Riding Work Machine Electric Component Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In riding work machines with engines housed in hoods, accessing electric components for maintenance is inconvenient due to their placement, and they are susceptible to water splashing from wheels.

Innovation Solution

Electric components are positioned under the deck panel, with a shielding member between the wheels and components to prevent water splashing, allowing for easy maintenance without opening the hood and utilizing dead space effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electric components are disposed inside the hood, then the space upwardly of the hood can be utilized for mounting devices such as a grass collector, but it becomes inconvenient to access the electric components for maintenance without opening the hood

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the installation space into two separate locations: the hood area for the engine and optional devices, and the deck panel area for electric components. This segmentation allows independent access to each zone, enabling maintenance of electric components without opening the hood while preserving the ability to mount devices on the hood.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electric components are extracted from the hood and relocated to the deck panel area. This extraction eliminates the need to open the hood for maintenance access while maintaining the hood's availability for optional device mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If electric components are disposed under the deck panel, then accessibility for maintenance is improved without opening the hood, but the components become vulnerable to water splashing from the wheels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for maintenanceVSAvoidwater splashing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a shielding member as an intermediary barrier between the wheels and the electric components. This shielding member blocks water splashed from the wheels from reaching the electric components, while still allowing the components to be accessed for maintenance through openings in the shielding member or through the deck panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of repair

If the hood is opened for maintenance of electric components, then the components can be accessed, but the hood and engine area are exposed to external elements and require reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessVSAvoidtime for hood opening and closing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electric components are extracted from the hood and placed in the deck panel area, eliminating the need to open the hood for maintenance. This extraction removes the time-consuming steps of opening and closing the hood while maintaining full access to the components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the maintenance access path by providing direct access points in the deck panel area, separating the maintenance function from the hood operation. This allows components to be serviced independently without affecting the hood assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3871488B1Riding work machine
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3871488B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3871488B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3871488B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a riding work machine, various electric components are disposed under a deck panel 40 at a laterally outer portion of a vehicle body frame 10 and within a spacing between front wheels IF and rear wheels 1R in a front/rear direction. And, between the front wheels IF or the rear wheels 1R and the electric components, there is provided a shielding member 6 configured to suppress falling of scattering water splashed from the front wheels IF or the rear wheels 1R.