Controller Mounting in Small Hydraulic Excavator Cab

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Solution Overview

Problem

In small-sized hydraulic excavators, the limited space within the cab box makes it difficult to easily perform inspection, removal, and repair work on the controller due to its forced arrangement in a narrow space.

Innovation Solution

A controller accommodating space is created between the side surface of the equipment mounting part and the operator's seat, utilizing a bracket member with a U-shaped configuration to mount the controller, which is also protected by a cover member, allowing for easy access and protection from environmental factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the controller is arranged on a support base in back of the operator's seat inside the cab box, then the controller can be mounted within the limited space of small-sized hydraulic excavators, but the removal work, inspection work, and repair work of the controller cannot be performed easily due to the narrow space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontroller mounting spaceVSAvoidcontroller inspection and repair ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The controller mounting structure is segmented into a support base fixed to the floor member and a separate controller unit that can be independently removed. This allows the controller to be easily detached for inspection and repair while maintaining a compact mounting arrangement within the limited cab box space of small-sized hydraulic excavators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of moving object

If the lower traveling structure and upper revolving structure are formed in small size to enable work at narrow working sites, then the excavator can operate in confined spaces, but the space for disposing the controller in the cab box becomes limited and difficult to access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcavator operating footprintVSAvoidcontroller mounting space
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is mounted on the floor member in a vertical arrangement rather than occupying horizontal cab box space. This dimensional change allows the controller to be positioned in a location that is both space-efficient and easily accessible from the front of the excavator, resolving the conflict between compact size and controller accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If various kinds of equipment and components are narrowly arranged in the cab box of small-sized hydraulic excavators, then the excavator maintains a compact size for narrow working sites, but the controller is forcedly arranged in narrow space making maintenance work difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecab box space utilizationVSAvoidcontroller maintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is extracted from the crowded cab box interior and mounted on the floor member at the front of the upper revolving structure. This extraction removes the controller from the narrow space constraint, allowing easy access for maintenance work while maintaining efficient space utilization within the cab box for other equipment and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2765242B1Small-sized hydraulic excavator
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY TIERRA CO LTD
  • EP2765242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2765242B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2765242B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operator's seat mounting section (11) that is positioned in back side of a floor member (10) includes a seat plate (11D) for mounting an operator's seat (14) and an equipment mounting part (11F) that rises upward from the right side of the seat plate (11D), and a right operating lever assembly (16) is provided in front of the equipment mounting part (11F). A controller accommodating space (21) is provided to be positioned in back side of a console (16A) of the right operating lever assembly (16) and between a side surface (11F1) of the equipment mounting part (11F) of the operator's seat mounting section (11) and the operator's seat (14), and a controller (27) is mounted in the controller accommodating space (21) to control various kinds of electric equipment.