JP2015167540A - Grass mower - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grass mower that includes a machine body travelling by a pair of right and left front wheels and by a pair of right and left rear wheels, and that can travel quickly and mows grasses quickly.SOLUTION: In the grass mower, an opening 94 for work is disposed at the lateral side wall portion of a mower blade housing 11 so as to be opened and closed by a lid body 95. When steering operation is done to make a pair of right and left front wheels 2 and a pair of right and left rear wheels 3 face in the same lateral direction and be in the same lateral steering condition, so as to laterally travel the travelling machine body with the opening 94 for work facing in the travelling direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traveling machine body that is self-propelled by a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear wheels, a mowing device supported by the traveling machine body, the mowing apparatus includes a cutting blade housing, and a cutting blade housing. The present invention relates to a mowing machine provided with a cutting blade that is driven to rotate about a rotary shaft core that runs upward and downward in a traveling machine body.

  Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1, it is configured to perform a steering operation of an airframe by steering a pair of left and right front wheels of a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear wheels. There was a riding mower.

JP 2008-201290 A

  In the conventional case, when moving the traveling machine body that has reached the end point of the work travel area to the next work travel area, it is moved by turning while steering only the front wheels, so the travel distance for movement is long. It tends to be.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mower capable of quickly traveling and mowing.

The mower according to the first invention is
A traveling body that self-propels by a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear wheels;
A mowing device supported by the traveling machine body;
The mowing device includes a cutting blade housing, and a cutting blade that is driven to rotate about a rotary shaft center in the vertical direction of the traveling machine body inside the cutting blade housing,
Provided in the side wall portion of the cutting blade housing so that a working opening can be opened and closed by a lid,
The left and right pair of front wheels and the left and right pair of rear wheels are steered to the same lateral lateral steering state so that the traveling machine body can be traveled laterally with the working opening facing the traveling direction. It is.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the left and right pair of front wheels and the left and right pair of rear wheels are moved in the same lateral direction in order to move the traveling machine body that has reached the end point of the working range to the next working range. In this state, the traveling machine body is caused to travel toward the next work travel area, whereby the movement to the next work travel area can be performed by short-distance travel by parallel movement. At this time, by opening the working opening in the traveling direction, the grass can be introduced into the cutting blade housing and moved while mowing.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, the traveling distance of the traveling machine body to the next work traveling area can be shortened and the movement can be performed quickly, and the mowing can be performed quickly during the traveling movement. As a whole, mowing work can be performed efficiently.

  In the second aspect of the invention, when the pair of left and right front wheels and the pair of left and right rear wheels are steered to the lateral steering state, the lateral running of the traveling machine body is performed so that the lid is opened. The lid and the wheel steering operation mechanism are linked so that the lid is closed when released.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, when the traveling machine body is translated, the lid body is automatically opened, and the movement while mowing is easily performed.

  In the present invention, a battery is provided in a portion of the traveling machine body on the side of the lateral end opposite to the side of the lateral end where the working opening is located.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when working on a sloping ground in a state where the lateral end side where the working opening of the traveling airframe is located is on the low level side of the sloping ground, the traveling airframe is located on the high level side of the sloping ground. The weight function of applying a load to the lateral end side can be exerted on the battery, and the roll of the traveling machine body with the working opening side as a swing fulcrum can be suppressed.

It is a side view which shows the whole mowing machine. It is a top view which shows the whole mower. It is a front view which shows the whole mower. It is a longitudinal rear view which shows a transmission structure. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows a transmission structure. It is a vertical front view which shows the support structure and drive structure of a right front wheel. It is a vertical rear view which shows the support structure and drive structure of a right rear wheel. It is a perspective view which shows a traveling body. It is a perspective view which shows a frame part. It is a top view which shows a traveling body. It is a top view which shows a steering operation mechanism. It is a side view showing an obstacle sensor. It is a perspective view which shows an obstacle sensor. It is a diagram which shows a transmission structure. It is explanatory drawing which shows the moving method of a traveling body. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of remote operation and an automatic stop. (A) is a front view which shows the two-wheel steering operation tool located in the operation path for front-wheel steering, (b) shows the two-wheel steering operation tool located in the operation path for front-wheel steering. Side view, (c) is a front view showing a two-wheel steering operation tool positioned on the rear-wheel steering operation path, and (d) is a two-wheel steering positioned on the rear-wheel steering operation path. A side view showing the operation tool, (e) is a front view showing the four-wheel steering operation tool positioned on the operation path in the two-wheel steering control mode and the two-wheel reverse steering control mode, and (f) is a two-wheel steering control mode. It is a side view which shows the four-wheel steering operation tool located in the operation path | route in direction control mode and both-wheels reverse steering control mode. It is a side view which shows the front part of the mower provided with another implementation structure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an entire mower according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the entire mower according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the entire mower according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the traveling machine body. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the traveling machine body. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 8, and 10, the mower according to the embodiment of the present invention allows the frame portion 1 to steer the pair of left and right front wheels 2 and the pair of left and right rear wheels 3. And a traveling machine equipped to be driven. A mowing device 4 is provided at the lower part between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 of the traveling machine body. An engine 5 for driving the front wheel 2, the rear wheel 3, and the mowing device 4, an engine fuel tank 6, and an engine 5 in a portion above the mowing device 4 between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 of the traveling machine body. A dynamo 7 driven by a power transmission belt 7a and a battery 8 for power supply are mounted. The dynamo 7 is arranged behind the engine 5. The battery 8 is disposed on the left side of the engine 5. A lateral cover C is provided on the left lateral side of the traveling machine body. A control device 9 that performs a steering operation of the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 is provided at the rear of the traveling machine body. The steering operation of the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 by the control device 9 is performed by the control device 9 receiving a radio wave signal as an operation command from the remote operation device 10.

  The mowing machine travels while the traveling machine body is remotely operated by the remote operation device 10, and performs the mowing work by the mowing device 4 as the traveling machine body travels.

The frame 1 of the traveling machine body will be described.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the frame portion 1. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the frame 1 of the traveling aircraft is connected to the aircraft frame 12 in which a cutting blade housing 11 is formed in the middle in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft and the front end of the aircraft frame 12. The support frame 13 for the front wheel that is long in the lateral direction of the airframe, the support frame 13 for the rear wheel that is long in the lateral direction of the airframe connected to the rear end portion of the airframe frame 12, the left end side portion and the right end side portion of the airframe frame 12 And a long reinforcing frame 14 in the longitudinal direction of the machine body.

  The fuselage frame 12 has a wide width at the portion of the cutting blade housing 11 and a narrow width at the front and rear portions of the cutting blade housing 11, that is, the shape in plan view is narrowed forward and backward. It is comprised by the sheet-metal member formed in this way. The length of the lateral width at the portion of the cutting blade housing 11 in the machine body frame 12 is set to the length over the entire width or almost the entire width of the traveling machine body. A cutout hole 11 a into which a lower portion of the mission case 15 (see FIG. 4) is provided is provided in a part of the cutting blade housing 11 in the body frame 12. A reinforcement frame 16 facing the machine body is connected to a part of the machine body frame 12 on the front and rear side of the notch hole 11a.

  The left and right airframe front and rear reinforcement frames 14 and the front and rear airframe reinforcement frames 16 are made of steel pipes having a circular longitudinal section.

  A battery mounting portion 11 b is formed at the left end portion of the cutting blade housing 11. The ends of the front and rear lateral reinforcing frames 16 on the battery mounting portion side enter the lower side of the battery mounting portion 11b, and the battery supporting strength of the battery mounting portion 11b is improved by the lateral reinforcing frame 16.

  The left side portion of the front wheel support frame 13 constitutes a left front wheel wheel support frame 17 extending from the front end portion of the body frame 12 to the left side of the body, and the right side portion of the front wheel support frame 13 is A wheel support frame 17 for the right front wheel extending from the front end portion of the body frame 12 outward to the right side of the body is configured. A boss portion 17a is provided at an extended end portion of the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The boss portion 17a supports a portion of the front wheel drive case 18 on the inner side of the body side of the front wheel 2 so as to be relatively rotatable about the steering axis P in the vertical direction of the body. Therefore, the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel and the right front wheel supports the front wheel 2 so that it can be steered around the steering axis P at the extended end. The steering axis P is located on the inner side of the machine body from the front wheel 2.

  The left side portion of the rear wheel support frame 13 constitutes a left rear wheel wheel support frame 17 extending from the rear end of the body frame 12 outwardly to the left side of the body. The right side portion constitutes a wheel support frame 17 for the right rear wheel that extends from the rear end portion of the body frame 12 outward to the right side of the body. Boss portions 17a are provided at the extended end portions of the wheel support frame 17 for the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel. The boss portion 17a supports a portion on the laterally inner side of the rear wheel 3 with respect to the rear wheel 3 of the rear wheel drive case 19 so as to be relatively rotatable around the steering axis P in the vertical direction of the body. Therefore, the wheel support frame 17 for the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel supports the rear wheel 3 so that it can be steered around the steering axis P. The steering axis P is located on the inner side of the machine body from the rear wheel 3.

  The left and right corners at the front end of the machine body frame 12 are provided with notches as recessed gaps S into which the rear part of the front wheel 2 steered laterally outwards enters. The left and right corners at the rear end of the machine body frame 12 are provided with notches as recessed gaps S into which the front part of the rear wheel 3 that has been steered laterally outward enters.

  The left front-rear reinforcement frame 14 is positioned above the left front wheel and left rear wheel wheel support frame 17 in the front-rear direction of the airframe, and the front and rear recessed gaps S on the left side of the airframe frame 12. It is arranged so as to pass above the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. The front end portion of the left front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to a portion of the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel that is located on the laterally outer side of the body frame 12. The rear end portion of the left front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to a portion of the wheel support frame 17 for the left rear wheel that is located on the laterally outer side of the body frame 12. An intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the left front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to the upper surface side of the part of the cutting blade housing 11 in the body frame 12.

  The right front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is positioned in the front-rear direction of the airframe above the wheel support frame 17 for the right front wheel and the right rear wheel, and the front and rear recessed gaps S on the right side of the airframe frame 12. It is arranged so as to pass above the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. The front end portion of the right front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to a portion of the right front wheel support frame 17 that is located on the laterally outer side of the body frame 12 relative to the body frame 12. The rear end portion of the right front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to a portion of the wheel support frame 17 for the right rear wheel that is located on the laterally outer side of the body frame 12. The middle part in the front-rear direction of the right front-rear reinforcing frame 14 is connected to the upper surface side of the part of the cutting blade housing 11 in the body frame 12.

  The left and right front-rear reinforcement frame 14 and the wheel support frame 17 are connected by fastening the reinforcement frame 14 to a connection portion 17b formed by attaching a bracket to the wheel support frame 17 with a connection bolt. The left and right front-rear reinforcing frame 14 and the cutting blade housing 11 are connected to a support portion formed by attaching a bracket 14 a to the upper surface side of the cutting blade housing 11 by connecting a connecting portion 14 a formed by attaching a plate member to the reinforcing frame 14. This is done by tightening and connecting with connecting bolts.

  Accordingly, the extension end side of the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel and the left rear wheel is supported by the left front-rear reinforcing frame 14, and the extension end side of the wheel support frame 17 for the right front wheel and right rear wheel is It is supported by the right front-rear reinforcing frame 14, and the body frame 12 firmly supports the grounding reaction force of each wheel support frame 17 against the ground reaction force.

A travel transmission system that transmits the driving force of the engine 5 to the left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the front wheel drive case 18 supported so as to be steerable around the steering axis P by the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel, and the wheel support frame 17 for the right front wheel. The front and rear drive cases 18 supported so as to be steerable around the steering axis P are supported so as to relatively rotate the rotary transmission shaft 20 in the vertical direction of the machine body. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the rear wheel drive case 19 supported so as to be steerable around the steering axis P by the wheel support frame 17 for the left rear wheel, and the wheel support for the right rear wheel. The rear wheel drive case 19 supported by the frame 17 so as to be steerable around the steering axis P is supported so as to relatively rotate the rotary transmission shaft 20 in the vertical direction of the machine body.

  The rotational axis of the rotation transmission shaft 20 supported so as to rotate relative to the left and right front wheel drive cases 18 is coaxial with the steering axis P of the front wheel 2. The rotational axis of the rotational transmission shaft 20 supported so as to rotate relative to the left and right rear wheel drive cases 19 is coaxial with the steering axis P of the rear wheel 3.

  FIG. 6 is a longitudinal front view showing a support structure and a drive structure of the right front wheel 2. Although illustration of the support structure and drive structure of the left front wheel 2 is omitted, the support structure and drive structure of the left front wheel 2 have the same configuration as the support structure and drive structure of the right front wheel 2. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal rear view showing the support structure and drive structure of the right rear wheel 3. Although illustration of the support structure and drive structure of the left rear wheel 3 is omitted, the support structure and drive structure of the left rear wheel 3 have the same configuration as the support structure and drive structure of the right rear wheel 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation transmission shaft 20 supported by the left and right front wheel drive cases 18 is interlocked and connected to the axle 2 a of the front wheel 2 by a front wheel bevel gear mechanism 21 provided on the lower end side. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation transmission shaft 20 supported by each of the left and right rear wheel drive cases 19 is interlocked and connected to the axle 3a of the rear wheel 3 by a rear wheel bevel gear mechanism 21 provided on the lower end side. Yes.

  Each bevel gear mechanism 21 includes a rotation shaft side bevel gear 21a supported so as to rotate integrally with the rotation transmission shaft 20, and an axle side supported so as to rotate integrally with the axles 2a and 3a while meshing with the rotation shaft side bevel gear 21a. And a bevel gear 21b. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 14, the axle-side bevel gear 21 b for the left front wheel and the right front wheel is located on the lateral inner side with respect to the rotation transmission shaft 20 in the neutral direction of the front wheel 2. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, the axle-side bevel gear 21 b for the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel is positioned on the inner side of the body relative to the rotational transmission shaft 20 in the neutral direction of the rear wheel 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a relay transmission case 22 disposed above the cutting blade housing 11 is provided at the right lateral end of the traveling machine body. The relay transmission case 22 is supported by a bracket provided on the upper surface side of the cutting blade housing 11. The relay transmission case 22 supports a relay transmission shaft 23 that is vertically oriented on the machine body so as to be relatively rotatable. A transmission 30 that is transmitted from the engine 5 to the relay transmission shaft 23 is accommodated in a transmission case 15 supported on the upper surface side of the cutting blade housing 11 via a bracket. Transmission is transmitted from the relay transmission shaft 23 to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left and right front wheels 2 to the transmission case 25 mounted over the rotation transmission shaft 20 and the relay transmission shaft 23 of each of the left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3. The transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side and the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side that transmits from the relay transmission shaft 23 to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left and right rear wheels 3 are accommodated.

  That is, the driving force of the output shaft 5a of the engine 5 is transmitted to the relay transmission shaft 23 by the mission 30, and the front wheels are provided by the front wheel output sprocket 23a and the rear wheel output sprocket 23b provided to rotate integrally with the relay transmission shaft 23. The driving force and the rear wheel driving force are branched. The front wheel driving force is transmitted to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left and right front wheels 2 by a transmission shaft transmission mechanism 40 on the front wheel side, and the left front wheel from the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2 via the bevel gear mechanism 21. 2, and is transmitted from the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2 to the right front wheel 2 via the bevel gear mechanism 21. The rear wheel driving force is transmitted to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left and right rear wheels 3 by the transmission mechanism 41 on the rear wheel side, and is transmitted from the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3 to the left via the bevel gear mechanism 21. It is transmitted to the rear wheel 3, and is transmitted from the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right rear wheel 3 to the right rear wheel 3 via the bevel gear mechanism 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the transmission case 25 is disposed above the left and right front-rear reinforcing frames 14, and the rotation transmission shaft 20 of each of the left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3. It is attached to the upper end side protruding upward from the reinforcing frame 14 and the upper end side protruding upward from the reinforcing frame 14 of the relay transmission shaft 23. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the transmission case 25 is a transmission upper side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body located over the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2, the relay transmission shaft 23 and the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right rear wheel 3. The case 25a, the front transmission lower side case portion 25b facing the machine body located over the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2 and the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2, and the rotation transmission shaft of the right rear wheel 3 20 and a rear transmission lower side case portion 25c that is located across the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3, and the shape of the transmission case 25 as viewed in the vertical direction of the body is open to the left side of the body. It has a letter shape.

  The front transmission lower case portion 25b of the transmission case 25 is connected to the upper portion of the connecting portion 17b included in the wheel support frame 17 for the left front wheel and the wheel support frame 17 for the right front wheel by a connecting bolt. The rear transmission lower case portion 25c of the transmission case 25 is tightened and connected to a connecting portion 17b provided in the wheel support frame 17 for the left rear wheel and the wheel support frame 17 for the right rear wheel by a connecting bolt.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 14, the mission 30 includes a decelerating mission unit 32 in which an aircraft shaft vertical input shaft 32 a is interlocked and connected to an output shaft 5 a of the aircraft 5 upward and downward through an automatic centrifugal clutch 31. A transmission transmission section 33 in which the input shaft 33a is linked to the output gear 32b of the deceleration transmission section 32, and a forward / reverse switching transmission mechanism 34 in which the input gear 34a is linked to the output shaft 33b of the transmission mission section 33. I have. A lateral output shaft 34 b of the transmission mechanism 34 for forward / reverse switching is interlocked to the lower end side of the relay transmission shaft 23 via a bevel gear mechanism 35.

  The speed reduction transmission section 32 includes an intermediate transmission shaft 32d that is vertically driven by the driving force of the input shaft 32a transmitted by the speed reduction transmission gear section 32c and a worm 32e that is supported so as to rotate integrally with the intermediate transmission shaft 32d. And. An output gear 32b of the speed reduction mission section 32 is constituted by a wheel meshed with the worm 32e.

  The transmission transmission unit 33 is configured to be able to shift to a two-stage transmission state of a high speed transmission state and a low speed transmission state. The transmission transmission unit 33 is shifted by a swinging operation of a transmission lever 33c (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided in front of the battery 8, and switches the driving speed of the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 between high speed and low speed. The shift lever 33c is linked to the shift operation section of the shift transmission section 33 via an operation cable.

  The forward / reverse switching transmission mechanism 34 includes a shift member 34c supported so as to be slidable on the output shaft 34b, and the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are moved forward by sliding the shift member 34c. It is configured to switch to a forward transmission state in which the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are driven backward, and a neutral state in which the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are stopped.

  The shift member 34c is engaged with the forward transmission gear 34d by being slid to the forward position, is engaged with the reverse transmission gear 34e by being slid to the reverse position, and is slid to the neutral position. Thus, the forward transmission gear 34d and the reverse transmission gear 34e are disengaged from each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 14, the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side transmits the driving force of the relay transmission shaft 23 to the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2. The transmission chain 42, the rotation adjusting transmission 43 for inputting the driving force of the transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction, and the lower transmission direction for transmitting the output of the rotation adjusting transmission 43 to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2. Side transmission chain 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 14, the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side transmits the driving force of the relay transmission shaft 23 to the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the right rear wheel 3. Transmission chain 42, a rotation adjusting transmission portion 43 for inputting the driving force of the transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction, and a transmission direction for transmitting the output of the rotation adjusting transmission portion 43 to the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3. A lower transmission chain 44.

  A transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction provided in the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side and the output sprocket 23a for the front wheel provided so as to rotate integrally with the relay transmission shaft 23 in the vertical direction of the fuselage, and the right front wheel 2 It is wound around an input sprocket 20a provided so as to rotate integrally with a rotary transmission shaft 20 that faces up and down. The transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction provided in the transmission mechanism 41 for the rear-wheel-side transmission shaft includes the rear-wheel output sprocket 23b provided to rotate integrally with the relay transmission shaft 23, and the body of the right rear wheel 3. It is wound around an input sprocket 20 a provided so as to rotate integrally with a vertically-rotating rotary transmission shaft 20. In the transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction provided in the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side and the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side, the forward transmission chain portion and the reverse transmission chain portion are connected to the relay transmission shaft 23 and the rotational transmission. It rotates in the rotation form arranged in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft 20.

  The rotation adjusting transmission 43 provided in the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side and the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side so as to rotate integrally with the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2 or the right rear wheel 3. And an output side gear 43b meshed with the input side gear 43a. An output sprocket 43d is supported on the rotation support shaft 43c of the output side gear 43b so as not to be relatively rotatable.

  The rotation adjusting transmission 43 provided in the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side and the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side is provided with a driving force transmitted from the relay transmission shaft 23 by the transmission chain 42 on the upper side in the transmission direction. The input side gear 40a and the output side gear 40b convert the driving force of the rotation direction to the reverse direction, and the converted driving force of the output side gear 40b is output from the output sprocket 43d to the transmission chain 44 on the lower side in the transmission direction.

  The rotational transmission shafts 20 of the left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3 are driven by the driving force transmitted from the relay transmission shaft 23 by the transmission chain 42 on the upper transmission side. The rotation adjustment transmission unit 43 provided in the transmission mechanism 40 is configured so that the rotation direction of the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2 and the rotation direction of the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right front wheel 2 are opposite to each other. The rotational direction of the driving force transmitted to the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2 is adjusted. In the rotation adjusting transmission 43 provided in the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission wheel on the rear wheel side, the rotation direction of the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3 is opposite to the rotation direction of the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the right rear wheel 3. The rotational direction of the driving force transmitted to the rotational transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3 is adjusted so as to be in the rotational direction.

  A transmission chain 44 on the lower side in the transmission direction provided in the transmission mechanism 40 for the transmission wheel on the front wheel side is provided so as to rotate integrally with the output sprocket 43 d of the rotation adjusting transmission unit 43 and the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left front wheel 2. It is wound around the input sprocket 20a. A transmission chain 44 on the lower side in the transmission direction provided in the transmission mechanism 41 for the transmission shaft on the rear wheel side is provided so as to rotate integrally with the output sprocket 43d of the rotation adjusting transmission unit 43 and the rotation transmission shaft 20 of the left rear wheel 3. It is wound around the input sprocket 20a.

The steering operation of the traveling machine will be described.
As shown in FIG. 11, the wheel steering operation mechanism 50 for the front wheels is integrally formed around the steering axis P on the front wheel drive case 18 of the left front wheel 2 and the front wheel drive case 18 of the right front wheel 2. A tie rod 51 which is provided so as to swing, and interlocks and connects the front arm portion 18a of the pair of front and rear arm portions 18a constituting the pair of front and rear steering operation portions of the left front wheel 2 and the right front wheel 2; A steering operation body 53 in which an output arm portion 53a is interlocked and connected to an arm 18a on the rear side of the front wheel drive case 18 of the left front wheel 2 via an operation rod 52, and a front wheel for operating the steering operation body 53. And a steering actuator 54.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 for the rear wheel has a steering axis P around the rear wheel drive case 19 on the left rear wheel 3 and the rear wheel drive case 19 on the right rear wheel 3. The arm portion 19a on the rear side of the pair of arm portions 19a constituting the pair of front and rear steering operation portions of the left rear wheel 3 and the right rear wheel 3 is provided. The tie rod 51 to be interlocked and connected, the steering operation body 53 in which the output arm portion 53a is interlocked and connected to the front arm portion 19a of the rear wheel drive case 19 of the right front wheel 2 via the operation rod 52, and the steering operation And a rear wheel steering actuator 56 for operating the body 53.

  The steering operation body 53 of the wheel steering operation mechanism 50 for the front wheels is swung upward and downward on the support member 57 provided on the upper surface side of the front portion of the cutting blade housing 11 in the body frame 12. It is supported so as to be able to swing around the axis Y.

  The steering operation body 53 of the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 for the rear wheel is provided on the upper surface side of the rear part of the body frame 12 relative to the part of the cutting blade housing 11, and the support member 57 swings upward and downward. It is supported so that it can be swung around the dynamic axis Y.

  The front wheel steering actuator 54 and the rear wheel steering actuator 56 are configured by an electric steering motor capable of forward / reverse driving in which output gears 54 a and 56 a are engaged with a fan-shaped gear portion 53 b provided in the steering operation body 53. is there. The electric steering motor is supported on the upper surface side of the body frame 12.

  Hereinafter, the front wheel steering actuator 54 will be described as the front wheel steering motor 54, and the rear wheel steering actuator 56 will be described as the rear wheel steering motor 56.

  The front wheel steering operation mechanism 50 operates the front wheel steering motor 54 in conjunction with the pair of left and right front wheels 2. That is, the front wheel steering motor 54 swings the steering operation body 53 about the swing axis Y, and the operating force of the steering operation body 53 is applied to the front wheel drive case 18 of the left front wheel 2 by the operation rod 52. Then, the front wheel drive case 18 is swung to steer the left front wheel 2. The operating force of the front wheel drive case 18 of the left front wheel 2 is transmitted to the front wheel drive case 18 of the right front wheel 2 by the tie rod 51 to swing the front wheel drive case 18, and the right front wheel 2 is moved to the left front. In conjunction with the wheel 2, the steering operation is performed in the same steering direction as the left front wheel 2.

  The wheel steering operation mechanism 55 for the rear wheels operates the pair of left and right rear wheels 3 in conjunction with the rear wheel steering motor 56. That is, the rear wheel steering motor 56 swings the steering operation body 53 about the swing axis Y, and the operating force of the steering operation body 53 is controlled by the operation rod 52 to the rear wheel drive case of the right rear wheel 3. 19, the rear wheel drive case 19 is swung, and the right rear wheel 3 is steered. The operating force of the rear wheel drive case 19 of the right rear wheel 3 is transmitted to the rear wheel drive case 19 of the left rear wheel 3 by the tie rod 51 to swing the rear wheel drive case 19, and the right rear wheel 3 Are operated in the same steering direction as the left rear wheel 3 in conjunction with the left rear wheel 3.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the control device 9 is configured to receive a radio wave signal as an operation command from the remote control device 10 by a built-in antenna (not shown). The control device 9 is provided with a steering control unit 9a configured using a microcomputer.

  The steering control unit 9a is based on a radio wave signal as an operation command from the remote operation device 10 as a steering operation device, and the front wheel steering control mode [2FS], the rear wheel steering control mode [2RS], and both wheels are the same. The steering control mode [4DS] and the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS] are set.

  When the front wheel steering control mode [2FS] is set, the steering control unit 9a controls the front wheel steering motor 56 while controlling the rear wheel steering motor 56 to the neutral state and maintaining the left and right rear wheels 3 in the neutral direction (straight forward direction). The direction motor 54 is controlled so that only the left and right front wheels 2 are steered in the steering direction corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10 and the steering angle corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10.

  When the rear wheel steering control mode [2RS] is set, the steering control unit 9a controls the front wheel steering motor 54 to the neutral state and maintains the left and right front wheels 2 in the neutral direction (straight forward direction). The steering motor 56 is controlled, and only the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered in the steering direction corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10 and the steering angle corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10.

  When the steering control unit 9a sets the steering control mode [4DS] for both wheels, the steering control unit 9a controls the front wheel steering motor 54 and the rear wheel steering motor 56, and controls the pair of left and right front wheels 2 and the pair of left and right rear wheels 3. The steering operation is performed in the same steering direction corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10 and to the steering angle corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10.

  When the steering control unit 9a sets the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS], the steering control unit 9a controls the front wheel steering motor 54 and the rear wheel steering motor 56 to control the pair of left and right front wheels 2 and the pair of left and right rear wheels 3. The steering operation is performed in the reverse steering direction corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10 and to the steering angle corresponding to the operation state of the remote operation device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the remote operation device 10 as a steering operation device is configured by a joystick including a two-wheel steering operation tool 60, a four-wheel steering operation tool 61, and a mode selection operation tool 62.

  The mode selection operation tool 62 is configured by a dial that can be rotated around an axis along the longitudinal direction of the remote operation device 10. By rotating the mode selection operation tool 62, as a transmission state of the remote operation device 10, a radio wave signal as a steering command corresponding to the operation state of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is transmitted. A transmission state, a transmission state for the four-wheel steering and the same steering for transmitting a radio signal as a steering command corresponding to the operation state of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 in the two-wheel steering control mode [4DS], In the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS], it is possible to select a transmission state for a four-wheel steering and a reverse steering for transmitting a radio signal as a steering command corresponding to the operation state of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61. It is configured.

  The two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is constituted by a stick lever that can be swung in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the remote control device 10. FIG. 17A is a front view showing the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 positioned on the operation path [K1] for steering the front wheels. FIG. 17B is a side view showing the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 positioned on the operation path [K1] for steering the front wheels. FIG. 17C is a front view showing the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 positioned on the operation path [K2] for rear wheel steering. FIG. 17D is a side view showing the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 located on the rear-wheel steering operation path [K2].

  As shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D, the front wheel steering operation path [K1] for operating the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 and the rear-wheel steering are used. The operation route [K2] is set as another operation route that is displaced in the vertical direction of the remote operation device 10. In the state where the transmission state for the two-wheel steering of the remote control device 10 is selected, the two-wheel steering operating tool 60 is set to the operation path [K1] for the front wheel steering as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). When positioned, the steering control unit 9a is set to the front wheel steering control mode [2FS] based on the radio signal from the remote operation device 10. In the state where the transmission state for the two-wheel steering of the remote control device 10 is selected, the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is operated to the rear-wheel steering operation path [K2] as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). The steering control unit 9a is set to the rear wheel steering control mode [2RS] based on the radio signal from the remote control device 10.

  When the transmission state for two-wheel steering of the remote operation device 10 is selected, the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is tilted from the neutral position to the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction in the operation path [K1] for front wheel steering. As a result, the front wheel steering motor 54 moves the left and right front wheels 2 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the operation direction of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 by the control in the front wheel steering control mode by the steering control unit 9a. The steering operation can be performed in the corresponding lateral direction, and the traveling body can be steered in the direction corresponding to the operation direction of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 by the steering operation using only the front wheel 2. As the tilting stroke of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased, the steering angle of the front wheel 2 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased.

  When the transmission state for two-wheel steering of the remote operation device 10 is selected, the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is tilted from the neutral position to the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction in the operation path [K2] for rear wheel steering. By the operation, the rear wheel steering motor 56 moves the left and right rear wheels 3 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 by the control in the rear wheel steering control mode by the steering control unit 9a. The steering operation can be performed in the horizontal direction corresponding to the operation direction, and the traveling body can be operated in the direction corresponding to the operation direction of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 by the steering operation using only the rear wheel 3. As the tilting stroke of the two-wheel steering operation tool 60 is increased in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction, the steering angle of the rear wheel 3 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased.

  The four-wheel steering operation tool 61 is constituted by a stick lever that can be swung in the lateral direction of the remote control device 10. FIG. 17E is a front view showing the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 positioned on the operation route [K3] in the two-wheel same steering control mode [4DS] and the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS]. FIG. 17F is a side view showing the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 positioned on the operation path [K3] in the two-wheel same steering control mode [4DS] and the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS].

  As shown in FIGS. 17E and 17F, an operation path [K1] for operating the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 in the two-wheel steering control mode [4DS] and a two-wheel reverse steering control mode [ 4GS], the operation route [k1] for operating the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 is set to the same operation route.

  When the transmission state for the four-wheel steering and the same steering of the remote control device 10 is selected, the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 is tilted in the operation path [K3] from the neutral position to the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction. Thus, the front wheel steering motor 54 moves the left and right front wheels 2 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the four-wheel steering by the control by the steering control unit 9a in the setting state of the two-wheel simultaneous steering control mode [4DS]. The rear wheel steering motor 56 steers the left and right rear wheels 3 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the lateral direction corresponding to the operation direction of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61. In this case, the steering operation can be performed in the same lateral direction as the left and right front wheels 2 so that the traveling machine body is translated leftward or rightward. As the tilting stroke of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased, the steering angle of the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased.

  When the transmission state for the four-wheel steering and the reverse steering of the remote operation device 10 is selected, the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 is tilted from the neutral position to the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction in the operation path [K3]. Thus, the front wheel steering motor 54 moves the left and right front wheels 2 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the four-wheel steering by the control by the steering control unit 9a in the setting state of the two-wheel reverse steering control mode [4GS]. The rear wheel steering motor 56 steers the left and right rear wheels 3 from the neutral direction (straight forward direction) to the lateral direction corresponding to the operation direction of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61. In this case, the steering operation can be performed so as to turn the traveling machine body with a small radius by performing the steering operation in the lateral direction opposite to the lateral direction of the left and right front wheels 2. As the tilting stroke of the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased, the steering angle of the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is increased.

  The two-wheel steering operation tool 60 and the four-wheel steering operation tool 61 automatically return to the neutral position when the tilting operation in the left lateral direction and the right lateral direction is released, and the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are It is operated in a neutral direction (straight forward direction).

  The forward / reverse switch 63 provided in the remote control device 10 transmits a radio wave signal as a forward command and a reverse command from the remote control device 10 and operates the forward / backward control unit 9b provided in the control device 9. . The forward / reverse control unit 9b controls the transmission switching motor 64 as a transmission switching actuator linked to the operation unit of the transmission mechanism 34 for forward / reverse switching based on the radio signal from the remote control device 10 to switch forward / reverse. The transmission mechanism 34 is switched to a forward state, a reverse state and a neutral state.

The automatic stop of the traveling machine will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, obstacle sensors 70 are provided at the front and rear of the traveling machine body. As shown in FIG. 16, the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 and the forward / reverse switching transmission mechanism 34 are linked by a linkage mechanism 80 including a control device 9.

  In other words, when the traveling vehicle is traveling forward, if an obstacle such as a tree existing in front of the traveling direction is detected by the front obstacle sensor 70, the traveling vehicle automatically moves slightly backward to the rear side of the aircraft. Then, it is configured to stop. When the traveling vehicle is traveling backward, when an obstacle such as a tree existing in the forward direction is detected by the obstacle sensor 70 at the rear, the traveling vehicle automatically reverses slightly forward to the front of the aircraft. It is configured to stop. Specifically, the configuration is as follows.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 12, and 13, the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 are configured to have a long bar shape in the lateral direction of the machine body. The front and rear obstacle sensors 70 include a support arm 71 extending from both ends in the longitudinal direction, and a lateral support shaft 72 connected to the extended end of the left and right support arms 71. A bracket 73 that supports the support shaft 72 so as to be relatively rotatable is provided at the ends of the left and right reinforcing frames 14, and the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 are configured so that the body axis of the support shaft 72 is pivoted around the body. It swings as the core X and moves in the longitudinal direction of the machine body relative to the frame part 1 of the traveling machine body.

  In the following description, the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 and the movements and parts of the members related to the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 will be described as the outer side of the body and the inner side of the body. In the description of the members related to the front obstacle sensor 70 and the front obstacle sensor 70, the outer side and the inner side of the body correspond to the front side and the rear side of the body, the rear obstacle sensor 70, and the rear obstacle. The airframe outer side and the airframe inner side in the description of the members related to the object sensor 70 correspond to the airframe rear side and the airframe front side.

  Energizing mechanisms 65 are mounted on both ends of the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 in the longitudinal direction. The left and right urging mechanisms 65 attached to the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 are supported by the support arm 71 so that one end side is relatively rotated, and the other end side is provided at the end of the reinforcing frame 14. The bracket 14b is provided with a front and rear stroke restriction rod 66 supported so as to slide in the front and rear direction of the body. A pin-shaped stopper 66a is provided in a portion of the stroke restricting rod 66 located on the inner side of the machine body than the bracket 14b. A spring force adjusting screw 67 is provided in a portion of the stroke restricting rod 66 that is located on the outer side of the machine body relative to the bracket 14b. An urging spring 68 disposed between the bracket 14 b and the spring force adjusting screw 67 is attached to the stroke restricting rod 66.

  In the left and right urging mechanisms 65 of the front and rear obstacle sensors 70, the stopper 66a contacts the bracket 14b as the stroke restriction rod 66 moves outward due to the movement of the obstacle sensor 70 outward. In contact therewith, further movement of the stroke restriction rod 66 to the outside of the machine body is restricted, and further movement of the obstacle sensor 70 to the outside of the machine body is restricted by the stroke restriction rod 66. As the stroke restriction rod 66 moves inward of the airframe due to the movement of the obstacle sensor 70 inward of the airframe, the urging spring 68 is pressed against the bracket 14 b while being elastically deformed by the spring force adjusting screw 67, and the spring force adjusting screw 67. Is received and supported by the urging spring 68, and further movement of the stroke restriction rod 66 to the inside of the machine body is restricted, and further movement of the obstacle sensor 70 to the inside of the machine body is restricted by the stroke restriction rod 66.

  The front and rear obstacle sensors 70 include a stroke end E1 outside the machine body where the stopper 66a abuts the bracket 14b, and a stroke end E2 inside the machine body where the spring force adjusting screw 67 is received and supported by the biasing spring 68. Move in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The position between the stroke end E1 on the outer side of the body and the stroke end E2 on the inner side of the body of the entire stroke H of the obstacle sensor 70 is set as the detection position T of the obstacle sensor 70. More specifically, the position closer to the stroke end E1 outside the machine body than the center position of all the strokes H is set as the detection position T. A position outside the body of the entire stroke H from the detection position T is set as a non-detection position N of the obstacle sensor 70. In the embodiment, the non-detection position N and the stroke end E1 on the outer side of the body coincide with or substantially coincide with each other. The obstacle sensor 70 located at the detection position T in the region of the whole stroke H beyond the detection position T is then moved by the obstacle to the opposite side of the non-detection position N beyond the detection position T. It is set as a buffer area W that makes it possible. The obstacle sensor 70 is urged to the non-detection position N by the left and right urging springs 68, and is located at the non-detection position N in a normal time when it is not subjected to a pressing operation by the obstacle.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the linkage mechanism 80 includes a detection switch 81 for the front sensor that detects the position of the front obstacle sensor 70 and a detection for the rear sensor that detects the position of the rear obstacle sensor 70. A switch 82, a transmission switching motor 64 as a transmission switching actuator for switching the forward / reverse switching transmission mechanism 34, and a control device 9 linked to the transmission switching motor 64 and the detection switches 81 and 82 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 12, and 13, the front sensor detection switch 81 is supported by a connecting frame 83 that connects the front end portions of the left and right front-rear reinforcing frames 14. A switch operating portion 84 for the detection switch 81 for the front sensor is provided so as to rotate integrally with the support shaft 72 of the front obstacle sensor 70.

  The detection switch 82 for the rear sensor is supported by a connecting frame 83 that connects the rear end portions of the left and right front-rear reinforcing frames 14. A switch operating portion 84 for the detection switch 82 for the rear sensor is provided on the support shaft 72 of the rear obstacle sensor 70 so as to rotate integrally.

  The detection switches 81 and 82 for the front sensor and the rear sensor are supported on the lower side of the connection frame 83. The connection frame 83 has a guard function that covers the detection switches 81 and 82.

  When the obstacle sensor 70 is located at the non-detection position N, the detection switches 81 and 82 for the front sensor and the rear sensor are in a cut-off state because the pressure-sensitive unit does not receive a pressing operation by the switch operation unit 84. When the obstacle sensor 70 moves from the non-detection position N to the detection position T, the pressure-sensitive portion receives a pressing operation by the switch operation portion 84 and switches from the cut state to the on state. When the obstacle sensor 70 is located in the buffer region W, the detection switches 81 and 82 continue to receive the pressure operation by the switch operation unit 84, but the switch is only changed in position. There is no problem in function.

  The control device 9 includes a stop control unit 9c. The stop control unit 9c inputs the position information of the front obstacle sensor 70 from the detection switch 81 for the front sensor, inputs the position information of the rear obstacle sensor 70 from the detection switch 82 for the rear sensor, Based on these input information and a program preliminarily input to the control device 9, an operation command is output to the forward / reverse control unit 9b to control the transmission switching motor 64 by the forward / reverse control unit 9b. A forward / reverse switching operation and a stop operation of the traveling body corresponding to the detection of the obstacle by the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 are performed.

  That is, when both the front obstacle sensor 70 and the rear obstacle sensor 70 are at the non-detection position N, the stop control section 9c switches the transmission based on the operation command from the remote control device 10 to the forward / reverse control section 9b. An operation command for controlling the motor 64 is output, and the traveling operation of the traveling machine body by the remote operation device 10 is enabled.

  When the front obstacle sensor 70 is located at the detection position T, the stop control unit 9c controls the transmission switching motor 64 in the reverse operation state in preference to the operation command from the remote control device 10 to the forward / reverse control unit 9b. Thus, the transmission mechanism 34 is switched from the forward transmission state to the reverse transmission state, and the traveling machine body is switched from the forward traveling to the reverse traveling.

  The stop control unit 9c maintains the transmission mechanism 34 in the reverse transmission state for a preset setting duration, and then causes the forward / reverse control unit 9b to control the transmission switching motor 64 to the neutral state, thereby moving the transmission mechanism 34 in the reverse direction. Switch from the transmission state to the neutral state to stop the traveling aircraft. This stop of the traveling machine is continued until a forward command and a reverse command from the remote control device 10 are received later.

  When the rear obstacle sensor 70 is located at the detection position T, the stop control unit 9c causes the forward / reverse control unit 9b to control the transmission switching motor 64 to the forward operation state in preference to the operation command from the remote operation device 10. Then, the transmission mechanism 34 is switched from the reverse transmission state to the forward transmission state, and the traveling machine body is switched from the reverse drive to the forward drive.

  The stop control unit 9c maintains the transmission mechanism 34 in the forward transmission state for a preset setting duration, and then causes the forward / reverse control unit 9b to control the transmission switching motor 64 to the neutral state to move the transmission mechanism 34 forward. Switch from the transmission state to the neutral state to stop the traveling aircraft. This stop of the traveling machine is continued until a forward command and a reverse command from the remote control device 10 are received later.

  Even if the front and rear obstacle sensors 70 move from the non-detection position N to the detection position T due to contact with the obstacle, they do not remain stopped at the detection position T, but exceed the detection position T. Moving to the buffer region W, the dead end of the traveling machine body due to the contact between the obstacle sensor 70 and the obstacle does not occur.

  That is, when an obstacle is detected by the obstacle sensor 70, the transmission mechanism 34 is switched by the transmission switching motor 64 based on the stop control of the stop control unit 9c. However, when the obstacle sensor 70 switched from the non-detection position to the detection position is located at the stroke end, the dead end of the traveling body occurs due to the obstacle sensor 70 hitting the obstacle, and the transmission mechanism 34 is switched. The applied load increases and the transmission mechanism 34 may not be switched smoothly.

  On the other hand, switching from one of the forward transmission state and the reverse transmission state of the transmission mechanism 34 accompanying the detection of the obstacle by the front and rear obstacle sensors 70, and switching to the neutral state after the switching. However, this is performed while the dead end of the traveling machine body does not occur due to the movement of the obstacle sensor 70 to the buffer region W, and the switching operation of the transmission mechanism 34 is performed lightly.

The mowing apparatus 4 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the mowing apparatus 4 includes a cutting blade housing 11 provided at an intermediate portion of the body frame 12 in the front-rear direction of the body frame, and a rotary shaft centering vertically on the body inside the cutting blade housing 11. A cutting blade 90 is provided so as to be rotated around Z. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cutting blade 90 has a circular cutting blade base 90 a and a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade base 90 a in a plan view supported by the cutting blade support shaft 97 so as not to rotate relative to each other. And a bar-shaped cutting blade main body 90b supported so as to be swingable.

  The cutting blade housing 11 has a forward working opening 91 opened forward in the forward direction of the airframe below the front end side portion of the airframe frame 12 and a rearward opening opened in the rearward direction of the airframe below the rear end side portion of the airframe frame 12. A working opening 92 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, a working opening 94 is provided in the lateral wall portion 93 on the right side of the machine body of the cutting blade housing 11 so as to open outward to the right side of the machine body. The lateral working opening 94 is located at a lateral end side portion of the traveling machine body opposite to the lateral end side where the battery 8 is located.

  The lateral working opening 94 can be opened and closed by a lid 95 supported on the lateral end of the cutting blade housing 11. That is, the longitudinal support shaft 95 a provided on the upper end side of the lid 95 is supported by the pair of front and rear support portions 96 provided on the cutting blade housing 11 so as to be relatively rotatable. The lid body 95 is pivoted upwardly with the axis of the support shaft 95a as the opening / closing axis Q of the front / rear direction of the body, thereby opening the lateral working opening 94 in the ascending open position and opening / closing shaft By swinging downward about the core Q in the downward direction of the machine body, the lowering work posture 94 is closed in the lowered closed posture.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lid body 95 and the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 for the rear wheels are linked by a linkage mechanism 100 including an operation cable 101.

  The linkage mechanism 100 includes a swingable operation arm 102 supported so as not to rotate relative to a support shaft 95a of a cover body 95, an operation cable 101 having an inner cable connected to one end side of the operation arm 102, and an inner cable. And a swing link 103 to which the other end is connected. The swing link 103 is supported on the rotation support shaft 53c of the steering operation body 53 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

  When the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered from a steered state to a laterally steered state in which the rear end side of the right rear wheel 3 is exposed to the outside of the machine body, the swing link 103 is The rotational force is operated to swing around the axis of the rotation support shaft 53c, and the inner cable of the operation cable 101 is pulled by the swing link 103 to swing the operation arm 102 to the open operation posture.

  When the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered from a lateral steering state in which the rear end side of the right rear wheel 3 is exposed to the outside of the machine body to a steering state in a straight traveling direction, the swing link 103 is connected to the steering manipulation body 53. The rotating power is operated to swing around the axis of the rotation support shaft 53c, and the inner cable of the operation cable 101 is loosened by the swing link 103 to swing the operation arm 102 to the closed operation posture.

  When the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered from the steered state to the sideward steered state in which the rear end side of the right rear wheel 3 is placed inside the body, the swing link 103 is The rotating power is operated to swing around the axis of the rotation support shaft 53c, and the inner cable of the operation cable 101 is loosened by the swing link 103. However, the lid 95 is in the lowered closed position and is slackened by the inner cable. Therefore, the operation arm 102 is closed and maintained in the operation posture.

  Therefore, the left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered to a lateral steering state in which the rear end sides of the right front wheel 2 and the right rear wheel 3 are exposed to the outside of the body in the same steering control mode 4DS. Then, the lid body 95 is operated to open in conjunction with this. The left and right front wheels 2 and the left and right rear wheels 3 are steered straight in the same steering control mode for both wheels, and the sideways steering that puts the rear ends of the right front wheel 2 and the right rear wheel 3 inside the body. When the steering operation is performed in the direction, the lid body 95 is closed in conjunction with the steering operation.

  Therefore, when the traveling machine body travels forward, the mowing apparatus 4 introduces grass to be processed into the cutting blade housing 11 from the forward working opening 91 and performs cutting processing with the cutting blade 90. In this case, the lateral working opening 94 is closed by the lid 95.

  When the traveling machine body travels backward, the grass cutting device 4 introduces the grass to be processed into the cutting blade housing 11 from the work opening 92 facing backward, and cuts the grass with the cutting blade 90. In this case, the lateral working opening 94 is closed by the lid 95.

  The mowing device 4 is steered to a lateral steering state in which the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are placed in the lateral steering state in which the rear ends of the right front wheel 2 and the right rear wheel 3 are exposed to the outside of the body by the same steering control mode 4DS. When the traveling machine body travels to the right side, the lateral working opening 94 is automatically opened by the linkage mechanism 100, and the grass to be treated is introduced into the cutting blade housing 11 from the lateral working opening 94. The cutting process is performed by the cutting blade 90. In this way, the traveling of the traveling machine body during the mowing work for introducing the grass to be treated into the mowing blade housing 11 from the lateral work opening 94 places the lateral work opening 94 on the low level side of the slope. Even when traveling, the battery 8 is positioned on the side of the airframe opposite to the side of the airframe where the lateral working opening 94 is located, and the side of the side of the traveling airframe located on the high level side of the inclined ground. The weight function of applying a load to the battery 8 can be exerted on the battery 8 to suppress the roll of the traveling machine body having the work opening side as a swing fulcrum.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a method of moving the traveling machine body. In FIG. 15, in order to make it easier to understand the movement of the traveling machine body, the distance between the completed work travel area A <b> 1 and the next work travel area A <b> 2 is described wider than the cutting width D of the mowing device 4. However, when the work is actually performed, the finished work travel area A1 and the next work travel area A2 are not caused between the finished work travel area A1 and the next work travel area A2. Is made substantially the same as the cutting width D.

  That is, when the traveling machine body reaches the end point of the work traveling area A1, the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are steered to the laterally outward steering state in the two-wheel steering control mode 4DS, and the lateral work opening 94 is operated. The traveling machine body is caused to travel sideways to the next work traveling area A2 in a state where the direction of travel is directed. At this time, since the linkage mechanism 100 opens the lid body 95 to steer the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 to the steering state in the horizontal direction in the same steering control mode 4DS for both wheels, It can be introduced into the cutting blade housing 11 from the working opening 94, and the grass cutting process located in the movement path can be performed. When the traveling machine body reaches the next work traveling area A2, the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 are steered to the steering state along the traveling direction in the next work traveling area A2, and the traveling machine body is moved to the next working traveling area. In A2, the vehicle travels in a travel direction opposite to the travel direction in the work travel area A1 that has been completed.

The drive structure of the mowing apparatus 4 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 14, the machine body vertical cutting blade support shaft 97 that supports the cutting blade 90 at the lower end portion so as not to rotate relatively is rotated relative to the cylindrical cutting blade support portion 15 a of the transmission case 15. It is supported. The cutting blade support shaft 97 is coaxially positioned below the intermediate transmission shaft 32d of the speed reduction transmission section 32. A cutting blade clutch 98 is provided across the cutting blade support shaft 97 and the intermediate transmission shaft 32d.

  When the cutting blade clutch 98 is switched to the engaged state, the cutting blade support shaft 97 and the intermediate transmission shaft 32d are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other, and the cutting blade support shaft 97 is driven by the intermediate transmission shaft 32d. 90 is rotationally driven by the cutting blade support shaft 97 with the axis of the cutting blade support shaft 97 as the rotation axis Z.

  When the cutting blade clutch 98 is switched to the cut state, the connection between the cutting blade support shaft 97 and the intermediate transmission shaft 32d is released, the transmission to the cutting blade support shaft 97 is cut off, and the cutting blade 90 stops. .

  The switching operation between the engaged state and the disconnected state of the cutting blade clutch 98 is configured to be performed by a swinging operation of a clutch lever 98a (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided in front of the battery 8. The clutch lever 98a is interlocked and connected to the operation portion of the cutting blade clutch 98 via an operation cable.

[Another Example]
(1) FIG. 18 is a side view showing a front portion of a mower provided with another implementation structure.
As shown in FIG. 18, in a mower equipped with another implementation structure, a bumper 110 is provided at the front of the traveling machine body. The front bumper 110 is supported by a stay 111 extending from the front wheel support frame 13 toward the front of the machine body. The front bumper 110 is located below the front obstacle sensor 70 and forward of the front work opening 91. Is located.

  Although the illustration of the rear part of the traveling machine body of the mower having another embodiment structure is omitted, the rear part of the traveling machine body is also arranged below the obstacle sensor 70 at the rear part, and more than the rear working opening 92. A bumper is provided at the rear of the aircraft. The rear bumper is supported by a stay 111 extending rearward from the rear wheel support frame 13.

  The grass to be treated is pushed forward by the bumper 110 in the traveling direction of the traveling machine body, and the grass to be treated is introduced into the cutting blade housing 11 in a standing posture or an inclined posture forward in the traveling direction. It is possible to avoid or suppress cutting failures such as cutting mistakes by the cutting blade 90. Further, if there is a clot or the like that is located lower than the obstacle sensor 70 and cannot be detected by the obstacle sensor 70, the bumper 110 pushes away or crushes the obstacle, and the obstacle is cut into the cutting blade housing 11. Intrusion can be avoided or suppressed.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which the lid body 95 and the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 of the rear wheel 3 are linked is shown, but the wheel steering operation mechanism 50 of the lid body 95 and the front wheel 2 You may carry out by linking.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the lid 95 and the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 are linked is shown. However, the lid 95 and the wheel steering operation mechanism 55 are not linked, and the lid 95 is You may comprise and implement so that it may open and close by human operation.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the battery 8 is arranged on the lateral end side opposite to the lateral end side where the working opening 94 is located in the traveling machine body is shown. You may carry out by arrange | positioning at the horizontal end side of the side in which 94 is located, or a front part or a rear part.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the front wheel 1, the rear wheel 2, and the mowing device 4 are driven by the engine 5 has been described, but an electric motor may be used as a prime mover instead of the engine 5. .

  The present invention is applicable to a mower having a mowing device 4 provided with various types of cutting blades such as a bar-shaped cutting blade in addition to the cutting blade 90 provided with a circular cutting blade base 90a.

2 Front wheel 3 Rear wheel 4 Mowing device 8 Battery 11 Cutting blade housing 55 Wheel steering operation mechanism 90 Cutting blade 93 Side wall portion 94 Work opening 95 Lid Z Rotating shaft core

Claims (3)

A traveling body that self-propels by a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear wheels;
A mowing device supported by the traveling machine body;
The mowing apparatus includes a cutting blade housing, and a cutting blade that is driven to rotate about a rotation axis center of the traveling machine body in the vertical direction inside the cutting blade housing,
Provided in the side wall portion of the cutting blade housing so that a working opening can be opened and closed by a lid,
The left and right pair of front wheels and the left and right pair of rear wheels are steered to the same lateral lateral steering state so that the traveling machine body can be traveled laterally with the working opening facing the traveling direction. Mower.   When the pair of left and right front wheels and the pair of left and right rear wheels are steered to the laterally steered state, when the lateral travel of the traveling machine body is released so that the lid is opened, The mower according to claim 1, wherein the lid and the wheel steering operation mechanism are linked so that the lid is closed.   The mower according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a battery is disposed in a portion of the traveling machine body on the side of the lateral end opposite to the side of the lateral end where the working opening is located.

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