U.S. patent application number 13/991471 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for construction machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Hiroyuki Azuma, Takahiro Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kensuke Sato. Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Azuma, Takahiro Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kensuke Sato.
Application Number | 20130319787 13/991471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46720590 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130319787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kobayashi; Takahiro ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
CONSTRUCTION MACHINE
Abstract
On an upper revolving structure, an engine having an exhaust
port is mounted. In the midway portion of the exhaust pipe
connecting the exhaust port of the engine and an exhaust gas
post-treatment device, a first bellows pipe and a second bellows
pipe are arranged through a connecting pipe having an L-shaped
bending portion. In this case, the first bellows pipe and the
second bellows pipe are arranged so as to have a positional
relationship in which axis lines thereof (X1-X1, Z1-Z1) cross each
other. That is, the first bellows pipe is arranged in a horizontal
direction so that its axis line (X1-X1) extends in the left-right
direction of the upper revolving structure. The second bellows pipe
is arranged so that its axis line (Z1-Z1) matches the vertical
direction of the upper revolving structure.
Inventors: |
Kobayashi; Takahiro;
(Tsuchiura-shi, JP) ; Nakamura; Tsuyoshi;
(Tsuchiura-shi, JP) ; Sato; Kensuke; (Ushiku-shi,
JP) ; Azuma; Hiroyuki; (Ushiku-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kobayashi; Takahiro
Nakamura; Tsuyoshi
Sato; Kensuke
Azuma; Hiroyuki |
Tsuchiura-shi
Tsuchiura-shi
Ushiku-shi
Ushiku-shi |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO.,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46720590 |
Appl. No.: |
13/991471 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
January 19, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/051073 |
371 Date: |
June 4, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 13/1816 20130101;
B60W 2300/17 20130101; F01N 13/1822 20130101; B60K 13/04 20130101;
F01N 2590/08 20130101; F01N 2530/22 20130101; E02F 9/0866
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/309 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/08 20060101
E02F009/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 24, 2011 |
JP |
2011-038634 |
Claims
1. A construction machine comprising: an automotive vehicle body;
an engine mounted on said vehicle body and having an exhaust port;
an exhaust pipe connected to said exhaust port of said engine; and
an exhaust gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of
said exhaust pipe, wherein; said exhaust pipe has a first bellows
pipe located on said engine side and a second bellows pipe located
on said exhaust gas post-treatment device side; and said first
bellows pipe and said second bellows pipe are configured to be
connected in series with a positional relationship in which axis
lines thereof (X1-X1,Z1-Z1) cross each other, wherein one bellows
pipe which is one of said first bellows pipe and said second
bellows pipe is configured to be arranged in a horizontal
direction, while the other bellows pipe of said first bellows pipe
and said second bellows pipe is configured to be arranged in a
vertical direction; and a length (L2, L4) of said other bellows
pipe arranged in the vertical direction is set longer than a length
(L1, L3) of said one bellows pipe arranged in the horizontal
direction.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. A construction machine comprising: an automotive vehicle body;
an engine mounted on said vehicle body and having an exhaust port;
an exhaust pipe connected to said exhaust port of said engine; and
an exhaust gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of
said exhaust pipe, wherein said exhaust pipe has a first bellows
pipe located on said engine side and a second bellows pipe located
on said exhaust gas post-treatment device side; and said first
bellows pipe and said second bellows pipe are configured to be
connected in series with a positional relationship in which axis
lines thereof (X2-X2, Y2-Y2) cross each other, wherein said first
bellows pipe is arranged in the horizontal direction and said
second bellows pipe is arranged in the horizontal direction with a
positional relationship of crossing said first bellows pipe; and a
connecting pipe having two-L shaped bending portions having
different height positions in a height dimension (H) in the
upper-lower direction is provided between said first bellows pipe
and said second bellows pipe in configuration.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. A construction machine comprising: an automotive vehicle body;
an engine mounted on said vehicle body and having an exhaust port;
a first exhaust pipe connected to said exhaust port of said engine;
a first exhaust gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet
side of said first exhaust pipe; a second exhaust pipe connected to
an exhaust port of said first exhaust gas post-treatment device;
and a second exhaust gas post-treatment device provided on the
outlet side of said second exhaust pipe, wherein at least one
exhaust pipe in said first exhaust pipe and said second exhaust
pipe has a first bellows pipe located on the upstream side with
respect to a flow direction of an exhaust gas and a second bellows
pipe located on the downstream side of said first bellows pipe; and
said first bellows pipe and said second bellows pipe are configured
to be connected in series with a positional relationship in which
axis lines thereof (X1-X1, Y3-Y3) and (Z1-Z1, Z3-Z3) cross each
other, wherein one bellows pipe which is one of said first bellows
pipe and said second bellows pipe is configured to be arranged in a
horizontal direction, while the other bellows pipe of said first
bellows pipe and said second bellows pipe is configured to be
arranged in a vertical direction; and a length of said other
bellows pipe arranged in the vertical direction is set longer than
a length (L1, L5) of said one bellows pipe arranged in the
horizontal direction.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a construction machine such
as a hydraulic excavator provided with an exhaust gas
post-treatment device on an exhaust pipe of an engine, for
example.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, a hydraulic excavator which is a typical example
of a construction machine is composed of an automotive lower
traveling structure, an upper revolving structure rotatably mounted
on the lower traveling structure, and a working mechanism liftably
provided on the front side of the upper revolving structure. The
upper revolving structure has a cab, a fuel tank, an operating oil
tank and the like mounted on the front side of a revolving frame
and has an engine for driving a hydraulic pump, a heat exchanger
and the like mounted on the rear part of the revolving frame.
[0003] In the hydraulic excavator in the conventional art, an
exhaust pipe is connected to an exhaust port of the engine. On an
outlet side of the exhaust pipe, the exhaust gas post-treatment
device accommodating a muffler device and the like for reducing an
exhaust noise amount is provided. Here, the engine is supported by
a vibration isolating mount on the revolving frame and the exhaust
gas post-treatment device is directly mounted on the revolving
frame and thus, the engine and the exhaust gas post-treatment
device are relatively displaced or vibrated due to vibration caused
by the engine and vibration caused by a vehicle body (revolving
frame). Thus, in the middle of the exhaust pipe, a single bellows
pipe having a bellows shape is provided, and such configuration is
realized that relative displacement or vibration (hereinafter
relative displacement or vibration is referred to simply as
vibration) between the engine and the exhaust gas post-treatment
device is absorbed by this bellows pipe (Patent Document 1).
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-35111
A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to above described Patent Document 1, the single
bellows pipe is arranged with inclination to three axes (X-axis,
Y-axis, and Z-axis) on the basis of the exhaust port of the engine.
As a result, it is configured that the vibration caused by the
engine and the exhaust gas post-treatment device can be absorbed by
bending deformation of the bellows pipe.
[0006] On the other hand, the bellows pipe can absorb vibration in
various directions by bending of the bellows portion. However, the
bellows pipe has its deformable amount (contraction amount) in its
length direction (axial direction) small, and vibration absorbing
capacity in the length direction is not high. Thus, if the single
bellows pipe is configured to be arranged with inclination with
respect to the three axial directions, the bellows pipe needs to be
long to some degree in order to sufficiently absorb the vibration
in the three axial directions by the bellows pipe (in order to be
able to largely deform the bellows pipe in all the three axial
directions). Therefore, in a case where the bellows pipe is made
longer, the entire length of the exhaust pipe becomes long, and
there are problems that a measure to prevent sympathetic vibration
is needed or limitation on freedom in arrangement leads to
limitation on the vehicle body on which the exhaust pipe can be
mounted and the like.
[0007] In view of the above described conventional art problems, it
is an object of the present invention to provide a construction
machine which can improve vibration absorbing performances of the
exhaust pipe and moreover, freedom in arrangement of the exhaust
pipe can be ensured.
[0008] (1) A construction machine according to the present
invention comprises an automotive vehicle body; an engine mounted
on the vehicle body and having an exhaust port; an exhaust pipe
connected to the exhaust port of the engine; and an exhaust gas
post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of the exhaust
pipe.
[0009] In order to solve the above described problems, the
characteristic of the construction adopted in the present invention
is that the exhaust pipe has a first bellows pipe located on the
engine side and a second bellows pipe located on the exhaust gas
post-treatment device side; and the first bellows pipe and the
second bellows pipe are configured to be connected in series with a
positional relationship in which axis lines thereof cross each
other.
[0010] With this arrangement, bending deformation directions of the
first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe can be matched with
all the three axial directions of the vehicle body (front-rear
direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction). Thus,
vibration of the engine and the exhaust gas post-treatment device
whose vibration modes are different from each other can be stably
absorbed by means of bending deformation of at least either (one of
or the both) of the first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe.
Thereby, the vibration absorbing performances of the exhaust pipe
can be improved, and reliability of the construction machine can be
improved.
[0011] Moreover, since the directions of bending deformation of the
first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe can be matched with
the three axial directions of the vehicle body, the vibration can
be stably absorbed without making the length of the bellows pipe
longer as in the conventional art, and elongation of the length of
the exhaust pipe can be suppressed. Therefore, freedom in
arrangement of the exhaust pipe can be ensured, and limitation on
the vehicle body on which the exhaust pipe can be mounted can be
reduced.
[0012] (2) According to the present invention, the bellows pipe
which is one of the first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe
is configured to be arranged in a horizontal direction, while the
other bellows pipe of the first bellows pipe and the second bellows
pipe is configured to be arranged in a vertical direction.
[0013] With this arrangement, the direction of bending deformation
of one of the bellows pipes arranged in the horizontal direction
can be matched with the upper-lower direction and the left-right
direction of the vehicle body or with the upper-lower direction and
the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the direction of
bending deformation of the other bellows pipe arranged in the
vertical direction can be matched with the front-rear direction and
the left-right direction of the vehicle body. As a result, the
bending deformation direction of each of the bellows pipes can be
matched with all the three axial directions of the vehicle body,
and vibration can be stably absorbed.
[0014] Moreover, since in the other bellows pipe, its length
direction (axial direction) in which deformation is difficult is
matched with the vertical direction in which its own weight acts,
deformation of itself caused by its own weight can be suppressed.
At the same time, in the one bellows pipe arranged in the
horizontal direction, too, the bending deformation amount by its
own weight can be kept small by the other bellows pipe. As a
result, the vibration absorbing performances can be improved while
deformation by its own weight is suppressed.
[0015] (3) According to the present invention, a connecting pipe
having an L-shaped bending portion is provided between the first
bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe. With this arrangement,
the one bellows pipe arranged in the horizontal direction and the
other bellows pipe arranged in the vertical direction can be
connected by the connecting pipe.
[0016] (4) According to the present invention, a length of the
other bellows pipe arranged in the vertical direction is set equal
to or more than a length of the one bellows pipe arranged in the
horizontal direction. As a result, by setting the length of the
other bellows pipe subjected to bending deformation in the
front-rear direction and the left-right direction longer, the
vibration absorbing performances in the front-rear direction and
the left-right direction of the vehicle body in which the vibration
amount (displacement amount) is larger can be improved.
[0017] (5) According to the present invention, the first bellows
pipe is arranged in the horizontal direction and the second bellows
pipe is arranged in the horizontal direction with a positional
relationship of crossing the first bellows pipe in configuration.
With this arrangement, the direction of bending deformation of the
one bellows pipe can be matched with the upper-lower direction and
the left-right direction of the vehicle body, while the direction
of bending deformation of the other bellows pipe can be matched
with the upper-lower direction and the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body. As a result, bending deformation direction of each of
the bellows pipe can be matched with all the three axial directions
of the vehicle body, and vibration can be stably absorbed.
[0018] (6) According to the present invention, a connecting pipe
having two L-shaped bending portions having different height
positions in the upper-lower direction is provided between the
first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe in configuration.
With this arrangement, the first bellows pipe and the second
bellows pipe arranged in the horizontal direction at different
height positions, respectively, can be connected by the connecting
pipe.
[0019] (7) According to the present invention, a connecting pipe
arranged in the horizontal direction and having an L-shaped bending
portion is provided between the first bellows pipe and the second
bellows pipe in configuration. With this arrangement, the first
bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe arranged in the horizontal
direction at the same height, respectively, can be connected by the
connecting pipe.
[0020] (8) The construction machine according to the present
invention comprises an automotive vehicle body; an engine mounted
on the vehicle body and having an exhaust port; a first exhaust
pipe connected to the exhaust port of the engine; a first exhaust
gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of the first
exhaust pipe; a second exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust port of
the first exhaust gas post-treatment device; and a second exhaust
gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of the second
exhaust pipe.
[0021] In order to solve the above described problems, the
characteristic of the construction adopted in the present invention
is that at least one exhaust pipe in the first exhaust pipe and the
second exhaust pipe has a first bellows pipe located on the
upstream side with respect to a flow direction of an exhaust gas
and a second bellows pipe located on the downstream side of the
first bellows pipe; and the first bellows pipe and the second
bellows pipe are configured to be connected in series with a
positional relationship in which axis lines thereof cross each
other.
[0022] With this arrangement, the bending deformation directions of
the first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe can be matched
with all the three axial directions of the vehicle body, for
example. Thus, the vibration of the engine and the first exhaust
gas post-treatment device whose vibration modes are different from
each other and/or the vibration of the first exhaust gas
post-treatment device and the second exhaust gas post-treatment
device whose vibration modes are different from each other can be
stably absorbed by means of bending deformation of at least either
of the first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe. As a result,
the vibration absorbing performances of the exhaust pipe can be
improved, and reliability of the construction machine can be
improved.
[0023] Moreover, since the bending deformation directions of the
first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe can be matched with
the three axial directions of the vehicle body, the vibration can
be stably absorbed without making the length of the bellows pipe
longer as in the conventional art, and elongation of the length of
the exhaust pipe can be suppressed. Therefore, freedom in
arrangement of the exhaust pipe can be ensured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a hydraulic excavator
applied to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an upper revolving
structure in a state in which a cab, a housing cover and the like
are omitted.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view when seen from an arrow III-III
direction in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an engine, an exhaust
pipe, an exhaust gas post-treatment device and the like when seen
from an arrow IV-IV direction in FIG. 3.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a partition
member, the exhaust gas post-treatment device, the exhaust pipe and
the like.
[0029] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a (VI) part in FIG.
3 illustrating a state in which the exhaust pipe is mounted between
the engine and the exhaust gas post-treatment device in an exploded
manner.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the upper revolving
structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention
when seen from a direction similar to FIG. 3.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the engine, the exhaust
pipe, the exhaust gas post-treatment device and the like when seen
from an arrow VIII-VIII direction in FIG. 7.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a support member,
the exhaust gas post-treatment device, the exhaust pipe and the
like.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the upper revolving
structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention
similar to FIG. 3.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the support
member, the exhaust gas post-treatment device, the exhaust pipe and
the like.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the upper revolving
structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention
when seen from a direction similar to FIG. 2.
[0036] FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view of a (XIII) part in FIG. 12
illustrating the engine, the exhaust pipe, the exhaust gas
post-treatment device and the like in an enlarged manner.
[0037] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the partition
member, a counterweight, a first exhaust gas post-treatment device,
a second exhaust gas post-treatment device and the like.
[0038] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the support
member, the exhaust gas post-treatment device, the exhaust pipe and
the like according to a first modification of the present invention
at a position similar to FIG. 11.
[0039] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the
counterweight, a support deck, the second exhaust gas
post-treatment device and the like according to a second
modification of the present invention.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0040] Hereafter, a hydraulic excavator provided with a
crawler-type lower traveling structure as an example of a
construction machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention will be described below in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0041] FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of a hydraulic
excavator according to the present invention.
[0042] In the drawings, designated at 1 is a hydraulic excavator as
a construction machine used for an excavating work of earth and
sand or the like. This hydraulic excavator 1 is composed of an
automotive crawler-type lower traveling structure 2, an upper
revolving structure 3 rotatably mounted on the lower traveling
structure 2 and constituting a vehicle body together with the lower
traveling structure 2, and a working mechanism 4 liftably provided
on the front side of the upper revolving structure 3.
[0043] Here, the upper revolving structure 3 constituting the
hydraulic excavator 1 will be described in detail. Indicated at 5
is a revolving frame of the upper revolving structure 3, and the
revolving frame 5 is constituted as a support structural body. This
revolving frame 5 is composed of a bottom plate 5A made of a thick
steel plate or the like extending in the front-rear direction, a
left vertical plate 5B and a right vertical plate 5C installed
upright on the bottom plate 5A and extending in the front-rear
direction at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction,
a left side frame 5D and a right side frame 5E arranged at an
interval in the left-right direction of each of the vertical plates
5B and 5C and extending in the front-rear direction, and a
plurality of extension beams 5F extending in the left-right
direction from the bottom plate 5A and, each of the vertical plates
5B and 5C and supporting the left-right side frames 5D and 5E at
the distal end portions thereof.
[0044] On the front side of the revolving frame 5, the working
mechanism 4 is located between the left-right vertical plates 5B
and 5C and liftably mounted, and a cab 6 is mounted on the right
side of the working mechanism 4. On the other hand, a counterweight
7, an engine 8 and the like which will be described later are
provided on the rear side of the revolving frame 5.
[0045] The cab 6 is mounted on the left front side of the revolving
frame 5 (left side of a foot portion of the working mechanism 4),
and inside of this cab 6, a driver's seat on which an onboard
operator is seated, an operating lever for running, an operating
lever for working and the like (none of them is shown) are
disposed.
[0046] The counterweight 7 is mounted on a rear end portion of the
revolving frame 5, and the counterweight 7 holds weight balance
with the working mechanism 4. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
counterweight 7 has its front surface formed flat and its rear
surface side protruded so as to be curved.
[0047] Indicated at 8 is an engine provided on the rear side of the
revolving frame 5. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the engine 8 is
mounted in a transversely mounted state extending in the left-right
direction. On the left side of the engine 8, a cooling fan 8A for
supplying cooling air to a heat exchanger 10 which will be
described later is provided.
[0048] On the other hand, on the right side of the engine 8, a pump
mounting portion 8B (See FIG. 3) for mounting a hydraulic pump 11
which will be described later is provided. On the upper part on the
front side of the engine 8, a super charger 9 which will be
described later is provided by connecting to an exhaust manifold
8C. The engine 8 is supported by the revolving frame 5 in a
vibration isolating state through four vibration isolating mounts
8D (only two of them are shown in FIG. 3), for example.
[0049] The super charger 9 constitutes a part of the engine 8, and
the super charger 9 is located on the front side of the engine 8
and is connected to the exhaust manifold 8C. At the distal end of
the super charger 9, an exhaust port 9A is opened. The exhaust port
9A of the super charger 9 is to exhaust an exhaust gas from the
engine 8, and to the exhaust port 9A of this super charger 9, an
exhaust pipe 16 which will be described later is connected.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 6, on the exhaust port 9A of the
super charger 9, a mounting flange portion 9B protruding toward the
outer diameter side is provided over the entire periphery. On the
mounting flange portion 9B, a plurality of (four, for example) stud
bolts 9C are mounted spaced apart from each other in the peripheral
direction. Each of these stud bolts 9C is screwed with nuts 9D,
respectively, and by using each of these stud bolts 9C and the nut
9D, the exhaust pipe 16 can be fixed to the exhaust port 9A of the
super charger 9.
[0051] The heat exchanger 10 is disposed on the left side of the
engine 8, and the heat exchanger 10 is provided opposite to the
cooling fan 8A of the engine 8. This heat exchanger 10 is composed
of a radiator for cooling engine cooling water, an oil cooler for
cooling operating oil, an intercooler for cooling air sucked by the
engine 8 and the like, for example.
[0052] The hydraulic pump 11 is mounted on the pump mounting
portion 8B of the engine 8, and the hydraulic pump 11 is to
discharge the operating oil supplied from an operating oil tank
which will be described later as a pressure oil toward a control
valve (not shown) by being driven by the engine 8.
[0053] The operating oil tank 12 is located on the front side of
the hydraulic pump 11 and provided on the right side of the
revolving frame 5, and the operating oil tank 12 stores the
operating oil for driving the lower traveling structure 2, the
working mechanism 4 and the like. On the other hand, a fuel tank 13
is provided on the front side of the operating oil tank 12.
[0054] A housing cover 14 is to close the engine 8, the heat
exchanger 10, an exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 which will be
described later and the like from above, and the housing cover 14
is located between the cab 6 and the counterweight 7 and provided
on the revolving frame 5. The housing cover 14 is mounted on the
revolving frame 5 by using a partition member 15 which will be
described later and a support beam (not shown).
[0055] The partition member 15 is located on the right side of the
engine 8 and provided on the revolving frame 5, and the partition
member 15 supports the housing cover 14 and defines a pump chamber
surrounding the hydraulic pump 11. Here, the partition member 15
thermally shuts off the hydraulic pump 11 from the engine 8 and is
called a firewall.
[0056] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partition member 15 is
composed of a front vertical plate 15A installed upright on the
front side of the hydraulic pump 11, a rear vertical plate 15B
installed upright opposite to that in a state sandwiching the
hydraulic pump 11 in the front-rear direction, a connecting plate
15C connecting the right side upper part of the front vertical
plate 15A and the right side upper part of the rear vertical plate
15B, and a shielding cover 15D which will be described later. The
front vertical plate 15A is arranged so as to oppose the rear
surface of the operating oil tank 12, for example, and a lower part
thereof is mounted on the revolving frame 5. On the other hand, the
rear vertical plate 15B is arranged so as to oppose the front
surface of the counterweight 7 and a lower part thereof is mounted
on the revolving frame 5.
[0057] The shielding cover 15D is provided between the front
vertical plate 15A and the rear vertical plate 15B, and the
shielding cover 15D is arranged so as to shield between the engine
8 and the hydraulic pump 11. Here, the shielding cover 15D is
formed as a stepped plate by applying bending work to a single
steel plate cut out in a predetermined shape, for example. That is,
the shielding cover 15D is formed of a treatment device mounting
portion 15D1 supporting the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22
which will be described later, a riser plate 15D2 extending upward
from one end (end portion on the side opposite to the engine 8) of
the treatment device mounting portion 15D1, and a downward plate
15D3 extending downward from the other end (end portion on the
engine 8 side) of the treatment device mounting portion 15D1. In
the downward plate 15D3, a notched portion 15D4 into which the
hydraulic pump 11 is inserted is formed, and it is configured that
the hydraulic pump 11 is arranged in this notched portion 15D4.
[0058] Subsequently, the exhaust pipe 16, the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 and the like for exhausting the exhaust
gas exhausted by the engine 8 to the outside of the upper revolving
structure 3 will be described.
[0059] Designated at 16 is the exhaust pipe connected to the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9 constituting the engine 8.
This exhaust pipe 16 is for a flow of a high-temperature exhaust
gas therein and is formed as a metal pipe. The exhaust pipe 16 is
composed of an upstream side pipe 17, a first bellows pipe 18, a
connecting pipe 19, a second bellows pipe 20, and a downstream side
pipe 21 which will be described later.
[0060] Indicated at 17 is the upstream side pipe connected to the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9, and the upstream side pipe
17 is arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction from the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9 toward the right side in the
left-right direction of the vehicle body. As illustrated in FIG. 6,
on the upstream end side of the upstream side pipe 17, a mounting
flange portion 17A is provided. In the mounting flange portion 17A,
a plurality of (four, for example) bolt through holes 17B
corresponding to the stud bolts 9C mounted on the mounting flange
portion 9B of the super charger 9 are provided. The upstream side
pipe 17 is to be fixed to the exhaust port 9A of the super charger
9 by inserting the stud bolt 9C into each of the bolt through holes
17B and screwing it with a nut 9D.
[0061] Indicated at 18 is the first bellows pipe located on the
engine 8 side, and the first bellows pipe 18 is provided by
connecting to an outlet port of the upstream side pipe 17. This
first bellows pipe 18 absorbs vibration between the super charger 9
of the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 which
will be described later together with the second bellows pipe 20
which will be described later.
[0062] The first bellows pipe 18 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and is arranged so as to extend in the
horizontal direction from the downstream end of the upstream side
pipe 17 toward the right side in the left-right direction of the
vehicle body. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first bellows
pipe 18 is arranged horizontally so that its axis line X1-X1
extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. The both
ends of the first bellows pipe 18 are integrally fixed to the
upstream side pipe 17 and the connecting pipe 19 which will be
described later by using welding means, for example. As a result,
the first bellows pipe 18 is capable of bending deformation in an
upper-lower direction (Z1-Z1) and a front-rear direction (Y1-Y1)
between the upstream side pipe 17 and the connecting pipe 19.
Therefore, the first bellows pipe 18 can absorb vibration in the
upper-lower direction and the front-rear direction between the
upstream side pipe 17 and the connecting pipe 19.
[0063] The connecting pipe 19 is provided between the first bellows
pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 which will be described
later, and the connecting pipe 19 connects the first bellows pipe
18 and the second bellows pipe 20 to each other at different height
positions. Here, the connecting pipe 19 is formed as a connecting
pipe having a bending portion 19A bent at 90 degrees in a
substantially L-shape and connects the first bellows pipe 18 and
the second bellows pipe 20 in series with a positional relationship
in which the axis line X1-X1 in the horizontal direction and the
axis line Z1-Z1 in the vertical direction thereof cross each other
and moreover, so that the second bellows pipe 20 comes on the upper
side.
[0064] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the connecting pipe
connects the first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20
in series so that the axis line X1-X1 of the first bellows pipe 18
and the axis line Z1-Z1 of the second bellows pipe 20 cross each
other or more specifically, they cross each other at 90 degrees (at
a right angle) between the horizontal direction and the vertical
direction. The both ends of the connecting pipe 19 are integrally
fixed to the first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20
by using welding means, for example.
[0065] Indicated at 20 is the second bellows pipe located on the
exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 side which will be described
later, and the second bellows pipe 20 is provided by connecting to
the outlet port of the connecting pipe 19. This second bellows pipe
20 absorbs vibration between the super charger 9 of the engine 8
and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 together with the
first bellows pipe 18.
[0066] The second bellows pipe 20 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and is arranged so as to extend toward
the upper side of the vehicle body from the downstream end of the
connecting pipe 19. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the second
bellows pipe 20 is arranged so that the axis line Z1-Z1 thereof
matches the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The both ends
of the second bellows pipe 20 are fixed to the connecting pipe 19
and the downstream side pipe 21 which will be described later by
using welding means, for example. As a result, the second bellows
pipe 20 is capable of bending deformation in the front-rear
direction (Y1-Y1) and the left-right direction (X1-X1) between the
connecting pipe 19 and the downstream side pipe 21. Therefore, the
second bellows pipe 20 can absorb vibration in the front-rear
direction and the left-right direction between the connecting pipe
19 and the downstream side pipe 21.
[0067] Moreover, a length L2 of the second bellows pipe 20 is set
equal to or more than a length L1 of the first bellows pipe 18
arranged horizontally (L2.gtoreq.L1). Preferably, the length L2 of
the second bellows pipe 20 is set longer than the length L1 of the
first bellows pipe 18 (L2>L1). As a result, the vibration
absorbing performances in the front-rear direction and the
left-right direction of the vehicle body where a vibration amount
(displacement amount) becomes large can be sufficiently
ensured.
[0068] Indicated at 21 is a downstream side pipe provided between
the second bellows pipe 20 and an inlet side connecting portion 22B
of the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 which will be described
later, and the downstream side pipe 21 is located on the upper side
of the second bellows pipe 20 and connected to the inlet side
connecting portion 22B. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the downstream
side pipe 21 is formed as a connecting pipe which can be bent at 90
degrees in a substantially L-shape in the horizontal direction and
the vertical direction, and a mounting flange portion 21A is
provided on the downstream end side. In the mounting flange portion
21A, a bolt through hole 21B corresponding to a stud bolt 22B2
mounted on a mounting flange portion 22B1 of the inlet side
connecting portion 22B is provided. Here, the downstream side pipe
21 is fixed to the inlet side connecting portion 22B by inserting
the stud bolt 22B2 into each of the bolt through holes 21B and
screwing it with a nut 22B3.
[0069] Indicated at 22 is the exhaust gas post-treatment device
provided on the outlet side of the exhaust pipe 16, and the exhaust
gas post-treatment device 22 is to treat the exhaust gas exhausted
from the engine 8. This exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 is
mounted on the treatment device mounting portion 15D1 of the
partition member 15 through a vibration isolating member 22E.
[0070] The exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 is composed of a
cylindrical case 22A formed as a cylindrical vessel extending in
the front-rear direction, the inlet side connecting portion 22B
extending to the engine 8 side from the front side (upstream side)
of the cylindrical case 22A, a tail pipe 22C which becomes an
exhaust port extending upward from the rear side (downstream side)
of the cylindrical case 22A, a treatment device main body (not
shown) accommodated in the cylindrical case 22A, and four mounting
brackets 22D, for example, provided on the lower side of the
cylindrical case 22A.
[0071] Here, the treatment device main body accommodated in the
cylindrical case 22A will be described. As this treatment device
main body, a muffler device (exhaust muffler) for reducing a noise
of the exhaust gas, an oxidation catalyst device incorporating an
oxidation catalyst for oxidizing and removing nitrogen monoxide
(NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and the like contained
in the exhaust gas, a PM trapping device incorporating a filter for
trapping and removing particulate matters (PM) contained in the
exhaust gas, a NOx purifying device for purifying nitrogen oxides
(NOx) contained in the exhaust gas and the like are known. These
treatment device main bodies may be used singularly or in
combination.
[0072] The exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 can be mounted on
the treatment device mounting portion 15D1 in the vibration
isolating state by mounting the vibration isolating member 22E for
the treatment device on each of the mounting brackets 22D and by
mounting this vibration isolating member 22E on the treatment
device mounting portion 15D1 of the partition member 15.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 6, on the inlet side connecting
portion 22B of the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22, the
mounting flange portion 22B1 protruding toward the outer diameter
side is provided over the entire periphery. On the mounting flange
portion 22B1, plural pieces of the stud bolts 22B2 are mounted
spaced apart from each other in the peripheral direction. It is
configured such that the downstream side pipe 21 of the exhaust
pipe 16 can be fixed to the inlet side connecting portion 22B of
the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 by screwing the nut 22B3
with each of the stud bolts 22B2.
[0074] The hydraulic excavator 1 according to the first embodiment
has the configuration as described above, and its operation will be
described.
[0075] An operator gets on the cab 6 of the upper revolving
structure 3 and starts the engine 8 so as to drive the hydraulic
pump 11. The pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 11 is supplied to
various actuators through the control valve. When the operator
onboard the cab 6 operates the operating lever (not shown) for
running, the operator can advance or retreat the lower traveling
structure 2. On the other hand, by operating the operating lever
(not shown) for working, the operator can perform an excavating
work of earth and sand or the like by moving the working mechanism
4 upward/downward.
[0076] The exhaust gas exhausted from the engine 8 while the engine
8 is operating is exhausted into the air through the exhaust pipe
16 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22. At this time, for
example, carbon monoxide (CO) and the like are removed from the
exhaust gas by the oxidation catalyst device of the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22, particulate matters are removed by the PM
trapping device, nitrogen oxides are decomposed into nitrogen and
water and purified by the NOx purifying device, and moreover, the
exhaust noise is reduced by the muffler device and then, exhausted
into the air.
[0077] During running or working of the hydraulic excavator 1, the
engine 8 supported through a vibration isolating mount 8D vibrates
on the revolving frame 5. The exhaust gas post-treatment device 22
mounted on the revolving frame 5 through the partition member 15
and the vibration isolating member 22E vibrates in a vibration mode
different from that of the engine 8. In this case, the vibration of
the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 can be
absorbed by bending deformation of the first bellows pipe 18 and
the second bellows pipe 20 arranged in the midway portion of the
exhaust pipe 16 with a positional relationship in which the axis
lines X1-X1 and Z1-Z1 thereof cross each other.
[0078] That is, in the vibration of the engine 8 and the exhaust
gas post-treatment device 22, the vibration in the front-rear
direction of the vehicle body (displacement in the axis line Y1-Y1
direction) can be absorbed by bending deformation of the first
bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 in the front-rear
direction. In the vibration of the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22, the vibration in the left-right direction
of the vehicle body (displacement in the axis line X1-X1 direction)
can be absorbed by bending deformation of the second bellows pipe
20 in the left-right direction. In the vibration of the engine 8
and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22, the vibration in the
upper-lower direction of the vehicle body (displacement in the axis
line Z1-Z1 direction) can be absorbed by bending deformation of the
first bellows pipe 18 in the upper-lower direction.
[0079] Therefore, the composite vibration in the front-rear
direction, the left-right direction, and the upper-lower direction
can be absorbed by bending deformation of the first bellows pipe 18
and the second bellows pipe 20. As a result, the vibration between
the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 can be
stably absorbed by the bending deformation of the first bellows
pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20.
[0080] According to the first embodiment, the first bellows pipe 18
and the second bellows pipe 20 arranged through the L-shaped
connecting pipe 19 in the midway portion of the exhaust pipe 16 are
configured to be connected in series with a positional relationship
in which the axis lines X1-X1 and Z1-Z1 thereof cross each other
(at a right angle on an elevation view). Thus, the directions of
the bending deformation of each of the bellows pipes 18 and 20 can
be matched with all the three axial directions of the vehicle body
(front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower
direction).
[0081] That is, by arranging the first bellows pipe 18 in the
horizontal direction so that the axis line X1-X1 thereof extends in
the left-right direction of the vehicle body, the direction of
bending deformation of the first bellows pipe 18 can be matched
with the upper-lower direction and the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body. Moreover, by arranging the second bellows pipe 20 so
that the axis line Z1-Z1 thereof matches the vertical direction,
the direction of bending deformation of the second bellows pipe 20
can be matched with the front-rear direction and the left-right
direction of the vehicle body.
[0082] Thus, relative vibration of the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 whose vibration modes are different from
each other can be stably absorbed by means of bending deformation
of at least either (one of or the both) of the first bellows pipe
18 and the second bellows pipe 20. Thereby, the vibration absorbing
performances of the exhaust pipe 16 can be improved, and
reliability of the hydraulic excavator 1 can be improved.
[0083] Moreover, the directions of bending deformation of the first
bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 can be matched with
the three axial directions of the vehicle body. Thus, vibration can
be stably absorbed without making the length of the bellows pipe
longer as in the conventional art or in other words, even if the
lengths of each of the bellows pipes 18 and 20 are set shorter, and
elongation of the length of the exhaust pipe 16 can be suppressed.
Therefore, freedom in arrangement of the exhaust pipe 16 can be
ensured, and limitation on the vehicle body on which the exhaust
pipe can be mounted can be reduced.
[0084] In this case, since the first bellows pipe 18 and the second
bellows pipe 20 are configured to be connected with a positional
relationship in which the axis lines X1-X1 and Z1-Z1 thereof cross
each other, the exhaust pipe 16 can be mounted more easily between
the super charger 9 of the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when
the exhaust pipe 16 is mounted between the mounting flange portion
9B of the super charger 9 and the mounting flange portion 22B1 of
the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22, the second bellows pipe
20 can be subjected to bending deformation in the left-right
direction (axis line X1-X1 direction) of the vehicle body. By
bending deformation the second bellows pipe 20 as above, an
interval in the left-right direction of the mounting flange
portions 17A and 21A on the both end portions of the exhaust pipe
16 can be made smaller. Therefore, the exhaust pipe 16 can be
easily assembled between the super charger 9 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 while avoiding interference between the
mounting flange portions 17A and 21A on the both end portions of
the exhaust pipe 16 and the stud bolts 9C and 22B2. As a result,
mounting workability and assembling workability of the exhaust pipe
16 can be improved.
[0085] According to the first embodiment, since the length L2 of
the second bellows pipe 20 arranged in the vertical direction is
set longer than the length L1 of the first bellows pipe 18 arranged
in the horizontal direction (L2>L1), vibration absorbing
performances can be improved while deformation by their own weights
of the first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 is
suppressed.
[0086] That is, since in the second bellows pipe 20, its length
direction which is a direction in which deformation is difficult to
occur, that is, the axis line Z1-Z1 direction matches the vertical
direction in which its own weight acts, deformation of itself
caused by its own weight can be suppressed. Moreover, in the first
bellows pipe 18 connected to the second bellows pipe 20, too, the
downward bending deformation amount by its own weight can be kept
small by the second bellows pipe 20.
[0087] Moreover, the length L2 of the second bellows pipe 20 is set
longer than the length L1 of the first bellows pipe 18. Therefore,
vibration absorbing performances in the front-rear direction and
the left-right direction of the vehicle body by the second bellows
pipe 20 can be improved. That is, regarding the engine 8 supported
by the revolving frame 5 through the vibration isolating mount 8D,
displacement of the vibration in the upper-lower direction is
limited to some degree by the stopper provided on the vibration
isolating mount 8D, and thus, vibration of the engine 8 in the
front-rear direction and the left-right direction tends to become
larger than the vibration in the upper-lower direction.
[0088] Then, by setting the length L2 of the second bellows pipe 20
arranged in the vertical direction longer, vibration absorbing
performances in the front-rear direction and the left-right
direction of the vehicle body is enhanced. As a result, vibration
absorbing performances by each of the bellows pipes 18 and 20 can
be improved while deformation of each of the bellows pipes 18 and
20 by their own weights is suppressed.
[0089] Next, FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of the
present invention. A characteristic of this embodiment is that the
exhaust gas post-treatment device is configured to be supported by
the engine through a support member. It should be noted that in the
first embodiment, the component elements that are identical to
those of the foregoing first embodiment will be simply denoted by
the same reference numerals to avoid repetitions of similar
explanations. Moreover, in the second embodiment, the partition
member 15 used in the first embodiment is not shown.
[0090] In the figures, designated at 31 is a support member in a
support deck shape located on the upper side of the hydraulic pump
11 and provided on the right side of the engine 8, and the support
member 31 supports the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 with
respect to the engine 8. The support member 31 is composed of a
mounting face portion 31A located on the base end side and
substantially perpendicular and a supporting face portion 31B
extending from the mounting face portion 31A toward the distal end
side substantially horizontal.
[0091] In the mounting face portion 31A, a plurality of bolt
through holes 31C are formed, and the support member 31 is fixed to
a flange portion 11A of the hydraulic pump 11 by inserting a bolt
(not shown) through the bolt through hole 31C. That is, the support
member 31 is mounted on the pump mounting portion 8B of the engine
8 by bringing the mounting face portion 31A into contact with the
flange portion 11A of the hydraulic pump 11 and by using the bolt
together with the flange portion 11A in this state. On the other
hand, at four corners of the supporting face portion 31B, a
plurality of, four, for example, through holes (not shown) for
mounting the vibration isolating member 22E are drilled.
[0092] In the hydraulic excavator 1 according to the second
embodiment, the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 is supported
with respect to the engine 8 by using the above described support
member 31, and its basic action is not particularly different from
that in the above described first embodiment.
[0093] That is, according to the second embodiment, during running
or working of the hydraulic excavator 1, the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 mounted on the engine 8 through the
support member 31 and the vibration isolating member 22E vibrates
in a vibration mode different from that of the engine 8. In this
case, vibration between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 can be absorbed by bending deformation of
the first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 arranged
in the midway portion of the exhaust pipe 16.
[0094] Thus, similarly to the above described first embodiment,
vibration between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment
device 22 can be stably absorbed by bending deformation of the
first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20, and
reliability of the hydraulic excavator 1 can be improved. Moreover,
vibration can be stably absorbed even if the lengths of each of the
bellows pipes 18 and 20 are made smaller, and freedom in
arrangement of the exhaust pipe 16 can be ensured.
[0095] It should be noted that in the case of the second
embodiment, a length L3 of the first bellows pipe 18 arranged in
the horizontal direction is illustrated at a length equal to or
more than a length L4 of the second bellows pipe 20 arranged in the
vertical direction (L3.gtoreq.L4). In this case, as in the first
embodiment, the length L4 of the second bellows pipe 20 arranged in
the vertical direction is preferably set longer than the length L3
of the first bellows pipe 18 arranged in the horizontal direction
(L4>L3).
[0096] Next, FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a third embodiment of the
present invention. A characteristic of this embodiment is that,
similarly to the above described second embodiment, the exhaust gas
post-treatment device is configured to be supported by the engine
through a support member, and the first bellows pipe and the second
bellows pipe are configured to be arranged in the horizontal
direction with a positional relationship in which they cross each
other. It should be noted that in the third embodiment, the
component elements that are identical to those of the foregoing
first embodiment will be simply denoted by the same reference
numerals to avoid repetitions of similar explanations.
[0097] In the figures, designated at 41 is a support member having
a support deck shape for supporting the exhaust gas post-treatment
device 22 with respect to the engine 8, and the support member 41
is, similarly to the support member 31 in the second embodiment,
largely constituted by a mounting face portion 41A, a supporting
face portion 41B, and a bolt through hole 41C. The support member
41 is mounted on the pump mounting portion 8B of the engine 8
together with the flange portion 11A of the hydraulic pump 11 by
using a bolt.
[0098] Designated at 42 is an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust
port 9A of the super charger 9 constituting the engine 8, and the
exhaust pipe 42 is constituted by an upstream side pipe 43, a first
bellows pipe 44, a connecting pipe 45, a second bellows pipe 46,
and a downstream side pipe 47 which will be described later.
[0099] The upstream side pipe 43 is connected to the exhaust port
9A of the super charger 9, and the upstream side pipe 43 is
arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction from the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9 toward the right side of the
vehicle body. On the upstream end side of the upstream side pipe
43, a mounting flange portion 43A is provided, and on the mounting
flange portion 43A, bolt through holes (none of them is shown) are
provided in correspondence with the stud bolts mounted on the
mounting flange portion 9B of the super charger 9.
[0100] The first bellows pipe 44 located on the engine 8 side is
provided by connecting to an outlet port of the upstream side pipe
43. This first bellows pipe 44 absorbs vibration between the super
charger 9 of the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device
22 together with the second bellows pipe 46 which will be described
later.
[0101] The first bellows pipe 44 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and is arranged so as to extend in the
horizontal direction from the downstream end of the upstream side
pipe 43 toward the right side of the vehicle body. That is, as
illustrated in FIG. 11, the first bellows pipe 44 is arranged in
the horizontal direction so that its axis line X2-X2 extends in the
left-right direction of the vehicle body. The both ends of the
first bellows pipe 44 are fixed to the upstream side pipe 43 and
the connecting pipe 45 which will be described later by using
welding means, for example. Thereby, the first bellows pipe 44 can
absorb vibration in the upper-lower direction and the front-rear
direction between the upstream side pipe 43 and the connecting pipe
45.
[0102] The connecting pipe 45 is provided between the first bellows
pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 which will be described
later, and the connecting pipe 45 is to connect the first bellows
pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 to each other. The
connecting pipe 45 has two bending portions 45A and 45C and is
arranged so that its axis line Z2-Z2 matches the vertical
direction. The connecting pipe is formed such that the upstream end
side of the connecting pipe 45 is bent at 90 degrees in the L-shape
so as to extend in the left-right direction of the vehicle body,
and the downstream end side is bent at 90 degrees in the L-shape so
as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
[0103] That is, the connecting pipe 45 connects the first bellows
pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 in series with a positional
relationship in which the axis lines X2-X2 and Y2-Y2 cross each
other. More specifically, the connecting pipe 45 has a first
bending portion 45A extending in the left-right direction, a
vertical portion 45B extending in the upper-lower direction, and a
second bending portion 45C extending in the front-rear direction,
and the vertical portion 45B has a length dimension (height
dimension) H in the vertical direction. Therefore, the first
bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 are arranged in the
horizontal direction with a relationship in which the height
positions in the upper-lower direction are different and the pipes
cross each other at 90 degrees.
[0104] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the connecting pipe 45
connects the first bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46
in series with a relationship in which the axis line X2-X2 of the
first bellows pipe 44 and the axis line Y2-Y2 of the second bellows
pipe 46 cross each other (at a right angle) at 90 degrees on a plan
view and spaced away only by the height dimension H in the
upper-lower direction. Moreover, the both ends of the connecting
pipe 45 are fixed to the first bellows pipe 44 and the second
bellows pipe 46 by using welding means, for example.
[0105] The second bellows pipe 46 located on the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 side is provided by connecting to the
outlet port of the connecting pipe 45. This second bellows pipe 46
absorbs vibration between the super charger 9 of the engine 8 and
the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 together with the first
bellows pipe 44.
[0106] The second bellows pipe 46 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and arranged so as to extend in the
horizontal direction from the downstream end of the connecting pipe
45 toward the rear side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle
body. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the second bellows pipe
46 is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the axis line
Y2-Y2 thereof extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle
body. The both ends of the second bellows pipe 46 are fixed to the
connecting pipe 45 and the downstream side pipe 47 which will be
described later by using welding means, for example. Thereby, the
second bellows pipe 46 can absorb vibration in the upper-lower
direction and the left-right direction between the connecting pipe
45 and the downstream side pipe 47.
[0107] The downstream side pipe 47 is provided between the second
bellows pipe 46 and an inlet side connecting portion 22B' of the
exhaust gas post-treatment device 22, and the downstream side pipe
47 connects the second bellows pipe 46 and the inlet side
connecting portion 22B' to each other. The downstream side pipe 47
is arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction from the
second bellows pipe 46 toward the rear side in the front-rear
direction of the vehicle body.
[0108] The downstream end side of the downstream side pipe 47 is
fixed to the inlet side connecting portion 22B' by using welding
means, for example. It should be noted that a mounting structure
between the downstream side pipe 47 and the inlet side connecting
portion 22B' can be formed as a mounting structure using a stud
bolt and a nut similarly to the mounting structure between the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9 and the upstream side pipe
43.
[0109] The hydraulic excavator 1 according to the third embodiment
supports the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 with respect to
the engine 8 by using the support member 41 as described above and
connects the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22
to each other by using the exhaust pipe 42 as described above, and
its basic action is not particularly different from that in the
above described first embodiment.
[0110] That is, according to the third embodiment, during running
or working of the hydraulic excavator 1, the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 mounted on the engine 8 through the
support member 41 and the vibration isolating member 22E vibrates
in a vibration mode different from that of the engine 8. In this
case, the first bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 are
provided through the connecting pipe 45 in the midway portion of
the exhaust pipe 42 connecting the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 to each other. Each of these bellows pipes
44 and 46 is arranged with a positional relationship (more
specifically, a positional relationship of crossing at a right
angle) in which the axis line X2-X2 direction and the axis line
Y2-Y2 direction cross each other.
[0111] As a result, vibration in the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body generated between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 can be absorbed by bending deformation of
the first bellows pipe 44 in the front-rear direction (Y2-Y2
direction). Vibration in the left-right direction of the vehicle
body generated between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 can be absorbed by bending deformation of
the second bellows pipe 46 in the left-right direction (X2-X2
direction). Vibration in the upper-lower direction of the vehicle
body generated between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 can be absorbed by bending deformation of
the first bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 in the
upper-lower direction (Z2-Z2 direction).
[0112] Therefore, the composite vibration in the three axial
directions can be absorbed by bending deformation of the first
bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46. As a result,
vibration between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas post-treatment
device 22 can be stably absorbed by the first bellows pipe 44 and
the second bellows pipe 46.
[0113] As described above, according to the third embodiment, the
first bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 arranged in
the midway portion of the exhaust pipe 42 are configured to be
connected in series with a positional relationship in which the
axis lines X2-X2 and Y2-Y2 thereof cross each other (at a right
angle on a plan view) through the connecting pipe 45 having the two
bending portions 45A and 45C spaced away by the dimension H in the
height direction. Thereby, the direction in which each of the
bellows pipes 44 and 46 is bent deformation can be matched with all
the three axial directions of the vehicle body.
[0114] Thus, vibration between the engine 8 and the exhaust gas
post-treatment device 22 whose vibration modes are different from
each other can be stably absorbed. As a result, vibration absorbing
performances of the exhaust pipe 42 can be improved, and
reliability of the hydraulic excavator 1 can be improved.
[0115] Next, FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the
present invention. A characteristic of this embodiment is a
configuration in which two exhaust gas post-treatment devices, that
is, a first exhaust gas post-treatment device and a second exhaust
gas post-treatment device are provided. It should be noted that in
the fourth embodiment, the component elements that are identical to
those of the foregoing first embodiment will be simply denoted by
the same reference numerals to avoid repetitions of similar
explanations.
[0116] In the figures, designated at 51 is a counterweight mounted
on the rear end portion of the revolving frame 5, and the
counterweight 51 holds weight balance with the working mechanism 4.
In a portion in the counterweight 51 opposite to the engine 8, a
rectangular recess-shaped mounting recessed portion 51A in which a
NOx purifying device 60 which will be described later is mounted is
provided.
[0117] Indicated at 52 is a first exhaust pipe connected to the
exhaust port 9A of the super charger 9 constituting the engine 8.
This first exhaust pipe 52 is configured to connect the first
bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 arranged through the
L-shaped connecting pipe 19 in series with a positional
relationship in which the axis lines X1-X1 and Z1-Z1 thereof cross
each other similarly to the exhaust pipe 16 in the above described
first embodiment. It should be noted that since the first exhaust
pipe 52 has the same configuration as that of the exhaust pipe 16
in the above described first embodiment, the further explanation on
the configuration of the first exhaust pipe 52 will be omitted.
[0118] Indicated at 53 is a PM trapping device (particulate matter
removing device) as the first exhaust gas post-treatment device
provided on the outlet side of the first exhaust pipe 52, and the
PM trapping device 53 is mounted on the treatment device mounting
portion 15D1 of the partition member 15 through a vibration
isolating member (not shown). The PM trapping device 53 is to trap
and remove the particulate matters contained in the exhaust
gas.
[0119] The PM trapping device 53 is composed of a cylindrical case
53A formed as a cylindrical vessel extending in the front-rear
direction, an inlet side connecting portion 53B protruding to the
engine 8 side from the front side (upstream side) of the
cylindrical case 53A, an outlet side connecting portion 53C as an
exhaust port protruding to the NOx purifying device 60 side which
will be described later from the rear side (downstream side) of the
cylindrical case 53A, a PM trapping filter (not shown) accommodated
in the cylindrical case 53A, and four pieces of, for example,
mounting brackets 53D provided by protruding in the left-right
direction on the cylindrical case 53A.
[0120] The PM trapping filter accommodated in the cylindrical case
53A is to trap the particulate matters (PM) contained in the
exhaust gas and to burn and remove the trapped particulate matters.
The PM trapping device 53 is mounted on the treatment device
mounting portion 15D1 in a vibration isolating state by-mounting
the vibration isolating member for the treatment device on each of
the mounting brackets 53D and by mounting this vibration isolating
member on the shielding cover 15D of the partition member 15.
[0121] Indicated at 54 is a second exhaust pipe connected to the
outlet side connecting portion 53C of the PM trapping device 53.
This second exhaust pipe 54 is for a flow of a high-temperature
exhaust gas therein and is formed as a metal pipe. The second
exhaust pipe 54 is composed of an upstream side pipe 55, a first
bellows pipe 56, a connecting pipe 57, a second bellows pipe 58,
and a downstream side pipe 59 which will be described later.
[0122] The upstream side pipe 55 is connected to the outlet side
connecting portion 53C of the PM trapping device 53, and the
upstream side pipe 55 is arranged so as to extend in the horizontal
direction toward the rear side in the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body from the outlet side connecting portion 53C of the PM
trapping device 53. The upstream end side of the upstream side pipe
55 is fixed to the outlet side connecting portion 53C by using
welding means, for example.
[0123] The first bellows pipe 56 located on the upstream side is
provided by connecting to the outlet port of the upstream side pipe
55. This first bellows pipe 56 absorbs vibration between the PM
trapping device 53 and the NOx purifying device 60 which will be
described later together with the second bellows pipe 58 which will
be described later.
[0124] The first bellows pipe 56 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and is arranged so as to extend in the
horizontal direction from the downstream end of the upstream side
pipe 55 toward the rear side in the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the first bellows
pipe 56 is arranged in the horizontal direction so that the axis
line Y3-Y3 thereof extends in the front-rear direction of the
vehicle body. The both ends of the first bellows pipe 56 are fixed
to the upstream side pipe 55 and the connecting pipe 57 which will
be described later by using welding means, for example. Therefore,
the first bellows pipe 56 can absorb vibration in the upper-lower
direction (Z3-Z3) and in the left-right direction (X3-X3) between
the upstream side pipe 55 and the connecting pipe 57.
[0125] The connecting pipe 57 is provided between the first bellows
pipe 56 and the second bellows pipe 58 which will be described
later, and the connecting pipe 57 connects the first bellows pipe
56 and the second bellows pipe 58 in the upper-lower direction (at
different height positions). The connecting pipe 57 is formed as a
connecting pipe having a bending portion 57A bent at 90 degrees in
a substantially L-shape and connects the first bellows pipe 56 and
the second bellows pipe 58 in series with a positional relationship
in which the axis lines Y3-Y3 and Z3-Z3 thereof cross each other
and moreover, the second bellows pipe 58 is located on the lower
side.
[0126] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the connecting pipe 57
connects the first bellows pipe 56 extending in the axis line Y3-Y3
direction and the second bellows pipe 58 extending in the axis line
Z3-Z3 direction in series so that they cross each other at 90
degrees (at a right angle). The both ends of the connecting pipe 57
are fixed to the first bellows pipe 56 and the second bellows pipe
58 by using welding means, for example.
[0127] The second bellows pipe 58 located on the downstream side is
provided by connecting to the outlet port of the connecting pipe
57. This second bellows pipe 58 absorbs vibration between the PM
trapping device 53 and the NOx purifying device 60 together with
the first bellows pipe 56.
[0128] The second bellows pipe 58 is formed as a metal cylindrical
body having a bellows shape and is arranged so as to extend from
the downstream end of the connecting pipe 57 to the lower side in
the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The both ends of the
second bellows pipe 58 are fixed to the connecting pipe 57 and the
downstream side pipe 59 which will be described later by using
welding means, for example. Thereby, the second bellows pipe 58 can
absorb vibration in the front-rear direction and in the left-right
direction between the connecting pipe 57 and the downstream side
pipe 59.
[0129] A length L6 of the second bellows pipe 58 arranged in the
vertical direction is set equal to or more than a length L5 of the
first bellows pipe 56 arranged in the horizontal direction
(L6.gtoreq.L5). Preferably, the length L6 of the second bellows
pipe 58 is set longer than the length L5 of the first bellows pipe
56 (L6>L5).
[0130] The downstream side pipe 59 is provided between the second
bellows pipe 58 and an inlet side connecting portion 60B of the NOx
purifying device 60 which will be described later, and the
downstream side pipe 59 connects the second bellows pipe 58 and the
inlet side connecting portion 60B. The downstream side pipe 59 is
formed as a connecting pipe in which the axis line X3-X3 and the
axis line Z3-Z3 are bent at 90 degrees in a substantially L-shape,
and its downstream end side is fixed to the inlet side connecting
portion 60B by using welding means, for example.
[0131] Indicated at 60 is a NOx purifying device as a second
exhaust gas post-treatment device provided on the outlet side of
the second exhaust pipe 54, and the NOx purifying device 60 is
mounted on the mounting recessed portion 51A of the counterweight
51 through a vibration isolating member 60E. The NOx purifying
device 60 is to decompose nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the
exhaust gas to nitrogen and water for purification.
[0132] The NOx purifying device 60 is composed of a cylindrical
case 60A formed as a cylindrical vessel extending in the left-right
direction, an inlet side connecting portion 60B protruding from the
right side (upstream side) of the cylindrical case 60A toward the
PM trapping device 53 side, a tail pipe 60C which becomes an
exhaust port extending upward from the rear side (downstream side)
of the cylindrical case 60A, a selective reduction catalyst and an
oxidation catalyst (none of them is shown) accommodated in the
cylindrical case 60A, and four pieces of, for example, mounting
brackets 60D provided on the cylindrical case 60A by protruding in
the left-right direction.
[0133] In the midway portion of the second exhaust pipe 54 on the
upstream side of the cylindrical case 60A, a urea water injection
valve (not shown) is provided. This urea water injection valve is
to inject urea water solution stored in a urea water solution tank
(not shown) toward the exhaust gas introduced into the cylindrical
case 60A. The selective reduction catalyst selectively reduces and
reacts nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas introduced into
the cylindrical case 60A by ammonia generated from the urea water
solution and decomposes them into nitrogen and water.
[0134] The NOx purifying device 60 is mounted on the mounting
recessed portion 51A in the vibration isolating state by mounting
the vibration isolating member 60E for the treatment device on each
of the mounting brackets 60D and by mounting this vibration
isolating member 60E on the mounting recessed portion 51A of the
counterweight 51.
[0135] According to the fourth embodiment, during running or
working of the hydraulic excavator 1, the PM trapping device 53
mounted on the revolving frame 5 through the partition member 15
and the vibration isolating member vibrates in a vibration mode
different from that of the engine 8. Moreover, the NOx purifying
device 60 mounted on the mounting recessed portion 51A of the
counterweight 51 through the vibration isolating member 60E
vibrates in a vibration mode different from that of the PM trapping
device 53.
[0136] In this case, vibration of the engine 8 and the PM trapping
device 53 can be absorbed by bending deformation of the first
bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 arranged in the
midway portion of the first exhaust pipe 52. It should be noted
that since a basic action by the first exhaust pipe 52 on which the
first bellows pipe 18 and the second bellows pipe 20 are provided
is the same as that of the exhaust pipe 16 in the above described
first embodiment, the further explanation on the action of the
first exhaust pipe 52 will be omitted.
[0137] On the other hand, vibration in the front-rear direction
(Y3-Y3) of the vehicle body generated between the PM trapping
device 53 and the NOx purifying device 60 can be absorbed by
bending deformation of the second bellows pipe 58. The vibration in
the left-right direction (X3-X3) of the vehicle body generated
between the PM trapping device 53 and the NOx purifying device 60
can be absorbed by bending deformation of the first bellows pipe 56
and the second bellows pipe 58. The vibration in the upper-lower
direction (Z3-Z3) of the vehicle body generated between the PM
trapping device 53 and the NOx purifying device 60 can be absorbed
by the first bellows pipe 56.
[0138] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the
first bellows pipe 56 and the second bellows pipe 58 arranged in
the midway portion of the second exhaust pipe 54 are configured to
be connected in series with a positional relationship in which the
axis lines Y3-Y3 and Z3-Z3 thereof cross each other (at a right
angle on an elevation view). As a result, the direction in which
each of the bellows pipes 56 and 58 is bent deformation can be
matched with all the three axial directions of the vehicle body.
Thus, vibration between the PM trapping device 53 and the NOx
purifying device 60 whose vibration modes are different from each
other can be stably absorbed.
[0139] Moreover, according to the fourth embodiment, the length L6
of the second bellows pipe 58 arranged in the vertical direction is
set longer than the length L5 of the first bellows pipe 56 arranged
in the horizontal direction. Thus, vibration absorbing performances
can be improved while deformation by their own weights of the first
bellows pipe 56 and the second bellows pipe 58 is suppressed.
[0140] It should be noted that in the above described first
embodiment, the case in which the first bellows pipe 18 is
configured to be arranged in the horizontal direction and the
second bellows pipe 20 is arranged in the vertical direction is
explained as an example. However, the present invention is not
limited to the same, and a configuration may be adopted in that the
first bellows pipe is arranged in the vertical direction and the
second bellows pipe is arranged in the horizontal direction. On the
other hand, a configuration may be adopted in that the first
bellows pipe or the second bellows pipe is shifted from the
vertical direction (inclined with respect to the vertical
direction) in arrangement and the second bellows pipe and the first
bellows pipe are shifted from the horizontal direction (inclined
with respect to the horizontal direction) in the arrangement. That
is, the first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe can be
configured to be arranged with a positional relationship in which
their axis lines cross each other (or more preferably at a right
angle on an elevation view).
[0141] In the above described third embodiment, the case in which
the first bellows pipe 44 and the second bellows pipe 46 are
configured to be arranged in the horizontal direction at the
different heights by using the connecting pipes 45 having the two
bending portions 45A and 45C is explained as an example. However,
the present invention is not limited to the same, and a
configuration may be adopted in that, as in a first modification
illustrated in FIG. 15, for example, a first bellows pipe 71 and a
second bellows pipe 72 are arranged in the horizontal direction (on
the same plane) at the same height through a connecting pipe 73.
That is, a configuration may be adopted in that the connecting pipe
73 having an L-shaped bending portion 73A arranged in the
horizontal direction is provided between the first bellows pipe 71
and the second bellows pipe 72. Moreover, for example, a
configuration is not limited to the arrangement in which the first
bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe are arranged in the
horizontal direction on the horizontal surface but are arranged
with inclination with respect to the horizontal direction. That is,
the first bellows pipe and the second bellows pipe can be
configured to be arranged with a positional relationship in which
the axis lines thereof cross each other.
[0142] In the above described third embodiment, similarly to the
second embodiment, the case in which the exhaust gas post-treatment
device 22 is configured to be mounted on the engine 8 through the
support member 41 is explained as an example. However, the present
invention is not limited to the same, and a configuration may be
adopted in that, as in the first embodiment, for example, the
exhaust gas post-treatment device is mounted on the partition
member provided on the revolving frame.
[0143] In the above described first embodiment, the case in which
the exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 is configured to be
mounted on the partition member 15 mounted on the revolving frame
5, and in the second and third embodiments, the cases in which the
exhaust gas post-treatment device 22 is configured to be mounted on
the support members 31 and 41 mounted on the engine 8 are described
as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the
same and the exhaust gas post-treatment device can be also
configured to be mounted on the counterweight provided on the
revolving frame, for example.
[0144] That is, the exhaust pipe on which the first bellows pipe
and the second bellows pipe are provided can be provided between
the members whose vibration modes are different from each other.
Thus, it is only necessary that the vibration modes of the exhaust
gas post-treatment device and the engine are different, and the
member on which the exhaust gas post-treatment device is mounted
may be any one of the revolving frame, the engine, the
counterweight and the like. Here, the case in which the vibration
modes of the exhaust gas post-treatment device and the engine are
different from each other includes such a case in which the exhaust
gas post-treatment device and the engine are respectively mounted
on members whose vibration modes are different from each other or a
case in which the vibration modes are different from each other
since they are supported through a vibration isolating member or
the like.
[0145] In the above described fourth embodiment, the case in which
the NOx purifying device 60 is configured to be mounted on the
mounting recessed portion 51A provided on the counterweight 51 is
explained as an example. However, the present invention is not
limited to the same, and a configuration may be adopted in that, as
in the second modification illustrated in FIG. 16, a support deck
61 is provided on a portion corresponding to a mounting recessed
portion 51A' in the counterweight 51, and the NOx purifying device
60 is mounted on the upper surfaces of these mounting recessed
portion 51A' and the support deck 61, for example.
[0146] In the above described fourth embodiment, the case in which
the NOx purifying device 60 is configured to be mounted on the
mounting recessed portion 51A of the counterweight 51 is explained
as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the
same, and a configuration may be adopted in that the NOx purifying
device is mounted on the partition member provided on the revolving
frame together with the PM trapping device, for example. Moreover,
a configuration may be adopted in that the NOx purifying device is
mounted on a support member provided on the engine together with
the PM trapping device. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted
in that the NOx purifying device and the PM trapping device are
mounted on the mounting recessed portion of the counterweight.
[0147] In the above described fourth embodiment, the case in which
the PM trapping device 53 is configured to be mounted on the
partition member 15 provided on the revolving frame 5. However, the
present invention is not limited to the same, and a configuration
may be adopted in that, as in the second embodiment, the PM
trapping device is mounted on the engine through a support member,
for example.
[0148] In the above described fourth embodiment, the case in which
the first exhaust gas post-treatment device and the second exhaust
gas post-treatment device are configured by the PM trapping device
53 and the NOx purifying device 60 is explained as an example.
However, the present invention is not limited to the same, and they
may be configured by another exhaust gas post-treatment device such
as an oxidation catalyst device or the like. That is, the exhaust
gas post-treatment device may be appropriately selected from
various treatment devices (singularly or in combination) such as
the oxidation catalyst device, the PM trapping device, the NOx
purifying device, a muffler device and the like for use.
[0149] Moreover, in the above described embodiments, the hydraulic
excavator 1 provided with the crawler-type lower traveling
structure 2 as a construction machine is explained as an example.
However, the present invention is not limited to the same, and the
present invention may be applied to a hydraulic excavator provided
with a wheel type lower traveling structure, for example. Other
than that, the present invention can be widely applied to other
construction machines such as a wheel loader, a dump truck, a lift
truck and the like.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0150] 1: Hydraulic excavator (Construction machine)
[0151] 2: Lower traveling structure (Vehicle body)
[0152] 3: Upper revolving structure (Vehicle body)
[0153] 8: Engine
[0154] 9A: Exhaust port
[0155] 16, 42: Exhaust pipe
[0156] 18, 44, 56, 71: First bellows pipe
[0157] 19, 45, 57, 73: Connecting pipe
[0158] 19A, 45A, 45C, 57A: Bending portion
[0159] 20 , 46, 58, 72: Second bellows pipe
[0160] 22: Exhaust gas post-treatment device
[0161] 52: First exhaust pipe
[0162] 53: PM trapping device (First exhaust gas post-treatment
device)
[0163] 53C: Outlet side connecting portion (Exhaust port)
[0164] 54: Second exhaust pipe
[0165] 60: NOx purifying device (Second exhaust gas post-treatment
device)
* * * * *