This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-109579 filed Jul. 3, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a configuration relating to charging of a battery in an electric work vehicle.
In an electric tractor, which is an example of an electric work vehicle, a hood is often provided in a front portion of a body, and a driving section is often provided behind the hood.
In such an electric tractor, a connector section to which a charger of an external power source (a charger included in an external power source facility) is connected to charge a battery may be provided on a lateral side of a steering wheel in the driving section as disclosed in JP 2022-60665A.
In many cases, a work device such as a front loader is attached to the body of an electric tractor to perform work. In this case, portions of the work device such as a front loader may be located on the right side and the left side of the driving section.
If portions of a work device are located on the right side and the left side of the driving section in the electric tractor disclosed in Patent Document 1, it may be difficult to connect the charger of the external power source to the connector section due to the work device, and therefore, there is still room for improvement.
An object of the present invention is to configure an electric work vehicle in such a manner that a charger of an external power source can be easily connected to a connector section.
An electric work vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a body provided with a travel device; a battery; a motor configured to operate with power supplied from the battery and supply motive power to the travel device; a hood in a front portion of the body; a driving section behind the hood; and a connector section to which a charger is connected to charge the battery, wherein the connector section is in a front portion of the hood.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed in the front portion of the hood, and therefore, a worker can connect the charger to the connector section to charge the battery while standing in front of the body. Therefore, even if portions of a work device attached to the body are located on the right side and the left side of the driving section, the worker can easily connect the charger to the connector section without being affected by the work device. Consequently, workability of charging work can be improved.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the battery is within the hood.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed in the front portion of the hood and the battery is disposed within the hood, and therefore, the connector section is close to the battery. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the length of a harness or the like connecting the connector section and the battery, and accordingly, it is possible to simplify the structure.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the hood includes a top portion, a front face portion, a right side face portion, and a left side face portion, a right headlight and a left headlight are provided in a right region and a left region of an upper portion of the front face portion, and the connector section is disposed between the right headlight and the left headlight and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along a front-rear direction.
If an electric work vehicle includes a hood that includes a top portion, a front face portion, a right side face portion, and a left side face portion, a right headlight and a left headlight may be provided in a right region and a left region of an upper portion of the front face portion of the hood.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed between the right headlight and the left headlight in this configuration and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected in such a manner as to extend along the front-rear direction. Therefore, the worker can easily connect the charger to the connector section while standing in front of the body, and this configuration is advantageous in improving workability of the charging work.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector section is within the hood and the front face portion includes a cover portion at a position corresponding to the connector section, the cover portion being openable and closable and configured to allow the charger to be connected to the connector section.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed within the hood and covered by the hood and the cover portion, and therefore, it is possible to suppress intrusion of rain water into the connector section and attachment of dust to the connector section, for example, and accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage to the connector section.
When the worker connects the charger to the connector section, the worker can connect the charger to the connector section without difficulty by opening the cover portion, and therefore, this configuration does not impair workability.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the hood includes a top portion, a front face portion, a right side face portion, and a left side face portion, and the connector section is disposed in a front portion of the top portion and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along a front-rear direction or an up-down direction.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the hood includes the top portion, the front face portion, the right side face portion, and the left side face portion, and the connector section is disposed in the front portion of the top portion of the hood. Also, the connector section is oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected in such a manner as to extend along the front-rear direction or the up-down direction. Therefore, the worker can easily connect the charger to the connector section while standing in front of the body, and this configuration is advantageous in improving workability of the charging work.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector section is within the hood and the top portion includes a cover portion at a position corresponding to the connector section, the cover portion being openable and closable and configured to allow the charger to be connected to the connector section.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed within the hood and covered by the hood and the cover portion, and therefore, it is possible to suppress intrusion of rain water into the connector section and attachment of dust to the connector section, for example, and accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage to the connector section.
When the worker connects the charger to the connector section, the worker can connect the charger to the connector section without difficulty by opening the cover portion, and therefore, this configuration does not impair workability.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the hood includes a top portion, a front face portion, a right side face portion, and a left side face portion, and the connector section is disposed in a lower region of a front portion of the right side face portion or a lower region of a front portion of the left side face portion and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along a left-right direction.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the hood includes the top portion, the front face portion, the right side face portion, and the left side face portion, and the connector section is disposed in the lower region of the front portion of the right side face portion (or the left side face portion) of the hood and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected in such a manner as to extend along the left-right direction. Therefore, the worker can easily connect the charger to the connector section while standing in front of the body, and this configuration is advantageous in improving workability of the charging work.
In the production of work vehicles, electric work vehicles may be produced by installing a battery and a motor on the body, and engine work vehicles may be produced by installing an engine on the body. In the production of engine work vehicles, an exhaust port of an exhaust pipe extending from the engine may be disposed in the lower region of the front portion of the right side face portion (or the left side face portion) of the hood.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the lower region of the front portion of the right side face portion (or the left side face portion) of the hood can be used as a region for disposing the connector section as well as a region for disposing the exhaust port of the exhaust pipe, and therefore, it is possible to simplify the structure.
In an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the connector section is within the hood and the right side face portion or the left side face portion includes a cover portion at a position corresponding to the connector section, the cover portion being openable and closable and configured to allow the charger to be connected to the connector section.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the connector section is disposed within the hood and covered by the hood and the cover portion, and therefore, it is possible to suppress intrusion of rain water into the connector section and attachment of dust to the connector section, for example, and accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage to the connector section.
When the worker connects the charger to the connector section, the worker can connect the charger to the connector section without difficulty by opening the cover portion, and therefore, this configuration does not impair workability.
As shown in
As shown in
A single top link 13 and right and left lower links 14 are attached to a rear portion of the transmission case 12 in such a manner as to be swingable in the up-down direction. Right and left lift arms 15 are provided on the rear portion of the transmission case 12. Rods 16 are connected to the lift arms 15 and the lower links 14.
Various work devices (not shown) can be attached to the top link 13 and the lower links 14. A work device is lifted and lowered via the top link 13 and the lower links 14 by operating the lift arms 15 so as to swing in the up-down direction.
As shown in
The right and left base portions 18 are coupled to the body frames 10 and extend upward on the right side and the left side of a rear portion of the hood 4. The right and left booms 19 are attached to respective upper portions of the base portions 18 in such a manner as to be swingable in the up-down direction and extend forward. The right and left boom cylinders 21 are attached to the base portions 18 and the booms 19. The booms 19 are lifted and lowered by the boom cylinders 21.
The bucket 20 is attached to front portions of the booms 19 in such a manner as to be swingable in the up-down direction. The frame 23 is coupled to the right and left booms 19. The bucket cylinder 22 is connected to the bucket 20 and the frame 23. The bucket 20 is caused to perform a scooping operation and a dumping operation by the bucket cylinder 22.
As shown in
The mower 24 includes three blades (not shown) disposed side by side in the left-right direction within the mower 24, and each blade is driven to rotate about an axis extending in the up-down direction. Grass reaped by the blades is discharged rightward from a discharge section 24a on the right side of the mower 24.
As shown in
Right and left support members 25 (see
The inverter 28 is attached to a front region of a lower surface portion of the support frame 26. The motor 29 is attached to a rear region of the lower surface portion of the support frame 26 and disposed between the right and left body frames 10.
The inverter 28 and the motor 29 are covered by a lower cover 30 from below. Fans 31 are attached to a front portion of the lower cover 30. Outside air is introduced into the inside of the lower cover 30 by the fans 31 to cool the inverter 28 and the motor 29 with the outside air.
An arch-shaped frame 32 is coupled to the right and left body frames 10 at a position corresponding to a rear end portion of the hood 4. The battery 33, which outputs 12 V power, is attached to the frame 32.
Power is supplied from the battery 27 to the inverter 28, the DC power supplied from the battery 27 is converted to AC power in the inverter 28, and the AC power is supplied to the motor 29 to cause the motor 29 to operate.
Power is supplied from the battery 27 to a DC-DC converter (not shown), and the voltage of the supplied power is reduced to 12 V in the DC-DC converter. The power with the reduced voltage of 12 V is supplied to the battery 33. Various devices (not shown) installed in the tractor operate with the 12 V power supplied from the battery 33.
As shown in
Motive power subjected to the speed change in the continuously variable transmission 11 is transmitted via an auxiliary transmission (not shown) and a rear wheel differential device (not shown) provided within the transmission case 12 to the rear wheels 2. Motive power diverging from a position right before the rear wheel differential device is transmitted via transmission shafts 35 and 36 to a front wheel differential device (not shown) provided within the front wheel shaft case 8, and transmitted from the front wheel differential device to the front wheels 1.
A PTO shaft 37 is provided in a lower region of the front portion of the transmission case 12 in such a manner as to face forward. A PTO shaft 38 is provided on the rear portion of the transmission case 12 in such a manner as to face rearward. Motive power that is transmitted by the transmission shaft 34 and not subjected to the speed change in the continuously variable transmission 11 is transmitted to the PTO shafts 37 and 38, and a hydraulic pump (not shown) is driven by the motive power not subjected to the speed change in the continuously variable transmission 11.
Motive power is transmitted from the PTO shaft 37 via a transmission shaft (not shown) to the mower 24. Motive power is transmitted from the PTO shaft 38 via a transmission shaft (not shown) to the work device attached to the top link 13 and the lower links 14. The boom cylinders 21 and the bucket cylinder 22 included in the front loader 17 and a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) for swinging the lift arms 15 are operated with hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump.
Correspondence with Claims Regarding Battery
According to the above configuration, the tractor includes: the body 3 provided with the travel devices (the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2); and the battery 27. The tractor also includes the motor 29 configured to operate with power supplied from the battery 27 and supply motive power to the travel devices (the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2).
The tractor also includes the hood 4 in the front portion of the body 3 and the driving section 5 behind the hood 4. The battery 27 is within the hood 4.
As shown in
A front grill 46 including a large number of small openings is provided in a lower portion of the front face portion 41, a front portion of the right side face portion 42, and a front portion of the left side face portion 43 of the hood 4. The front grill 46 is a part of the front face portion 41 of the hood 4, a part of the right side face portion 42 of the hood 4, and a part of the left side face portion 43 of the hood 4.
A right headlight 44 and a left headlight 45 are provided in a right region and a left region of an upper portion of the front face portion 41 of the hood 4. Side grills 49 including a large number of small openings are provided in the right side face portion 42 and the left side face portion 43 of the hood 4.
The front face portion 41 of the hood 4 includes an opening 47 between the right headlight 44 and the left headlight 45. A cover portion 48 is attached to the front face portion 41 of the hood 4 (an upper edge of the opening 47) in such a manner as to be swingable about an axis P2 extending in the left-right direction. The cover portion 48 can be operated to a closed position (see
Configuration of Connector Section to which Charger of External Power Source is Connected to Charge Battery
As shown in
Right and left frames 51 extending in the up-down direction are coupled to a front portion of the support frame 26 and front regions of respective upper portions of the frames 50 within the hood 4 and disposed in front of the battery 27. A frame 52 extending in the left-right direction is coupled to the respective upper portions of the right and left frames 50 and disposed above the battery 27.
As shown in
When the cover portion 48 is operated to the open position (see
Correspondence with Claims Regarding Connector Section
According to the above configuration, the tractor includes the connector section 39 to which a charger is connected to charge the battery 27, and the connector section 39 is disposed in a front portion of the hood 4.
The hood 4 includes the top portion 40, the front face portion 41, the right side face portion 42, and the left side face portion 43. The right headlight 44 and the left headlight 45 are provided in the right region and the left region of the upper portion of the front face portion 41. The connector section 39 is disposed between the right headlight 44 and the left headlight 45 and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along the front-rear direction.
The connector section 39 is within the hood 4. The front face portion 41 includes the cover portion 48 at a position corresponding to the connector section 39, and the cover portion 48 is openable and closable and allows the charger to be connected to the connector section 39.
As shown in
A frame 56 extending in the left-right direction is coupled to the front regions of the respective upper portions of the right and left frames 50 within the hood 4. The connector section 39 is attached to a center portion of the frame 56 in the left-right direction. The connector section 39 faces upward under the opening 54 of the hood 4. When the cover portion 55 is operated to the closed position, the connector section 39 is covered by the cover portion 55 and is not exposed to the upper side of the hood 4.
When the cover portion 55 is operated to the open position (see
In
Correspondence with Claims Regarding Connector Section in First Variation of Embodiment of Invention
According to the above configuration, the tractor includes the connector section 39 to which a charger is connected to charge the battery 27, and the connector section 39 is disposed in the front portion of the hood 4.
The hood 4 includes the top portion 40, the front face portion 41, the right side face portion 42, and the left side face portion 43. The connector section 39 is disposed in the front portion of the top portion 40 and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along the front-rear direction or the up-down direction.
The connector section 39 is within the hood 4. The top portion 40 includes the cover portion 55 at a position corresponding to the connector section 39, and the cover portion 55 is openable and closable and allows the charger to be connected to the connector section 39.
As shown in
A bracket 59 is coupled to a lower portion of the left frame 51 within the hood 4, and the connector section 39 is attached to the bracket 59. The connector section 39 faces leftward and is disposed on the right side of the opening 57 of the hood 4. When the cover portion 58 is operated to the closed position, the connector section 39 is covered by the cover portion 58 and is not exposed to the left side of the hood 4.
When the cover portion 58 is operated to the open position (see
In
Correspondence with Claims Regarding Connector Section in Second Variation of Embodiment of the Invention
According to the above configuration, the tractor includes the connector section 39 to which a charger is connected to charge the battery 27, and the connector section 39 is disposed in the front portion of the hood 4.
The hood 4 includes the top portion 40, the front face portion 41, the right side face portion 42, and the left side face portion 43. The connector section 39 is disposed in the lower region of the front portion of the right side face portion 42 or the lower region of the front portion of the left side face portion 43 and oriented in such a manner that the charger is connected along the left-right direction.
The connector section 39 is within the hood 4. The right side face portion 42 or the left side face portion 43 includes the cover portion 58 at a position corresponding to the connector section 39, and the cover portion 58 is openable and closable and allows the charger to be connected to the connector section 39.
An engine work vehicle may be produced by eliminating the battery 27, the inverter 28, the motor 29, etc., in the configuration shown in
In this case, it is possible to leave the opening 57 of the hood 4, eliminate the cover portion 58, and dispose an exhaust port of an exhaust pipe (not shown) extending from the engine in the opening 57 of the hood 4 to discharge exhaust gas from the engine to the outside via the opening 57 of the hood 4.
In the configurations shown in
Crawler travel devices (not shown) may also be used as travel devices instead of the rear wheels 2.
Crawler travel devices (not shown) may also be used as travel devices instead of the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2.
The present invention is applicable to not only a tractor but also other electric work vehicles such as an electric cart and a transport vehicle.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-109579 | Jul 2023 | JP | national |