Work machine

Abstract

This work machine comprises a blade, a left lift frame, a right lift frame, an engine, and an engine compartment. The left lift frame and the right lift frame are disposed behind the blade and support the blade. The engine compartment is disposed behind the blade. The engine is disposed in the engine compartment. The engine compartment includes a lower compartment and an upper compartment. The lower compartment is disposed between the left lift frame and the right lift frame. The upper compartment is disposed above the lower compartment. The width of the upper compartment is wider than the width of the lower compartment.

Description

Work machinery

[0001] The present invention relates to a work machine.

[0002] Some work machines include a blade, an engine compartment, and left and right lift frames. For example, in the work machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the blade is supported by the left and right lift frames. The engine compartment is located behind the blade and between the left and right lift frames.

[0003] JP 2014-034846 A

[0004] The engine compartment houses the engine and engine accessories. Therefore, it is desirable to secure a large space within the engine compartment. However, when the engine compartment is disposed between the left and right lift frames as described above, it is not easy to increase the width of the engine compartment. Furthermore, if the engine compartment is expanded upward, there is a possibility that the visibility of the blade will decrease. An object of the present disclosure is to expand the space within the engine compartment of a work machine while minimizing the decrease in the visibility of the blade.

[0005] A work machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a blade, a left lift frame, a right lift frame, an engine, and an engine compartment. The left lift frame and the right lift frame are disposed rearward of the blade and support the blade. The engine compartment is disposed rearward of the blade. The engine is disposed in the engine compartment. The engine compartment includes a lower compartment and an upper compartment. The lower compartment is disposed between the left lift frame and the right lift frame. The upper compartment is disposed above the lower compartment. The upper compartment has a width greater than that of the lower compartment.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, the upper compartment of the engine compartment has a width greater than that of the lower compartment, which allows the engine compartment to be expanded while suppressing upward expansion of the engine compartment, thereby suppressing deterioration of blade visibility.

[0007] 1 is a perspective view of a work machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a left side view of the front part of the work machine; FIG. 3 is a right side view of the front part of the work machine; FIG. 4 is a top view of the front part of the work machine; FIG. 5 is a front view of the front part of the work machine; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an engine compartment; FIG. 7 is a left side view of the engine compartment; FIG. 8 is a right side view of the engine compartment; FIG. 9 is a front view of the engine compartment; FIG. 10 is a left side view of the front part of the work machine with the left and right lift frames positioned at their uppermost positions; FIG. 11 is a right side view of the front part of the work machine with the left and right lift frames positioned at their uppermost positions; FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the engine compartment; FIG. 13 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment; FIG. 14 is a top view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment; FIG. 15 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment.

[0008] A work machine according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a work machine 1 according to an embodiment. The work machine 1 according to this embodiment is a bulldozer. The work machine 1 comprises a vehicle body 2 and a work implement 3. The vehicle body 2 includes a driver's cab 4, an engine compartment 5, and a traveling device 6. The engine compartment 5 is located in front of the driver's cab 4. An engine, which will be described later, is located within the engine compartment 5. An exhaust pipe 7 and an intake pipe 8 extend from the top surface of the engine compartment 5. The traveling device 6 is provided below the vehicle body 2. The traveling device 6 includes left and right tracks 9A, 9B.

[0009] The work implement 3 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The work implement 3 includes a lift frame 11 and a blade 12. The lift frame 11 is attached to the vehicle body 2. The lift frame 11 supports the blade 12. The blade 12 is disposed in front of the vehicle body 2. The engine compartment 5 is disposed behind the blade 12.

[0010] Fig. 2 is a left side view of the front portion of the work machine 1. Fig. 3 is a right side view of the front portion of the work machine 1. Fig. 4 is a top view of the front portion of the work machine 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of the front portion of the work machine 1. Note that the left and right crawler tracks 9A, 9B are omitted from Figs. 2 to 5. The blade 12 is omitted from Fig. 5.

[0011] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the lift frame 11 includes a left lift frame 13, a right lift frame 14, and a connecting frame 15. The left and right lift frames 13, 14 extend rearward of the blade 12. The connecting frame 15 connects the left and right lift frames 13, 14 rearward of the blade 12. The connecting frame 15 supports the blade 12 in front of it via a ball joint (not shown). The left and right lift frames 13, 14 are supported on the vehicle body 2 so as to be rotatable up and down about a lift axis A1. The lift axis A1 extends in the vehicle width direction of the work machine 1.

[0012] The work machine 3 includes a left lift cylinder 16 and a right lift cylinder 17. The left lift cylinder 16 is connected to the left lift frame 13. The left lift cylinder 16 is disposed above the left lift frame 13. The left lift frame 13 includes a left cylinder support portion 21. The left cylinder support portion 21 extends upward from the left lift frame 13. The left lift cylinder 16 is connected to the left cylinder support portion 21.

[0013] The right lift cylinder 17 is connected to the right lift frame 14. The right lift cylinder 17 is disposed above the right lift frame 14. The right lift frame 14 includes a right cylinder support portion 22. The right cylinder support portion 22 extends upward from the right lift frame 14. The right lift cylinder 17 is connected to the right cylinder support portion 22.

[0014] The vehicle body 2 includes a vehicle body frame 23, a left cylinder mount 24, and a right cylinder mount 25. The vehicle body frame 23 is disposed below the engine compartment 5. The vehicle body frame 23 supports the engine compartment 5. The left cylinder mount 24 and the right cylinder mount 25 are connected to the vehicle body frame 23. The left cylinder mount 24 is disposed rearward of the left lift cylinder 16. The left lift cylinder 16 is connected to the left cylinder mount 24. The right cylinder mount 25 is disposed rearward of the right lift cylinder 17. The right lift cylinder 17 is connected to the right cylinder mount 25.

[0015] The left and right lift cylinders 16, 17 are hydraulic cylinders. The extension and contraction of the left and right lift cylinders 16, 17 causes the lift frame 11 to move up and down around the lift axis A1, thereby moving the blade 12 up and down. The left and right lift cylinders 16, 17 move up and down around the lift axis A1 together with the left and right lift frames 13, 14.

[0016] The work implement 3 includes a left angle cylinder 18 and a right angle cylinder 19. The left angle cylinder 18 is connected to the blade 12 and the left lift frame 13. The left angle cylinder 18 is disposed above the left lift frame 13. The left angle cylinder 18 is connected to a left cylinder support portion 21. The left angle cylinder 18 is disposed in front of the left lift cylinder 16.

[0017] The right angle cylinder 19 is connected to the blade 12 and the right lift frame 14. The right angle cylinder 19 is disposed above the right lift frame 14. The right angle cylinder 19 is connected to the right cylinder support part 22. The right angle cylinder 19 is disposed in front of the right lift cylinder 17.

[0018] The left and right angle cylinders 18, 19 are hydraulic cylinders. The extension and contraction of the left and right angle cylinders 18, 19 causes the blade 12 to angle. The angle movement is a movement in which the blade 12 tilts relative to the vehicle width direction. The left and right angle cylinders 18, 19 move up and down around the lift axis A1 together with the left and right lift frames 13, 14.

[0019] The engine compartment 5 is disposed between the left lift frame 13 and the right lift frame 14. The upper surface of the engine compartment 5 includes an inclined surface 30. The inclined surface 30 is inclined forward and downward. The engine compartment 5 includes a lower compartment 31 and an upper compartment 32. The lower compartment 31 is disposed between the left lift frame 13 and the right lift frame 14. In a side view of the vehicle, the lower compartment 31 overlaps the left lift frame 13 and the right lift frame 14.

[0020] The lower chamber 31 is disposed between the left lift cylinder 16 and the right lift cylinder 17. In a side view of the vehicle, the lower chamber 31 overlaps the left lift cylinder 16 and the right lift cylinder 17. The lower chamber 31 is disposed between the left angle cylinder 18 and the right angle cylinder 19. In a side view of the vehicle, the lower chamber 31 overlaps the left angle cylinder 18 and the right angle cylinder 19.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the engine compartment 5. FIG. 7 is a left side view showing the engine compartment 5. FIG. 8 is a right side view showing the engine compartment 5. FIG. 9 is a front view showing the engine compartment 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the lower chamber 31 is disposed between the left cylinder mount 24 and the right cylinder mount 25. The upper chamber 32 is disposed above the lower chamber 31. The upper chamber 32 has a width W2 that is wider than the width W1 of the lower chamber 31. A widthwise distance W3 between the left cylinder mount 24 and the right cylinder mount 25 is narrower than the width W2 of the upper chamber 32.

[0022] The lower chamber 31 includes a lower left side surface 33 and a lower right side surface 34. The upper chamber 32 includes an upper left side surface 35 and an upper right side surface 36. The upper left side surface 35 is disposed above the lower left side surface 33. The upper left side surface 35 is positioned outward from the lower left side surface 33. The upper right side surface 36 is disposed above the lower right side surface 34. The upper right side surface 36 is positioned outward from the lower right side surface 34.

[0023] The engine compartment 5 includes a left step 37 and a right step 38. The left and right steps 37, 38 are located between the upper compartment 32 and the lower compartment 31. The left and right steps 37, 38 are boundaries between the upper compartment 32 and the lower compartment 31. The upper compartment 32 is located above the left and right steps 37, 38. The lower compartment 31 is located below the left and right steps 37, 38. The left step 37 is located between the upper left side surface 35 and the lower left side surface 33. The right step 38 is located between the upper right side surface 36 and the lower right side surface 34.

[0024] As shown in Figure 7, the left step 37 includes a left rear step 41 and a left front step 42. In a side view of the vehicle, the left rear step 41 extends in the front-to-rear direction. In a side view of the vehicle, the left front step 42 extends at an angle forward and upward from the left rear step 41. As shown in Figure 8, the right step 38 includes a right rear step 43 and a right front step 44. In a side view of the vehicle, the right rear step 43 extends in the front-to-rear direction. In a side view of the vehicle, the right front step 44 extends at an angle forward and upward from the right rear step 43.

[0025] Figure 10 is a left side view showing the front of the work machine 1 when the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions. Figure 11 is a right side view showing the front of the work machine 1 when the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions. As shown in Figure 10, when the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the left step 37 is positioned above the left lift frame 13. When the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the left step 37 is positioned above the left lift cylinder 16. When the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the left step 37 is positioned above the left angle cylinder 18. As described above, the left front step 42 is inclined upward, thereby avoiding interference between the left front step 42 and the left angle cylinder 18.

[0026] 10 , when the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the right step 38 is positioned above the right lift frame 14. When the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the right step 38 is positioned above the right lift cylinder 17. When the left and right lift frames 13, 14 are positioned at their uppermost positions, the right step 38 is positioned above the right angle cylinder 19. As described above, the right front step 44 is inclined upward, thereby avoiding interference between the right front step 44 and the right angle cylinder 19.

[0027] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the engine compartment 5. As shown in FIG. 12, the engine compartment 5 includes an upper hood 51 and a lower hood 52. The upper hood 51 and the lower hood 52 are separate bodies. The upper hood 51 is detachable from the lower hood 52. The lower hood 52 is attached to the upper hood 51 by a fixing member such as a bolt. As shown in FIG. 6, a boundary 50 between the upper hood 51 and the lower hood 52 is included in the upper compartment 32. The boundary 50 between the upper hood 51 and the lower hood 52 is located above the step portions 37 and 38.

[0028] As shown in Figures 6 and 12, the engine compartment 5 includes an upper front opening 53 and a lower front opening 54. The upper front opening 53 is provided in the front surface of the upper compartment 32. The upper front opening 53 is provided in the upper hood 51. The lower front opening 54 is provided in the front surface of the lower compartment 31. The lower front opening 54 is provided in the lower hood 52. As shown in Figure 5, the upper front opening 53 is closed by a upper front cover portion 55. The upper front cover portion 55 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by fastening members such as bolts. The lower front opening 54 is closed by a lower front cover portion 56. The lower front cover portion 56 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by fastening members such as bolts.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7 , the engine compartment 5 includes an upper-left opening 57 and a lower-left opening 58. The upper-left opening 57 is provided on the upper left side surface 35 of the upper compartment 32. The upper-left opening 57 is provided on the upper hood 51. The lower-left opening 58 is provided on the lower right side surface 34 of the lower compartment 31. The lower-left opening 58 is provided on the lower hood 52. As shown in FIG. 2 , the upper-left opening 57 is closed by an upper-left lid portion 61. The upper-left lid portion 61 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by a fixing member such as a bolt. The lower-left opening 58 is closed by a lower-left lid portion 62. The lower-left lid portion 62 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by a fixing member such as a bolt.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 8 , the engine compartment 5 includes an upper right opening 63 and a lower right opening 64. The upper right opening 63 is provided on the upper right side surface 36 of the upper compartment 32. The upper right opening 63 is provided on the upper hood 51. The lower right opening 64 is provided on the lower right side surface 34 of the lower compartment 31. The lower right opening 64 is provided on the lower hood 52. As shown in FIG. 3 , the upper right opening 63 is closed by an upper right lid portion 65. The upper right lid portion 65 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by a fixing member such as a bolt. The lower right opening 64 is closed by a lower right lid portion 66. The lower right lid portion 66 is detachably attached to the engine compartment 5 by a fixing member such as a bolt.

[0031] Fig. 13 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment 5. Fig. 14 is a top view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment 5. Fig. 15 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the engine compartment 5. In Figs. 13 to 15, the engine compartment 5 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0032] As shown in Figures 13 to 15, the work machine 1 includes an engine 70 and an exhaust gas after-treatment device 71. The engine 70 and the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 are disposed in the engine compartment 5. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is connected to the engine 70. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 purifies the exhaust gas from the engine 70. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 includes, for example, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 captures particulate matter in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 reduces NOx in the exhaust gas.

[0033] The engine 70 is disposed in the lower compartment 31. The engine 70 is disposed below the boundary 50 between the upper hood 51 and the lower hood 52. The lower compartment 31 is provided with a front lower opening 54, a left lower opening 58, and a right lower opening 64. Maintenance of the engine 70 is possible through these openings 54, 58, 64.

[0034] A support member 73 is disposed in front of the engine 70. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is supported by the support member 73. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is supported on the body frame 23 via the support member 73. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is disposed above the engine 70. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is disposed in the upper chamber 32.

[0035] The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 has a generally cylindrical shape extending in the vehicle width direction. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 faces the width direction of the upper chamber 32. As shown in Fig. 15, the width of the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is greater than the width of the lower chamber 31. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is arranged above the step portions 37, 38. As shown in Fig. 14, the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 overlaps with the step portions 37, 38 in a top view of the vehicle.

[0036] At least a portion of the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 is disposed above the boundary 50 between the upper hood 51 and the lower hood 52. Therefore, by removing the upper hood 51 from the lower hood 52, maintenance of the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 or removal and installation thereof can be easily performed. The upper chamber 32 is provided with the above-mentioned upper front opening 53, upper left opening 57, and upper right opening 63. Maintenance of the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 can be performed through these openings 53, 57, and 63.

[0037] In the work machine 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the upper compartment 32 in the engine compartment 5 has a width greater than the lower compartment 31. This makes it possible to expand the space within the engine compartment 5 while preventing the engine compartment 5 from expanding upward. This prevents a decrease in visibility of the blade 12.

[0038] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0039] The work machine 1 is not limited to a bulldozer, but may be another vehicle such as a wheel loader. The traveling device 6 is not limited to tracks, but may have wheels and tires. The structure of the lift frame 11 is not limited to that of the above embodiment, but may be modified. For example, the left lift frame 13 and the right lift frame 14 may be separate bodies.

[0040] The structure of the engine compartment 5 is not limited to that of the above embodiment and may be modified. For example, the shapes of the lower compartment 31 and the upper compartment 32 may be modified. The positions or shapes of the step portions 37, 38 may be modified. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 may be disposed in the lower compartment 31. Devices other than the exhaust gas after-treatment device 71 may be disposed in the engine compartment 5. The upper hood 51 may be attached to the lower hood 52 via hinges or the like so as to be openable and closable, rather than being detachably attached to the lower hood 52 by bolts or the like.

[0041] According to the present disclosure, in a work machine, it is possible to expand the space inside the engine compartment and suppress a decrease in the visibility of the blade.

[0042] 5: Engine compartment, 12: Blade, 13: Left lift frame, 14: Right lift frame, 16: Left lift cylinder, 17: Right lift cylinder, 24: Left cylinder mount, 25: Right cylinder mount, 31: Lower chamber, 32: Upper chamber, 37: Left stage, 41: Left rear stage, 42: Left front stage, 51: Upper hood, 52: Lower hood, 70: Engine, 71: Exhaust gas aftertreatment device

Claims

1. A work machine comprising: a blade; a left lift frame disposed rearward of the blade and supporting the blade; a right lift frame disposed rearward of the blade and supporting the blade; an engine; and an engine compartment disposed rearward of the blade and in which the engine is disposed, wherein the engine compartment includes: a lower compartment disposed between the left lift frame and the right lift frame; and an upper compartment disposed above the lower compartment and having a width greater than that of the lower compartment.

2. A work machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the left lift frame and the right lift frame are movable up and down around a lift axis extending in the width direction of the work machine, and when the left lift frame and the right lift frame are positioned at their uppermost positions, the boundary between the upper chamber and the lower chamber is located above the left lift frame and the right lift frame.

3. The work machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a left lift cylinder connected to the left lift frame; and a right lift cylinder connected to the right lift frame, wherein the lower chamber is disposed between the left lift cylinder and the right lift cylinder.

4. A work machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein the left lift frame and the right lift frame are movable up and down around a lift axis extending in the width direction of the work machine, the left lift cylinder and the right lift cylinder are movable up and down together with the left lift frame and the right lift frame, and when the left lift frame and the right lift frame are positioned at their uppermost positions, the boundary between the upper chamber and the lower chamber is located above the left lift cylinder and the right lift cylinder.

5. The work machine according to claim 3, further comprising: a left cylinder mount to which the left lift cylinder is attached; and a right cylinder mount to which the right lift cylinder is attached, wherein the lower chamber is disposed between the left cylinder mount and the right cylinder mount.

6. A work machine according to claim 5, wherein the distance in the width direction between the left cylinder mount and the right cylinder mount is narrower than the width of the upper chamber.

7. A work machine according to claim 1, wherein the engine compartment includes a step located between the upper compartment and the lower compartment.

8. A work machine according to claim 7, wherein the step portion includes a rear step portion extending in the fore-and-aft direction in a side view of the vehicle, and a front step portion extending and inclining forward and upward from the rear step portion.

9. A work machine according to claim 1, wherein the engine compartment includes: a lower hood; and an upper hood that is separate from the lower hood and is detachable from the lower hood.

10. The work machine according to claim 9, wherein the boundary between the upper hood and the lower hood is included in the upper chamber.

11. The work machine according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust gas after-treatment device connected to the engine, the exhaust gas after-treatment device being disposed in the upper chamber.

12. The work machine according to claim 11, wherein the exhaust gas after-treatment device is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the exhaust gas after-treatment device faces the width direction of the upper chamber.

13. The work machine according to claim 11, wherein the engine is disposed in the lower chamber.

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