U.S. patent application number 15/505419 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 for working vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Komatsu Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hiroyasu Furukawa.
Application Number | 20180050727 15/505419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57800110 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180050727 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Furukawa; Hiroyasu |
February 22, 2018 |
WORKING VEHICLE
Abstract
A working vehicle includes a housing member in which fluid is
housed, and a gauge that indicates a remaining amount of the fluid
in the housing member. The gauge is disposed at a central portion
of the housing member in a longitudinal direction.
Inventors: |
Furukawa; Hiroyasu;
(Hitachinaka-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Komatsu Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
57800110 |
Appl. No.: |
15/505419 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
August 22, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/074417 |
371 Date: |
February 21, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/03217
20130101; E02F 9/0883 20130101; B60K 15/073 20130101; B62D 21/16
20130101; B60Y 2200/20 20130101; B60K 2015/0637 20130101; B60K
15/03 20130101; B60Y 2200/142 20130101; B60K 15/077 20130101; B60R
17/00 20130101; B60R 16/08 20130101; B60P 1/28 20130101; F02M 37/00
20130101; B60R 3/005 20130101; E02F 9/0833 20130101; F01P 11/18
20130101; B60Y 2200/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62D 21/16 20060101
B62D021/16; B60R 3/00 20060101 B60R003/00; B60P 1/28 20060101
B60P001/28 |
Claims
1. A dump truck comprising: a vehicle main body; a housing member
disposed at a front portion of the vehicle main body in a
front-rear direction and at a central portion of the vehicle main
body in a left-right direction, and configured to house fluid
therein; and a gauge that indicates a remaining amount of the fluid
in the housing member, wherein a longitudinal direction of the
housing member and the left-right direction of the vehicle main
body are the same, the gauge is disposed at a central portion of
the housing member in the longitudinal direction, and the gauge
includes a direct-viewing type liquid level gauge, and inclines to
an upper surface of the housing member in an upper portion of the
housing member.
2. (canceled)
3. The dump truck according to claim 1, comprising a floor deck
having at least a portion disposed with an operating room, wherein
the gauge is adjacent to the floor deck.
4. The dump truck according to claim 3, comprising a handrail
provided in front of the floor deck, wherein the gauge is disposed
between the handrail and the floor deck in a front-rear
direction.
5. The dump truck according to claim 4, wherein the floor deck
includes a nonslip plate, and the gauge is adjacent to a front end
portion of the nonslip plate.
6. The dump truck according to claim 3, comprising a dump body on
which a cargo is loaded, wherein the dump body has a protector
disposed above the operating room, and the gauge is disposed in
front of the protector.
7. The dump truck according to claim 1, wherein the housing member
has a supply port through which the fluid is supplied, and the
gauge is adjacent to the supply port.
8. The dump truck according to claim 1, comprising a cover member
disposed at least on a portion of a periphery of the housing
member, wherein at least a portion of the gauge is disposed at an
inner side of an opening portion provided in a portion of the cover
member.
9. A dump truck comprising: a floor deck having at least a portion
disposed with an operating room; a handrail provided in front of
the floor deck; a housing member in which fluid is housed; and a
gauge, adjacent to the floor deck, that indicates a remaining
amount of the fluid in the housing member, wherein the gauge is
disposed at a central portion of the housing member in a
longitudinal direction, the gauge includes a direct-viewing type
liquid level gauge, and inclines to an upper surface of the housing
member in an upper portion of the housing member, the gauge is
disposed between the handrail and the floor deck in a front-rear
direction, the floor deck includes a nonslip plate, and the gauge
is adjacent to a front end portion of the nonslip plate.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a working vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In a working vehicle, a variety of fluids such as fuel, oil,
and cooling water are used. A remaining amount of the fluid is
checked in an inspection of the working vehicle. In order to check
the remaining amount of the fluid, it is often the case that a
gauge is provided in a housing member in which the fluid is housed.
An inspector checks the remaining amount of the fluid by observing
the gauge. For example, in a pre-operation inspection of the
working vehicle, the inspector checks a remaining amount of cooling
water in a radiator by observing a gauge provided in the
radiator.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: JP 2015-190259 A
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
[0004] When a working vehicle is in a stopped state on an inclined
ground surface, even though a housing member for fluid, such as a
tank, inclines, a liquid level of the fluid is parallel to a
horizontal plane. Therefore, when the working vehicle is in the
stopped state on the inclined ground surface, a gauge provided in
the housing member may not be able to correctly indicate a
remaining amount of the fluid. For example, when the working
vehicle is a large dump truck that operates in a mining site of a
mine, a housing member for fluid provided in the dump truck is also
large. When the housing member is large, a position of an end
portion of the housing member changes greatly even when an
inclination of the ground surface is slight. Therefore, when the
gauge is provided at the end portion of the housing member, there
is a high possibility that the gauge is not able to correctly
indicate a remaining amount of the fluid.
[0005] An aspect of the present invention has an object to provide
a working vehicle that can correctly indicate a remaining amount of
fluid.
Solution to Problem
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, a working
vehicle comprises: a housing member in which fluid is housed; and a
gauge that indicates a remaining amount of the fluid in the housing
member, wherein the gauge is disposed at a central portion of the
housing member in a longitudinal direction.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a working
vehicle that can correctly indicate a remaining amount of fluid is
provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a
working vehicle according to the present embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the working vehicle according
to the present embodiment as viewed from the front.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of the working
vehicle according to the present embodiment as viewed from a left
side.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a portion of an upper tank
according to the present embodiment as viewed from behind.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a portion of the upper tank
according to the present embodiment as viewed from above.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a view of portions of a floor deck, a cover
member, and a handrail according to the present embodiment as
viewed from above.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a first lid
is removed from a base member of the cover member according to the
present embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which the first
lid, a second lid, and a nonslip plate are removed from the base
member of the cover member according to the present embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which a
driver is observing a level gauge through an opening portion in a
pre-operation inspection according to the present embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating action of a radiator
according to a comparative example.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating action of the radiator
according to the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] In the following, an embodiment according to the present
invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
The components of the embodiment described below can optionally be
combined. Furthermore, there may be a case where some of the
components are not used.
[0020] In the following description, a positional relationship
among respective portions will be described using the terms
"vertical direction", "left-right direction", and "front-rear
direction". The vertical direction refers to a direction
perpendicular to a ground contact surface of a wheel of a working
vehicle which is in contact with the ground surface. The left-right
direction refers to a direction parallel to a rotation axis of a
wheel which is not steered among a plurality of wheels of the
working vehicle. In addition, the left-right direction is
synonymous with a vehicle width direction of the working vehicle.
The front-rear direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the
left-right direction and the vertical direction.
[0021] An upper side refers to one direction in the vertical
direction, and the direction separating from the ground contact
surface of the wheel. A lower side refers to a direction opposite
to the upper side in the vertical direction, and the direction
approaching the ground contact surface of the wheel. A left side
refers to one direction in the left-right direction, and the
direction in a left side based on a driver seated on a seat of the
working vehicle when the seat on which the driver of the working
vehicle sits and a steering wheel operated by the driver are
provided. A right side refers to a direction opposite to the left
side in the left-right direction, and the direction in a right side
based on the driver seated on the seat of the working vehicle. A
front side refers to one direction in the front-rear direction, and
the direction from the seat toward the steering wheel. A rear side
refers to a direction opposite to the front side in the front-rear
direction, and the direction from the steering wheel toward the
seat.
[0022] Moreover, an upper portion refers to a portion at an upper
side of a member or space in the vertical direction, and the
portion separated from the ground contact surface of the wheel. A
lower portion refers to a portion at a lower side of the member or
the space in the vertical direction, and the portion close to the
ground contact surface of the wheel. A left portion refers to a
portion at a left side of the member or the space based on the
driver seated on the seat of the working vehicle. A right portion
refers to a portion at a right side of the member or the space
based on the driver seated on the seat of the working vehicle. A
front portion refers to a portion at a front side of the member or
the space in the front-rear direction. A rear portion refers to a
portion at a rear side of the member or the space in the front-rear
direction.
[0023] [Working Vehicle]
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a
working vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment.
[0025] In the present embodiment, an example in which a dump truck
1 is the working vehicle 1 will be described. The dump truck 1 is a
self-propelled off-road dump truck that operates in a mining site
of a mine. The dump truck 1 is a rigid-frame type. Note that, the
dump truck 1 may be an articulate type.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dump truck 1 includes a
vehicle main body 2, a dump body 3 supported by the vehicle main
body 2 and on which a cargo is loaded, and a traveling device 4
that supports the vehicle main body 2 and is movable.
[0027] The vehicle main body 2 has a frame 21, a floor deck 22
provided at an upper portion of the frame 21, and a lower deck 23
provided at a lower portion of the frame 21. The frame 21 supports
the traveling device 4.
[0028] A movable ladder 5 is provided on the lower deck 23. An
inclined ladder 6 is provided between the lower deck 23 and the
floor deck 22. A lower end portion of the inclined ladder 6 is
connected to a left portion of the lower deck 23, and an upper end
portion of the inclined ladder 6 is connected to a right portion of
the floor deck 22. A handrail 7 is provided in front of the floor
deck 22.
[0029] The vehicle main body 2 has an operating room 8. The
operating room 8 is disposed at least on a portion of the floor
deck 22. In the present embodiment, the operating room 8 is
provided on a left portion of the floor deck 22. At least a portion
of the floor deck 22 is disposed in front of the operating room 8.
In addition, at least a portion of the floor deck 22 is disposed on
a right side of the operating room 8.
[0030] A driver boards on the operating room 8. A seat on which the
driver sits is provided in the operating room 8. Furthermore, a
plurality of operation devices disposed in the operating room 8 is
operated by the driver. The operation devices disposed in the
operating room 8 include at least a steering wheel. As described
above, the front side refers to the direction from the seat toward
the steering wheel. The driver adjusts a traveling direction of the
dump truck 1 by operating the steering wheel.
[0031] When the driver boards on the operating room 8, the driver,
after climbing the movable ladder 5 at a left portion of the
vehicle main body 2 and moving to the lower deck 23, climbs the
inclined ladder 6 and moves to the right portion of the floor deck
22. Then, the driver who has arrived at the right portion of the
floor deck 22 walks toward the left portion of the floor deck 22.
Thereafter, the driver who has arrived at the left portion of the
floor deck 22 moves to a left portion of the operating room 8,
opens a door provided at the left portion of the operating room 8,
and boards on the operating room 8. The floor deck 22 is a portion
of a path for the driver or an inspector to access to the operating
room 8.
[0032] The cargo is loaded on the dump body 3. The dump body 3 can
stand or sit by an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder. The
actuator is disposed between the vehicle main body 2 and the dump
body 3, and can cause the dump body 3 to stand or sit. The dump
body 3 is adjusted by the actuation of the actuator so as to take a
loading posture and/or a standing posture. The loading posture
refers to a posture in which the dump body 3 is, within a movable
range of the dump body 3, lowered to the most to be at the closest
to the vehicle main body 2 and seated. The standing posture refers
to a posture in which the dump body 3 is, within the movable range
of the dump body 3, raised to the most to be at the farthest from
the vehicle main body 2. When the dump body 3 is in the loading
posture, the cargo is loaded on the dump body 3 and the dump truck
1 can travel. When the dump body 3 is in the standing posture, the
cargo is discharged from the dump body 3.
[0033] In the present embodiment, the dump truck 1 is a
rear-dumping type, and the cargo is discharged from the dump body 3
by inclining the dump body 3 to the rear side. Note that, the dump
truck 1 may be a side-dumping type that discharges the cargo from
the dump body 3 by inclining the dump body 3 to the left side or
the right side.
[0034] The dump body 3 has a protector 31. The protector 31 is a
flange portion disposed at a front portion of the dump body 3. In
the loading posture, the protector 31 of the dump body 3 is
disposed above the operating room 8. Moreover, in the loading
posture, the protector 31 of the dump body 3 is disposed above a
portion of the floor deck 22.
[0035] The traveling device 4 includes front wheels 41 and rear
wheels 42. The rear wheels 42 are disposed behind the front wheels
41. The front wheels 41 are each disposed at a left side and a
right side of the vehicle main body 2. The rear wheels 42 are each
disposed at the left side and the right side of the vehicle main
body 2. The rear wheels 42 at the left side and right side each
include two tires.
[0036] That is, the dump truck 1 according to the present
embodiment is a four-wheel vehicle, and the number of tires used is
two in the front wheels 41 and four in the rear wheels 42.
[0037] The traveling device 4 is actuated by power generated by a
power generation device provided in the vehicle main body 2. The
power generation device includes an internal combustion engine such
as a diesel engine, and/or an electric motor.
[0038] The front wheel 41 rotates about a rotation axis. The rear
wheel 42 rotates about a rotation axis. The rear wheel 42 rotates
and the traveling device 4 travels by the power generated by the
power generation device. The front wheels 41 are steered by the
operation of the steering wheel by the driver. In the present
embodiment, the rear wheels 42 are not steered by the operation of
the steering wheel. As described above, the left-right direction
refers to the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel
which is not steered among the plurality of wheels of the working
vehicle 1. In the present embodiment, the left-right direction
refers to a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rear
wheel 42.
[0039] [Radiator]
[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the dump truck 1 according to
the present embodiment as viewed from the front. In FIG. 2, the
structure of the dump truck 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is partially
omitted. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a portion of the dump truck
1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the left side.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the dump truck 1 has a radiator
10. The radiator 10 is a housing member in which cooling water
(coolant), which is fluid, is housed. The cooling water is liquid.
The radiator 10 is disposed at a front portion of the vehicle main
body 2.
[0041] In the vertical direction, the radiator 10 is disposed
between the lower deck 23 and the upper deck 22. In the left-right
direction, the radiator 10 is disposed at a central portion of the
vehicle main body 2.
[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a dimension of the radiator
10 in the left-right direction is longer than a dimension of the
radiator 10 in the front-rear direction. In the following
description, the left-right direction of the radiator 10 is
appropriately referred to as a longitudinal direction of the
radiator 10.
[0043] In the present embodiment, an outer shape of the radiator 10
and a shape of a housing space of the radiator 10 in which the
cooling water is housed are substantially similar to each other.
The housing space of the radiator 10 is an internal space of the
radiator 10 in which the cooling water is housed. As described
later, the radiator 10 has an upper tank 11, a core tank 12, and a
lower tank 13. The housing space of the radiator 10 includes an
internal space of the upper tank 11 in which the cooling water is
stored, an internal space of the core tank 12, and an internal
space of the lower tank 13. When the outer shape of the radiator 10
is a rectangular shape, the housing space of the radiator 10 is
also a rectangular shape. The dimension of the radiator 10 includes
a dimension of the housing space of the radiator 10 in which the
cooling water is housed. The longitudinal direction of the radiator
10 and the longitudinal direction of the housing space of the
radiator 10 are the same.
[0044] A central portion of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal
direction refers to a portion in a central portion of the housing
space divided into D equal portions when the housing space of the
radiator 10 in which the cooling water is housed is divided into D
equal portions in the longitudinal direction.
[0045] The radiator 10 has the upper tank 11, the core tank 12, and
the lower tank 13. A radiator core is disposed in the core tank 12.
The upper tank 11 has a supply port 14 for supplying the cooling
water to the radiator 10. A predetermined amount of the cooling
water is stored in the internal space of the upper tank 11. The
cooling water is supplied to the radiator 10 through the supply
port 14. The supply port 14 is closed by a cap 15.
[0046] The supply port 14 is provided in a central portion of the
upper tank 11 in the longitudinal direction.
[0047] [Gauge]
[0048] Next, a gauge 50 according to the present embodiment will be
described using FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of
a portion of the upper tank 11 according to the present embodiment
as viewed from behind. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a portion of
the upper tank 11 according to the present embodiment as viewed
from above.
[0049] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the dump truck 1
includes the gauge 50 that indicates a remaining amount of the
cooling water in the radiator 10. The gauge 50 is a so-called level
gauge. In the following description, the gauge 50 is appropriately
referred to as a level gauge 50.
[0050] The level gauge 50 is connected to an upper portion of the
radiator 10. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment,
the level gauge 50 is disposed at the central portion of the
radiator 10 in the longitudinal direction. As described above, in
the present embodiment, the housing space of the radiator 10 is
substantially a rectangular shape. The central portion of the
radiator 10 in the longitudinal direction refers to the central
portion in an upper portion of the housing space of the radiator 10
in the longitudinal direction.
[0051] The upper tank 11 has an upper surface 11A facing up, and a
rear surface 11B facing down. The level gauge 50 is connected to
the rear surface 11B of the upper tank 11.
[0052] The level gauge 50 is a long rod-shaped member and has a
central axis AX. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the level gauge 50 is
connected to the rear surface 11B of the upper tank 11 through a
connecting member 60. The connecting member 60 has a base portion
63, a first holding portion 61, and a second holding portion 62.
The base portion 63 is connected to the rear surface 11B of the
upper tank 11. The first holding portion 61 is connected to the
base portion 63 and holds one end portion of the level gauge 50.
The second holding portion 62 is connected to the base portion 63
and holds the other end portion of the level gauge 50. A gap is
formed between the base portion 63 and the level gauge 50.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the level gauge 50 inclines to the
upper surface 11A of the upper tank 11 in the upper tank 11
provided in the upper portion of the radiator 10. That is, the
level gauge 50 is provided in the upper tank 11 so that the central
axis AX of the level gauge 50 inclines to a virtual vertical axis
extending in the vertical direction and to a virtual left-right
axis extending in the left-right direction.
[0054] In the present embodiment, the level gauge 50 is provided in
the upper tank 11 so that the central axis AX of the level gauge 50
is perpendicular to a virtual front-rear axis extending in the
front-rear direction. In other words, the central axis AX of the
level gauge 50 is disposed in parallel with a predetermined plane
including the vertical axis and the left-right axis. The level
gauge 50 is provided in the upper tank 11 so that the central axis
AX inclines to a horizontal plane in the predetermined plane. In
the present embodiment, an angle .theta. formed by the horizontal
plane and the central axis AX is 30[.degree.] to 45[.degree.].
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the radiator 10 is disposed in
front of the floor deck 22. The level gauge 50 is disposed so as to
be adjacent to the floor deck 20. The level gauge 50 is disposed
between the handrail 7 and the floor deck 22 in the front-rear
direction.
[0056] In the upper surface 11A of the upper tank 11, the supply
port 14 is provided in the central portion of the radiator 10 in
the longitudinal direction. In the rear surface 112 of the upper
tank 11, the level gauge 50 is provided in the central portion of
the radiator 10 in the longitudinal direction. The level gauge 50
is disposed so as to be adjacent to the supply port 14.
[0057] Furthermore, when the dump body 3 is in the loading posture,
the level gauge 50 is disposed in front of the protector 31 of the
dump body 3. The level gauge 50 is disposed at least in front of a
front end portion 31E of the protector 31.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the
dump truck 1 includes a cover member 70 disposed at least on a
portion of a periphery of the radiator 10. The cover member 70
protects the radiator 10.
[0059] In addition, the cover member 70 protects the level gauge
50. In the present embodiment, at least a portion of the cover
member 70 faces the upper surface 11A of the upper tank 11.
Moreover, at least a portion of the cover member 70 faces the rear
surface 11B of the upper tank 11.
[0060] An opening portion 71 is provided in a portion of the cover
member 70. At least a portion of the level gauge 50 is disposed at
an inner side of the opening portion 71.
[0061] The internal space of the upper tank 11 and the internal
space of the level gauge 50 are connected to each other through a
flow path (not illustrated) provided inside the connecting member
60. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the heights of a liquid level of the
cooling water stored in the internal space of the upper tank 11 and
a liquid level of the cooling water in the internal space of the
level gauge 50 in the vertical direction are maintained at the same
height. That is, the liquid level of the cooling water stored in
the internal space of the upper tank 11 and the liquid level of the
cooling water in the internal space of the level gauge 50 are
disposed in the same plane. The inspector can observe the level
gauge 50 through the opening portion 71. The inspector can check
the remaining amount of the cooling water in the radiator 10 by
observing the level gauge 50. Note that, the inspector and the
driver may be the same person, or the inspector and the driver may
be different.
[0062] FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are specific examples illustrating a
portion of the dump truck 1 according to the present
embodiment.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a view of portions of the floor deck 22, the cover
member 70, and the handrail 7 according to the present embodiment
as viewed from above. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the cover member 70
is disposed in front of the floor deck 22. The opening portion 71
is provided in the portion of the cover member 70. At least the
portion of the level gauge 50 is disposed at the inner side of the
opening portion 71. Therefore, the inspector of the floor deck 22
can visually check the level gauge 50 through the opening portion
71.
[0064] Moreover, the handrail 7 is provided in front of the floor
deck 22. The handrail 7 is, for example, supported by the cover
member 70. The level gauge 50 is disposed in front of the floor
deck 22, and is adjacent to a front end portion of the floor deck
22. The level gauge 50 is disposed between the handrail 7 and the
floor deck 22 in the front-rear direction.
[0065] In the present embodiment, the floor deck 22 includes a
nonslip plate 24. The nonslip plate 24 has an upper surface, and a
plurality of recessed portions or openings provided in the upper
surface. The nonslip plate 24 has the plurality of recessed
portions or openings in the upper surface, thereby suppressing
slipping of the inspector who walks on the upper surface of the
nonslip plate 24.
[0066] The level gauge 50 is adjacent to a front end portion of the
nonslip plate 24. Therefore, when the inspector observes the level
gauge 50 through the opening portion 71 or supplies the cooling
water from the supply port 14 to the radiator 10, as described
later, the inspector can inspect the remaining amount of the
cooling water or supply the cooling water, respectively, without
slipping. In addition, the handrail 7 is provided in front of the
nonslip plate 24 and the level gauge 50. Therefore, accidental
falling of the inspector, who is visually checking the level gauge
50 or supplying the cooling water, is suppressed.
[0067] The cover member 70 has a base member 708, a first lid 72,
and a second lid 73. The first lid 72 is provided on a portion of
the base member 70B, and closes a first opening 72K. The second lid
73 is provided on a portion of the base member 70B, and closes a
second opening 73K. In the present embodiment, the opening portion
71 is provided in the first lid 72.
[0068] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the first lid
72 is removed from the base member 70B of the cover member 70
according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and
7, the first opening 72K is long in the left-right direction. By
removing the first lid 72 from the first opening 72K, the inspector
can sufficiently observe or inspect not only the level gauge 50 but
also the upper tank 11.
[0069] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which the first lid
72, the second lid 73, and the nonslip plate 24 are removed from
the base member 70B of the cover member 70 according to the present
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cap 15 is disposed in the
second opening 73K. The cap 15 appears when the second lid 73 is
removed from the second opening 73K. By removing the second lid 72
and the cap 15, the inspector can supply the cooling water from the
supply port 14 to the radiator 10.
[0070] When only the supplying of the cooling water is performed,
the inspector removes the second lid 73, but does not need to
remove the first lid 72 and the nonslip plate 24. In other words,
the supplying of the cooling water can be performed by removing
only a minimum member (lid) and thus, no load, such as the removal
of a large and heavy member, is given to the inspector. When the
inspector determines that the remaining amount of the cooling water
is small by observing the level gauge 50 through the opening
portion 71, the inspector can supply the cooling water from the
supply port 14 to the radiator 10 by removing the second lid 73 and
removing the cap 15.
[0071] After the supplying of the cooling water is completed, the
cap 15 and the second lid 73 are mounted by the inspector.
[0072] [Inspection Method]
[0073] Next, a method for inspecting the remaining amount of the
cooling water according to the present embodiment will be
described. In the present embodiment, there will be described an
example in which, in the pre-operation inspection of the dump truck
1, the driver of the dump truck 1, who is the inspector, observes
the level gauge 50 provided in the radiator 10 to check the
remaining amount of the cooling water in the radiator 10.
[0074] In order to board on the operating room 8, the driver, after
climbing the movable ladder 5 at the left portion of the vehicle
main body 2 and moving to the lower deck 23, climbs the inclined
ladder 6. Accordingly, the driver arrives at the right portion of
the floor deck 22.
[0075] Then, the driver who has arrived at the right portion of the
floor deck 22 walks toward the left portion of the floor deck 22.
The opening portion 71 is provided in a walking path of the driver.
Therefore, before moving to the operating room 8, the driver on the
floor deck 22 can easily and surely observe the level gauge 50
through the opening portion 71.
[0076] FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the
driver is observing the level gauge 50 through the opening portion
71 in the pre-operation inspection according to the present
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the driver can observe the
level gauge 50 through the opening portion 71. Through the opening
portion 71, the driver observes the level gauge 50 from above. In
the present embodiment, the level gauge 50 includes a
direct-viewing type liquid level gauge, and inclines to the upper
surface 11A of the radiator 10 in the upper portion of the radiator
10. Therefore, even when the driver observes the level gauge 50
from above through the small opening portion 71, the driver can
easily and surely observe the liquid level of the cooling water in
the level gauge 50.
[0077] In the present embodiment, the nonslip plate 24 is provided
on the floor deck 22. In addition, the handrail 7 is provided in
front of the nonslip plate 24. Therefore, the safety of the foot
and the front of the driver who observes the level gauge 50 is
ensured.
[0078] Moreover, the level gauge 50 is disposed in front of the
protector 31 of the dump body 3. The level gauge 50 is disposed at
least in front of the front end portion 31E of the protector 31.
Accordingly, an upper side of the level gauge 50 is opened and
thus, sufficiently illuminated with illumination light such as
sunlight. Therefore, the driver can sufficiently observe the level
gauge 50.
[0079] When the inspector determines that the remaining amount of
the cooling water is small by observing the level gauge 50 through
the opening portion 71, the inspector can supply the cooling water
from the supply port 14 to the radiator 10 by removing the second
lid 73 and removing the cap 15. After the supplying of the cooling
water is completed, the cap 15 and the second lid 73 are mounted by
the inspector.
[0080] The driver who has completed the pre-operation inspection
walks on the floor deck 22 and boards on the operating room 8.
Then, the operation of the dump truck 1 starts.
[0081] [Action and Effect]
[0082] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the
level gauge 50 is disposed at the central portion of the radiator
10 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the pre-operation
inspection, even when the vehicle is in a stopped state on an
inclined ground surface and thus, the radiator 10 inclines to the
horizontal plane, the level gauge 50 can correctly indicate the
remaining amount of the cooling water.
[0083] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating action of the radiator 10
according to a comparative example. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram
illustrating an example in which the level gauge 50 is provided at
an end portion of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal
direction.
[0084] When the dump truck 1 is in a stopped state on a horizontal
ground surface, the radiator 10 is also installed horizontally as
illustrated by a dotted line in FIG. 10. In such case, the level
gauge 50 can correctly indicate the remaining amount of the cooling
water in the radiator 10.
[0085] There is a case where the dump truck 1 is in a stopped state
on an inclined ground surface. When the dump truck 1 is in the
stopped state on the inclined ground surface, the radiator 10 also
inclines as illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 10. However, even
when the radiator 10 inclines, the liquid level of the cooling
water is parallel to the horizontal plane. When the radiator 10 is
large and a dimension of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal
direction is long, a position of the end portion of the radiator 10
in the longitudinal direction changes greatly in the vertical
direction even when an inclination of the ground surface is slight.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the level gauge 50 is provided at
the end portion of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal direction,
there is a high possibility that the level gauge 50 is not able to
correctly indicate the remaining amount of the cooling water. In
the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the level gauge 50 is provided
at an end portion on the right side of the radiator 10 in the
longitudinal direction, and the level gauge 50 indicates the
remaining amount of the cooling water larger than the actual
remaining amount. On the other hand, when the level gauge 50 is
provided at an end portion on the left side of the radiator 10 in
the longitudinal direction, the level gauge 50 indicates the
remaining amount of the cooling water smaller than the actual
remaining amount. In a large dump truck 1 that operates in a mine,
particularly, depending on an attached position of the level gauge
50 in the radiator 10, the accuracy of a remaining-amount
indication of the cooling water is affected by the inclination of
the ground surface.
[0086] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating action of the radiator 10
according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram
illustrating an example in which the level gauge 50 is provided at
the central portion of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal
direction. When the dump truck 1 is in a stopped state on a
horizontal ground surface, the radiator 10 is also installed
horizontally as illustrated by a dotted line in FIG. 11. In such
case, the level gauge 50 can correctly indicate the remaining
amount of the cooling water in the radiator 10.
[0087] When the dump truck 1 is in a stopped state on an inclined
ground surface, the radiator 10 also inclines as illustrated by a
solid line in FIG. 11. However, even when the radiator 10 inclines,
the liquid level of the cooling water is parallel to the horizontal
plane. Even though the position of the end portion of the radiator
10 in the longitudinal direction changes greatly in the vertical
direction when the radiator 10 inclines, the change of a position
of the central portion of the radiator 10 in the longitudinal
direction is suppressed. That is, when the level gauge 50 is
provided at the central portion of the radiator 10 in the
longitudinal direction, the level gauge 50 can correctly indicate
the remaining amount of the cooling water.
[0088] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the level gauge 50
includes a direct-viewing type liquid level gauge, and is installed
so as to incline to the upper surface 11A of the radiator 10 in the
upper portion of the radiator 10. When the dump truck 1 is in the
stopped state on the horizontal ground surface, the upper surface
11A of the radiator 10 is substantially parallel to the horizontal
plane. The level gauge 50 is provided so that the central axis AX
of the level gauge 50 inclines; therefore, the visibility of the
level gauge 50 improves. As a result, the inspector can easily and
surely check the remaining amount of the cooling water by directly
observing the level gauge 50 from above.
[0089] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the level gauge 50 is
disposed so as to be adjacent to the floor deck 22. Accordingly,
the inspector can easily observe the level gauge 50 by moving to
the floor deck 22. In addition, the driver boards on the operating
room 8 by moving from the movable ladder 5 to the lower deck 23,
the inclined ladder 6, and the floor deck 22. Since the level gauge
50 is adjacent to the floor deck 22, the remaining-amount
inspection of the cooling water is incorporated in a pre-operation
movement process, that is, in the middle of the access path to the
operating room 8, of the driver. The driver can easily and surely
observe, without forgetting, the level gauge 50, and check the
remaining amount of the cooling water.
[0090] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the level gauge 50
is disposed between the handrail 7 and the floor deck 22 in the
front-rear direction. Accordingly, when the inspector on the floor
deck 22 observes the level gauge 50 that exists in front of the
floor deck 22, the accidental falling of the inspector at the time
of inspecting the cooling water is suppressed since the handrail 7
is provided in front of the level gauge 50.
[0091] In the present embodiment, the supply port 14 and the cap 15
are disposed between the handrail 7 and the floor deck 22 in the
front-rear direction. Since the handrail 7 is provided in front of
the supply port 14 and the cap 15, the accidental falling is also
suppressed at the time of supplying the cooling water.
[0092] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the level gauge 50 is
adjacent to the front end portion of the nonslip plate 24.
Therefore, the inspector observes the level gauge 50 in a state of
being on the nonslip plate 24, thereby suppressing the slipping of
the inspector.
[0093] In the present embodiment, the level gauge 50 is disposed in
front of the protector 31 of the dump body 3. Accordingly, the
illumination light, such as sunlight, is sufficiently applied onto
the level gauge 50 without being blocked by the protector 31. As a
result, the driver can easily and surely observe the level gauge
50.
[0094] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the radiator 10 has
the supply port 14 through which the cooling water is supplied, and
the level gauge 50 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the supply
port 14. The level gauge 50, the supply port 14, and the cap 15 are
linearly disposed in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the
inspector who has observed the level gauge 50 determines that the
remaining amount of the cooling water is small, the inspector can
supply the cooling water to the radiator 10 through the supply port
14 while observing the level gauge 50. As a result, the inspector
can supply an appropriate amount of the cooling water.
[0095] Moreover, in the present embodiment, at least the portion of
the level gauge 50 is disposed at the inner side of the opening
portion 71 provided in the portion of the cover member 70. The
level gauge 50 is protected by providing the cover member 70. In
addition, by disposing at least the portion of the level gauge 50
in the opening portion 71, the inspector can observe the level
gauge 50 through the opening portion 71 without removing the large
cover member 70.
[0096] In the embodiment described above, the housing member has
been the radiator 10, and the level gauge 50 has indicated the
remaining amount of the cooling water in the radiator 10. In
addition, the fluid housed in the housing member has been the
cooling water. However, the housing member that houses the liquid
may be an oil tank which houses oil (working oil) for actuating
hydraulic equipment, and the level gauge 50 may indicate a
remaining amount of the oil as the fluid in the oil tank. Moreover,
the housing member that houses the liquid may be a fuel tank which
houses fuel in an internal combustion engine, and the level gauge
50 may indicate a remaining amount of the fuel as the fluid in the
fuel tank.
[0097] In the embodiment described above, the longitudinal
direction of the radiator 10 (housing member) and the left-right
direction of the dump truck 1 have been the same. However, the
longitudinal direction of the radiator 10 (housing member) and the
front-rear direction of the dump truck 1 may be the same. Moreover,
the level gauge 50 may be provided in the housing member so that
the longitudinal direction of the level gauge 50 inclines to the
left-right direction of the dump truck 1, or the level gauge 50 may
be provided in the housing member so that the longitudinal
direction of the level gauge 50 inclines to the front-rear
direction of the dump truck 1.
[0098] In the embodiment described above, the working vehicle 1 has
been the dump truck. However, the working vehicle 1 may be an
excavator that has a lower traveling body, an upper swing body, and
a working unit, or may be a wheel loader.
[0099] The present embodiment has been described above. However,
the present embodiment is not limited to the content described
above. In addition, the components described above may include
components readily conceivable by those skilled in the art,
components substantially identical, and components in a so-called
equivalent range. Moreover, the components described above can be
appropriately combined. Furthermore, various kinds of omission,
replacement, and modification may be made in the components in the
scope not departing from the gist of the present embodiment.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0100] 1 Dump truck (working vehicle)
[0101] 2 Vehicle main body
[0102] 3 Dump body
[0103] 4 Traveling device
[0104] 5 Movable ladder
[0105] 6 Inclined ladder
[0106] 7 Handrail
[0107] 8 Operating room
[0108] 10 Radiator
[0109] 11 Upper tank
[0110] 11A Upper surface
[0111] 11B Rear surface
[0112] 12 Core tank
[0113] 13 Lower tank
[0114] 14 Supply port
[0115] 15 Cap
[0116] 21 Frame
[0117] 22 Floor deck
[0118] 23 Lower deck
[0119] 24 Nonslip plate
[0120] 31 Protector
[0121] 41 Front wheel
[0122] 42 Rear wheel
[0123] 50 Gauge
[0124] 60 Connecting member
[0125] 61 First holding member
[0126] 62 Second holding member
[0127] 63 Base portion
[0128] 70 Cover member
[0129] 71 Opening portion
[0130] 72 First lid
[0131] 72K First opening
[0132] 73 Second lid
[0133] 73K Second opening
* * * * *