Hydraulic Excavator Cover Attachment Using Internal Latching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cover attachment structures for work vehicles, such as hydraulic excavators, make it difficult for operators to access and accurately attach exterior covers that cannot be opened and shut, particularly due to the need for complex bolt-based fixation methods.
Innovation Solution
A novel attachment system utilizing a latching member, insertion plate, and fixing component, where the insertion plate is inserted vertically into a receiver and the latching member is fixed to a latched member using bolts from inside the body, allowing for easy and accurate attachment of exterior covers without the need for extensive external bolt fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If exterior covers are attached using conventional bolt-based fixation methods, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the operator cannot easily access the attachment locations and the work becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is divided into two functional parts: a latching member that provides secure fixation and an insertion plate that enables easy access. The latching member includes a latching portion for engagement and a protruding portion that extends through the cover, while the insertion plate is inserted from the outside to receive the protruding portion. This segmentation allows the secure attachment function to be separated from the access function, resolving the contradiction between reliable attachment and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portion of the latching member acts as an intermediary element that transmits the attachment function from the interior side to the exterior side. By extending through the cover, it allows the insertion plate (operated from outside) to engage with the latching member (secured inside), enabling secure attachment without requiring direct access to bolt locations on the exterior.
2Reliability
If complex bolt-based fixation methods are used, then the attachment is secure, but the attachment process becomes time-consuming and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-bolt fixation process is extracted and replaced by a simplified insertion mechanism. Instead of requiring multiple bolts to be tightened from difficult-to-access locations, the invention uses a single insertion plate that is inserted from the exterior to engage with the latching member's protruding portion. This extraction of the complex fixation process dramatically improves attachment efficiency while maintaining security through the latching mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Conventional attachment methods require fasteners to be accessed and operated from the exterior side. This invention inverts the approach by having the primary fixation element (latching member) secured from the interior side, with only a simple insertion plate needing to be operated from the exterior. This inversion reverses the traditional flow of attachment operations, improving efficiency.
3Shape
If cover members cannot be opened and shut, then the exterior appearance is smooth and flush, but the attachment locations become inaccessible for maintenance and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is nested within the cover structure itself. The latching member is integrated into the cover, and the insertion plate is inserted through the cover to engage with the latching member. This nesting allows the attachment function to be embedded within the flush cover design, maintaining the smooth exterior appearance while enabling access through the insertion plate mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic excavator includes a hydraulic fluid tank cover that covers the side face of the body frame. A latching member is provided to the upper part on the rear face side of the hydraulic fluid tank cover in a state of being attached to the body frame. An insertion plate is provided to the lower part on the rear face side of the hydraulic fluid tank cover in a state of being attached to the body frame, and is disposed substantially along the vertical direction. A latched member is provided to the body frame and is latched by the latching member. A receiver is provided to the body frame, and the insertion plate is inserted therein. A fixing component is located more to the inside of the body than the upper end part of the exterior cover in top view in an attached state, and fixes the latching member to the latched member.