the area around the driver's seat Mo, and can be implemented in an optimal manner from the perspective of shielding and protecting the area around the driver's seat Mo.

[0019] (5) In a preferred embodiment, when constructing the heavy equipment protective cover 1, the boundary areas between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p and between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q are formed so as to be foldable at folding positions Lp, Lq. This makes it possible to roll up the rectangular sheet material by overlapping the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q on the main surface portion 2m using the folding positions Lp, Lq as folding lines, thereby enabling easy and quick use and, when stored, allowing it to be rolled up into a small, compact roll, thereby improving mountability (handling) and storability (storability).

[0020] (6) In a preferred embodiment, when constructing the heavy equipment protective cover 1, the inner holes 3i are provided at two locations, one on the left and one on the right of the intermediate region Xm in the fore-aft direction of the main surface 2m. This allows the heavy equipment protective cover 1 to be easily suspended like a roof using two-point support, and the support strength can be increased. Furthermore, a wide, three-dimensional interior space can be created below the protective cover 1, providing ample shielding around the driver's seat Mo. Additionally, the entire protective cover 1 can be made less likely to sag, making it less susceptible to rain accumulation and less susceptible to the effects of wind.

[0021] (7) In a preferred embodiment, when using the heavy equipment protective cover 1, in the first step (S1-S3), the boundary portions between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p of the cover base 2, and between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q are folded at folding positions Lp, Lq, and then the heavy equipment protective cover 1 is rolled up, which allows the rectangular sheet material to be rolled up, making it easy and quick to use and store.

[0022] (8) In a preferred embodiment, when using the heavy equipment protective cover 1, in the third step (S12-S16), a pair of left and right inner hole portions 3i, 3i are suspended by fixing ropes 7a, 7a hooked to the roof Mr, which is the fixed portion Xc of the heavy equipment M. This allows the heavy equipment protective cover 1 to be easily suspended in a roof-like manner by two-point support, and also increases the support strength.

[0023] (9) In a preferred embodiment, when using the heavy equipment protective cover 1, in the third step (S12-S16), two intermediate portions of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q, which are expanded relative to the main surface portion 2m, are alternately folded to form a three-layer overlapping portion 2xm. This allows the shape and size of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q to be changed during use, making it easy to match them to the arrangement and structure of the area around the driver's seat Mo to be shielded, and provides better protection against strong winds, rain, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a state in which a protective cover for heavy equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is attached to the heavy equipment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the protective cover; [Figure 3] A rear view of the protective cover. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view including a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the protective cover; [Figure 5] AA line end view of the protective cover in FIG. 2; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the protective cover wound into a roll; [Figure 7] An explanatory diagram of how to use the protective cover, [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram of how to secure the protective cover when in use; [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram of another fixing method when using the protective cover; [Figure 10] A flowchart illustrating how to use the protective cover; [Figure 11] A rear view showing a part of the heavy equipment for explaining the first step of how to use the protective cover. [Figure 12] 1 is a rear view showing a part of the heavy equipment for explaining a second step of the method of using the protective cover;

[0025] [Figure 13] 10 is a side view of the protective cover for explaining a third step of the method of using the protective cover; FIG.

[0026] [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a modified example of the protective cover; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0028] First, to facilitate understanding of the heavy equipment protective cover 1 according to this embodiment, an outline of the heavy equipment M to which the heavy equipment protective cover 1 is to be used will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0029] 1 shows a mini-excavator as an example of heavy machinery M. As shown by imaginary lines, this mini-excavator (M) is equipped with a pair of traveling crawlers 51p, 51q on both the left and right sides of a chassis 50, and is equipped with a rotating body 52 at the upper end of the chassis 50. In addition, a driver's cab 53 is provided on top of the rotating body 52, and a shovel mechanism 54 made up of a boom 55, an arm 56, a bucket 57, etc. is provided at the front end of the driver's cab 53.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 11, a driver's seat Mod having a backrest Mdr is provided at the rear of the driver's cab 53, and an operating section including various operating levers, various operating switches, display panels, etc. (not shown) is provided in front of the driver's seat Mod. The rear end of the driver's cab 53 is provided with an inverted U-shaped roof support 58 having a pair of left and right support pillars 58v, 58v that stand upward, and the roof (canopy) Mr is supported by the upper end of the roof support 58. Furthermore, the front of the driver's cab 53 is provided with an arch-shaped handrail Mh made of a pipe frame as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the area around the driver's seat Mo includes at least the driver's seat Mod and the operating section arranged in front of the driver's seat Mod.

[0031] Next, a protective cover for heavy machinery (hereinafter abbreviated as protective cover) 1 according to this embodiment, which is suitable for use with such heavy machinery M (mini-excavator), will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. FIG.

[0032] The protective cover 1 includes a cover base 2 that covers the area around the driver's seat Mo of the heavy machine M to protect the area around the driver's seat Mo. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover base 2 has at least a main surface 2m, a left side surface 2p, and a right side surface 2q, and is entirely formed from a single piece of waterproof flexible sheet member R. The material of this flexible sheet member R is not limited to a specific material, as long as it is a single piece of waterproof flexible material, but it is preferable to use tarpaulin fabric. Tarpaulin fabric has flame retardant, waterproof, weather resistant, etc., and can be selected as an optimal material from the perspective of blocking rain, snow, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the planar shape of the cover base 2 is such that the main surface 2m is rectangular, particularly a rectangular shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction, and the left side surface 2p and the right side surface 2q are triangular. This results in a hexagonal shape overall. Forming the cover in this shape allows for a rational use form as a cover for covering the area around the driver's seat Mo, and can be implemented as an optimal form from the perspective of shielding and protecting the area around the driver's seat Mo. The cover base 2 shown in FIG. 2 in this embodiment has the bottom side of the figure as the front, and its dimensions are approximately 1760 mm in the front-to-rear direction, approximately 1890 mm in the left-to-right direction, and the left-to-right dimension of the main surface 2m is approximately 750 mm.

[0034] Furthermore, the boundary regions between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p and between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q, i.e., Lp and Lq shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 2, indicate folding positions. In this way, if the boundary regions between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p and between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q are designated as folding positions Lp and Lq, the rectangular sheet material can be rolled up by overlapping the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q on the main surface portion 2m using the folding positions Lp and Lq, respectively. This allows for easy and quick use, and can be stored in a compact roll, improving mountability (handling) and storability (storability). Note that the dashed dotted lines Lmp and Lmq in FIG. 2 indicate folding positions for forming an overlapping portion 2xm (described later) when folded during use.

[0035] 2 and 4, the peripheral edge 2e of the cover base 2 is folded back and bonded over a predetermined width to form a double-layered reinforcing surface 2s, and a plurality of outer holes 3o... each having a predetermined inner diameter are provided at predetermined intervals within this reinforcing surface 2s and along the peripheral edge 2e. The outer holes 3o... can be easily provided using, for example, metal grommets 31.

[0036] Furthermore, at least one inner hole 3i... having a predetermined inner diameter is provided in the intermediate region Xm of the cover base 2. In this embodiment, the inner holes 3i... are preferably provided in the intermediate region Xm in the front-rear direction of the main surface 2m, particularly in two locations on the left and right sides in the front-rear direction that roughly coincide with the vertices of the triangular left side surface 2p and right side surface 2q, as shown in FIG. 2 . To provide one inner hole 3i (the other is the same), a triangular mounting piece 32 is formed using a flexible sheet member R made of the same material as the main surface 2m, and one side of this mounting piece 32 is attached to the left and right positions on the upper surface of the main surface 2m. Grommets 33 similar to the outer hole 3o described above are attached to this mounting piece 32. This facilitates the provision of the inner holes 3i, 3i.

[0037] In this way, when providing the inner holes 3i..., by providing them at two locations, one on the left and one on the right of the intermediate region Xm in the fore-and-aft direction of the main surface portion 2m, the protective cover 1 can be suspended by two-point support, which creates a wide, three-dimensional interior space below the protective cover 1 and provides ample shielding for the area around the driver's seat Mo. Moreover, since the entire protective cover 1 can be made less likely to sag, it becomes less likely to collect rain and is less susceptible to the effects of wind.

[0038] In the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, mounting pieces 34 similar to the mounting pieces 32 are attached to the left and right positions near the rear edge 2mr of the main surface portion 2m, and grommets 35 are attached to each of the mounting pieces 34, thereby forming outer holes 3o. As shown in Fig. 11, when the roll-shaped protective cover 1r is mounted on heavy machinery M, these outer holes 3o can fix the rear edge 2mr of the protective cover 1 to the fixing portion Xc of the heavy machinery M. The mounting portion 3 is made up of the outer holes 3o and inner holes 3i.

[0039] On the other hand, rod members 5f, 5r are provided along the front edge 2mf and rear edge 2mr of the main surface 2m, respectively. In this case, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, cylindrical storage bag portions 38f, 38r are formed using the peripheral edges 2e... of the front edge 2mf and rear edge 2mr of the main surface 2m of the cover base 2, and rod members 5f, 5r formed by cutting rod or pipe material made of a material such as synthetic resin with an outer diameter of approximately 1.5-2.5 cm and suitable flexibility and weight are housed in these storage bag portions 38f, 38r. This allows the protective cover 1 to be easily wound into a roll around the rear rod member 5r as a winding core.

[0040] Next, a method of using the protective cover 1 according to this embodiment will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 with reference to the various drawings.

[0041] First, a protective cover 1 according to this embodiment is prepared. The basic form of the protective cover 1 is a single sheet, as shown in Fig. 7(a). In this protective cover 1, first, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the right side surface portion 2q is folded along the folding position Lq as a folding line and superimposed on the upper surface of the main surface portion 2m, and as shown in Fig. 7(c), the left side surface portion 2p is folded along the folding position Lp as a folding line and superimposed on the upper surface of the main surface portion 2m (step S1).

[0042] The folded protective cover 1 is then wound into a roll using a rod member 5r provided at the rear edge 2mr of the main surface 2m as a winding core (step S2). The protective cover 1r wound into a roll is shown in Figure 6. Note that 41 denotes a fastening band using a hook-and-loop fastener or the like for fastening the rolled protective cover 1r.

[0043] In this way, when using the protective cover 1, the cover base 2 is folded at the folding positions Lp, Lq between the main surface portion 2m and the right side surface portion 2q, and between the main surface portion 2m and the left side surface portion 2p, and then the protective cover 1 is rolled up into a roll, which allows the rectangular sheet material to be rolled up, making it easy and quick to use, and when stored, it can be easily rolled up into a small, compact shape, thereby improving mountability (handling) and storability (storability).

[0044] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the folded protective cover 1r(1), i.e., the rolled protective cover 1r(1), is mounted behind the driver's seat Mod of the heavy machine M, i.e., behind the backrest Mdr (step S3). At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, if one end of the fixing ropes 7b made of rubber rope is attached to the outer holes 3o of the mounting pieces 34 of the protective cover 1, the other end of the fixing ropes 7b can be fixed to the support posts 58v when the protective cover 1r is mounted on the heavy machine M. As a fixing method, as shown in FIG. 8, a rope stopper 42 can be used to connect one end 7bs of one fixing rope 7b (the same applies to the other) to the other end 7bt of the fixing ropes 7b. This completes the first step in preparing the protective cover 1 and mounting the protective cover 1 on the heavy machine M.

[0045] In this way, each individual protective cover 1 can be mounted on each heavy machine M, and the mounted protective cover 1 becomes a dedicated protective cover 1 for the corresponding heavy machine M. This prevents the protective cover 1 from being lost, and also avoids the need to carry the protective cover 1 to another storage location in the event of an emergency. The heavy machine M can then be used with the protective cover 1 mounted (step S4).

[0046] On the other hand, assume that use of the heavy machine M has ended (step S5). In this case, when the heavy machine M is parked at a predetermined outdoor parking area, it can be stored using (attached to) the protective cover 1 according to this embodiment.

[0047] When using the protective cover 1, first, the fixing band 41 of the protective cover 1 mounted on the heavy machine M is removed, and the fixing ropes 7b... are removed from the support posts 58v... (Step S6). Next, the front edge portion 2mf exposed on the outer periphery of the rolled protective cover 1r is unwound forward (Step S7). As a result, the upper part of the driver's seat area Mo is covered by the unwound protective cover 1 (Step S8). Once the entire protective cover 1 has been unwound, the front edge portion 2mf is hooked and locked onto the upper end of the handrail portion Mh, as shown in FIG. 1 (Steps S9 and S10). In addition, the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q of the protective cover 1 are opened to the left and right relative to the main surface portion 2m (Step S11). As a result, the entire driver's seat area Mo, including the upper and side areas, is covered by the protective cover 1. This is the second step in which the front edge portion 2mf of the protective cover 1 is unwound forward during use to cover the driver's seat area Mo.

[0048] Next, the outer holes 3o provided in the rear edge portion 2mr of the protective cover 1 are fixed to the fixing portion Xc of the heavy equipment M. In the illustrated example, the outer holes 3o provided in the mounting pieces 34 attached to the left and right can be fixed to the left and right support portions 58v using fixing ropes 7b, 7b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 12 (step S12).

[0049] Also, as shown in Figure 12, one end (lower end) 7as... of the fixing ropes 7a... is fixed to the inner hole portions 3i... provided in the mounting pieces 32... on the left and right sides of the middle portion Xm of the protective cover 1, and the other end (upper end) 7at... of the fixing ropes 7a... is fixed to the roof (canopy) Mr, which is the fixing portion Xc of the heavy equipment M, by a hook or the like, and the middle portion Xm of the protective cover 1 is suspended at two points (step S13).

[0050] As a specific hanging method, as shown in FIG. 9, two rope stoppers 43a, 43b are used to secure one end 7as of the securing rope 7a to the inner hole 3i, and the other end 7at of the securing rope 7a to the frame 59 supporting the roof Mr. While FIG. 9 shows the securing rope 7a on one side (left or right), the same method can be used for the securing rope 7a on the other side. It is preferable to secure the one end 7as of the securing rope 7a to the inner hole 3i of the mounting piece 32 in advance, but it may also be attached at the time of use. Various securing means can be used to secure the one end 7as of the securing rope 7a to the inner hole 3i in advance, and various securing means can be used to secure the other end 7at of the securing rope 7a to the roof Mr, such as by hooking it onto a hook 45 previously fixed to the frame 59 or by using a magnet to secure it to the roof (canopy) Mr or the frame 59, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0051] When suspending the protective cover 1, the left and right inner hole portions 3i, 3i are suspended by fixing ropes 7a, 7a fixed to the roof Mr, which serves as the fixed portion Xc of the heavy machine M. This allows the protective cover 1 to be supported at two points and suspended like a roof, creating a wide, three-dimensional interior space below the protective cover 1 and providing ample shielding around the driver's seat Mo. Moreover, since the entire protective cover 1 is prevented from sagging, it is less likely to collect rain and is less susceptible to the effects of wind. In addition, the support strength of the protective cover 1 can be increased.

[0052] Furthermore, two intermediate portions of the unfolded left side surface portion 2p are alternately folded to form a three-ply overlapping portion 2xm (step S14). That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the outer hole portion 3om (3o) at the vertex of the left side surface portion 2p is pulled forward, folding the folding position Lmp outward to form a mountain shape, and folding the portion in front of it to form a valley shape, thereby forming a three-ply overlapping portion 2xm with a Z-shaped cross section. Then, this outer hole portion 3om is fixed to the handrail portion Mh, which serves as the fixed portion Xc of the heavy machine M, with a fixing rope 7c (step S15). This state is shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the fixing means using the fixing rope 7c can be the same as the fixing rope 7b described above, as shown in FIG. 8. While the left side surface portion 2p has been described above, the right side surface portion 2q can also be fixed in a similar manner (steps S14-S15).

[0053] In this way, by alternately folding two intermediate portions of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q, which are expanded relative to the main surface portion 2m, to form a three-layer overlapping portion 2xm, the shape and size of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q can be changed during use, making it possible to easily match them to the arrangement and structure of the area around the driver's seat Mo to be shielded, thereby providing greater protection against strong winds, rain, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc.

[0054] Additionally, if necessary, the remaining portions are fixed to the fixing portion Xc of the heavy machine M using the outer hole portions 3o... (step S16). This is the third step in which the fixing ropes 7a, 7b... are inserted into the outer hole portions 3o... and the inner hole portions 3i..., and the fixing ropes 7a... are used to fix the outer hole portions 3o... and the inner hole portions 3i... to the fixing portion Xc... of the heavy machine M. Figure 1 shows the protective cover 1 in a final attached state.

[0055] The protective cover 1 according to this embodiment includes, as its basic configuration, at least a main surface 2m, a left side surface 2p, and a right side surface 2q, and is formed entirely from a single waterproof flexible sheet member R. The protective cover 1 also includes a cover base 2 that covers the driver's seat Mod and the area around the driver's seat Mo, including the controls in front of the driver's seat Mod, a mounting portion 3 that includes a plurality of outer holes 3o having a predetermined inner diameter and spaced apart along a peripheral edge 2e of the cover base 2, and two inner holes 3i having a predetermined inner diameter and located in an intermediate region Xm of the cover base 2, and rod members 5f, 5r fixed to the front and rear edges 2mf, 2mr of the main surface 2m along the edges 2mf, 2mr. This allows the protective cover 1 to be rolled up, resulting in a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive product. Furthermore, the protective cover 1 also enjoys the basic advantage of excellent storability.

[0056] Furthermore, it has excellent flexibility and versatility, and can be used even with heavy machinery M that does not have a cabin. Even when the heavy machinery M is parked and stored outdoors, the driver's seat Mod and the area around the driver's seat Mo, including the operating unit located in front of the driver's seat Mod, can be effectively protected from rain, snow, sunlight (ultraviolet rays), etc., thereby suppressing deterioration over time and improving weather resistance and durability. This not only simplifies maintenance and reduces costs, but also prevents or significantly reduces deterioration of the appearance of the driver's seat, such as tears and discoloration, as well as breakdowns.

[0057] Furthermore, when using the protective cover, the process includes a first step S1 in which a roll-shaped protective cover 1r, which has been wound up with the rear end edge portion 2mr facing inward, is mounted behind the driver's seat Mod, a second step S2 in which the front end edge portion 2mf of the protective cover 1 is pulled forward when in use, thereby positioning it above the area around the driver's seat Mo, and a third step S3 in which at least one fixing rope 7a... is inserted into the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... and this fixing rope 7a... secures the outer hole portion 3o... and the inner hole portion 3i... to the fixing portion Xc... of the heavy equipment M, so that the attachment and detachment (storage) to the heavy equipment M can be performed easily and quickly.

[0058] FIG. 14 shows a modified example of the shape of the protective cover 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the overall planar shape is hexagonal, and in particular, the left and right side surface portions 2p, 2q are triangular. However, in the modified example shown in FIG. 14, the overall planar shape is octagonal, and in particular, the left and right side surface portions 2p, 2q are trapezoidal. While the overall planar shape of the protective cover 1 according to this embodiment is preferably hexagonal or octagonal, it is not necessarily limited to these shapes and can be implemented in various shapes, including curved shapes. In FIG. 14, the same parts and parts with the same functions as those of the protective cover 1 shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals to clarify their configuration, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] The above describes in detail preferred embodiments including modified examples, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and the detailed configuration, shape, material, quantity, numerical values, etc. can be changed, added, or deleted as desired within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0060] For example, the driver's seat Mod and the area around the driver's seat Mo, including the operating unit provided in front of the driver's seat Mod, on the heavy equipment M, are not limited to the illustrated areas, but also encompass various other areas to be protected. Tarpaulin is optimally used as the material for the sheet member R, but other materials may be used. While the cover base 2 includes the main surface 2m, left side surface 2p, and right side surface 2q in the illustrated example, a separate front surface and / or rear surface may also be added. While the rod members 5f and 5r are preferably provided at the front edge 2mf and rear edge 2mr, providing them at either the front edge 2mf or the rear edge 2mr is not excluded. Meanwhile, the inner holes 3i are preferably provided at two locations, one on the left and one on the right, of the intermediate region Xm in the fore-aft direction of the main surface 2m, but providing them at one or more locations is not excluded. Additionally, it is desirable to alternately fold two intermediate portions of the left side surface portion 2p and the right side surface portion 2q, which are expanded relative to the main surface portion 2m, to form a triple-layered overlap portion 2xm, but this is not a required component. While it is desirable to use a rubber rope as the fixing rope 7, it may also be made of a non-rubber material, such as an inelastic material such as synthetic or natural fiber. The first to third steps are not necessarily in order, and as long as they are included, they can be performed in any order as needed. Furthermore, in the first step (S1-S3) of folding the heavy equipment protective cover 1 and installing it behind the driver's seat Mod of the heavy equipment M, the heavy equipment protective cover 1 is shown folded into a roll, but various folding configurations are possible depending on the type of heavy equipment M, etc. For example, various folding configurations can be used, such as a folding configuration in which the heavy equipment protective cover 1 is folded sequentially in the front-to-back direction to form multiple layers, or a folding configuration in which the heavy equipment protective cover 1 is simply folded in half front to back and the outer hole portions 3o, 3o located at the front end are hung on fixing ropes 7b, 7b using an S-shaped hook or the like. [Industrial Applicability]

[0061] The protective cover according to the present invention can be used to protect the area around the driver's seat in various heavy machinery such as a mini excavator that does not have a cabin. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1: Heavy equipment protective cover, 1r: Roll-shaped heavy equipment protective cover, 2: Cover base, 2m: Main surface, 2p: Left side surface, 2q: Right side surface, 2e: Peripheral edge of cover base, 2mf: Front edge, 2mr: Rear edge, 2xm: Overlapping portion, 3: Mounting portion, 3o...: Outer hole portion, 3i...: Inner hole portion, 5f: Rod member, 5r: Rod member, 7a...: Fixing rope, 7b: Fixing rope, 32: Mounting piece, M: Heavy equipment, Mo: Around driver's seat, Mod: Driver's seat, Mr: Roof, Xm: Intermediate portion, Xc...: Fixing portion of heavy equipment, R: Flexible sheet member, (S1-S3): First step, (S6-S11): Second step, (S12-S16): Third step, Lp: Folding position, Lq: Folding position

Claims

1. A protective cover for heavy machinery that protects the area around the driver's seat by covering it, the cover having at least a main surface, a left side surface, and a right side surface, and the entire cover being formed from a single waterproof flexible sheet member, and comprising: a cover base that covers the area around the driver's seat of the heavy machinery, including the driver's seat and the operating unit in front of the driver's seat; a mounting portion that has a plurality of outer holes with a predetermined inner diameter that are provided at predetermined intervals along the periphery of the cover base and are attached to the heavy machinery using a fixing rope, and at least one inner hole with a predetermined inner diameter that is provided on an attachment piece attached to the middle portion of the cover base and is attached to the heavy machinery using a fixing rope; and a rod member fixed to the front and / or rear end edges of the main surface along the end edges.

2. 2. The protective cover for heavy machinery according to claim 1, wherein the cover base has a rectangular main surface and triangular or trapezoidal left and right side surfaces.

3. 3. A protective cover for heavy equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover base is formed to be foldable, with each boundary portion between the main surface portion and the left side surface portion, and between the main surface portion and the right side surface portion being set as folding positions.

4. 2. The heavy machinery protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the inner hole is provided at two positions, one on the left side and one on the right side, in a middle portion in the front-rear direction of the main surface portion.

5. A method of using a protective cover for heavy machinery that protects the area around the driver's seat of a heavy machinery by covering the area around the driver's seat, the method comprising: a cover base having at least a main surface, a left side surface, and a right side surface, the entire cover being formed from a single waterproof flexible sheet member, and covering the area around the driver's seat of the heavy machinery including the driver's seat and an operating unit in front of the driver's seat; a plurality of outer holes having a predetermined inner diameter that are provided at predetermined intervals along the periphery of the cover base and are attached to the heavy machinery using a fixing rope; and at least one outer hole having a predetermined inner diameter that is provided on an attachment piece attached to an intermediate portion of the cover base and is attached to the heavy machinery using a fixing rope. a mounting portion having an inner hole portion and a rod member fixed along the edge to the front edge portion and / or the rear edge portion of the main surface portion, a first step of folding the heavy equipment protective cover and mounting it behind the driver's seat, a second step of extending the front edge portion of the heavy equipment protective cover forward during use to cover the area around the driver's seat, and a third step of inserting at least one fixing rope through the outer hole portion and the inner hole portion and fixing the outer hole portion and the inner hole portion to a fixing portion of the heavy equipment using the fixing rope.

6. 6. A method for using a heavy equipment protective cover as described in claim 5, characterized in that in the first step, the boundary portions between the main surface portion and the left side surface portion of the cover base, and between the main surface portion and the right side surface portion are folded at folding positions, and then the heavy equipment protective cover is rolled up.

7. A method of using a protective cover for heavy equipment as described in claim 5, characterized in that in the third step, the inner hole portions arranged at two locations on the left and right are suspended by fixing ropes fixed to the roof, which is the fixed part of the heavy equipment.

8. A method of using a protective cover for heavy equipment as described in claim 5 or 7, characterized in that in the third step, two intermediate portions of the left side surface portion and the right side surface portion, which are expanded relative to the main surface portion, are alternately folded to form a three-ply overlapping portion.

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