U.S. patent application number 13/393346 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-21 for electrical construction machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Akira Noguchi, Masayuki Yunoue. Invention is credited to Akira Noguchi, Masayuki Yunoue.
Application Number | 20130071212 13/393346 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44482652 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130071212 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yunoue; Masayuki ; et
al. |
March 21, 2013 |
ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION MACHINE
Abstract
A hydraulic pump, electric motor, inverter, oil tank, heat
exchanger, and battery are mounted on a revolving frame, and are
covered by an exterior cover. The revolving frame is provided with
a partition plate, and the interior of the exterior cover is
partitioned by the partition plate into a machine room for
accommodating the hydraulic pump and the electric motor and into a
battery room for accommodating the battery. A cooling fan is
arranged in the machine room so that outside air is introduced into
the machine room through an oil tank cooling air inlet port and an
inverter cooling air inlet port which are provided in the exterior
cover. This outside air cools the hydraulic pump, the electric
motor, and the oil tank in the machine room and is exhausted to the
outside of the machine room through an exhaust port.
Inventors: |
Yunoue; Masayuki; (Koka-shi,
JP) ; Noguchi; Akira; (Koka-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yunoue; Masayuki
Noguchi; Akira |
Koka-shi
Koka-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO.,
LTD.
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
44482652 |
Appl. No.: |
13/393346 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/071489 |
371 Date: |
February 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/685 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 9/0808 20130101;
E02F 9/226 20130101; E02F 9/22 20130101; E02F 9/0866 20130101; B60Y
2200/412 20130101; B60K 11/08 20130101; E02F 9/0883 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/685 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/22 20060101
E02F009/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2010 |
JP |
2010-35910 |
Claims
1. An electrical construction machine including: a vehicle body
frame which constitutes a support structure of a vehicle body and
which has a working mechanism mounted on a front side in a
front-rear direction; an operator's seat provided on said vehicle
body frame on a left side in a left-right direction; a hydraulic
pump provided on a right side of said operator's seat to supply
hydraulic oil to said working mechanism; an electric motor for
driving said hydraulic pump; an inverter for controlling a drive
voltage of said electric motor; an oil tank for storing the
hydraulic oil which is supplied to said working mechanism; a heat
exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a battery provided on a rear
side of said operator's seat to effect the feeding of electric
power to said electric motor; and an exterior cover provided in
such a manner as to cover said hydraulic pump, said electric motor,
said inverter, said oil tank, said heat exchanger, and said
battery, characterized in that: said vehicle body frame is provided
with a partition plate for partitioning an interior of said
exterior cover into a machine room for accommodating said hydraulic
pump, said electric motor, said inverter, said oil tank, and said
heat exchanger and into a battery room for accommodating said
battery, and a cooling fan for circulating cooling air inside said
machine room is provided in said machine room, said oil tank is
arranged on a front side of said machine room, said electric motor
and said hydraulic pump are arranged on a rear side of said machine
room, said inverter is arranged upwardly of said electric motor and
said hydraulic pump, and said cooling fan and said heat exchanger
are arranged forwardly of said electric motor, said hydraulic pump,
and said inverter and rearwardly of said oil tank.
2. (canceled)
3. An electrical construction machine including a vehicle body
frame which constitutes a support structure of a vehicle body and
which has a working mechanism mounted on a front side in a
front-rear direction; an operator's seat provided on said vehicle
body frame on a left side in a left-right direction; a hydraulic
pump provided on a right side of said operator's seat to supply
hydraulic oil to said working mechanism; an electric motor for
driving said hydraulic pump; an inverter for controlling a drive
voltage of said electric motor; an oil tank for storing the
hydraulic oil which is supplied to said working mechanism; a heat
exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a battery provided on a rear
side of said operator's seat to effect the feeding of electric
power to said electric motor; and an exterior cover provided in
such a manner as to cover said hydraulic pump, said electric motor,
said inverter, said oil tank, said heat exchanger, and said
battery, characterized in that: said vehicle body frame is provided
with a partition plate for partitioning an interior of said
exterior cover into a machine room for accommodating said hydraulic
pump, said electric motor, said inverter, said oil tank, and said
heat exchanger and into a battery room for accommodating said
battery, a cooling fan for circulating cooling air inside said
machine room is provided in said machine room, said cooling fan is
constituted by a blow-out type cooling fan which blows air in said
machine room to an outside, and said exterior cover is provided
with an oil tank cooling air inlet port provided at a position
opposing to said oil tank to suck outside air to said oil tank, an
inverter cooling air inlet port provided at a position opposing to
said inverter to suck the outside air to said inverter, and an
exhaust port provided at a position opposing to said cooling fan to
exhaust the air in said machine room by said cooling fan.
4. (canceled)
5. An electrical construction machine including: a vehicle body
frame which constitutes a support structure of a vehicle body and
which has a working mechanism mounted on a front side in a
front-rear direction; an operator's seat provided on said vehicle
body frame on a left side in a left-right direction; a hydraulic
pump provided on a right side of said operator's seat to supply
hydraulic oil to said working mechanism; an electric motor for
driving said hydraulic pump; an inverter for controlling a drive
voltage of said electric motor; an oil tank for storing the
hydraulic oil which is supplied to said working mechanism; a heat
exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a battery provided on a rear
side of said operator's seat to effect the feeding of electric
power to said electric motor; and an exterior cover provided in
such a manner as to cover said hydraulic pump, said electric motor,
said inverter, said oil tank, said heat exchanger, and said
battery, characterized in that: said vehicle body frame is provided
with a partition plate for partitioning an interior of said
exterior cover into a machine room for accommodating said hydraulic
pump, said electric motor, said inverter, said oil tank, and said
heat exchanger and into a battery room for accommodating said
battery, a cooling fan for circulating cooling air inside said
machine room is provided in said machine room, a communicating hole
for allowing said machine room and said battery room to communicate
with each other is provided in said partition plate, and an
auxiliary fan for leading the air inside said battery room into
said machine room through said communicating hole is provided in
said partition plate.
6. An electrical construction machine including: a vehicle body
frame which constitutes a support structure of a vehicle body and
which has a working mechanism mounted on a front side in a
front-rear direction; an operator's seat provided on said vehicle
body frame on a left side in a left-right direction; a hydraulic
pump provided on a right side of said operator's seat to supply
hydraulic oil to said working mechanism; an electric motor for
driving said hydraulic pump; an inverter for controlling a drive
voltage of said electric motor; an oil tank for storing the
hydraulic oil which is supplied to said working mechanism; a heat
exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a battery provided on a rear
side of said operator's seat to effect the feeding of electric
power to said electric motor; and an exterior cover provided in
such a manner as to cover said hydraulic pump, said electric motor,
said inverter, said oil tank, said heat exchanger, and said
battery, characterized in that: said vehicle body frame is provided
with a partition plate for partitioning an interior of said
exterior cover into a machine room for accommodating said hydraulic
pump, said electric motor, said inverter, said oil tank, and said
heat exchanger and into a battery room for accommodating said
battery, a cooling fan for circulating cooling air inside said
machine room is provided in said machine room, and a flat
plate-shaped motor-pump support plate for supporting said electric
motor and said hydraulic pump is provided on said vehicle body
frame, and a motor-pump cooling air inlet port for sucking the
outside air toward said electric motor and said hydraulic pump is
provided in said motor-pump support plate.
7. An electrical construction machine including: a vehicle body
frame which constitutes a support structure of a vehicle body and
which has a working mechanism mounted on a front side in a
front-rear direction; an operator's seat provided on said vehicle
body frame on a left side in a left-right direction; a hydraulic
pump provided on a right side of said operator's seat to supply
hydraulic oil to said working mechanism; an electric motor for
driving said hydraulic pump; an inverter for controlling a drive
voltage of said electric motor; an oil tank for storing the
hydraulic oil which is supplied to said working mechanism; a heat
exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a battery provided on a rear
side of said operator's seat to effect the feeding of electric
power to said electric motor; and an exterior cover provided in
such a manner as to cover said hydraulic pump, said electric motor,
said inverter, said oil tank, said heat exchanger, and said
battery, characterized in that: said vehicle body frame is provided
with a partition plate for partitioning an interior of said
exterior cover into a machine room for accommodating said hydraulic
pump, said electric motor, said inverter, said oil tank, and said
heat exchanger and into a battery room for accommodating said
battery, a cooling fan for circulating cooling air inside said
machine room is provided in said machine room, and said electric
motor is covered by a motor case having a water jacket, and said
inverter is covered by an inverter case accommodating an inverter
circuit and having a water jacket, cooling water being arranged to
be circulated through said water jackets of said motor case and
said inverter case.
8. An electrical construction machine according to claim 7, wherein
said heat exchanger is constituted by an oil cooler and a radiator,
said oil cooler being adapted to cool the hydraulic oil which is
recirculated into said oil tank, said radiator being adapted to
cool the cooling water flowing through said water jackets of said
motor case and said inverter case.
9. An electrical construction machine according to claim 1, wherein
said vehicle body is constituted by an automotive lower traveling
structure and an upper revolving structure which is swingably
mounted on said lower traveling structure, and said vehicle body
frame constitutes a support structure of said upper revolving
structure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical construction
machine such as a hydraulic excavator, a wheel loader, or the like
equipped with an electric motor as its power source.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a construction machine such as a hydraulic
excavator which is used in excavating operations and demolition
operations employs an engine (internal combustion engine) as a
power source, and a hydraulic pump is driven by this engine. The
arrangement provided is such that pressure oil (working oil) is
supplied from the hydraulic pump to various hydraulic actuators
including a hydraulic motor for traveling, a hydraulic motor for
revolving, a hydraulic cylinder for constituting a working
mechanism, and the like.
[0003] Meanwhile, in order to prevent the working environment from
deteriorating due to exhaust gas from the engine at the time of
performing an excavating operation or a demolition operation
within, for example, a building structure such as a storage, a
building, an electrical hydraulic excavator has been proposed which
has an electric motor as a power source for driving the hydraulic
pump instead of the engine and a battery for supplying electricity
to this electric motor.
[0004] The electrical hydraulic excavator according to this
conventional art is constructed such that an operator's seat is
arranged on the left side in the left-right direction of an upper
revolving structure, the hydraulic pump, the electric motor, an oil
tank, a heat exchanger (oil cooler), and the like are arranged on
the right side of the operator's seat, and the battery is arranged
on the rear side of the operator's seat. The hydraulic pump, the
electric motor, the oil tank, the heat exchanger, the battery, and
the like are accommodated in an identical accommodating space
(namely, a single accommodating space) covered by a cover, and the
hydraulic pump, the electric motor, the oil tank, the heat
exchanger, and the like are arranged to be cooled by cooling air
which is circulated in the accommodating space by a cooling fan
(e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-149906 A).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Incidentally, it is known that the performance of a lithium
ion battery which is suitably used for mounting in a vehicle
normally declines when the ambient temperature reaches 50.degree.
C. or higher. However, the above-described electrical hydraulic
excavator according to the conventional art is so arranged that the
hydraulic pump, the electric motor, the oil tank, the heat
exchanger, the battery, and the like are accommodated in the single
accommodating space covered by the cover.
[0006] For this reason, with the electrical hydraulic excavator
according to the conventional art, there is a problem in that heat
which is generated from the hydraulic pump, the electric motor, the
oil tank, the heat exchanger, and the like is easily transmitted to
the battery accommodated in the same accommodating space as these
items of equipment, disadvantageously causing the life of the
battery to decline.
[0007] Particularly in the case where outside air is sucked into
the accommodating space by a cooling fan and this outside air is
sequentially supplied to the oil tank, the hydraulic pump, the
electric motor, the heat exchanger, and the battery as cooling air,
the cooling air is gradually heated due to the cooling of the oil
tank and the like. Accordingly, as this heated cooling air is
supplied toward the battery, there is a problem in that the life of
the battery is reduced at an early time.
[0008] Meanwhile, in a case where the air in the accommodating
space is exhausted to the outside by the cooling fan, since the air
in the accommodating space is sequentially supplied to the battery,
the heat exchanger, the electric motor, the hydraulic pump, and the
oil tank, there is a problem in that it becomes impossible to
sufficiently cool the oil tank and the like which are arranged on
the downstream side of the air flow.
[0009] In view of the above-discussed problems with the
conventional art, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an electrical construction machine which is capable of
protecting the battery from the heat generated from the installed
equipment such as the hydraulic pump, the electric motor, and the
like arranged in a machine room and is capable of efficiently
cooling the installed equipment arranged in the machine room.
[0010] (1) To overcome the above-described problems, the present
invention is applied to an electrical construction machine
including a vehicle body frame which constitutes a support
structure of a vehicle body and which has a working mechanism
mounted on a front side in a front-rear direction; an operator's
seat provided on the vehicle body frame on a left side in a
left-right direction; a hydraulic pump provided on a right side of
the operator's seat to supply hydraulic oil to the working
mechanism; an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump; an
inverter for controlling a drive voltage of the electric motor; an
oil tank for storing the hydraulic oil which is supplied to the
working mechanism; a heat exchanger for cooling a heated fluid; a
battery provided on a rear side of the operator's seat to effect
the feeding of electric power to the electric motor; and an
exterior cover provided in such a manner as to cover the hydraulic
pump, the electric motor, the inverter, the oil tank, the heat
exchanger, and the battery.
[0011] Further, a characteristic feature of the construction
adopted in the present invention lies in that the vehicle body
frame is provided with a partition plate for partitioning an
interior of the exterior cover into a machine room for
accommodating the hydraulic pump, the electric motor, the inverter,
the oil tank, and the heat exchanger and into a battery room for
accommodating the battery, and a cooling fan for circulating
cooling air inside the machine room is provided in the machine
room.
[0012] With this arrangement, by providing the partition plate, the
interior of the exterior cover can be partitioned into the battery
room for accommodating the battery and into the machine room for
accommodating the hydraulic pump, the electric motor, the inverter,
the oil tank, and the heat exchanger. In consequence, heat
generated from the mounted equipment such as the hydraulic pump and
the electric motor can be restrained by the partition plate from
being transmitted to the battery, thereby making it possible to
maintain the surroundings of the battery at an appropriate
temperature. As a result, the feeding of electric power from the
battery to the electric motor can be effected stably over a long
period of time, making it possible to enhance the reliability of
the construction machine. Moreover, as cooling air is circulated in
the machine room by the cooling fan provided in the machine room,
the mounted equipment such as the hydraulic pump and the electric
motor can be reliably cooled by the cooling air.
[0013] (2) In the present invention, the oil tank is arranged on a
front side of the machine room, the electric motor and the
hydraulic pump are arranged on a rear side of the machine room, the
inverter is arranged upwardly of the electric motor and the
hydraulic pump, and the cooling fan and the heat exchanger are
arranged forwardly of the electric motor, the hydraulic pump, and
the inverter and rearwardly of the oil tank.
[0014] With this arrangement, as the cooling fan and the heat
exchanger are arranged forwardly of the electric motor, the
hydraulic pump, and the inverter and rearwardly of the oil tank,
the cooling air which is circulated in the machine room by the
cooling fan can be divided into a first cooling air route for
cooling the oil tank and a second cooling air route for cooling the
electric motor, the hydraulic pump, and the inverter. As a result,
the oil tank can be efficiently cooled by the cooling air flowing
along the first cooling air route, and the electric motor, the
hydraulic pump, and the inverter can be efficiently cooled by the
cooling air flowing along the second cooling air route.
[0015] (3) According to the present invention, the cooling fan is
constituted by a blow-out type cooling fan which blows air in the
machine room to an outside, and the exterior cover is provided with
an oil tank cooling air inlet port provided at a position opposing
to the oil tank to suck outside air to the oil tank, an inverter
cooling air inlet port provided at a position opposing to the
inverter to suck the outside air to the inverter, and an exhaust
port provided at a position opposing to the cooling fan to exhaust
the air in the machine room by the cooling fan.
[0016] By adopting this arrangement, when the blow-out type cooling
fan is operated, outside air is sucked into the machine room
through the oil tank cooling air inlet port of the exterior cover.
This cooling air flows in the machine room along the first cooling
air route for cooling the oil tank, and is then exhausted to the
outside through the exhaust port of the exterior cover after
cooling the heat exchanger. At the same time, the outside air is
sucked into the machine room through the inverter cooling air inlet
port of the exterior cover. This outside air flows in the machine
room along the second cooling air route for cooling the electric
motor, the hydraulic pump, and the inverter, and is then exhausted
to the outside through the exhaust port of the exterior cover after
cooling the heat exchanger.
[0017] As a result, the oil tank can be efficiently cooled by the
outside air introduced into the machine room from the oil tank
cooling air inlet port, and the electric motor, the hydraulic pump,
and the inverter can be efficiently cooled by the outside air
introduced into the machine room from the inverter cooling air
inlet port. Furthermore, the heat exchanger can be efficiently
cooled by the large quantity of outside air introduced into the
machine room from the oil tank cooling air inlet port and the
inverter cooling air inlet port.
[0018] (4) Meanwhile, in the present invention, a communicating
hole for allowing the machine room and the battery room to
communicate with each other is provided in the partition plate. As
a result, the air inside the battery room can be allowed to flow
into the machine room through the communicating hole, and can be
exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port of the exterior
cover, thereby making it possible to restrain the interior of the
battery room from assuming a high temperature owing to the heat
generated by the battery.
[0019] (5) In the case of the invention according to item (4)
above, an auxiliary fan for leading the air inside the battery room
into the machine room through the communicating hole is provided in
the partition plate. With this arrangement, when the auxiliary fan
provided in the partition plate is operated, the air inside the
battery room is introduced into the machine room through the
communicating hole of the partition plate, and is then exhausted to
the outside through the exhaust port together with the cooling air
flowing in the machine room. Thus, since the air inside the battery
room heated by the heat generated by the battery can be forcibly
exhausted to the machine room by using the auxiliary fan, the
surroundings of the battery can be maintained at an appropriate
temperature, thereby making it possible to prolong the life of the
battery.
[0020] (6) In the present invention, a flat plate-shaped motor-pump
support plate for supporting the electric motor and the hydraulic
pump is provided on the vehicle body frame, and a motor-pump
cooling air inlet port for sucking the outside air toward the
electric motor and the hydraulic pump is provided in the motor-pump
support plate.
[0021] With this arrangement, the electric motor and the hydraulic
pump are placed on the motor-pump support plate. When the blow-out
type cooling fan is operated, outside air is sucked into the
machine room through the motor-pump cooling air inlet port of the
motor-pump support plate, and this outside air can be directly
supplied to the electric motor and the hydraulic pump along the
second cooling air route, so that the electric motor and the
hydraulic pump can be cooled more efficiently by this outside
air.
[0022] (7) In the present invention, it is possible to adopt a
construction in which the electric motor is covered by a motor case
having a water jacket, and the inverter is covered by an inverter
case accommodating an inverter circuit and having a water jacket,
cooling water being arranged to be circulated through the water
jackets of the motor case and the inverter case.
[0023] With this arrangement, the electric motor is cooled by the
cooling air flowing in the machine room and by the cooling water
flowing through the water jacket of the motor case. Meanwhile, the
inverter is cooled by the cooling air flowing in the machine room
and by the cooling water flowing through the water jacket of the
inverter case. Accordingly, it is possible to further enhance the
efficiency of cooling the electric motor and the inverter.
[0024] (8) In the case of the invention according to item (7)
above, the heat exchanger is constituted by an oil cooler and a
radiator, the oil cooler being adapted to cool the hydraulic oil
which is recirculated into the oil tank, the radiator being adapted
to cool the cooling water flowing through the water jackets of the
motor case and the inverter case.
[0025] With this arrangement, as the heat of the cooling water
flowing through the water jacket of the motor case and the heat of
the cooling water flowing through the water jacket of the inverter
case are radiated to the cooling air by the radiator, it is
possible to efficiently cool the electric motor and the inverter.
Meanwhile, as the heat of the hydraulic oil (return oil) which is
recirculated into the oil tank is radiated to the cooling air by
the oil cooler, and the oil tank is cooled by the outside air
introduced into the machine room from the oil tank cooling air
inlet port, it is possible to further enhance the efficiency of
cooling the oil tank.
[0026] (9) In the present invention, the vehicle body is
constituted by an automotive lower traveling structure and an upper
revolving structure which is swingably mounted on the lower
traveling structure, and the vehicle body frame constitutes a
support structure of the upper revolving structure.
[0027] With this arrangement, the interior of the exterior cover
can be partitioned into the battery room for accommodating the
battery and into the machine room for accommodating the hydraulic
pump, the electric motor, the inverter, the oil tank, and the heat
exchanger by the partition plate provided on the vehicle body frame
of the upper revolving structure. Hence, the electrical
construction machine in accordance with the present invention is
applicable to an electrical hydraulic excavator, an electrical
hydraulic crane, or the like which has a lower traveling structure
and an upper revolving structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an electrical hydraulic
excavator in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hydraulic excavator taken from
above.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an upper revolving
structure taken from the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 2.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper revolving
structure taken from the direction of arrows IV-IV in FIG. 3 with a
canopy installed thereon.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a
support member is mounted on a revolving frame.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which
the support member, a partition plate, and the like are mounted on
the revolving frame.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a vertical
partition plate.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a lateral
partition plate.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a motor-pump
support plate.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an inverter
support plate.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a lower
plate.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which
the partition plate, an electric motor, an inverter, and the like
are mounted on the revolving frame.
[0040] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating as a single unit the
electric motor including a motor case and the like.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating as a single unit the
inverter including an inverter case and the like.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a circulation route diagram illustrating
circulation routes of cooling water cooled by a radiator and
hydraulic oil cooled by an oil cooler.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which
the partition plate, the electric motor, the inverter, a cooling
fan, a heat exchanger, an oil tank, and the like are mounted on the
revolving frame.
[0044] FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a single battery
unit.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an exterior cover taken
from a right forward direction.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the exterior cover taken
from a left forward direction.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0047] Hereafter, a construction machine according to an embodiment
of the present invention will be explained in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, by citing a hydraulic
excavator as an example.
[0048] In the drawings, designated at 1 is an electrical hydraulic
excavator, and this hydraulic excavator 1 is constituted by a
crawler type automotive lower traveling structure 2 and an upper
revolving structure 3 which is swingably mounted on the lower
traveling structure 2 and constitutes a vehicle body together with
the lower traveling structure 2. A swing type working mechanism 4
for performing such as the operation of excavating earth and sand
is provided on a front side of the upper revolving structure 3. The
working mechanism 4 is constituted by a boom 4A, an arm 4B, a
bucket 4C, a boom cylinder 4D, an arm cylinder 4E, a bucket
cylinder 4F, and the like.
[0049] The hydraulic excavator 1 has a hydraulic pump 17, an
electric motor 18, and the like which will be described below and
serve as a driving source. The hydraulic excavator 1 supplies
hydraulic pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 17 toward such
hydraulic equipment as a hydraulic motor for traveling, a hydraulic
motor for revolving (neither is shown), and the respective
cylinders 4D, 4E, and 4F for constituting the working mechanism 4
by driving the hydraulic pump 17 by the electric motor 18.
[0050] The upper revolving structure 3 effects a revolving
operation on the lower traveling structure 2 with a revolving
center P as a center and is constituted by a revolving frame 5, a
partition plate 7, an operator's seat 15, a canopy 16, the
hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, an inverter 19, an oil
tank 20, a heat exchanger 21, a cooling fan 30, a battery 31, an
exterior cover 34, and the like which will be described
hereinafter.
[0051] Designated at 5 is the revolving frame serving as a vehicle
body frame which is a base of the upper revolving structure 3, and
the revolving frame 5 is formed as a rigid supporting structure, as
shown in FIG. 5.
[0052] The revolving frame 5 includes a bottom plate 5A in the form
of a thick flat plate provided in its central portion as viewed in
the left-right direction in such a manner as to extend in the
front-rear direction; a left vertical plate 5B and a right vertical
plate 5C erected on an upper surface side of the bottom plate 5A at
an interval therebetween and extending in the front-rear direction;
a support bracket 5D provided at front end portions of these
vertical plates 5B and 5C; a lateral plate 5E erected on the bottom
plate 5A in such a manner as to traverse the left and right
vertical plates 5B and 5C at an intermediate portion in the
front-rear direction; a left extension beam 5F extending laterally
leftward from a rear end side of the left vertical plate 5B; and
two right extension beams 5G extending laterally rightward from the
right vertical plate 5C at an interval therebetween in the
front-rear direction.
[0053] Further, the revolving frame 5 includes an L-shaped left
frame member 5H which is connected to the left vertical plate 5B in
the vicinity of the support bracket 5D and is connected to left end
portions of the lateral plate 5E and the left extension beam 5F; a
right frame member 5I which is disposed on the right side of the
bottom plate 5A and which is connected to right end portions of the
right extension beams 5G and is connected to a front side of the
bottom plate 5A; a front connecting member 5J in the form of a
thick flat plate for connecting front sides of the right vertical
plate 5C and the right frame member 5I; and a heat exchanger
support plate 5K which is formed of a plate bent in the form of an
inverse L-shape in a side view and is fixed to an upper end of the
front side right extension beam 5G and to the front connecting
member 5J in such a manner as to bridge them.
[0054] Here, the arrangement provided is such that the working
mechanism 4 is mounted swingably in the left-right direction on the
support bracket 5D located on the front end side of the revolving
frame 5, and the below-described battery 31 is mounted on the rear
end side of the revolving frame 5.
[0055] Denoted at 6 is a support member erected on an intermediate
portion in the front-rear direction of the revolving frame 5, and
the support member 6 supports the partition plate 7, the canopy 16,
the hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, the inverter 19, and
the like which will be described hereinafter. Here, the support
member 6 is largely constituted by a lateral beam 6A extending in
the left-right direction above the bottom plate 5A; a rod-like left
vertical beam 6B extending downwardly from a left end portion of
the lateral beam 6A; a right vertical beam 6C constituted by an
inverse U-shaped frame body and extending downwardly from a right
end portion of the lateral beam 6A; a below-described plate body
6D; and support plate mounting brackets 6E and 6F. In this case, as
for the support member 6, a front end portion of the right vertical
beam 6C is fixed to a right end portion of the lateral plate 5E of
the revolving frame 5, and a rear end portion of the right vertical
beam 6C is fixed to the right vertical plate 5C of the revolving
frame 5.
[0056] Meanwhile, the support member 6 has the plate body 6D having
a trapezoidal shape and located in a range from an upper end
portion of the right vertical beam 6C to an intermediate portion
thereof in the vertical direction. The plate body 6D is fixed to
the right vertical beam 6C and constitutes a part of a
below-described vertical partition plate 8. A communicating hole 39
and an auxiliary fan 40 are arranged to be provided in this plate
body 6D. Further, the support member 6 has the two support plate
mounting brackets 6E and 6F which extend in the left-right
direction while being bent in an L-shape and are spaced apart from
each other in the front-rear direction. Left upper end portions of
these front and rear support plate mounting brackets 6E and 6F are
fixed to a lower end side of the plate body 6D on the right
vertical beam 6C, and right lower end portions thereof are
respectively fixed to the front and rear right extension beams 6G
for making up the revolving frame 5.
[0057] Next, designated at 7 is the partition plate provided on the
revolving frame 5, and the partition plate 7 partitions the
interior of the below-described exterior cover 34 into a machine
room 10 and a battery room 11, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. Here,
the partition plate 7 is constituted by the vertical partition
plate 8 which is erected on the left vertical plate 5B of the
revolving frame 5 and extends in the front-rear direction along the
left vertical plate 5B and by a lateral partition plate 9 which
extends in the left-right direction between a rear end portion of
the vertical partition plate 8 and a rear end portion of the right
frame member 5I of the revolving frame 5.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vertical partition plate 8 is
constituted by an upper vertical partition plate 8A extending in
the front-rear direction in a range from a front end side of the
right vertical plate 5C for constituting the revolving frame 5 to a
rear end portion of the right vertical beam 6C for constituting the
support member 6 and by a substantially rectangular lower vertical
partition plate 8B arranged on a lower side of a rear portion of
the upper vertical partition plate 8A. A trapezoidal notched
portion 8A1 corresponding to the right vertical beam 6C of the
support member 6 is formed at a rear end side of the upper vertical
partition plate 8A. The arrangement provided is such that in a
state in which the upper vertical partition plate 8A is disposed on
the right vertical plate 5C of the revolving frame 5, the notched
portion 8A1 is engaged with an outer periphery of the right
vertical beam 6C of the support member 6 without a clearance.
[0059] In this instance, since the plate body 6D is fixed in the
range from the upper end portion of the right vertical beam 6C to
the intermediate portion thereof in the vertical direction, the
plate body 6D is disposed in a substantially identical plane to
that of the upper vertical partition plate 8A in the state in which
the notched portion 8A1 of the upper vertical partition plate 8A is
engaged with the right vertical beam 6C. In this state, as the
lower vertical partition plate 8B is disposed on the lower side of
the rear portion of the upper vertical partition plate 8A, the
upper vertical partition plate 8A, the plate body 6D of the right
vertical beam 6C, and the lower vertical partition plate 8B are
arranged to form an identical plate extending in the front-rear
direction. Thus, in this embodiment, the plate body 6D which is
provided on the right vertical beam 6C of the support member 6
constitutes a part of the vertical partition plate 8.
[0060] Meanwhile, the lateral partition plate 9 is formed by a
rectangular flat plate which extends vertically and in parallel in
the left-right direction with the support plate mounting bracket 6F
of the support member 6. As for this lateral partition plate 9, its
one end side is mounted on a rear end portion of the right vertical
beam 6C for constituting the support member 6 and juts out
laterally rightward from the rear end portion of the vertical
partition plate 8, and its other end side extends to a rear end
portion of the right frame member 5I for constituting the revolving
frame 5.
[0061] Thus, the partition plate 7 is arranged in an L-shape as
viewed from above by means of the vertical partition plate 8 and
the lateral partition plate 9. Namely, as shown in FIG. 4, the
partition plate 7 is arranged to partition the interior of the
exterior cover 34 into the machine room 10, which is located on the
right side of the below-described operator's seat 15 and
accommodates the hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, the
inverter 19, the oil tank 20, the heat exchanger 21, the cooling
fan 30, and the like, which will be described hereinafter, and into
the battery room 11, which is located on the rear side of the
operator's seat 15 and accommodates the below-described battery
31.
[0062] Next, indicated at 12 is a motor-pump support plate provided
in the form of a flat plate and located between the two right
extension beams 5G located on the front and rear sides of the
revolving frame 5. The motor-pump support plate 12 supports the
hydraulic pump 17 and the electric motor 18. As shown in FIGS. 6
and 9, the motor-pump support plate 12 is formed of a rectangular
flat plate by using a steel plate or the like, and both its ends in
the front-rear direction are respectively fixed to the right
extension beams 5G. In addition, a below-described motor-pump
cooling air inlet port 37 is formed in a central portion of the
motor-pump support plate 12.
[0063] Indicated at 13 is an inverter support plate provided on
upper end sides of the front and rear support plate mounting
brackets 6E and 6F of the support member 6 and located above the
motor-pump support plate 12. The inverter support plate 13 supports
the below-described inverter 19. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the
inverter support plate 13 is formed as a rectangular flat plate by
using a steel plate or the like, and both its ends in the
front-rear direction are respectively fixed to the front and rear
support plate mounting brackets 6E and 6F.
[0064] Indicated at 14 is a lower plate provided among the right
vertical plate 5C, the front side right extension beam 5G, and the
heat exchanger support plate 5K of the revolving frame 5. As shown
in FIGS. 6 and 11, this lower plate 14 is formed as a substantially
trapezoidal flat plate by using a steel plate or the like, and is
fixed between the right vertical plate 5C and the front side right
extension beam 5G in a state in which an identical plane is formed
with the motor-pump support plate 12 and the heat exchanger support
plate 5K of the revolving frame 5. Further, the lower plate 14
restrains the cooling air introduced into the machine room 10 by
the below-described cooling fan 30 from flowing around to the lower
side of the below-described heat exchanger 21 disposed on the heat
exchanger support plate 5K.
[0065] Indicated at 15 is the operator's seat provided on the
revolving frame 5, and the operator's seat 15 is arranged
leftwardly of the revolving center P of the upper revolving
structure 3 (see FIG. 4). This operator's seat 15 is for an
operator who operates the hydraulic excavator 1 to be seated
thereon, and the operator's seat 15 is covered from above by the
4-post type canopy 16 which is supported by the support member
6.
[0066] Next, a description will be given of the hydraulic pump 17,
the electric motor 18, the inverter 19, the oil tank 20, the heat
exchanger 21, and the cooling fan 30 which are arranged in the
machine room 10 partitioned by the partition plate 7, as well as
the battery 31 provided in the battery room 11.
[0067] Indicated at 17 is the hydraulic pump provided on a rear
side of the machine room 10 by being located on the right side of
the operator's seat 15. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the hydraulic
pump 17 is mounted on the motor-pump support plate 12 together with
the below-described electric motor 18. As the hydraulic pump 17 is
driven by the electric motor 18, the hydraulic pump 17 discharges
hydraulic pressure oil (hydraulic oil) toward various items of
hydraulic equipment mounted on the hydraulic excavator 1.
[0068] Indicated at 18 is the electric motor mounted on the
motor-pump support plate 12 with the hydraulic pump 17. As electric
power is fed from the below-described battery 31 to the electric
motor 18, the electric motor 18 drives the hydraulic pump 17. As
shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the electric motor 18 is constituted by a
motor body 18A and a motor case 18B covering the motor body 18A.
The motor case 18B is provided with a water jacket (not shown)
through which cooling water circulates, and a cooling water inlet
port 18C and a cooling water outlet port 18D which communicate with
the water jacket are projectingly provided on the motor case
18B.
[0069] Indicated at 19 is the inverter provided on the inverter
support plate 13 by being located on the upper side of the electric
motor 18 and the hydraulic pump 17. The inverter 19 controls a
drive voltage which is supplied from the below-described battery 31
to the electric motor 18. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inverter
19 is constituted by an inverter circuit 19A and an inverter case
19B for accommodating the inverter circuit 19A. The inverter case
19B is provided with a water jacket (not shown) through which the
cooling water circulates, and a cooling water inlet port 19C and a
cooling water outlet port 19D which communicate with the water
jacket are projectingly provided on the inverter case 19B. Further,
the cooling water inlet port 19C of the inverter case 19B is
connected to a discharge side of a below-described cooling water
pump 28, and the cooling water outlet port is connected to the
cooling water inlet port 18C of the electric motor 18.
[0070] Indicated at 20 is the oil tank provided on a front side of
the machine room 10, and as shown in FIG. 16, the oil tank 20 is
constituted by a box body of a rectangular parallelepiped extending
vertically. This oil tank 20 is for storing hydraulic oil which is
supplied to the hydraulic equipment mounted on the hydraulic
excavator 1.
[0071] Designated at 21 is the heat exchanger provided in the
machine room 10. The heat exchanger 21 is mounted on the heat
exchanger support plate 5K of the revolving frame 5 and is disposed
forwardly of the electric motor 18 and the hydraulic pump 17 and
rearwardly of the oil tank 20. As shown in FIG. 15, the heat
exchanger 21 is constituted by an oil cooler 22 for cooling the
hydraulic oil (return oil) which returns from the various hydraulic
equipments mounted on the hydraulic excavator 1 to the oil tank 20
and by a radiator 23 for cooling the cooling water which is
supplied to the motor case 18B of the electric motor 18 and the
inverter case 19B of the inverter 19.
[0072] Here, if consideration is given to a control valve 24 for
supplying the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic equipment such as the
boom cylinder 4D, the arm cylinder 4E, the inlet side of the
control valve 24 is a hydraulic oil intake passage 25 connected to
the oil tank 20 via the hydraulic pump 17, and outlet side of the
control valve 24 is a hydraulic oil discharge passage 26 connected
to the oil tank 20 via the oil cooler 22. Accordingly, the oil
cooler 22 is provided on the downstream side of the control valve
24 midway in the hydraulic oil discharge passage 26. In
consequence, the oil cooler 22 causes the heat of the hydraulic oil
heated by the various hydraulic equipments to be radiated to the
cooling air made to flow in the machine room 10 by the cooling fan
30, to thereby recirculate the cooled hydraulic oil to the oil tank
20.
[0073] Meanwhile, the radiator 23 is located on the downstream side
of the oil cooler 22 in the direction of flow of the cooling air
caused by the cooling fan 30, and is provided midway in a cooling
water passage 27 allowing the motor case 18B of the electric motor
18 and the inverter case 19B of the inverter 19 to communicate with
each other. In this instance, the cooling water passage 27 is
constituted by a hose 27A connecting the discharge side of the
cooling water pump 28 and the cooling water inlet port 19C of the
inverter 19, a hose 27B connecting the cooling water outlet port
19D of the inverter case 19B and the cooling water inlet port 18C
of the motor case 18B, a hose 27C connecting the cooling water
outlet port 18D of the motor case 18B and an upper tank 23A of the
radiator 23, and a hose 27D connecting a lower tank 23B of the
radiator 23 and the return side of the cooling water pump 28. Here,
the cooling water pump 28 is mounted on the motor-pump support
plate 12 together with the electric motor 18 and the hydraulic pump
17 (see FIG. 16).
[0074] In consequence, the cooling water passage 27 forms a
circulation passage of cooling water which circulates through the
cooling water pump 28, the inverter case 19B, the motor case 18B,
and the radiator 23. The arrangement provided is such that the heat
of the cooling water heated by the electric motor 18 and the
inverter 19 is radiated to cooling air while the cooling water
flows from the upper tank 23A to the lower tank 23B of the radiator
23. Meanwhile, a reservoir tank 29 for storing cooling water for
replenishment is connected to the upper tank 23A of the radiator 23
so that a fixed quantity of cooling water is constantly circulated
in the cooling water passage 27.
[0075] Designated at 30 is the cooling fan of a blow-out type
provided in the machine room 10 in a state of being opposed to the
heat exchanger 21. This cooling fan 30 is constituted by an
electric fan which is driven by electric power fed from the
below-described battery 31, and is arranged forwardly of the
electric motor 18 and the hydraulic pump 17 and rearwardly of the
oil tank 20.
[0076] Further, as the cooling fan 30 rotates, outside air is
sucked into the machine room 10 through such as an oil tank cooling
air inlet port 35, an inverter cooling air inlet port 36, and a
motor-pump cooling air inlet port 37, which are provided in the
exterior cover 34 and will be described hereinafter. This outside
air is circulated inside the machine room 10 as cooling air, and is
subsequently exhausted to the outside through a below-described
exhaust port 38.
[0077] Denoted at 31 is the battery disposed in the battery room 11
by being located rearwardly of the operator's seat 15, and the
battery 31 feeds electric power to such as the electric motor 18,
and the cooling fan 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery 31
is constituted by an assembly of a multiplicity of electrically
connected single battery units 32, and the battery 31 is disposed
in a state of being stacked on a battery support base 33 fixed to a
rear end portion of the revolving frame 5.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 17, the single battery unit 32 has the
shape of a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the left-right
direction and has a pair of terminals 32A provided on its upper
surface side. In addition, the single battery unit 32 is provided
with ventilation holes 32B which penetrate vertically, the
arrangement being such that it is possible to restrain heat from
being built up among the stacked single battery units 32.
[0079] Next, a description will be given of the exterior cover 34,
the inlet ports 35 and 36 provided in the exterior cover 34, the
exhaust port 38 similarly provided in the exterior cover 34, and
the inlet port 37 provided in the motor-pump support plate 12.
[0080] Namely, designated at 34 is the exterior cover which is
provided in such a manner as to cover the hydraulic pump 17, the
electric motor 18, the inverter 19, the oil tank 20, the heat
exchanger 21, and the cooling fan 30 which are arranged in the
machine room 10 and the battery 31 arranged in the battery room 11.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 18, and 19, the exterior cover 34 is
constituted by a left cover 34A arranged on the left side of the
operator's seat 15, a right cover 34B arranged on the right side of
the operator's seat 15 to cover the machine room 10, and a rear
cover 34C arranged on the rear side of the operator's seat 15 to
cover the battery 31.
[0081] In consequence, the interior of the exterior cover 34 can be
partitioned into the machine room 10 surrounded by the partition
plate 7 provided on the revolving frame 5 and by the right cover
34B and into the battery room 11 surrounded by the partition plate
7 and the rear cover 34C. The arrangement provided is such that the
heat generated from such as the hydraulic pump 17 and the electric
motor 18 arranged in the machine room 10 can be restrained from
being transmitted to the battery 31.
[0082] Indicated at 35 is the oil tank cooling air inlet port
provided in the exterior cover 34 in face-to-face relation to the
oil tank 20, and the oil tank cooling air inlet port 35 is provided
in a front surface of the right cover 34B of the exterior cover 34.
Here, as the cooling fan 30 rotates, the oil tank cooling air inlet
port 35 allows the outside air to be sucked into the machine room
10 past the oil tank 20.
[0083] Indicated at 36 is the inverter cooling air inlet port
provided in the exterior cover 34 in face-to-face relation to the
inverter 19, and the inverter cooling air inlet port 36 is provided
in a right side surface of the right cover 34B of the exterior
cover 34. Here, as the cooling fan 30 rotates, the inverter cooling
air inlet port 36 allows the outside air to be sucked into the
machine room 10 past the inverter 19.
[0084] Indicated at 37 is the motor-pump cooling air inlet port
provided in the motor-pump support plate 12, and the motor-pump
cooling air inlet port 37 is provided on the lower side of the
electric motor 18. Here, as the cooling fan 30 rotates, the
motor-pump cooling air inlet port 37 allows the outside air to be
sucked into the machine room 10 past the electric motor 18 and the
hydraulic pump 17.
[0085] Indicated at 38 is the exhaust port provided in the exterior
cover 34 in face-to-face relation to the cooling fan 30. This
exhaust port 38 is provided in a right side surface of the right
cover 34B of the exterior cover 34 to exhaust to the outside the
outside air (cooling air) introduced into the machine room 10 by
the cooling fan 30. Accordingly, when the cooling fan 30 is
operated, the outside air is introduced into the machine room 10
through such as the oil tank cooling air inlet port 35, the
inverter cooling air inlet port 36, and the motor-pump cooling air
inlet port 37. This outside air serving as cooling air cools the
hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, the inverter 19, the oil
tank 20, the heat exchanger 21, and the like inside the machine
room 10, and is then exhausted to the outside of the machine room
10 through the exhaust port 38.
[0086] In this instance, as shown in FIG. 4, since the cooling fan
30 is arranged forwardly of the electric motor 18 and the hydraulic
pump 17 and rearwardly of the oil tank 20, the cooling air which is
circulated in the machine room 10 by the cooling fan 30 can be
divided into a first cooling air route in which the cooling air
flows in from the oil tank cooling air inlet port 35 and which is
indicated at arrow F1 and into a second cooling air route in which
the cooling air flows in from the inverter cooling air inlet port
36 and the motor-pump cooling air inlet port 37 and which is
indicated at arrow F2. Accordingly, the arrangement provided is
such that the oil tank 20 can be cooled efficiently by the cooling
air flowing along the first cooling air route F1, and the hydraulic
pump 17, the electric motor 18, and the inverter 19 can be cooled
efficiently by the cooling air flowing along the second cooling air
route F2.
[0087] Meanwhile, indicated at 39 is the communicating hole
provided in the plate body 6D of the support member 6 constituting
a part of the vertical partition plate 8, and the communicating
hole 39 allows the machine room 10 and the battery room 11
partitioned by the partition plate 7 to communicate with each
other. In this instance, as the cooling fan 30 rotates, the flow of
cooling air which is directed to the exhaust port 38 along the
first cooling air route F1 and the second cooing air route F2 is
formed inside the machine room 10. Accordingly, the arrangement
provided is such that the air inside the battery room 11 can be
introduced into the machine room 10 through the communicating hole
39 by making use of these cooling air routes F1 and F2, thereby
making it possible to restrain the air inside the machine room 10,
which is heated by such as the hydraulic pump 17 and the electric
motor 18, from flowing into the battery room 11.
[0088] Indicated at 40 is the auxiliary fan provided in the plate
body 6D of the support member 6 constituting a part of the vertical
partition plate 8, and the auxiliary fan 40 is constituted by an
electric fan which is driven by electric power fed from the battery
31. This auxiliary fan 40 forcibly leads the air inside the battery
room 11 into the machine room 10 through the communicating hole 39,
to thereby reliably restrain the heated air inside the machine room
10 from flowing into the battery room 11.
[0089] The hydraulic excavator 1 in accordance with this embodiment
has the construction described above, and when performing, for
instance, an operation of excavating earth and sand by using the
hydraulic excavator 1, the electric motor 18 is first operated to
drive the hydraulic pump 17.
[0090] In this state, as an operator who is seated on the
operator's seat 15 operates a traveling lever/pedal (not shown),
the lower traveling structure 2 is made to propel itself to move
the hydraulic excavator 1 to a work site. After the hydraulic
excavator 1 has moved to the work site, as the operator manipulates
an operation lever (not shown), the operation of excavating such as
earth and sand can be performed by the working mechanism 4 by
revolving the upper revolving structure 3.
[0091] Here, when the hydraulic excavator 1 is operating, as the
electric cooling fan 30 is driven, outside air is introduced into
the machine room 10 through such as the oil tank cooling air inlet
port 35, the inverter cooling air inlet port 36, and the motor-pump
cooling air inlet port 37. This outside air serving as cooling air
cools the hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, the inverter
19, the oil tank 20, the heat exchanger 21, and the like inside the
machine room 10, and is then exhausted to the outside of the
machine room 10 through the exhaust port 38.
[0092] Thus, as the interior of the exterior cover 34 is
partitioned into the machine room 10 and the battery room 11 by the
partition plate 7, the heat generated from the mounted equipment
such as the hydraulic pump 17 and the electric motor 18 arranged in
the machine room 10 can be restrained from being transmitted to the
battery 31 arranged in the battery room 11, thereby making it
possible to constantly maintain the surroundings of the battery 31
at an appropriate temperature. As a result, the feeding of electric
power from the battery 31 to the electric motor 18 and the like can
be effected stably over a long period of time, making it possible
to enhance the reliability of the hydraulic excavator 1.
[0093] In addition, when the hydraulic excavator 1 is operated, the
auxiliary fan 40 provided in the plate body 6D of the support
member 6 is also driven by the feeding of electric power from the
battery 31, so that the air inside the battery room 11 can be
forcibly led into the machine room 10 through the communicating
hole 39. As a result, the heated air inside the machine room 10 can
be reliably restrained from flowing into the battery room 11.
Further, in cases where the battery 31 itself has generated heat,
the air inside the battery room 11 heated by this generated heat
can be forcibly exhausted to the machine room 10, so that the
surroundings of the battery 31 can be maintained at an appropriate
temperature, thereby making it possible to prolong the life of the
battery 31.
[0094] Meanwhile, since the cooling fan 30 is arranged between the
electric motor 18 and the hydraulic pump 17, on the one hand, and
the oil tank 20, on the other hand, inside the machine room 10, the
cooling air which is circulated in the machine room 10 by the
cooling fan 30 can be divided into the first cooling air route
indicated at arrow F1 in FIG. 4 and into the second cooling air
route indicated at arrow F2.
[0095] Accordingly, the cooling air flowing along the first cooling
air route F1 is not heated by the heat from such as the hydraulic
pump 17 and the electric motor 18, so that the oil tank 20 can be
efficiently cooled by the cooling air flowing along the first
cooling air route F1. Meanwhile, the cooling air flowing along the
second cooling air route F2 is not heated by the heat from the oil
tank 20, so that the hydraulic pump 17, the electric motor 18, and
the inverter 19 can be efficiently cooled by the cooling air
flowing along the second cooling air route F2.
[0096] Further, since both the cooling air flowing along the first
cooling air route F1 and the cooling air flowing along the second
cooling air route F2 are exhausted to the outside past the heat
exchanger 21, it is possible to supply a large quantity of cooling
air to the oil cooler 22 and the radiator 23 constituting the heat
exchanger 21. In consequence, the heat of the heated hydraulic oil
(return oil) which recirculates to the oil tank 20 can be cooled by
the oil cooler 22. Hence, the heat of the cooling water which is
supplied to the water jackets of the motor case 18B of the electric
motor 18 and the inverter case 19B of the inverter 19 can be cooled
by the radiator 23.
[0097] Thus, as the oil tank 20 is cooled from the outside by the
outside air which is introduced into the machine room 10 from the
oil tank cooling air inlet port 35, and the heated hydraulic oil
which flows into the oil tank 20 is cooled by the oil cooler 22, it
is possible to cool the oil tank 20 more efficiently.
[0098] In addition, the inverter 19 is cooled from the outside by
the outside air introduced into the machine room 10 from the
inverter cooling air inlet port 36, the electric motor 18 and the
hydraulic pump 17 are cooled from the outside by the outside air
introduced into the machine room 10 from the motor-pump cooling air
inlet port 37, and the cooling water which is supplied to the water
jackets of the motor case 18B of the electric motor 18 and the
inverter case 19B of the inverter 19 is cooled by the radiator 23,
thereby making it possible to cool the hydraulic pump 17, the
electric motor 18, and the inverter 19 more efficiently.
[0099] It should be noted that, in the above-described embodiment,
the case is illustrated in which the right vertical beam 6C of the
support member 6 is engaged with the notched portion 8A1 of the
vertical partition plate 8 (upper vertical partition plate 8A), and
the plate body 6D mounted on this right vertical beam 6C
constitutes apart of the vertical partition plate 8. However, the
present invention is not limited to the same, and the plate body 6D
of the support member 6 may be disused by using a vertical
partition plate which is not provided with a notched portion.
[0100] In the above-described embodiment, the canopy type hydraulic
excavator 1 is illustrated which is equipped with the canopy 16 for
covering the upper side of the operator's seat 15. However, the
present invention is not limited to the same, and is also
applicable to a cab type hydraulic excavator which is equipped with
a cab enclosing the surroundings of the operator's seat 15.
[0101] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the hydraulic
excavator 1 is illustrated as an electrical construction machine.
However, the present invention is not limited to the same, and is
also widely applicable to other construction machines such as a
wheel loader, a hydraulic crane, a dump truck, and the like.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0102] 1: Hydraulic excavator (Construction machine) [0103] 2:
Lower traveling structure (Vehicle body) [0104] 3: Upper revolving
structure (Vehicle body) [0105] 5: Revolving frame (Vehicle body
frame) [0106] 7: Partition plate [0107] 8: Vertical partition plate
[0108] 9: Lateral partition plate [0109] 10: Machine room [0110]
11: Battery room [0111] 12: Motor-pump support plate [0112] 13:
Inverter support plate [0113] 15: Operator's seat [0114] 17:
Hydraulic pump [0115] 18: Electric motor [0116] 18B: Motor case
[0117] 19: Inverter [0118] 19B: Inverter case [0119] 20: Oil tank
[0120] 21: Heat exchanger [0121] 22: Oil cooler [0122] 23: Radiator
[0123] 30: Cooling fan [0124] 31: Battery [0125] 34: Exterior cover
[0126] 35: Oil tank cooling air inlet port [0127] 36: Inverter
cooling air inlet port [0128] 37: Motor-pump cooling air inlet port
[0129] 38: Exhaust port [0130] 39: Communicating hole [0131] 40:
Auxiliary fan
* * * * *