Vehicles equipped with lawnmowers and lawnmower mounting units

Abstract

To efficiently perform mowing without causing any harmful effects such as damage to a mower and hindrance to traveling of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1 with a mower includes wheels 21R and 21L provided at the front of the vehicle, car body frames 11a-11d for supporting the wheels, electric mowers 31a and 31b, and support mechanisms 411-413 interposed between the car body frames and the mowers and supporting the mowers with respect to the body frames. The support mechanisms hold the mowers above a grounding point of the wheels and support them so as to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the car body frames. The mowers are normally located at a first position P1 above the grounding points of the wheels, and in response to upward force input to the mowers, are movable to positions above the first position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle with a lawn mower and a mounting unit for the lawn mower.

Background Art

[0002] Weed treatment work in farmland and the like is heavy labor work and is generally performed using a dedicated lawn mower.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a lawn mower that includes a plurality of blades for mowing, each of the plurality of blades being configured to be individually driven by a blade motor that is an electric motor, and the plurality of blades being arranged in front of the traveling body.

[0004] On the other hand, there is a self-propelled mobility used for the purpose of assisting outdoor work such as transporting harvested agricultural products. "Mobile Mover" (registered trademark) is an example thereof.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] There is a demand to attach a lawn mower for weed treatment to the above-mentioned mobile mover, operate the lawn mower while running the mobile mover, and be able to mow weeds. The lawn mower is required to be arranged at a position close to the ground of the open space where mowing is performed in order to achieve a deep cut. However, in the open space before mowing, the ground is hidden by thick weeds and the like, and there is a situation where it is difficult to visually confirm the surface state.

[0007] If the lawnmower is simply attached to the mobile mover, there is a concern that the lawnmower may collide with obstacles such as stones, trees, or clumps of soil hidden in the weeds during mowing, or that the lawnmower may get stuck on uneven ground or slopes, causing damage to the lawnmower or rendering the mobile mover immobile if its wheels come off the ground.

[0008] On the other hand, if you adjust the height at which you position the lawnmower to ensure there is enough clearance between the lawnmower and the ground to avoid collisions with obstacles, the lawnmower will inevitably be positioned higher, which leads to the problem of leaving some grass uncut after mowing.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle equipped with a lawnmower and a lawnmower mounting unit that can perform lawn mowing efficiently without causing problems such as damage to the lawnmower or obstruction to the vehicle's operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention one form Vehicles equipped with a lawnmower shall have the front of the vehicle Place them on the left and right respectively It comprises wheels, a vehicle frame supporting the wheels, an electric lawnmower, and a support mechanism interposed between the vehicle frame and the lawnmower to support the lawnmower relative to the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame comprises a suspension member stretched between the axles of the wheels, and the support mechanism comprises a main body to which the grass cutter is attached, and a connecting part that hangs down from the suspension member and connects the main body to the suspension member so that it can move vertically. The support mechanism holds the grass trimmer above the point of contact of the wheels, In response to an upward force input to the aforementioned grass trimmer, the grass trimmer and the main body are subjected to the following: With respect to the aforementioned vehicle body frame as a whole The lawnmower is supported so as to be movable in the relative vertical direction, and under normal circumstances, it is in a first position above the point of contact of the wheels, and in response to an upward force input to the lawnmower, it is movable above the first position. Furthermore, the connecting portion has an inverted U-shape that surrounds the suspension member from the front, rear and above in the front-rear and vertical directions of the vehicle, allowing upward movement of the main body while restricting movement in the front-rear direction. ru. A vehicle with a lawnmower according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises wheels provided on the left and right sides at the front of the vehicle, a vehicle frame supporting the wheels, an electric lawnmower, and a support mechanism interposed between the vehicle frame and the lawnmower to support the lawnmower relative to the vehicle frame, wherein the vehicle frame comprises a suspension member stretched between the axles of the wheels, and the support mechanism comprises a main body to which the lawnmower is attached, and a connecting part hanging down from the suspension member and connecting the main body to the suspension member so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the support mechanism is front The lawnmower is held above the point of contact of the wheels, and in response to an upward force input to the lawnmower, the lawnmower and the main body are supported so as a single unit with respect to the vehicle frame so as to be able to move vertically relative to it, the lawnmower is normally in a first position above the point of contact of the wheels, and is able to move above the first position in response to an upward force input to the lawnmower, and further comprises an operating arm extending forward from the main body, which transmits an upward force to the operating arm to the main body, thereby enabling the main body to move upward.

[0011] Book invention Another form ofThe brush cutter mounting unit relating to the present invention is a brush cutter mounting unit for mounting a brush cutter on a vehicle equipped with a suspension member stretched between a pair of wheels, comprising: a main body to which the brush cutter is mounted; and a connecting part that connects the suspension member and the main body so that the main body can move vertically relative to the suspension member, wherein the connecting part normally hangs down from the suspension member to hold the brush cutter in a first position above the vehicle's ground contact point, while moving the brush cutter and the main body upward in response to an upward force input to the brush cutter. hand Raise the lawnmower above the first position Furthermore, the connecting portion has an inverted U-shape that surrounds the suspension member from the front, rear and above in the front-rear and vertical directions of the vehicle, allowing upward movement of the main body while restricting movement in the front-rear direction. ru. A mounting unit for a brush cutter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is a mounting unit for a brush cutter for mounting a brush cutter on a vehicle having a suspension member stretched between a pair of wheels, comprising: a main body to which the brush cutter is mounted; a connecting part that connects the suspension member and the main body so that the main body can move vertically relative to the suspension member; and an operating arm extending forward from the main body, wherein the connecting part normally hangs down from the suspension member to hold the brush cutter in a first position above the vehicle's contact point with the ground, and moves the brush cutter and the main body upward in response to an upward force input to the brush cutter, raising the brush cutter above the first position, and the operating arm transmits an upward force to the main body, allowing the main body to move upward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform grass cutting efficiently without causing problems such as damage to the grass cutter or obstruction of vehicle operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle equipped with a lawnmower according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the same vehicle along line AA, schematically illustrating the configuration of the wheels and power distribution mechanism installed in the vehicle. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the same vehicle along the BB line, schematically illustrating the configuration of the support mechanism according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing the mowing range of the grass cutter on the same vehicle. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the support mechanism provided in the vehicle, with (A) showing the normal state and (B) showing the state during the retraction operation. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the support mechanism provided in the same vehicle, enlarged in the same cross-section as in Figure 4, where (A) shows the normal state and (B) shows the state during the retraction operation. [Figure 7]It is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the control system provided in the same vehicle. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the operation of the support mechanism provided in the vehicle with a lawn mower according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (A) shows the normal state and (B) shows the retracted state. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the vehicle with a lawn mower according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle 1 with a lawn mower (hereinafter simply referred to as "vehicle") according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1, and schematically shows the configuration of the wheels 21 (21R, 21L), 22 (22R, 22L) and the power distribution mechanism provided in the vehicle 1. FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) show cross-sections on the same plane, where FIG. 2(A) shows the state where the suspension member 11c and the support member 11d are attached, and FIG. 2(B) shows the state where these members 11c, 11d are removed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 1, and schematically shows the configuration of the support mechanism 41. Based on FIG. 1, while appropriately referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0017] In this embodiment, vehicle 1 is an electric work vehicle to which brush cutters 31a and 31b are attached using a mounting unit. The brush cutters 31a and 31b may be existing or commercially available models, and in this embodiment, multiple brush cutters 31a and 31b are attached. The work vehicle is a highly versatile vehicle that can be used for transporting agricultural products, spraying pesticides, etc., and as an example, the "Mobile Mover" (registered trademark) can be applied. By attaching the brush cutters 31a and 31b to the work vehicle, it is possible to operate the brush cutters 31a and 31b and perform weed removal work while the work vehicle is running. In this embodiment, the brush cutters 31a and 31b are attached detachably using a mounting unit, but the mounting configuration of the brush cutters 31a and 31b is not limited to this, and they may be fixedly attached to the work vehicle. Furthermore, although not explicitly shown in the figure, by attaching a cargo bed or base to the vehicle frame 11 of vehicle 1 and installing a cargo receiving section, vehicle 1 can be conveniently used not only for transporting cargo but also for transporting people.

[0018] Vehicle 1 comprises a body frame 11, wheels 21 and 22, brush cutters 31a and 31b, and a support mechanism 41. The chassis of Vehicle 1, including the body frame 11, wheels 21 and 22, and the drive motors 51a and 51b described later, corresponds to the work vehicle. Furthermore, the support mechanism 41 corresponds to the mounting unit. The support mechanism 41 can be configured separately from the chassis as a mounting unit for detachably attaching the brush cutters 31a and 31b to the body frame 11.

[0019] The vehicle body frame 11 comprises a pair of left and right side members 11a, 11a, a cross member 11b, and a suspension member 11c. The side members 11a, 11a are arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction Dtl of the vehicle 1 and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, i.e., the vehicle width direction Dbl. The cross member 11b is positioned in the rear portion of the vehicle 1, in this embodiment, at the rear end portion, spanning between the side members 11a, 11a, and is connected to the side members 11a, 11a to form the skeletal structure of the vehicle 1. The suspension member 11c is positioned in the front portion of the vehicle 1, spanning between the side members 11a, 11a, and is connected to the side members 11a, 11a to increase the strength of the skeletal structure. Here, the side members 11a, 11a, the cross member 11b, and the suspension member 11c together constitute a ladder-shaped vehicle body frame 11.

[0020] Wheels 21 and 22 include a pair of left and right wheels located at the front of the vehicle 1, namely the right front wheel 21R and the left front wheel 21L, and a pair of left and right wheels located at the rear of the vehicle 1, namely the right rear wheel 22R and the left rear wheel 22L.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the suspension member 11c has axle support portions 11c1 and 11c2 hanging down from each of its ends. In this embodiment, the axle support portions 11c1 and 11c2 of the suspension member 11c are formed in a flat plate shape. The axle 211R of the right front wheel 21R is supported by the right axle support portion 11c1 of the suspension member 11c, and the axle 211L of the left front wheel 21L is supported by the left axle support portion 11c2 of the suspension member 11c, and both the right front wheel 21R and the left front wheel 21L are rotatable.

[0022] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 has support members 11d, 11d connected to the left and right side members 11a, 11a respectively, and extending rearward from the cross member 11b. The support members 11d, 11d, like the suspension member 11c, constitute the vehicle body frame 11 according to this embodiment.

[0023] Each support member 11d has an axle support portion 11d1, 11d1 that extends downward from the side members 11a, 11a. In this embodiment, the axle support portion 11d1 of the support member 11d is formed in a long, flat plate shape in the front-rear direction and defines the distance between it and the suspension member 11c via the side member 11a, in other words, the distance between the front wheels 21R, 21L and the rear wheels 22R, 22L. The axle 221R of the right rear wheel 22R is supported by the axle support portion 11d1 of the right support member 11d, and the axle 221L of the left rear wheel 22L is supported by the axle support portion 11d1 of the left support member 11d, and both the right rear wheel 22R and the left rear wheel 22L are rotatable.

[0024] In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is equipped with drive motors 51a and 51b, which are electric motors, as a drive source. The drive motors 51a and 51b are provided for the right rear wheel 22R and the left rear wheel 22L, respectively, and are supported to the vehicle body frame 11 by brackets (not shown). It is also possible to have the left and right support members 11d, 11d also serve the function of these brackets. The drive motors 51a and 51b can each be independently current-controlled and can independently and individually supply power to the right rear wheel 22R and the left rear wheel 22L, respectively. Specifically, it is possible to rotate the right rear wheel 22R and the left rear wheel 22L at the same speed as each other, reduce the rotation speed of one to that of the other, or rotate one in the opposite direction to the other at the same or different speeds.

[0025] The right front wheel 21R and the right rear wheel 22R, as well as the left front wheel 21L and the left rear wheel 22L, are connected to each other via power transmission media such as chains 63R and 63L. Specifically, sprockets 61R and 62R are attached to the axle 211R of the right front wheel 21R and the axle 221R of the right rear wheel 22R, respectively, and a chain 63R is stretched between these front and rear sprockets 61R and 62R. Furthermore, sprockets 61L and 62L are attached to the axle 211L of the left front wheel 21L and the axle 221L of the right rear wheel 22L, respectively, and a chain 63L is stretched between these front and rear sprockets 61L and 62L.

[0026] Thus, the vehicle 1 is a four-wheel drive system, and in this embodiment, the sprockets 61R and 61L on the front wheels 21R and 21L and the sprockets 62R and 62L on the rear wheels 22R and 22L have the same number of teeth, the right front wheel 21R and the right rear wheel 22R rotate in the same direction at the same speed, and the left front wheel 21L and the left rear wheel 22L rotate in the same direction at the same speed.

[0027] Returning to Figure 1, both the grass trimmers 31a and 31b are electric and consist of a grass trimmer body and an electric motor. In other words, grass trimmers 31a and 31b are grass trimmers with a built-in or integrated electric motor. The grass trimmer body has string-like members 32a and 32b, such as nylon cords, that extend radially outward from its outer surface (Figure 4), and by rotating the string-like members 32a and 32b at high speed around the grass trimmer body, it cuts weeds within the range that the string-like members 32a and 32b can reach. In Figure 1, the circular range that the string-like members 32a and 32b can reach is indicated by a dashed line. However, this range itself differs from the mowing ranges Ra and Rb of the grass trimmers 31a and 31b.

[0028] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the mowing ranges Ra and Rb of the lawnmowers 31a and 31b on vehicle 1.

[0029] In Figure 4, the circular area indicated by the dashed line represents the reach of the string-like members 32a and 32b of the grass cutters 31a and 31b, respectively. A portion of this circular area, specifically the fan-shaped portion opening in the forward direction of the vehicle 1, corresponds to the mowing ranges Ra and Rb, that is, the range in which weeds can actually be cut by the string-like members 32a and 32b. Figure 4 shows the mowing ranges Ra and Rb with diagonal lines.

[0030] In this embodiment, two lawnmowers, namely a first lawnmower 31a and a second lawnmower 31b, are provided offset from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The mounting positions of the first lawnmower 31a, which is positioned in front of the vehicle 1 in the forward direction, and the second lawnmower 31b, which is positioned in the rear, are set so that their respective mowing ranges Ra and Rb overlap in the vehicle width direction Dbl. Figure 4 shows the range in the vehicle width direction Dbl where the mowing ranges Ra and Rb of the first lawnmower 31a and the second lawnmower 31b overlap, indicated by the symbol OL. In this embodiment, a portion of the mowing range Ra of the first lawnmower 31a that is in the forward direction of rotation of the string-like member 32a, and a portion of the mowing range Rb of the second lawnmower 31b that is in the rear direction of rotation of the string-like member 32b, overlap in the vehicle width direction Dbl.

[0031] In this embodiment, of the lawnmowers 31a and 31b, the first lawnmower 31a, which is positioned on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, specifically its leading edge, is located behind the leading edges of the pair of front wheels 21R and 21L. Specifically, the leading edge of the first lawnmower 31a is located behind the straight line (imaginary line) VL connecting the leading edge of the right front wheel 21R and the leading edge of the left front wheel 21L. Figure 1 shows this straight line VL as a dotted line.

[0032] The support mechanism 41 is interposed between the vehicle frame 11 and the brush cutters 31a and 31b, and supports the brush cutters 31a and 31b so that they can move vertically relative to the vehicle frame 11 between a pair of wheels in the vehicle width direction Dbl, in this embodiment between the right front wheel 21R and the left front wheel 21L.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the support mechanism 41 comprises a main body portion 411 and a connecting portion 412.

[0034] The main body 411 is formed in a flat plate shape as a whole, has a front-to-rear dimension that spans the suspension member 11c from front to back, and a vehicle-width dimension that can fit between the left and right cross members 11a, 11a that constitute the vehicle frame 11. A pair of brush cutters 31a and 31b are mounted on the lower surface of the main body 411, offset from each other in the front-to-rear direction, and as already described, the cutting ranges Ra and Rb of these pair of brush cutters 31a and 31b overlap in the vehicle-width direction Dbl.

[0035] The connecting portion 412 is formed in an inverted U-shape in the cross-section shown in Figure 3, surrounding the suspension member 11c from the front, rear, and top, and hanging down from the suspension member 11c, with its lower end joining to the upper surface of the main body portion 411.

[0036] Specifically, the connecting portion 412 comprises a front vertically extending portion 412a positioned in front of the suspension member 11c, a rear vertically extending portion 412b positioned behind the suspension member 11c, and an upper horizontally extending portion 412c positioned above the suspension member 11c, connecting the front vertically extending portion 412a and the rear vertically extending portion 412b to each other. The front vertically extending portion 412a extends vertically upward from the upper surface of the main body portion 411 and engages with the front edge of the suspension member 11c. The rear vertically extending portion 412b extends vertically upward from the upper surface of the main body portion 411, parallel to the front vertically extending portion 412a, and engages with the rear edge of the suspension member 11c. The upper horizontal extension portion 412c is in contact with the upper surface of the suspension member 11c and supports the main body portion 411 and the connecting portion 412 in a state where they hang down from the suspension member 11c. In other words, in this embodiment, the main body portion 411 of the support mechanism 41 is suspended from the suspension member 11c via the connecting portion 412.

[0037] Here, a gap g exists between the suspension member 11c and the main body 411, corresponding to the difference between the lengths of the front and rear vertical extensions 412a and 412b and the thickness of the suspension member 11c. The main body 411 and the brush cutters 31a and 31b attached thereto are relatively vertically movable with respect to the vehicle frame 11, specifically the suspension member 11c, by a distance corresponding to this gap g.

[0038] As a result, the first mower 31a and the second mower 31b are normally in a first position slightly above the point of contact of the vehicle 1, that is, the point of contact where the wheels 21 and 22 touch the ground, and are able to cut weeds well from close to the roots. At the same time, in response to an upward force input to the mowers 31a, 31b or the main body 411 of the support mechanism 41, they move upward and rise to a second position above the first position.

[0039] Here, the connecting portion 412 has its forward vertically extending portion 412a in contact with the front edge of the suspension member 11c and its rear vertically extending portion 412b in contact with the rear edge of the suspension member 11c, thereby restricting the forward-reverse Dtl movement of the brush cutters 31a and 31b. In other words, the connecting portion 412 allows the main body 411 to move upward in response to an upward force input to the brush cutters 31a and 31b or the main body 411, while restricting the forward-reverse Dtl movement, thereby ensuring that the brush cutters 31a and 31b retract upward.

[0040] In addition to the above, the support mechanism 41 further includes a rotation restricting section 413 to restrict the rotation of the main body 411 around the vertical axis, that is, the vertical axis. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the rotation restricting section 413 has a pair of rod-shaped members 413, 413 that are positioned outside the vehicle width direction Dbl relative to the connecting section 412, extending vertically upward from the upper surface of the main body 411 and engaging the front edge of the suspension member 11c. Of these pair of rod-shaped members 413, 413, one is positioned to the right of the connecting section 412, and the other is positioned to the left. In this embodiment, the rotation restricting section 413 restricts rotation in the horizontal plane centered on the connecting section 412.

[0041] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the support mechanism 41 provided on the vehicle 1, with Figure 5(A) showing the normal state and Figure 5(B) showing the state during the retraction operation. Figure 6 is an enlarged diagram illustrating the operation of the support mechanism 41 provided on the vehicle 1 using the same cross-section as in Figure 4, with Figure 6(A) showing the normal state and Figure 6(B) showing the state during the retraction operation. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the operation of the support mechanism 41 according to this embodiment, in particular the retraction operation when the brush cutters 31a and 31b collide with obstacles such as stones, trees, or clods of soil on the ground, will be explained. In this embodiment, the position of the vertical center of the brush cutters 31a and 31b is defined as the position of the brush cutters 31a and 31b.

[0042] Under normal conditions, the support mechanism 41 has its upper horizontal extension portion 412c of the connecting portion 412 in contact with the suspension member 11c, and hangs down from the suspension member 11c. In this state, the brush cutters 31a and 31b are at a first position P1 above the ground contact point of the vehicle 1. As mentioned earlier, when the brush cutters 31a and 31b are at the first position P1, a gap g exists between the main body portion 411 of the support mechanism 41 and the suspension member 11c.

[0043] In contrast, during the retraction operation, the lawnmowers 31a and 31b move to a second position P2, which is above the first position P1. When an obstacle on the ground collides with the lawnmowers 31a and 31b, for example, their bottom surfaces, an upward force is applied to the lawnmowers 31a and 31b and the main body 411, causing the lawnmowers 31a and 31b and the main body 411 to move upward, and the lawnmowers 31a and 31b rise from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The retraction operation of the support mechanism 41 occurs not only when an obstacle collides with the lawnmowers 31a and 31b and an upward force is applied to the lawnmowers 31a and 31b, but also when an upward force is applied to the main body 411. Figure 5(B) shows the state in which the lawnmowers 31a and 31b are raised to their maximum height relative to the first position P1. In this embodiment, the position of the lawnmowers 31a and 31b in this state is designated as the second position P2. However, the second position P2 is not limited to this and may be any position between the first position P1 and the highest position shown in Figure 5(B).

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the control system installed in vehicle 1.

[0045] In this embodiment, an on-board controller 100 is provided mounted on the vehicle 1, and a remote controller 101 is provided that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the on-board controller 100.

[0046] The on-board controller 100 receives instruction signals input by the operator or worker via the remote controller 101, and controls the operation of the drive motors 51a and 51b, as well as the operation of the electric motors 31a and 31b of the brush cutters 31a and 31b, based on these instruction signals. In other words, the drive motors 51a and 51b and the brush cutters 31a and 31b can be remotely controlled wirelessly using the remote controller 101.

[0047] The remote controller 101 is equipped with input units for operating the drive motors 51a and 51b of the vehicle 1, as well as various input units for operating the lawnmowers 31a and 31b. Specifically, the remote controller 101 is equipped with a start input unit 111 for starting the vehicle 1, a travel input unit 112 for moving the vehicle 1 forward or backward and changing its direction of travel left or right, an operation input unit 113 for operating the lawnmowers 31a and 31b, and other input units 114. The input units 111 to 114 of the remote controller 101 can be implemented as buttons or joysticks, etc.

[0048] The vehicle 1 with a lawnmower according to this embodiment has the above configuration, and the effects obtained by this embodiment will be described below.

[0049] Firstly, if the mowers 31a and 31b collide with an obstacle in the open field or ride up onto a step or slope in the ground during mowing, the support mechanism 41 moves the mowers 31a and 31b upward, making it possible to avoid situations where excessive load is placed on the mowers 31a and 31b or where the wheels 21R and 21L leave the ground and the vehicle 1 becomes unable to move.

[0050] This allows for efficient grass cutting without causing damage to the grass cutters 31a and 31b due to collisions with obstacles, or hindering the movement of vehicle 1.

[0051] Secondly, by configuring the support mechanism 4 to hang down from a suspension member 11c stretched between axles 211R and 211L, attaching the brush cutters 31a and 31b to the main body 411, and making the main body 411 movable up and down, the support mechanism 4 can be realized with a relatively simple configuration.

[0052] Thirdly, by making the shape of the connecting part 412 an inverted U shape, allowing upward movement of the main body part 411 while restricting movement in the front-rear direction Dtl, it is possible to reliably move the main body part 411 and the grass mowers 31a and 31b upward when the grass mowers 31a and 31b collide with an obstacle or ride up onto a step in the ground, thereby avoiding problems such as damage to the grass mowers 31a and 31b.

[0053] Fourth, the rotation restricting unit 413 prevents the rotation of the main body 411 around the vertical axis, that is, the vertical axis. This prevents the main body 411 from rotating around the vertical axis due to inertia or impact during mowing or when the mowers 31a and 31b collide with an obstacle, thereby preventing the positions of the mowers 31a and 31b from being unnecessarily shifted. It also prevents the main body 411 and the mowers 31a and 31b from coming into contact with the wheels 21R and 21L, which would hinder movement.

[0054] Furthermore, by having the rotation restricting unit 413 receive rotational forces applied to the connecting unit 412 from obstacles or uneven ground, it is possible to avoid situations where excessive force is applied to the connecting unit 412, thereby preventing damage to the support mechanism 41.

[0055] Fifth, by arranging multiple lawnmowers 31a and 31b offset from each other in the front-rear direction Dtl of the vehicle 1, and by arranging the lawnmowers 31a at the front and 31b at the rear so that their respective mowing ranges Ra and Rb overlap in the vehicle width direction Dbl, it becomes possible to secure a wide mowing range Ra and Rb without leaving any uncut areas between the multiple lawnmowers 31a and 31b.

[0056] In this case, if multiple lawnmowers 31a and 31b are positioned on the underside of the vehicle body, closer to the center of the vehicle width Dbl, the mowed weeds can be received by the underside of the vehicle body, making it possible to suppress the scattering of weeds outwards.

[0057] Sixth, by positioning the brush cutters 31a and 31b behind the front ends of the front wheels 21R and 21L, when driving on open ground with large bumps or undulations, the wheels 21R and 21L can strike the ground's elevation or slope before the brush cutters 31a and 31b. This prevents damage to the brush cutters 31a and 31b from direct collision, and avoids situations where the brush cutters 31a and 31b ride up onto the elevation or other obstacle, causing the wheels 21R and 21L to lift off the ground.

[0058] Here, by positioning the brush cutters 31a and 31b inward, closer to the axles 211R and 211L than the outer edges of the wheels 21R and 21L when viewing the vehicle 1 in a side view with the vehicle width in the Dbl direction, it is possible to protect the brush cutters 31a and 31b from collisions with obstacles not only when the vehicle 1 is moving forward but also when it is moving backward, thereby preventing damage to the brush cutters 31a and 31b or hindering the movement of the vehicle 1.

[0059] Seventh, by enabling the operation of vehicle 1 and lawnmowers 31a and 31b using the remote controller 101, it becomes possible to mow grass from a safe location such as indoors without actually entering an open field overgrown with weeds, thereby significantly reducing the workload and ensuring the safety of the worker.

[0060] Eighth, by configuring the support mechanism 411 as a mounting unit for the brush cutters 31a and 31b separately from the chassis of the vehicle 1, and making the brush cutters 31a and 31b detachable from the vehicle 1, commercially available or existing brush cutters 31a and 31b can be used, and it is possible to attach the brush cutters 31a and 31b to work vehicles used for transporting agricultural products, etc., and perform weed control work, eliminating the need to purchase or prepare a dedicated brush cutter for weed control work, which is economical. In other words, instead of transporting agricultural products, spraying pesticides, etc., and weed control work being carried out with separate equipment or vehicles, it is possible to make work vehicles versatile and use one work vehicle for both purposes.

[0061] In the above description, multiple brush cutters 31a and 31b are supported by one main body 411 of the support mechanism 41, and all of these multiple brush cutters 31a and 31b are moved together with the main body 411 in response to an upward force input to any of the multiple brush cutters 31a and 31b. The operation of the support mechanism 41 is not limited to this, and it may also be possible to move only the brush cutter that has been subjected to force input independently of the other brush cutters.

[0062] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of support mechanisms 41R and 41L provided in a vehicle 1 equipped with a lawnmower according to another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to Figure 5, Figure 8(A) shows the normal state, and Figure 8(B) shows the state during the retraction operation.

[0063] In this embodiment, support mechanisms 41R and 41L are individually and independently provided for each of the pair of left and right grass trimmers 31a and 31b, which are located one behind the other. Specifically, a support mechanism 41R is provided to support the first grass trimmer 31a located at the front, and a support mechanism 41L is provided to support the second grass trimmer 31b located at the rear, which is operable independently of the support mechanism 41R for the first grass trimmer 31a.

[0064] Here, as in the previous embodiment, each of the support mechanisms 41R and 41L has a main body portion 411R and 411L to which the brush cutters 31a and 31b are attached, and a connecting portion 412R and 412L that hangs down from the suspension member 11c and is joined to the upper surface of the main body portions 411R and 411L, thereby supporting the main body portions 411R and 411L so that they can move vertically relative to the suspension member 11c.

[0065] The connecting parts 412R and 412L are provided in pairs for each of the first mower 31a and the second mower 31b. In other words, in the support mechanism 41R located to the right of the forward direction Dtl and supporting the first mower 31a, the main body 411R is connected to the suspension member 11c by a pair of connecting parts 412R, 412R spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction Dbl. In the support mechanism 41L located to the left of the forward direction Dtl and supporting the second mower 31b, the main body 411L is connected to the suspension member 11c by a pair of connecting parts 412L, 412L spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction Dbl.

[0066] Furthermore, each of the connecting portions 412R and 412L, similar to the previous embodiment, is shaped like an inverted U, surrounding the suspension member 11c from three sides. It includes a front vertical extension portion 412a positioned in front of the suspension member 11c and engaging the front edge of the suspension member 11c, a rear vertical extension portion 412b positioned behind the suspension member 11c and engaging the rear end of the suspension member 11c, and an upper horizontal extension portion 412c positioned above the suspension member 11c and connecting the front vertical extension portion 412a and the rear vertical extension portion 412b. The upper horizontal extension portion 412c of the connecting portions 412R and 412L contacts the suspension member 11c, supporting the main body portions 411R and 411L in a suspended state from the suspension member 11c.

[0067] In this way, by configuring the support mechanism 41R of the first grass cutter 31a and the support mechanism 41L of the second grass cutter 31b to operate independently, it becomes possible to retract the grass cutters 31a and 31b to the extent necessary to avoid obstacles, thereby avoiding a situation where the amount of uncut grass increases due to the unnecessary retraction of the grass cutters 31a and 31b.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above explanation, when an obstacle directly collides with the lawnmower 31a, 31b or the main body 411 of the support mechanism 41, in other words, when a direct force is applied to the lawnmower 31a, 31b or the main body 411, the retraction movement of the support mechanism 41 is caused. The force applied to the lawnmower 31a, 31b or the main body 411 is not limited to a direct force, but may also be indirect.

[0069] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a vehicle 1 with a lawnmower according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] In this embodiment, an operating arm 71 is provided, which is connected to the support mechanism 41 and extends forward from the main body 411. The operating arm 71 is positioned with its bottom surface or base close to the ground and makes contact with obstacles in front of it before the grass trimmer 31. The operating arm 71 then transmits the upward force F received from the obstacle to the main body 411, causing the main body 411 and the grass trimmer 31 to move upward.

[0071] In this way, before the lawnmower 31 actually comes into contact with an obstacle or a step in the ground, the support mechanism 41 is forced to retract by an indirect force input via the operating arm 71, causing the lawnmower 31 to move upward, thereby more reliably avoiding damage to the lawnmower 31. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 1...Vehicle with lawn mower, 11...Body frame, 11c...Suspension member, 21...Front wheel, 21R...Right front wheel, 21L...Left front wheel, 22...Rear wheel, 22R...Right rear wheel, 22L...Left rear wheel, 211 (211R), 221 (22) 1R)...Axle, 31a...First mower, 31b...Second mower, 41...Support mechanism, 411...Main body part, 412...Connection part, 412a...Front vertical extension part, 412b...Rear vertical extension part, 412c...Upper horizontal extension part ,413...Rotation restricting unit, 51a, 51b...Drive motor, 61 (61R, 61L), 62 (62R, 62L)...Sprocket, 63 (63R, 63L)...Chain, 71...Operating arm, 100...Onboard controller, 101...Remote controller, g...Gap, Dtl...Front-rear direction, Dbl...Vehicle width direction, P1...First position, P2...Second position, Ra, Rb...Cutting range of the grass cutter, OL...Overlapping range of the cutting range.

Claims

1. The wheels located on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle, The vehicle body frame that supports the aforementioned wheels, Electric lawnmowers and The system includes a support mechanism interposed between the vehicle frame and the lawnmower, which supports the lawnmower relative to the vehicle frame, The vehicle frame comprises a suspension member stretched between the axles of the wheels, The aforementioned support mechanism is The main body to which the aforementioned grass trimmer is attached, It comprises a connecting portion that hangs down from the suspension member and connects the main body portion to the suspension member so that it can move vertically, The support mechanism holds the brush cutter above the point of contact of the wheels, and supports the brush cutter and the main body so that they can move vertically relative to the vehicle frame as a single unit in response to an upward force input to the brush cutter. The aforementioned grass trimmer is normally in a first position above the point of contact of the wheels, and is capable of moving upward from the first position in response to an upward force input to the grass trimmer. The aforementioned connecting portion is in an inverted U-shape that surrounds the suspension member from the front, rear and above in the front-rear and vertical directions of the vehicle, allowing upward movement of the main body while restricting movement in the front-rear direction, in a vehicle equipped with a lawnmower.

2. The support mechanism extends upward from the main body and has a rotation restricting portion that locks to the suspension member so as to restrict the rotation of the main body about a vertical axis. A vehicle equipped with a lawnmower as described in claim 1.

3. Wheels provided on the left and right sides at the front of the vehicle, The vehicle body frame that supports the aforementioned wheels, Electric lawnmowers and The system includes a support mechanism interposed between the vehicle frame and the lawnmower, which supports the lawnmower relative to the vehicle frame, The vehicle frame comprises a suspension member stretched between the axles of the wheels, The aforementioned support mechanism is The main body to which the aforementioned grass trimmer is attached, It comprises a connecting portion that hangs down from the suspension member and connects the main body portion to the suspension member so that it can move vertically, The support mechanism holds the brush cutter above the point of contact of the wheels, and supports the brush cutter and the main body so that they can move vertically relative to the vehicle frame as a single unit in response to an upward force input to the brush cutter. The aforementioned grass trimmer is normally in a first position above the point of contact of the wheels, and is capable of moving upward from the first position in response to an upward force input to the grass trimmer. The main body further comprises an operating arm extending forward from the main body, A vehicle equipped with a lawnmower, which transmits an upward force to the operating arm to the main body, thereby enabling the main body to move upward.

4. The aforementioned lawnmower is First grass cutter and The system comprises a second mower positioned offset from the first mower in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, The first and second grass cutters have overlapping cutting ranges in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle equipped with a lawnmower according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Of the first and second grass cutters, the grass cutter positioned on the front side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle has its leading edge positioned behind the leading edge of the wheel. The vehicle with a lawnmower as described in claim 4.

6. The mower bodies of the first and second mowers are located on the inside, closer to the axle than the outer edge of the wheel, when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle with a lawnmower as described in claim 5.

7. The electric motor that constitutes the drive source of the vehicle, The system further comprises a controller configured to allow wireless remote control of the aforementioned grass trimmer and the aforementioned electric motor. A vehicle equipped with a lawnmower according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. A mounting unit for a lawnmower, which attaches a lawnmower to a vehicle equipped with a suspension member stretched between a pair of wheels, The main body to which the aforementioned grass trimmer is attached, The suspension member and the main body are connected by a connecting portion that allows the main body to move vertically relative to the suspension member, The connecting portion normally hangs down from the suspension member, holding the brush cutter in a first position above the vehicle's ground contact point, while in response to an upward force applied to the brush cutter, it moves the brush cutter and the main body upward, raising the brush cutter above the first position. The aforementioned connecting portion is further in the shape of an inverted U that surrounds the suspension member from the front, rear and above in the front-rear and vertical directions of the vehicle, allowing upward movement of the main body while restricting movement in the front-rear direction, thus forming a mounting unit for a brush cutter.

9. A mounting unit for a lawnmower, which attaches a lawnmower to a vehicle having a suspension member stretched between a pair of wheels, The main body to which the aforementioned grass trimmer is attached, The suspension member and the main body are connected by a connecting portion that allows the main body to move vertically relative to the suspension member, It comprises an operating arm extending forward from the main body, The connecting portion normally hangs down from the suspension member, holding the brush cutter in a first position above the vehicle's ground contact point, while in response to an upward force applied to the brush cutter, it moves the brush cutter and the main body upward, raising the brush cutter above the first position. A vehicle equipped with a lawnmower, wherein the operating arm transmits an upward force to the main body, thereby enabling the main body to move upward.

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