JP7765764B2 - Work vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a work vehicle equipped with a work implement that travels through parks and other areas to cut grass and other plants planted within the park.

A known technology involves installing a pair of rear-wheel electric motors at the rear of a work vehicle's chassis to drive the pair of rear wheels, installing a work machine electric motor between the rear-wheel electric motors to activate the work machine, and installing a battery at the front of the work vehicle's chassis to store the electricity supplied to the rear-wheel and work machine electric motors. (Patent Document 1)

JP 2011-218951 A

However, with the solution in Patent Document 1, an inverter that drives the electric motors for the rear wheels and work equipment is located near a controller that controls the steering of the work vehicle, so there is a risk that noise such as electromagnetic waves generated by the inverter will cause the work vehicle's controller to malfunction.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a work vehicle that prevents the work vehicle's controller from malfunctioning due to noise such as electromagnetic waves generated by the inverter.

The present invention, which has solved the above problems, is as follows.
That is, the invention described in claim 1 is a work vehicle having a pair of left and right front wheels (2) at the front of a traveling body (1), a pair of left and right rear wheels (3) at the rear of the traveling body (1), a work machine (4) for cutting weeds between the front wheels (2) and the rear wheels (3) of the traveling body (1), a bonnet section (5) having a predetermined space at the front of the traveling body (1), a control section (6) on which a driver sits at the rear of the bonnet section (5), and a grass collection container (8) for storing weeds cut by the work machine (4) at the rear of the control section (6),
A battery (50) is provided in the bonnet section (5), a first electric motor (30) for driving the rear wheels (3) and a second electric motor (40) for driving the working machine (4) are provided in the rear of the traveling vehicle body (1), an electrical box (70) is provided between a driver's seat (60) of the control section (6) and a chute (46) that connects the discharge outlet of the working machine (4) and the inlet of the grass collection container (8) in a side view, and a first inverter device (81) for driving the first electric motor (30) and a second inverter device (82) for driving the second electric motor (40) are provided in the electrical box (70),
This work vehicle is characterized in that a controller (77) that controls the electronic devices mounted on the traveling body (1) is provided at a position separated from the electrical equipment box (70), and the connection between the controller (77) and a first inverter device (81) and the connection between the controller (77) and a second inverter device (82) are made via a data transfer device (84) that converts electrical signals into optical signals and transfers them .

The invention described in claim 2 is the work vehicle described in claim 1, in which, in a side view, a charger (73) used when charging the battery (50) is provided between the electrical box (70) and the chute (46), the rear of the electrical box (70) is located forward of the rear of the driver's seat (60), the rear of the charger (73) is located forward of the rear of the electrical box (70), and the upper wall of the chute ( 46 ) is formed with a rearward-rising slope.

The invention of claim 3 is the work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller (77) is provided inside the bonnet portion (5).

The invention described in claim 4 is the work vehicle described in claim 1, in which the first output shaft (30A) of the first electric motor (30) is arranged along the left-right direction, and the second output shaft (40A) of the second electric motor (40) is arranged along the front-rear direction.

The invention described in claim 5 is the work vehicle described in claim 4, in which a gearbox (31) is provided on one side of the first electric motor (30) to reduce the output rotation of the first output shaft (30A) and switch the rotation direction, the rear wheels (3) and the gearbox (31) are connected by a drive shaft (33) extending in the left-right direction, and when viewed from behind, the first electric motor ( 30 ) is provided above the second electric motor (40) and the second output shaft (40A) is provided above the drive shaft (33).

The invention described in claim 6 is a work vehicle described in claim 4 or 5, in which, when viewed from the rear, the first electric motor (30) and the second electric motor (40) are offset to one side in the left-right direction, and the chute (46) and grass collection container (8) are provided on the other side in the left-right direction.

According to the invention of claim 1, a battery (50) is provided in the bonnet (5), a first electric motor (30) for driving the rear wheels (3) and a second electric motor (40) for driving the working machine (4) are provided in the rear of the traveling vehicle body (1), and an electrical box (70) is provided between the driver's seat (60) of the control section (6) and a chute (46) that connects the discharge outlet of the working machine (4) and the inlet of the grass collection container (8) in a side view, and a first inverter device (81) for driving the first electric motor (30) and a second inverter device (82) for driving the second electric motor (40) are provided in the electrical box (70). A controller (77) for controlling the electronic devices mounted on the traveling vehicle body (1) is provided at a position separated from the electrical equipment box (70) , and the connection between the controller (77) and the first inverter device (81) and the connection between the controller (77) and the second inverter device (82) are made via a data transfer device (84) that converts electrical signals into optical signals and transfers them , so that the controller (77) can be prevented from malfunctioning due to noise such as electromagnetic waves generated in the first inverter device (81) and the second inverter device (82).

Furthermore, the data transfer device (84) can block noise generated in the first inverter device (81) and the second inverter device (82), thereby further preventing the controller (77) from malfunctioning.

According to the invention of claim 2 , in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1 , a charger (73) used when charging the battery (50) is provided between the electrical box (70) and the chute (46) in a side view, the rear of the electrical box (70) is provided forward of the rear of the cockpit (60), the rear of the charger (73) is provided forward of the rear of the electrical box (70), and the upper wall of the chute (46) is formed with an upward slope towards the rear, so that the vertical cross-sectional area of the chute (46) in the left-right direction can be increased and clogging of the chute (46) with cut weeds can be prevented.

According to the invention of claim 3 , in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the controller (77) is provided inside the bonnet portion (5), it is possible to further prevent the controller (77) from malfunctioning.

According to the invention of claim 4 , in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1, the first output shaft (30A) of the first electric motor (30) is provided along the left-right direction, and the second output shaft (40A) of the second electric motor (40) is provided along the front-rear direction, so that it is possible to reduce the number of parts in the transmission mechanism between the first electric motor (30) and the rear wheels (3) and the transmission mechanism between the second electric motor (40) and the work machine (4).

According to the invention of claim 5 , in addition to the effects of the invention of claim 4 , a gear box (31) is provided on one side of the first electric motor (30) for reducing the output rotation of the first output shaft (30A) and switching the rotation direction, the rear wheels (3) and the gear box (31) are connected by a drive shaft (33) extending in the left-right direction, and when viewed from behind, the first electric motor (30) is provided above the second electric motor (40) and the second output shaft (40A) is provided above the drive shaft (33). Therefore, the lengths of the transmission path between the first electric motor (30) and the rear wheels (3) and the transmission path between the second electric motor (40) and the work machine (4) can be shortened, thereby improving transmission efficiency.

According to the invention described in claim 6 , in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 4 or 5 , when viewed from behind, the first electric motor (30) and the second electric motor (40) are offset to one side in the left-right direction, and the chute (46) and grass collection container (8) are provided on the other side in the left-right direction, so that a large chute (46) and grass collection container (8) can be provided on the opposite side of the first electric motor (30) and second electric motor (40), thereby improving cutting efficiency.

FIG. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the work vehicle with the bonnet cover in an open position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a work vehicle with a part cut away. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rear wheels and the main parts of the work machine. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the rear wheel and the main part of the work machine. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the electric motor for the rear wheels and the electric motor for the work machine. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a speed change lever for increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the cutting blade of the work machine. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery and the steering post. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the work vehicle excluding the hood cover and the driver's seat. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery and a battery bracket. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the front wheel, the battery, and the battery bracket. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a protected space formed by a protective frame and a safety frame. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing with the cover removed. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the housing with the cover removed. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the main body in the front-to-rear direction. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of an electrical component according to another embodiment. FIG. 2 is a right side view of a controller for a work vehicle provided in a bonnet portion. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage case with the lid portion open. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage case with the lid closed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front body portion and a rear body portion that form the body portion of the storage case. FIG. 10 is a left side view of the biasing member that connects the main body and the lid. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a charging cable.

As shown in Figure 1, a riding lawnmower or other work vehicle has a pair of left and right front wheels 2 at the front of its body 1, a pair of left and right rear wheels 3 at the rear of its body 1, and a work implement 4 for cutting grass or the like between the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 on the underside of the body 1. A bonnet 5 is also provided at the front of the upper part of the body 1, and a control panel 6 on which an operator rides is provided behind the bonnet 5. A safety frame (ROPS) 7 for protecting the operator is provided behind the control panel 6, and a grass collection container 8 for collecting grass or the like cut by the work implement 4 is provided below the safety frame 7.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bonnet section 5 is provided with a battery 50 that stores electricity to supply to the electric motor (the "first electric motor" in the claims) 30 that drives the rear wheels 3 and the electric motor (the "second electric motor" in the claims) 40 that drives the work equipment 4, and the battery 50 is covered by a bonnet cover 5A. The bonnet cover 5A is supported by a support shaft (not shown) that extends in the left-right direction and is provided at the front of the traveling body 1. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the space formed in the bonnet section 5 and also reduces differences in the weight balance of the work vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction.

A driver's seat 60 is provided at the rear of the control unit 6, and a steering wheel 62 is provided in front of the driver's seat 60. The steering wheel 62 is supported on the upper part of a steering shaft 63 that extends vertically, and the steering shaft 63 is supported by the steering post 11.

The left fender 64L on the left side of the operator's seat 60 is provided with a cleaner lever 65 that operates a cleaner (not shown) that forcibly transports grass clippings remaining in the chute 46, which transports grass clippings cut by the work implement 4 to the grass collection bin 8, and a storage case 90 behind the cleaner lever 65 that stores a charging cable 95 used to charge the battery 50. As a result, when the charge level of the battery 50 falls below a predetermined level, the work vehicle can be moved to a nearby warehouse or similar location without having to be moved to a charging station, and the charger 73 can be connected to a household outlet in the warehouse or similar location via the charging cable 95 to charge the battery 50. The input voltage of the charger 73 is designed to support AC voltages of 100 to 240V. The fender 64R on the right side of the operator's seat 60 is provided with a lift lever 66 that controls the elevation and lowering of the work implement 4.

A brake pedal 68 is provided on the left side of the steering post 11 on the floor 67 of the control unit 6, and forward and reverse accelerator pedals 69 are provided on the right side.

Electrical components 61 are provided below the cockpit 60 of the control unit 6. This allows for effective use of the space below the cockpit 60.

The safety frame 7 is made up of a left support column 7L that extends vertically, a right support column 7R that also extends vertically, and an inverted U-shaped connecting section 7A that connects the tops of the left support column 7L and right support column 7R.

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, an electric motor 30, such as a synchronous motor or induction motor, operated with a three-phase AC voltage waveform to drive the rear wheels 3 is provided below the electrical component 61. The output shaft (referred to as the "first output shaft" in the claims) 30A extends in the left-right direction of the electric motor 30 and is connected to the upper part of a gearbox 31 that reduces the speed of the output rotation transmitted from the output shaft 30A to increase the output torque or reverse the direction of rotation. The electric motor 30 is located offset from the center in the left-right direction toward the left rear wheel 3L.

The output rotation, which has been increased or decreased by the gearbox 31, is transmitted to the drive shaft 33 extending in the left-right direction via a differential gear 32, which is provided below the gearbox 31 and is formed by a differential gear or the like. The output rotation transmitted to the drive shaft 33 is then transmitted to the left rear wheel 3L and right rear wheel 3R, which are supported at both ends of the drive shaft 33.

Below the electric motor 30 is an electric motor 40, such as a synchronous motor or induction motor, operated with a three-phase AC voltage waveform to drive the work machine 4. The output shaft (referred to as the "second output shaft" in the claims) 40A, extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the electric motor 40, is connected to the rear of a universal joint 41, which also extends in the fore-and-aft direction. The output shaft 40A is also located above the drive shaft 33, perpendicular to the drive shaft 33. This allows for effective use of the space below the electric motor 30. Furthermore, the transmission path between the electric motor 40 and the work machine 4 can be shortened, allowing the output rotation of the electric motor 40 to be efficiently transmitted to the work machine 4. The electric motor 40 is located offset toward the left rear wheel 3L from the center in the left-right direction.

The front part of the universal joint 41 is connected to a gearbox 42, which reduces the speed of the output rotation transmitted from the universal joint 41 and increases the output torque. The output rotation transmitted to the gearbox 42 is transmitted to a left cutting blade (not shown) provided in the left discharge passage 45L of the implement 4 via an output shaft extending vertically from the gearbox 42.

A connecting member 43 extending in the left-right direction is connected to the right portion of the gearbox 42, and the right portion of the connecting member 43 is connected to the gearbox 44. The output rotation transmitted to the gearbox 44 is transmitted to a right cutting blade (not shown) provided in the right discharge passage 45R of the work implement 4 via an output shaft formed to extend in the vertical direction of the gearbox 44. The output rotations of the output shafts of the gearbox 42 and gearbox 44 rotate at the same rotational speed but in opposite directions. In other words, in a plan view, the output shaft of the gearbox 42 rotates clockwise, and the output shaft of the gearbox 44 rotates counterclockwise.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rotational speed of the left and right cutting blades can be increased or decreased by operating a speed change lever 47 provided on the left side of the steering wheel 62.
When the speed change lever 47 is in the neutral position, the output rotation of the electric motor 40 becomes zero and the rotation speeds of the left and right cutting blades also become zero. When the speed change lever 47 is changed from the neutral position to the forward tilt position, the output rotation of the electric motor 40 increases or decreases depending on the magnitude of the tilt angle of the forward tilt position, and the rotation speeds of the left and right cutting blades also increase or decrease. When the speed change lever 47 is changed from the neutral position to the rearward tilt position, the output rotation of the electric motor 40 increases or decreases depending on the magnitude of the tilt angle of the rearward tilt position, and the rotation direction of the output rotation of the electric motor 40 is reversed, and the rotation speeds of the left and right cutting blades also increase or decrease, and the rotation directions of the left and right cutting blades are reversed.

The discharge outlets of the left discharge passage 45L and the right discharge passage 45R are connected to the inlet of the chute 46, which transports cut grass and other materials to the grass collection container 8. The discharge outlet of the chute 46 is connected to the inlet of the grass collection container 8.

In a plan view, the front of the chute 46 is located to the right of the universal joint 41, and the rear of the chute 46 is located to the right of the gearbox 31. In a rear view, the chute 46 and grass collection container 8 are located between the gearbox 31 and the right rear wheel 3R. This allows a large chute 46 to be installed in the space formed to the right of the universal joint 41 and gearbox 31, allowing grass and other materials cut by the implement 4 to be efficiently transported to the grass collection container 8.

When viewed from the side, the upper wall of the chute 46 is formed with an upward slope toward the rear, and the rear of the chute 46 extends downward below the electrical component 61. This makes the rear of the chute 46 larger, preventing grass and other debris from clogging the inside of the chute 46.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the vehicle body 1 is made up of a vehicle body main body 10 that supports the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3, and a steering post 11 that supports the steering shaft 63.

The vehicle body 10 is formed with a left front-rear frame 10L and a right front-rear frame 10R that extend in the fore-and-aft direction, and the lower part of the steering post 11 is formed with a left connecting portion 11L and a right connecting portion 11R that extend forward.

The left connecting portion 11L is fixed to the left front and rear frame 10L by fastening means such as bolts, and the right connecting portion 11R is fixed to the right front and rear frame 10R by fastening means such as bolts, and together they form the traveling vehicle body 1.

A left support member 12L is provided at the front of the left front-rear frame 10L, and the connecting portion of the left support member 12L is sloped upward to the left. A right support member 12R is provided at the front of the right front-rear frame 10R, and the connecting portion of the right support member 12R is sloped upward to the right. The left support member 12L and right support member 12R are made of channel steel.

A left support member 13L is provided in front of the left connecting portion 11L, and the connecting portion of the left support member 13L is sloped upward to the left. A right support member 13R is provided in front of the right connecting portion 11R, and the connecting portion of the right support member 12R is sloped upward to the right. The left support member 13L and the right support member 13R are made of channel steel.

Protrusions 14 are formed at the bottom of the steering post 11 at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction, protruding forward, and buffer members 15 made of rubber or similar material are attached to the tips of the protrusions 14.

A left upper/lower frame 20L is provided at the rear of the left front/rear frame 10L, extending upward, and a right upper/lower frame 20R is provided at the rear of the right front/rear frame 10R, extending upward. The upper parts of the left upper/lower frame 20L and right upper/lower frame 20R are connected to a left/right frame 21, which extends in the left-right direction.

A left connecting portion 22L is provided on the left side of the left-right frame 21, which supports the lower part of the left support column 7L of the safety frame 7. A right connecting portion 22R is provided on the right side of the left-right frame 21, which supports the lower part of the right support column 7R of the safety frame 7.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the hood section 5 is provided with a battery 50 that stores power supplied to the electric motor 30 that drives the rear wheels 3 and the electric motor 40 that drives the work implement 4, and a battery 55 that stores power supplied to a work vehicle controller 77 that controls the electronic devices mounted on the traveling vehicle body 1. The controller 77 controls the electronic devices of the entire work vehicle by outputting a signal to control the electric motor 30 via an inverter device 81 in response to operation input of the accelerator pedal 69, and by outputting a signal to control the electric motor 40 via an inverter device 82 in response to operation input of the gear shift lever 47. In this embodiment, the battery 50 is formed from a lithium-ion battery with high energy density, and the battery 55 is formed from a lead battery. Figures 11 and 12 also show a right battery 50R that forms the battery 50, and a configuration in which a spacer 56 is provided to the left of the right battery 50R in place of the left battery 50L.

The spacer 56 and right battery 50R are fixed to the vehicle body 10 and steering post 11 via the battery bracket 52. The battery 55 is mounted on the upper surface of a support member 57 that extends forward from the front of the left and right front frames 52A of the battery bracket 52. This allows for efficient maintenance and inspection of the batteries 50 and 55, and also prevents rainwater from splashing on the batteries 50 and 55.

A protective frame 25 is provided midway between the spacer 56 and the right battery 50R in the fore-and-aft direction, extending along the outer periphery of the spacer 56 and the right battery 50R. This prevents damage to the battery 50 if the work vehicle tips over.

As shown in FIG. 13, the battery 50 mounted in the hood section 5 is made up of a left battery 50L mounted on the left side and a right battery 50R mounted on the right side. The left battery 50L and the right battery 50R are formed by connecting multiple high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries in series and parallel, and are made to have the same shape and capacity. This allows the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R to be mounted in the hood section 5 and connected in parallel, allowing the work vehicle to be driven for long periods of time to mow grass in a large park. Furthermore, when mowing grass in a small park, either the left battery 50L or the right battery 50R can be removed from the hood section 5 and used as a replacement battery.

When the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R are connected in parallel, the upper front surfaces of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R are connected by a front connecting plate 51A, and the upper rear surfaces of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R are connected by a rear connecting plate 51B. This firmly connects the upper parts of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R via the front connecting plate 51A and the rear connecting plate 51B, preventing breakage of cables connecting the terminals of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R. In addition, the lower parts of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R are fitted within the inner periphery of the battery bracket 52. This allows for effective use of the space formed in the hood section 5.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, when the left battery 50L is removed and only the right battery 50R is used, a spacer 56 is provided to the left of the right battery 50R. The spacer 56 has the same shape and weight as the left battery 50L in a plan view. This prevents the work vehicle's center of gravity from shifting significantly, preventing any discomfort that may occur when maneuvering.

As shown in Figure 14, the battery bracket 52 is made up of a left front-rear frame 52L and a right front-rear frame 52R extending in the front-rear direction, a front left-right frame 52A connecting the front portions of the left front-rear frame 52L and the right front-rear frame 52R, and a rear left-right frame 52B connecting the rear portions of the left front-rear frame 52L and the right front-rear frame 52R. The left front-rear frame 52L and the right front-rear frame 52R are made from angle steel, while the front left-right frame 52A and the rear left-right frame 52B are made from channel steel.

The connecting portion of the left front-rear frame 52L is inclined upward to the left, and the connecting portion of the right front-rear frame 52R is inclined upward to the right. When viewed from behind, the connecting portion of the left support member 13L, the connecting portion of the left support member 12L, and the connecting portion of the left front-rear frame 52L are inclined upward to the left at the same inclination angle, and the connecting portion of the right support member 12R, the connecting portion of the right support member 12R, and the connecting portion of the right front-rear frame 52R are inclined upward to the right at the same inclination angle.

Circular left vibration-isolating members 53L are provided at a predetermined distance in the front-to-rear direction on the underside of the connecting portion of the left front-to-rear frame 52L, and circular right vibration-isolating members 53R are provided at a predetermined distance in the front-to-rear direction on the underside of the connecting portion of the right front-to-rear frame 52R.

The left front and rear frame 52L is connected to the left support member 12L of the left front and rear frame 10L and the left support member 13L of the left connecting portion 11L via the left vibration isolator 53L, and the right front and rear frame 52R is connected to the right support member 12R of the right front and rear frame 10R and the right support member 13R of the right connecting portion 11R via the right vibration isolator 53R. This prevents vibrations of the vehicle body 10, which occur when the work vehicle is traveling, from being transmitted to the battery 50, preventing damage to the battery 50.

As shown in FIG. 15, the connecting portion of the left front and rear frame 52L has a sloped surface that slopes upward to the left, perpendicular to a left imaginary line 54L that connects the center of the left vibration-isolating member 53L and the center of the left front wheel 2L on the left side. Similarly, the connecting portion of the right front and rear frame 52R has a sloped surface that slopes upward to the right, perpendicular to a right imaginary line 54R that connects the center of the right vibration-isolating member 53R and the center of the right front wheel 2R on the right side. This suppresses large vibrations caused by unevenness in the road surface via the front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3, preventing damage to the battery 50. Reference numeral 35 denotes a front wheel support frame that supports the left and right front wheels 2, and reference numeral 36 denotes a connecting portion between the front wheel support frame and the vehicle body 10, and indicates the swing axis of the front wheel support frame.

In addition, the tip of the buffer member 15 of the steering post 11 is pressed against the rear surfaces of the left and right rear frames 52B of the battery bracket 52. This prevents the battery 50 from moving rearward when the work vehicle starts, preventing damage to the battery 50.

As shown in Figure 16, the protective frame 25 is made up of upper and lower protective frames 26 that extend in the vertical direction, and front and rear protective frames 27 that extend rearward from the vertical middle of the upper and lower protective frames 26.

The upper and lower protective frames 26 are made up of a left upper and lower frame 26L extending upward from the left front and rear frame 10L, a right upper and lower frame 26R extending upward from the right front and rear frame 10R, and an inverted U-shaped connecting portion 26A connecting the upper parts of the left upper and lower frame 26L and right upper and lower frame 26R.

The left upper and lower frame 26L is located on the left side of the left face of the left battery 50L, the right upper and lower frame 26R is located on the right side of the right face of the right battery 50R, and the connecting portion 26A is located on the upper side of the top faces of the left battery 50L and the right battery 50R. The left upper and lower frame 26L, the right upper and lower frame 26R, and the connecting portion 26A are made of square pipes.

The front and rear protective frame 27 is composed of a left front and rear frame 27L extending rearward from the vertical middle of the left upper and lower frame 26L, a right front and rear frame 27R extending rearward from the vertical middle of the right upper and lower frame 26R, and a connecting portion 27A extending in the left-right direction connecting the rear portions of the left front and rear frame 27L and the right front and rear frame 27R. The connecting portion 27A is detachably fixed to the lower portion of the steering post 11 with fastening means such as bolts. This increases the rigidity of the protective frame 25, suppresses deformation of the protective frame 25 when the work vehicle overturns, and further prevents damage to the battery 50. Note that in this embodiment, the protective frame 27 is fixed to the lower portion of the steering post 11 via the connecting portion 27A. However, the rear portions of the left front and rear frame 27L and the right front and rear frame 27R can also be fixed to the lower portion of the steering post 11 without providing the connecting portion 27A.

The left front and rear frame 27L is located on the left side of the left face of the left battery 50L, the right front and rear frame 27R is located on the right side of the right face of the right battery 50R, and the connecting portion 27A is located on the rear side of the rear faces of the left battery 50L and right battery 50R. The left front and rear frames 27L and right front and rear frames 27R are made of square pipes, and the connecting portion 27A is made of channel steel.

As shown in Figure 17, in a side view, the imaginary line 28 connecting the top of the connecting portion 26A of the upper and lower protective frames 26 and the base of the connecting portion 7A of the safety frame 7 is positioned above the steering wheel 62. This creates a large protective space below the imaginary line 28, preventing the worker from colliding with external tree branches, etc. while the work vehicle is traveling, thereby improving work safety.

As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the electrical components 61 are made up of an electrical box 70 equipped with an inverter device (referred to as the "first inverter device" in the claims) 81 to which high-voltage power is supplied, and a charger 73 used to charge the battery 50, which is provided below the electrical box 70. In a side view, the front of the electrical box 70 is located further forward than the front of the cockpit 60, and the front of the charger 73 is located further forward than the front of the electrical box 70. This creates a large space behind the electrical box 70 and charger 73, and by providing an upper wall of the chute 46 that slopes upward at the rear in this space, the vertical cross-sectional area of the chute 46 in the left-right direction can be increased, preventing grass clippings from clogging the interior of the chute 46.

The electrical box 70 is made up of a main body 70A that houses the inverter device 81 and other components, and a lid 70B. The lid 70B is swingably supported by a support shaft 70C that extends left and right and is provided at the front of the main body 70A. In addition, when viewed from the side, the top surface of the lid 70B is sloped upward toward the rear. This prevents rainwater from accumulating on the top surface of the lid 70B.

The main body 70A is attached to support members 16A extending in the front-to-rear direction on both sides of the left and right frames 16 extending in the left-to-right direction at the rear of the traveling vehicle body 10 via grommets 71 provided at the four corners of the underside of the main body 70A. This prevents vibrations of the traveling vehicle body 10 that occur when the work vehicle is traveling from being transmitted to the inverter device 81, etc., thereby preventing damage to the inverter device 81, etc.

The charger 73 is attached to support members 18, which extend left and right and have a predetermined length in the front-to-rear direction, on left and right frames 17 attached to the front of the left and right frames 16 of the traveling vehicle body 10, via grommets 74 provided at the four corners of the underside of the charger 73. This prevents vibrations of the traveling vehicle body 10 that occur when the work vehicle is traveling from being transmitted to the charger 73, preventing damage to the charger 73.

The middle section of the support member 18 in the front-to-rear direction is formed to protrude downward further than the front and rear sections of the support member 18, and a ventilation hole 18A is formed in the middle section to ventilate outside air. A fan 75 is provided on the top surface of the charger 73 to forcibly ventilate outside air. This prevents the charger 73 from becoming excessively hot during use and prevents damage to the electrical components that make up the charger 73.

As shown in Figures 20-22, a left terminal block 80L and a right terminal block 80R are provided on the front left portion of the bottom wall of the main body 70A, an inverter device 81 that generates a three-phase AC voltage waveform to operate the electric motor 30, and an inverter device (referred to as the "second inverter device" in the claims) 82 that generates a three-phase AC voltage waveform to operate the electric motor 40 are provided on the rear left portion of the bottom wall of the main body 70A, and a converter device 83 that converts the 45V DC voltage supplied from the battery 50 to a 12V DC voltage supplied when charging the battery 55 is provided between the right terminal block 80R and the inverter device 82. This allows for efficient cooling of the inverter device 81 and other components that become heated by the bottom wall of the main body 70A, which is cooled by outside air. In this specification, the left terminal block 80L and the right terminal block 80R are collectively referred to as terminal blocks 80.

A data transfer device 84, such as an isolated CAN transceiver, is provided on the right side of the inverter device 82 on the bottom wall of the main body 70A to transfer data between the controller 77 and the inverter devices 81, etc. This blocks electromagnetic waves and other noise generated by the inverter devices 81, etc., improving the reliability of data transfer. Furthermore, electrical signals can be communicated between the controller 77, which is powered by the 12V battery 55, and the inverter devices 81, etc., which are powered by the 45V battery 50, via the data transfer device 84.

Cable 85A connecting the battery 50 to the terminal block 80 and cable 85B connecting the controller 77 to the data transfer device 84 are routed through the inner periphery of grommets provided in the opening in the front wall of the electrical box 70. Cable 86A connecting the electric motor 30 to the inverter device 81 and cable 86B connecting the electric motor 40 to the inverter device 82 are routed through the inner periphery of grommets provided in the opening in the rear wall of the electrical box 70. This improves the airtightness of the electrical box 70 and prevents rainwater and dust from entering the electrical box 70. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23, the electric motors 30 and 40 are located below the inverter devices 81 and 82 located at the left rear of the main body 70A. This allows the length of cables 86A and 86B to be shortened, making routing of cables 86A and 86B easier.

The left terminal block 80L and the right terminal block 80R are connected to the inverter device 81, the left terminal block 80L and the right terminal block 80R are connected to the inverter device 82, and the inverter device 81 is connected to the inverter device 82 by a metal plate-shaped bus bar 87. This allows for efficient routing of the left terminal block 80L and the inverter device 81, etc.

<Electrical components according to other embodiments>
24 shows an electrical component according to another embodiment. Note that the same members as those in the electrical component 61 described above are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In another embodiment, the electrical component 61 houses a charger 73 in the electrical box 70. A left terminal block 80L and a right terminal block 80R are provided on the front left portion of the bottom wall of the main body 70A of the electrical box 70, with the charger 73 provided behind the left terminal block 80L. This eliminates the need for a support member 18 or the like to support the charger 73, reducing the number of parts. A converter device 83 is provided behind the right terminal block 80R, a data transfer device 84 is provided to the right of the converter device 83, and inverter devices 81 and 82 are provided behind the data transfer device 84.

As shown in Figure 25, a rectangular support member 76 extending in the front-to-rear direction is provided on the upper right and lower right frames 26R of the upper and lower protective frames 26 attached to the bonnet portion 5. A work vehicle controller 77 is provided at the rear of the right side of the support member 76, and a relay 78 and fuse 79 are provided at the front. The controller 77, relay 78, and fuse 79 are supplied with 12V DC power from the battery 55. This allows the controller 77 to be located at a distance from the inverter devices 81, 82, preventing malfunctions caused by noise such as electromagnetic waves generated by the inverter devices 81, 82.

As shown in Figures 26 and 27, the storage case 90 is formed from a rectangular parallelepiped main body 91 that stores the charging cable 95, and a lid 92 provided on top of the main body 91.

As shown in FIG. 28 , the main body 91 is composed of a front main body 91A that forms the front, left, right, and bottom walls of the main body 91, and a rear main body 91B that forms the rear, left, right, and bottom walls of the main body 91. The front main body 91A and the bottom wall of the rear main body 91B are fastened together with fastening means such as bolts. This allows the main body 91 to be easily assembled by fastening the front main body 91A and the rear main body 91B together. Furthermore, the upper part of the rear main body 91B is formed with an edge 91C that extends toward the outer periphery. This allows the storage case 90 to be easily attached to the left fender 64L by inserting the storage case 90 from above the opening of the left fender 64L and engaging the edge 91C with the upper surface of the left fender 64L.

As shown in Figure 29, the connecting portion 92A of the lid portion 92 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 91D extending in the left-right direction and provided at the top of the rear wall of the rear main body portion 91B. The front portion of the connecting portion 92A and a stay 91E extending rearward on the rear wall of the rear main body portion 91B are connected by a biasing member 93 such as a spring. This prevents the lid portion 92 from being left unclosed. When the lid portion 92 is opened by rotating it clockwise to its maximum extent as viewed from the axis of the support shaft 91D, the biasing member 93 can maintain the open position beyond its dead point.

As shown in Figure 30, one end of the charging cable 95 is formed with a plug 95A that connects to a household outlet, and the other end is formed with a plug 95B that connects to the connection terminal of the charger 73.

1 Traveling vehicle body 2 Front wheel 3 Rear wheel 4 Work machine 5 Bonnet part 6 Control part 8 Grass collection container 30 Electric motor (first electric motor)
30A output shaft (first output shaft)
31 Gearbox 33 Drive shaft 40 Electric motor (second electric motor)
40A output shaft (second output shaft)
46 chute 50 battery 60 cockpit 70 electrical box 73 charger 77 controller 81 inverter device (first inverter device)
82 inverter device (second inverter device)
84 Data transfer device

Claims (6)

A work vehicle having a pair of left and right front wheels (2) at the front of a traveling body (1), a pair of left and right rear wheels (3) at the rear of the traveling body (1), a work implement (4) for cutting weeds between the front wheels (2) and rear wheels (3) of the traveling body (1), a bonnet section (5) having a predetermined space at the front of the traveling body (1), a control section (6) for a driver to ride in at the rear of the bonnet section (5), and a grass collection container (8) for storing weeds cut by the work implement (4) at the rear of the control section (6),
A battery (50) is provided in the bonnet portion (5),
A first electric motor (30) for driving the rear wheels (3) and a second electric motor (40) for driving a working machine (4) are provided at the rear of the traveling vehicle body (1),
In a side view, an electrical box (70) is provided between a driver's seat (60) of the control section (6) and a chute (46) that connects the discharge outlet of the work machine (4) with the inlet of the grass collection container (8),
a first inverter device (81) for driving the first electric motor (30) and a second inverter device (82) for driving the second electric motor (40) are provided in the electrical equipment box (70);
a controller (77) for controlling electronic devices mounted on the traveling vehicle body (1) is provided at a position separated from the electrical equipment box (70) ;
A work vehicle characterized in that the connection between the controller (77) and the first inverter device (81) and the connection between the controller (77) and the second inverter device (82) are made via a data transfer device (84) that converts electrical signals into optical signals and transfers them . A charger (73) used for charging the battery (50) is provided between the electrical equipment box (70) and the chute (46) in a side view.
The rear of the electrical equipment box (70) is provided forward of the rear of the cockpit (60),
The rear of the charger (73) is provided forward of the rear of the electrical equipment box (70),
2. A work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the chute (46) is formed with an upwardly inclined rearward slope. A work vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the controller (77) is provided inside the hood portion (5). A work vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the first output shaft (30A) of the first electric motor (30) is arranged along the left-right direction, and the second output shaft (40A) of the second electric motor (40) is arranged along the front-rear direction. A gearbox (31) is provided on one side of the first electric motor (30) to reduce the speed of output rotation of the first output shaft (30A) and to switch the direction of rotation;
The rear wheel (3) and the gearbox (31) are connected by a drive shaft (33) extending in the left-right direction, and the first electric motor (30) is provided above the second electric motor (40) in rear view;
5. A work vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the second output shaft (40A) is provided above the drive shaft (33). A work vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, when viewed from the rear, the first electric motor (30) and the second electric motor ( 40 ) are offset to one side in the left-right direction, and the chute (46) and grass collection container (8) are provided on the other side in the left-right direction.