U.S. patent application number 13/883294 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-10 for bulldozer.
The applicant listed for this patent is Souichirou Kinoshita, Akira Uno. Invention is credited to Souichirou Kinoshita, Akira Uno.
Application Number | 20140190757 13/883294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50067602 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140190757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kinoshita; Souichirou ; et
al. |
July 10, 2014 |
BULLDOZER
Abstract
A bulldozer includes a cab, a vehicle body frame supporting a
cab and an engine cover. The engine cover has a side plate that has
a rear edge with first and second rear edges. The second rear edge
is a positioned above the first rear edge. The side plate has a
first planar portion which includes the first rear edge and a
second planar portion which includes the second rear edge. The side
plate has a bent shape between the first and second planar
portions. A ridgeline is disposed between the first and second
planar portions and spans from the upper edge to the rear edge of
the side plate. The side plate includes an attachment section which
is attached to a vehicle body frame. The attachment section is
positioned in the first planar portion adjacent to an intersection
of the ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate.
Inventors: |
Kinoshita; Souichirou; (Sao
Paulo, BR) ; Uno; Akira; (Komatsu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kinoshita; Souichirou
Uno; Akira |
Sao Paulo
Komatsu-shi |
|
BR
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
50067602 |
Appl. No.: |
13/883294 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 11, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/073215 |
371 Date: |
May 3, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/69.24 ;
180/69.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 9/0891 20130101;
E02F 3/80 20130101; B62D 21/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/69.24 ;
180/69.2 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/08 20060101
E02F009/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2012 |
JP |
2012-177673 |
Claims
1. A bulldozer comprising: a vehicle body frame; a cab supported by
the vehicle body frame; and an engine cover disposed in front of
the cab, the engine cover including a side plate that has a rear
edge, a first planar portion, a second planar portion and an
attachment section, the first planar portion including a first rear
edge of the side plate, the second planar portion including a
second rear edge of the side plate, the second rear edge being
positioned above the first rear edge, the side plate having a bent
shape between the first planar portion and the second planar
portion, a ridgeline being disposed between the first planar
portion and the second planar portion and spanning from an upper
edge of the side plate to the rear edge of the side plate, the
attachment section being attached to the vehicle body frame, and
the attachment section being positioned in the first planar portion
adjacent to an intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of
the side plate.
2. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein the side plate has
an opening that communicates with an inner portion of the engine
cover, and the attachment section is positioned behind the
opening.
3. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein a center of gravity
of the engine cover is positioned above the attachment section, and
a distance between bottom edge of the side plate and the attachment
section in a height direction of the bulldozer is equal to or more
than a distance between the attachment section and the center of
gravity of the engine cover in the height direction.
4. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body
frame has a frame body supporting the cab and a frame side
attachment section to which the attachment section is attached, and
the frame side attachment section protrudes upward from the frame
body.
5. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein the attachment
section is positioned at the same height as the intersection of the
ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate.
6. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of
the engine cover is inclined downward with a forward
inclination.
7. The bulldozer according to claim 1, wherein the rear edge of the
side plate has a convex shape protruding to the rear at the
intersection of the first rear edge and the second rear edge.
8. The bulldozer according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of
the engine cover is inclined downward with a forward
inclination.
9. The bulldozer according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of
the engine cover is inclined downward with a forward
inclination.
10. The bulldozer according to claim 4, wherein the upper surface
of the engine cover is inclined downward with a forward
inclination.
11. The bulldozer according to claim 5, wherein the upper surface
of the engine cover is inclined downward with a forward
inclination.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2012-177673 filed on Aug. 10, 2012, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a bulldozer.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] A bulldozer is provided with an engine cover which is
disposed in front of a cab. The engine cover has a side plate and
the side plate is attached to a vehicle body frame. For example, in
a bulldozer which is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent
Application No. 2005-113674, the engine cover is mounted onto the
vehicle body frame. Since the bottom edge of the side plate is
disposed close to the vehicle body frame in this type of bulldozer,
it is normal for the side plate to be attached to the vehicle body
frame in the vicinity of the bottom edge.
SUMMARY
[0006] The side plate is a portion in the engine cover where the
area is comparatively large. As a result, it is easy for vibrations
to be generated in the side plate. It is particularly easy for
vibrations to be generated in the rear edge of the side plate when
the side plate is attached to the vehicle body frame in the
vicinity of the bottom edge as described above.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a
bulldozer where it is possible to suppress generation of vibrations
at a side plate.
[0008] A bulldozer according to a first aspect of the present
invention is provided with a vehicle body frame, a cab, and an
engine cover. The cab is supported by the vehicle body frame. The
engine cover is disposed in front of the cab. The engine cover has
a side plate. The rear edge of the side plate has a first rear edge
and a second rear edge which is positioned above the first rear
edge. The side plate has a first planar portion which includes the
first rear edge and a second planar portion which includes the
second rear edge. The side plate has a shape which is bent between
the first planar portion and the second planar portion. A ridgeline
between the first planar portion and the second planar portion is
disposed so as to span from the upper edge to the rear edge of the
side plate. The side plate includes an attachment section which is
attached to the vehicle body frame. The attachment section is
positioned in the first planar portion in the vicinity of the
intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of the side
plate.
[0009] A bulldozer according to a second aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to the first aspect where the
side plate has an opening communicated with an inner portion of the
engine cover. The attachment section is positioned behind the
opening.
[0010] A bulldozer according to a third aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to the first or second aspect
where the center of gravity of the engine cover is positioned above
the attachment section. The distance between the bottom edge of the
side plate and the attachment section in the height direction is
equal to or more than the distance between the attachment section
and the center of gravity of the engine cover in the height
direction.
[0011] A bulldozer according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to any of the first to third
aspects where the vehicle body frame has a frame body and a frame
side attachment section. The frame body supports the cab. The
attachment section is attached to the frame side attachment
section. The frame side attachment section is provided so as to
protrude upward from the frame body.
[0012] A bulldozer according to a fifth aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to any of the first to fourth
aspects where the attachment section is positioned at the same
height as the intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of
the side plate.
[0013] A bulldozer according to a sixth aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to any of the first to fifth
aspects where the upper surface of the engine cover is inclined
downward with a forward inclination.
[0014] A bulldozer according to a seventh aspect of the present
invention is the bulldozer according to any of the first to sixth
aspects where the rear edge of the side plate has a shape which is
bent in a convex manner to the rear at the intersection of the
first rear edge and the second rear edge.
[0015] In the bulldozer according to the first aspect of the
present invention, the attachment section is positioned in the
first planar portion in the vicinity of the intersection of the
ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate. As a result, it is
possible to suppress generation of vibrations at the rear edge of
the side plate compared to a case where the side plate is attached
to the vehicle body frame at the bottom edge.
[0016] In the bulldozer according to the second aspect of the
present invention, it is possible to suppress generation of
vibrations at an edge portion of the opening.
[0017] In the bulldozer according to the third aspect of the
present invention, it is possible to further suppress generation of
vibrations in the side plate.
[0018] In the bulldozer according to the fourth aspect of the
present invention, it is possible to dispose the attachment section
in a high position with a simple configuration.
[0019] In the bulldozer according to the fifth aspect of the
present invention, it is possible to further suppress generation of
vibrations in the side plate.
[0020] In the bulldozer according to the sixth aspect of the
present invention, the upper surface of the engine cover is
inclined downward with a forward inclination. Since the rear edge
of the side plate is longer than the front edge of the side plate
in the engine cover with such a shape, it is easy for vibrations to
be generated in the rear edge of the side plate. In the bulldozer
according to the aspect, it is possible to effectively suppress
such vibrations.
[0021] In the bulldozer according to the seventh aspect of the
present invention, it is possible to further suppress vibrations by
reducing the area of the side plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of a bulldozer according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an engine cover of the
bulldozer.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the engine cover.
[0025] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the engine cover.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a left side surface view of the engine cover.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle body frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] A side view of a bulldozer 1 according to a first embodiment
of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The bulldozer 1 is
provided with a travel device 2, a vehicle body 3, and a work
implement 4. The travel device 2 is a device for traveling the
vehicle and has crawler tracks 11. The bulldozer 1 travels by the
crawler tracks 11 being driven.
[0029] The vehicle body 3 includes a vehicle body frame 10 (refer
to FIG. 6), a cab 12, an engine cover 13, and a cooling device 14.
The cab 12 is supported by the vehicle body frame 10. The engine
cover 13 is disposed in front of the cab 12. An engine 5 is
installed in the engine cover 13. The upper surface of the engine
cover 13 is inclined downward with a forward inclination. The
cooling device 14 is disposed behind the cab 12. The cooling device
14 includes, for example, a radiator which cools cooling liquid in
the engine 5 and an oil cooler which cools hydraulic fluid.
[0030] The work implement 4 is provided in front of the engine
cover 13. The work implement 4 has a blade 15 and hydraulic
cylinders 16. The blade 15 is provided swingably in upward and
downward directions. The hydraulic cylinders. 16 change the
attitude of the blade 15.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view where the engine cover 13 is
viewed from in front from a left diagonal. FIG. 3 is a perspective
view where the engine cover 13 is viewed from the rear from a right
diagonal. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the engine cover 13.
[0032] The engine cover 13 has a left side plate 21, a right side
plate 22, an upper surface plate 23, a front surface plate 24, a
rear surface plate 25, and an inner frame 26. The left and right
side plates 21 and 22 are disposed to be separated from each other
in the vehicle width direction. The upper surface plate 23 is
disposed across an upper edge 211 of the left side plate 21 and an
upper edge 221 of the right side plate 22. The upper surface plate
23 is fixed to the left and right side plates 21 and 22 by, for
example, a fixing means such as welding. The front surface plate 24
is disposed across a front edge 212 of the left side plate 21 and a
front edge 222 of the right side plate 22. The front surface plate
24 is fixed to the left and right side plates 21 and 22 by, for
example, a fixing means such as welding. The rear surface plate 25
is disposed across a rear edge 213 of the left side plate 21 and a
rear edge 223 of the right side plate 22. The rear surface plate 25
is fixed to the left and right side plates 21 and 22 by, for
example, a fixing means such as welding. The inner frame 26 is
disposed between the left and right side plates 21 and 22. The
inner frame 26 is disposed behind the front surface plate 24. The
inner frame 26 is attached to the vehicle body frame 10.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the engine cover 13. As shown
in FIG. 5, the rear edge 213 of the left side plate 21 has a first
rear edge 213a and a second rear edge 213b. In a side view, the
first rear edge 213a is inclined upward with a backward
inclination. The second rear edge 213b is positioned above the
first rear edge 213a. The second rear edge 213b is inclined
downward with a backward inclination. The rear edge 213 of the left
side plate 21 has a shape which is bent in a convex manner to the
rear at an intersection P1 of the first rear edge 213a and the
second rear edge 213b. The left side plate 21 has a first planar
portion 215 and a second planar portion 216. The first planar
portion 215 includes the first rear edge 213a. The second planar
portion 216 includes the second rear edge 213b. In a side view, the
first planar portion 215 has an area which is larger than the
second planar portion 216. The first planar portion 215 includes
the front edge 212 and a bottom edge 214 of the left side plate
21.
[0034] The left side plate 21 has a shape which is bent between the
first planar portion 215 and the second planar portion 216. Due to
this, it is possible to secure a wide view from inside of the cab
12. A ridgeline 217 between the first planar portion 215 and the
second planar portion 216 is disposed to span from the upper edge
211 to the rear edge 213 of the left side plate 21.
[0035] The right side plate 22 has a shape which is roughly left
and right symmetrical with the left side plate 21. As shown in FIG.
3, the right side plate 22 has a first planar portion 225 and a
second planar portion 226. The first planar portion 225 of the
right side plate 22 has a shape which is roughly left and right
symmetrical with the first planar portion 215 of the left side
plate 21. The second planar portion 226 of the right side plate 22
has a shape which is roughly left and right symmetrical with the
second planar portion 216 of the left side plate 21. Accordingly, a
detailed description of the right side plate 22 will be
omitted.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the left side plate 21 has a first left
opening 218 and a second left opening 219. The first left opening
218 is disposed across the first planar portion 215 and the second
planar portion 216 and intersects with the ridgeline 217. The
second left opening 219 is provided in the first planar portion
215. The second left opening 219 is positioned below the first left
opening 218.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the engine cover 13 has a left
inspection door 31. The left inspection door 31 covers the first
left opening 218. The left inspection door 31 is attached to the
left side plate 21 via a hinge 32. The first left opening 218 is
opened and closed by the left inspection door 31 rotating centered
on the hinge 32. The engine cover 13 has a left inspection cover
33. The left inspection cover 33 covers the second left opening
219. The left inspection cover 33 is attached to the left side
plate 21 using bolts so as to be able to be attached and
detached.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the right side plate 22 has a first
right opening 228 and a second right opening 229. The first right
opening 228 is provided in the first planar portion 225. The second
right opening 229 is disposed across the first planar portion 225
and the second planar portion 226 and intersects with a ridgeline
227. The second right opening 229 is positioned behind the first
right opening 228.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the engine cover 13 has a first right
inspection cover 34 and a second right inspection cover 35. The
first right inspection cover 34 covers the first right opening 228.
The first right inspection cover 34 is attached to the right side
plate 22 using bolts so as to be able to be attached and detached.
The second right inspection cover 35 covers the second right
opening 229. The second right inspection cover 35 is attached to
the right side plate 22 using bolts so as to be able to be attached
and detached.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the front surface plate 24 has a front
opening 241. As shown in FIG. 2, the engine cover 13 has a front
inspection cover 36. The front inspection cover 36 covers the front
opening 241. The front inspection cover 36 is attached to the front
surface plate 24 using bolts so as to be able to be attached and
detached.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the left side plate 21 has a first left
attachment section 41 and a second left attachment section 42. The
first left attachment section 41 and the second left attachment
section 42 are attached to the vehicle body frame 10. The first
left attachment section 41 has a bolt 411 shown in FIG. 2 and a
hole 412 shown in FIG. 4 where the bolt 411 is inserted. As shown
in FIG. 5, the first left attachment section 41 is positioned in
the first planar portion 215 in the vicinity of the intersection P1
of the ridgeline 217 and the rear edge 213 of the left side plate
21. The first left attachment section 41 is positioned behind the
first left opening 218. The first left attachment section 41 is
positioned at the same height as the intersection P1 of the
ridgeline 217 of the left side plate 21 and the rear edge 213 of
the left side plate 21.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, a center of gravity G1 of the engine
cover 13 is positioned above the first left attachment section 41.
A distance H1 between the bottom edge 214 of the left side plate 21
and the first left attachment section 41 in the height direction is
equal to or more than a distance H2 between the first left
attachment section 41 and the center of gravity G1 of the engine
cover 13 in the height direction.
[0043] The second left attachment section 42 is positioned below
the second left opening 219. The second left attachment section 42
is positioned in front of and below the first left attachment
section 41. The second left attachment section 42 has a plurality
of bolts 421 shown in FIG. 2 and a plurality of holes 422 shown in
FIG. 4 where the bolts 421 are inserted. The holes 422 in the
second left attachment section 42 are disposed along the bottom
edge 214 of the left side plate 21.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the right side plate 22 has a first
right attachment section 43 and a second right attachment section
44. The first right attachment section 43 and the second right
attachment section 44 are attached to the vehicle body frame 10.
The first right attachment section 43 is disposed to be roughly
left and right symmetrical to the first left attachment section 41.
The second right attachment section 44 is disposed to be roughly
left and right symmetrical to the second left attachment section
42. Accordingly, a detailed description of the first right
attachment section 43 and the second right attachment section 44
will be omitted.
[0045] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vehicle body frame 10.
The vehicle body frame 10 has a frame body 51. The frame body 51
has a left side frame 52, a right side frame 53, a bottom frame 54,
and a front frame 55. Each of the left side frame 52 and the right
side frame 53 extend in the forward and backward direction of the
vehicle and are disposed to be separated from each other in the
vehicle width direction. The bottom frame 54 connects the left side
frame 52 and the right side frame 53. The front frame 55 is
disposed in front of the left side frame 52 and the right side
frame 53. The front frame 55 supports the engine 5. The inner frame
26 of the engine cover 13 is attached to the front frame 55.
[0046] The frame body 51 has a left front cab mounting section 521,
a right front cab mounting section 531, a left rear cab mounting
section 522, and a right rear cab mounting section 532. The left
front cab mounting section 521 and the left rear cab mounting
section 522 are attached to the left side frame 52. The right front
cab mounting section 531 and the right rear cab mounting section
532 are attached to the right side frame 53. The left and right
front cab mounting sections 521 and 531 and the left and right rear
cab mounting sections 522 and 532 support the cab 12 via a mounting
device which is not shown.
[0047] The vehicle body frame 10 has a first left frame side
attachment section 56, a second left frame side attachment section
57, a first right frame side attachment section 58, and a second
right frame side attachment section 59. Each of the first left
frame side attachment section 56, the second left frame side
attachment section 57, the first right frame side attachment
section 58, and the second right frame side attachment section 59
are provided to protrude upward from the frame body 51. The first
left attachment section 41 is attached in the first left frame side
attachment section 56. The second left attachment section 42 is
attached in the second left frame side attachment section 57. The
first right attachment section 43 is attached in the first right
frame side attachment section 58. The second right attachment
section 44 is attached in the second right frame side attachment
section 59.
[0048] The first left frame side attachment section 56 has a shape
similar to a plate. The first left frame side attachment section 56
is disposed so as to protrude upward from the left side frame 52. A
hole which screws together with the bolt 411 of the first left
attachment section 41 is provided in the first left frame side
attachment section 56. The second left frame side attachment
section 57 has a shape similar to a plate. The second left frame
side attachment section 57 is disposed so as to protrude upward
from the front frame 55. A hole which screws together with the bolt
421 of the second left attachment section 42 is provided in the
second left frame side attachment section 57. The first right frame
side attachment section 58 has a shape which is roughly left and
right symmetrical to the first left frame side attachment section
56. The second right frame side attachment section 59 has a shape
which is roughly left and right symmetrical to the second left
frame side attachment section 57. Accordingly, a detailed
description of the first right frame side attachment section 58 and
the second right frame side attachment section 59 will be
omitted.
[0049] In the bulldozer according to the present embodiment, the
first left attachment section 41 is positioned in the first planar
portion 215 in the vicinity of the intersection P1 of the ridgeline
217 and the rear edge of the side plate. As a result, the length of
a portion of the rear edge 213 of the left side plate 21 which is
not attached to the vehicle body frame 10 is shorter compared to a
case where the first left attachment section 41 is disposed in the
vicinity of the bottom edge 214 of the left side plate 21. Due to
this, it is possible to suppress generation of vibrations in the
left side plate 21.
[0050] The first left attachment section 41 is disposed behind the
first left opening 218. As a result, it is possible to suppress
generation of vibrations at the edge of the first left opening
218.
[0051] The distance H1 between the bottom edge 214 of the left side
plate 21 and the first left attachment section 41 in the height
direction is equal to or more than the distance H2 between the
first left attachment section 41 and the center of gravity G1 of
the engine cover 13 in the height direction. As a result, it is
possible to further suppress generation of vibrations in the left
side plate 21.
[0052] The first left frame side attachment section 56 is provided
so as to protrude upward from the frame body 51. As a result, it is
possible to dispose the first left attachment section 41 in a high
position with a simple configuration compared to a case where the
frame body 51 itself is expanded upward.
[0053] The first left attachment section 41 is positioned at the
same height as the intersection P1 of the ridgeline 217 of the left
side plate 21 and the rear edge 213 of the left side plate 21. As a
result, it is possible to further suppress generation of vibrations
in the left side plate 21.
[0054] The upper surface of the engine cover 13 is inclined
downward with a forward inclination. Since the rear edge 213 of the
left side plate 21 is longer than the front edge 212 of the left
side plate 21 in the engine cover 13 with such a shape, it is easy
for vibrations to be generated in the rear edge 213 of the left
side plate 21. In the bulldozer according to the embodiment, it is
possible to effectively suppress generation of such vibrations.
[0055] Above, the effect of suppressing vibrations in the left side
plate 21 using the first left attachment section 41 has been
described, but in the same manner, it is possible to obtain the
effect of suppressing vibrations in the right side plate 22 using
the first right attachment section 43.
[0056] Above, an embodiment of the present invention has been
described, but the present invention is not limited to the
embodiment described above and various modifications are possible
in a scope which does not depart from the scope of the
invention.
[0057] In the embodiment described above, the attachment section is
configured using the bolt and the hole. However, it is sufficient
if the attachment section is a configuration which is different to
the embodiment described above as long as it is a configuration for
attaching the side plate to the vehicle body frame 10.
[0058] In the embodiment described above, the configuration of the
side plate of the present invention is applicable to both the left
and right side plates 21 and 22. However, it is sufficient if the
configuration of the side plate of the present invention is applied
to either the left or the right side plate 21 and 22.
[0059] According to the present invention, it is possible to
provide a bulldozer where it is possible to suppress generation of
vibrations in a side plate.
* * * * *