JP5695402B2 - Electric riding work vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric riding work vehicle including a chassis that is a traveling vehicle body, a pair of left and right drive wheels for traveling, and two traveling motors that are separately connected to the driving wheels and drive the driving wheels. .

  In recent years, from the viewpoint of preventing global warming, the movement to regulate exhaust gases including greenhouse gases has become a social trend. The response to this movement is remarkable in the automobile industry, and so-called eco cars such as hybrid cars and electric cars are being developed. In particular, in recent years, technological development for practical application of electric vehicles using a battery as a power source has been activated.

  However, such technological development is not very active in the field of passenger work vehicles. In particular, in the field of riding lawn mowers, there is currently no technical development at a practicable level. Therefore, it is important to develop an electric riding mower.

  On the other hand, in a conventional lawn mower (passenger mower), the mower blade is rotated by the power of an engine or the like while traveling to mow the lawn. Such a lawn mower includes a chassis, and includes a front wheel and a rear wheel below the front and rear of the chassis. The rear wheel has a larger diameter than the front wheel, and a driver's seat is attached above the rear wheel and above the chassis. In order to reduce vibration from the rear wheel to the driver's seat, a suspension is attached above the rear wheel and between the chassis and the driver's seat.

JP-A-10-113029

  However, such a conventional lawn mower suspension has a problem that the apparatus becomes large. Therefore, the present invention is to provide an electric riding work vehicle including a drive wheel suspension having a compact configuration.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is a chassis that is a traveling vehicle body,
A pair of left and right drive wheels for traveling;
Two traveling motors that are separately connected to each of the drive wheels and that drive the drive wheels;
A pair of suspensions elastically connecting the respective driving motors and the chassis;
The traveling motor is rotatable up and down around a first axis extending in the left-right direction with respect to the chassis;
A regulating member for regulating a vertical rotation angle of the traveling motor, between the traveling motor and the chassis,
The restricting member is a rod extending in the front-rear direction, and one end of the restriction member is loosely fitted to the chassis so as to be rotatable about a second axis extending in the left-right direction adjacent to the first axis, and the other end is The driving motor is loosely fitted so as to be rotatable about a third shaft extending in the left-right direction .

The invention according to claim 2 is the electric riding work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor frame for attaching the traveling motor;
The chassis that supports the motor frame from the top so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the first axis ;
The suspension includes the suspension for elastically connecting the motor frame and the chassis.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electric riding work vehicle according to the first aspect, the traveling motor is attached to the chassis so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the first axis .
One end of the suspension is attached to the traveling motor, and the other end of the suspension is attached to the chassis.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electric riding work vehicle according to the first aspect, the chassis is disposed in the vicinity of each of the pair of left and right drive wheels,
It has a gate shape in rear view, and has a horizontal frame whose ends are fixed to the left and right chassis ,
The upper ends of the pair of suspensions are respectively attached to the horizontal frame.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the chassis that is the traveling vehicle body, the pair of left and right drive wheels for traveling, the two traveling motors that are separately connected to the driving wheels and that drive the driving wheels, And a pair of suspensions that elastically connect the respective traveling motors and the chassis, and the traveling motors are rotatable up and down around a first axis extending in the left-right direction with respect to the chassis. A regulating member for regulating the vertical rotation angle of the motor for driving is provided between the traveling motor and the chassis, the regulating member is a rod extending in the front-rear direction, and one end is close to the chassis at the first axis The other end is loosely fitted around a second axis extending in the left-right direction, and the other end is loosely fitted around the third axis extending in the left-right direction to the travel motor.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric riding work vehicle including a suspension for driving wheels having a compact configuration in which a suspension is disposed between a chassis and a traveling motor.
Moreover, when a large undulation is encountered, it is possible to avoid the traveling motor from greatly rising and colliding with other members provided in the chassis to damage the traveling motor.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a motor frame for mounting the traveling motor, a chassis that supports the motor frame in the vertical direction about the first axis and that supports the motor frame from above, and the motor Since the suspension for elastically connecting the frame and the chassis is provided, the traveling motor can be securely fixed to the motor frame, and the traveling motor can be rotated with respect to the chassis.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the traveling motor is attached to the chassis so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction around the first axis, and one end of the suspension is attached to the traveling motor, and the other end of the suspension is attached to the chassis. Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric riding work vehicle with a reduced number of parts without requiring a frame for supporting the traveling motor.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the chassis is disposed in the vicinity of each of the pair of left and right drive wheels , has a portal shape in the rear view, and the horizontal frame whose end is fixed to the left and right chassis respectively. The upper ends of the pair of suspensions were respectively attached to the horizontal frame. Therefore, the upper ends of the left and right suspensions can be fixed with one horizontal frame, and an electric riding work vehicle with a reduced number of parts can be provided. In addition, the left and right chassis can be reinforced by the horizontal frames, and both the reinforcing member and the suspension fixing member can be used, and an electric riding work vehicle with a further reduced number of parts can be provided.

It is a top view of the electric lawn mower as an example of the electric riding work vehicle of this invention. It is the schematic side view seen from the left side of the rear part of the electric lawn mower which is the principal part of this invention. FIG. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of a motor frame, (a) is a rear view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view seen from the left side, (d) is A arrow of (b). A sectional view in view, (e) is a sectional view taken along arrow B in (b). It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of a motor bracket, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a rear view which shows attachment of a motor bracket and a rear main frame, (c) is a side view seen from the left side is there. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of the spring bracket 75, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a figure for showing attachment with a motor bracket. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of the spring bracket 77, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a figure for showing attachment with a rear part main frame. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of a spring apparatus, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a disassembled perspective view, (c) is the state which attached the spring apparatus between the rear main frame and the motor frame. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a rear-wheel, (a) is a side view from the left side which shows the state when the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump, (b) is the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump. (C) is a side view showing the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess, and (d) shows the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess. It is a rear view. It is a top view of another example of the electric riding work vehicle of this invention. It is the principal part schematic plan view. It is the schematic side view seen from the left side of the rear part of the electric lawn mower which is the principal part of this example. (A) is the top view, (b) is A arrow sectional drawing of (a). (A) is a perspective view of the spring bracket 177, (b) is a figure for demonstrating attachment of the spring bracket 177 and a spring support frame. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a rear-wheel, (a) is a side view from the left side which shows the state when the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump, (b) is the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump. (C) is a side view showing the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess, and (d) shows the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess. It is a rear view. (A) is the schematic side view seen from the left side of a rear part, (b) is a top view of (a), (c) is a rear view of (a) of the electric lawn mower of another example of this invention. (A) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a plan view, and (d) is a side view as viewed from the left side of the traveling motor provided on the left side. (A) is a figure for demonstrating attachment of the motor for driving, a rear part main frame, and the spring apparatus which connects both, (b) is a figure for demonstrating attachment of a motor for driving and a motor frame. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a rear-wheel, (a) is a side view from the left side which shows the state when the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump, (b) is the left-side rear wheel rides on a bump. (C) is a side view showing the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess, and (d) shows the state when the left rear wheel passes through the recess. It is a rear view. (A) is the side view seen from the left side which shows another example of this invention, (b) is a figure for demonstrating attachment of a connecting rod. (A) is the schematic side view seen from the left side of a rear part, (b) is a top view of (a), (c) is a rear view of (a) of the electric lawn mower of another example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, “front” refers to the forward direction of the electric riding work vehicle, “rear” refers to the reverse direction, “left / right” refers to “left / right”, “up / down” toward the forward direction, respectively. Respectively means the “up and down” direction of the vehicle. In FIG. 1, the top view of the electric lawn mower 10 as an example of the electric riding work vehicle of this invention is shown. The electric lawn mower 10 includes front wheels 11, rear wheels 12, 12, a driver's seat 13, travel operation levers 14, 14, mower blades (not shown), mower decks 15, 15. There is one front wheel 11 provided at the center of the front end of the electric lawn mower 10. The front wheel 11 has a metal wheel at its center, and a rubber tire on the outside of the wheel. The axle is passed through the center of rotation of the wheel. The wheel is rotatable with respect to the axle (that is, the front wheel 11 is driven to rotate).

  The axle is attached to the lower end of the front wheel bracket 16. The front wheel bracket 16 is formed by forming a metal plate in a gate shape. A cylindrical portion 17 is placed on the top surface of the front wheel bracket 16. A rotation shaft is provided at the center of the cylindrical portion 17, and the lower end of the rotation shaft is fixed to the front wheel bracket 16 with a bolt or the like. A lid portion of a donut-shaped metal plate is fixed to the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical portion 17, and a rotation shaft is rotatably attached to the center of the lid portion. The front end of the main frame (chassis) 18 is fixed to the side surface of the cylindrical portion 17 by welding or the like. The main frame 18 is made of a metal having a gate shape in a longitudinal sectional view. Footrests 19 and 19 are fixed to both sides of the front end portion of the main frame 18 via support members 19A and 19A, respectively.

  More decks 15 and 15 are provided on both sides below the main frame 18. The mower deck 15 is formed in a substantially circular metal deep dish shape, and is arranged so as to cover the mower blade from above and from the side. A through hole for allowing the output shaft of the mower motor (mowing mower) to pass therethrough is provided at substantially the center of the mower deck 15. The mower motor is mounted at the approximate center of the top of the mower deck 15 and is fixed by bolts or the like (the mower motor is provided below step 38 and cannot be seen in this figure). The rotation center of the mower blade is connected to the output shaft of the mower motor protruding into the mower deck 15. Therefore, the electric lawn mower 10 includes one mower blade in each mower deck 15.

  Gauge wheels (auxiliary wheels) 23 are attached to the front portions of the mower decks 15 and 15 via brackets 22, respectively. The gauge wheel 23 includes a metal wheel at the center thereof, and a rubber tire on the outside of the wheel. The axle is passed through the center of rotation of the wheel. The wheel is rotatable with respect to the axle (that is, the gauge wheel 23 is driven to rotate). In addition, the gauge wheel 23 follows ups and downs of the running surface, and the mower deck 15 rotates up and down in accordance therewith (therefore, the gauge wheel 23 is always in a grounded state when mowing the lawn). The rotation center at which the mower deck 15 rotates up and down is parallel to the main frame 18.

  The axle of the gauge wheel 23 is attached to the lower end of the auxiliary front wheel bracket 24. The auxiliary front wheel bracket 24 is rotatably attached to the bracket 22 via the cylindrical portion 25.

  A rear main frame (chassis) described later is connected to the rear end of the main frame 18. Three batteries 30 are arranged side by side on the rear main frame. The battery 30 is preferably a lithium ion battery. Specifically, it is desirable to use a battery having a high energy density and a long life, such as a lithium manganese dioxide battery, a lithium fluoride graphite battery, a thionyl lithium chloride battery, a lithium copper oxide battery, a lithium iron disulfide battery, and a lithium iodine battery. The three batteries 30 are connected in series (the terminal voltage in series is 72V). A storage case (not shown) is provided above the battery 30 and stores electronic devices such as a controller (voltage equalization device) for the battery 30. The controller of the battery 30 corrects minute voltage fluctuations of the battery 30.

  A cowling 28 is provided so as to cover the battery 30 from above. A driver's seat 13 is attached to the upper surface of the cowling 28. A power supply port may be provided on the left side surface of the cowling 28 so that the battery 30 can be charged with a plug-in.

  Below the rear main frame, a traveling motor described later is provided. One traveling motor is provided for each of the left and right rear wheels (drive wheels) 12 and 12.

  The motor driver of the travel motor controls the rotation direction and rotation speed of the travel motor according to the tilting amount of the travel operation lever 14. The rotation of the mower motor is controlled so as to be interlocked with the rotation speed of the traveling motor. That is, when the traveling speed is increased, the rotational speed of the mower blade is also increased, and when the traveling speed is decreased, the rotational speed of the mower blade is also decreased.

  The traveling operation lever 14 is tiltably provided, and when the driver tilts the traveling operation lever 14 forward, the traveling motor rotates in the forward direction. On the other hand, when the travel operation lever 14 is tilted later, the travel motor rotates in the reverse direction. Further, the rotational speed of the traveling motor changes depending on the tilting degree of the traveling operation lever 14. That is, when the traveling operation lever 14 is largely moved forward (rearward), the traveling motor rotates faster in the forward (reverse) direction, and when the traveling operation lever 14 is moved forward (rearward) smaller, the traveling motor is moved forward ( Slowly rotate in the backward direction. The traveling operation levers 14 and 14 provided on the left and right sides of the driver seat 13 correspond to the operations of the left and right traveling motors, respectively. Accordingly, the driver can perform forward / backward movement, left / right turn, turning, and the like by appropriately operating the left and right traveling operation levers 14 and 14 in the forward and backward direction.

  A lock release pedal (lock operation pedal) 33 and a deck lifting / lowering pedal (lifting / lowering operation pedal) 34 are rotatably provided on the left and right side surfaces near the center of the main frame 18. The deck raising / lowering pedal 34 is for lowering the mower deck 15 (mowing position) or raising it (non-mowing position). The lock release pedal 33 is used to lock or release the rotation of the deck lift pedal 34.

  On the main frame 18, the upper ends of the two deck arms are suspended so as to be rotatable. On the other hand, a subframe is attached to the lower end of the deck arm. The sub frame is provided directly under the main frame 18 and along the main frame 18. A spring support bracket is provided upright on the subframe. An upper end of a coil spring (compression spring) is attached to the upper part of the spring support bracket. The lower end of the coil spring is attached to the mower deck 15 via a support bar. The support bar is fixed to the side portion of the mower motor mounted on the mower deck 15 in a substantially parallel manner along the upper surface of the mower deck 15.

  The coil spring functions to press the mower deck 15 (and the gauge wheel 23) against the road surface so that the gauge wheel 23 always contacts the ground without jumping even when the gauge wheel 23 encounters small irregularities on the running surface. Therefore, the coil spring is in a compressed state with the gauge wheel 23 of the mower deck 15 in contact with the flat surface. Note that the spring constants of the coil springs are preferably the same.

  The rear portion of the electric lawn mower 10 is shown in detail in FIGS. That is, the rear main frame (chassis) 18A is fixedly provided continuously to the rear portion of the main frame 18. The rear main frame 18A is a metal square tube, and is formed in a substantially square shape in plan view. Motor brackets 70 and 70 are respectively fixed to the left and right sides of the front portion of the rear main frame 18A, and front portions of the motor frames 72L and 72R are rotatably attached to the motor brackets 70 and 70, respectively. A spring bracket 75 is attached to each of the rear portions of the motor frames 72L and 72R, and a lower end portion of a spring device (suspension) 76 is rotatably attached to the spring bracket 75. A spring bracket 77 is fixed to the rear portion of the rear main frame 18A. An upper end portion of the spring device 76 is rotatably attached to the spring bracket 77.

  The motor frames 72L and 72R are fixed with bolts or the like in a state where the traveling motor 31 is suspended. On the side surfaces of the left and right traveling motors 31, axles that are output shafts of the traveling motors 31 are provided so as to project outward. A wheel support 90 is fixed to the tip of the axle, and the wheel support 90 is bolted to the wheel of the rear wheel (drive wheel) 12.

  5A to 5E show details of the motor frames 72L and 72R. The motor frame 72L includes a first frame 72L1 which is a metal square tube formed by bending in an L shape, a second frame 72L2 which is a metal square tube of the same standard as this, and a metal cylinder. The third frame 72L3 and the fourth frame 72L4 which is a short cylinder of the same standard as this. Note that one end of the first frame 72L1 and one end of the second frame 72L2 are fixed by welding or the like. The other end of the first frame 72L1 is fixed to the third frame 72L3 by welding or the like. The other end of the first frame 72L1 is cut in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the third frame 72L3. The other end of the second frame 72L2 is fixed to the fourth frame 72L4 by welding or the like. The other end of the second frame 72L2 is cut in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the fourth frame 72L4. A bracket 75 is fixed to the rear portion of the first frame 72L1 by welding or the like. A rotation shaft 71 is inserted inside the third frame 72L3 and the fourth frame 72L4, and the motor frame 72L is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 71. A stopper 71 </ b> A is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 71.

  The configuration of the motor frame 72R is the same as the configuration of the motor frame 72L. That is, the motor frame 72R includes a first frame 72R1, a second frame 72R2, a third frame 72R3, and a fourth frame 72R4. A bracket 75 is fixed to the rear portion of the first frame 72R1 by welding or the like. A rotation shaft 71 is inserted inside the third frame 72R3 and the fourth frame 72R4, and the motor frame 72R is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 71. A stopper 71 </ b> A is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 71. The motor frame 72R and the motor frame 72L can be rotated in the vertical direction independently of the rotation shaft 71.

  6A to 6C show details of the motor bracket 70. FIG. The motor bracket 70 includes a pair of side portions 70A and 70A and a top portion 70B. The side portion 70A is formed in a trapezoidal shape with a long upper side, and a through hole 70C is provided in the lower center. The pair of side portions 70A are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The top part 70B is formed in a rectangular shape. The motor bracket 70 bends a metal plate as appropriate to integrally form the top part 70B and the side part 70A (the side part 70A and the top part 70B may be formed of separate members). The motor bracket 70 has its top portion 70B fixed to the lower surface of the rear main frame 18A by welding or the like. The rotating shaft 71 is passed through the through hole 70C, and the motor bracket 70 and the rotating shaft 71 are fixed by welding or the like. At this time, a fourth frame 72L4 and a third frame 72L3 are disposed on the left and right sides of the motor bracket 70, respectively. In this way, the motor frame 72L is rotatably attached to the rear main frame 18A via the motor bracket 70. Similarly, the motor frame 72R is rotatably attached to the rear main frame 18A via the motor bracket 70.

  7A and 7B show details of the spring bracket 75. FIG. The spring bracket 75 includes a pair of side portions 75A and 75A and a top portion 75B. The side portion 75A has a trapezoidal shape with a short upper side and is provided with a through hole 75C. The pair of side portions 75A are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The top part 75B is formed in a rectangular shape. The spring bracket 75 appropriately bends the metal plate to form the top part 75B and the side part 75A (the side part 75A and the top part 75B may be formed of separate members). The spring bracket 75 has its top portion 75B fixed to the lower surfaces of the first frames 72L1 and 72R1 of the motor frames 72L and 72R by welding or the like. A pin to be described later is attached to the through hole 75C. In FIG. 7B, the motor frame 72L is illustrated, but the same applies to the motor frame 72R.

  8A and 8B show details of the spring bracket 77. FIG. The spring bracket 77 includes a pair of side portions 77A and 77A and a back surface portion 77B. The side portion 77A is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a through hole 77C. The pair of side portions 77A are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The back surface portion 77B is formed in a rectangular shape. The spring bracket 77 bends the metal plate as appropriate to form the back surface portion 77B and the side portion 77A (the side portion 77A and the back surface portion 77B may be formed of separate members). The spring bracket 77 has its back surface portion 77B fixed to the left and right sides of the rear portion of the rear main frame 18A by welding or the like. A pin described later is attached to the through hole 77C.

  9A to 9C show details of the spring device (suspension) 76. FIG. The spring device 76 includes an upper spring holding member 76A and a lower spring holding member 76B and a coil spring 76C provided between them. The upper spring holding member 76A includes a spring holding bar 76A1 at the lower part thereof, and the upper end of the spring holding bar 76A1 is fixed to the spring receiving part 76A2. The spring receiving portion 76A2 is formed in a short cylindrical shape. The lower surface of the pedestal portion 76A3 is fixed to the upper surface of the spring receiving portion 76A2. The pedestal portion 76A3 is formed in a short cylindrical shape, and a pin mounting portion 76A4 is fixed on the upper surface thereof. The pin attachment portion 76A4 includes a through hole 76AH at the top.

  The lower spring holding member 76B includes a spring holding cylinder 76B1 at the upper part thereof. The spring holding cylinder 76B1 can accommodate the above-described spring holding rod 76A1 in a slidable manner. The lower end portion of the spring holding cylinder 76B1 is fixed to the spring receiving portion 76B2. The spring receiving portion 76B2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The upper surface of the base portion 76B3 is fixed to the lower surface of the spring receiving portion 76B2. The pedestal portion 76B3 is formed in a disc shape, and a pin mounting portion 76B4 is fixed to the lower surface of the pedestal portion 76B3. The pin attachment portion 76B4 includes a through hole 76BH in the lower portion.

  Then, the pin mounting portion 76A4 of the spring device 76 is inserted between the side surfaces 77A and 77A of the spring bracket 77, the pin P10 is inserted into the through hole 77C and the through hole 76AH, and the spring device 76 is rotated to the spring bracket 77. Install freely. On the other hand, the pin mounting portion 76B4 of the spring device 76 is inserted between the side surfaces 75A and 75A of the spring bracket 75, the pin P11 is inserted into the through hole 75C and the through hole 76BH, and the spring device 76 is rotated to the spring bracket 75. Install freely.

  Next, the operation when the rear wheel 12 of the electric lawn mower 10 exceeds the bump will be described. 10A and 10B, when the left rear wheel 12 gets over the bulge, the left rear wheel 12 tends to be pushed upward against the urging force of the spring device 76. As a result, the motor frame 72L rotates upward about the rotation shaft 71, and the coil spring 76C contracts to follow the raised running surface G. At this time, since the right rear wheel 12 is traveling on the flat traveling surface G, the coil spring 76C does not expand and contract. 10 (c) and 10 (d), when the left rear wheel 12 exceeds the depression, the vehicle weight applied to the left rear wheel 12 is less than usual, and the left rear wheel 12 appears to float. Become. At this time, the coil spring 76 </ b> C of the spring device 76 extends (by an urging force), so that the motor frame 72 </ b> L rotates downward about the rotation shaft 71. As a result, the left rear wheel 12 is pressed downward to come into contact with the recessed traveling surface G, and the left rear wheel 12 can be prevented from floating above the traveling surface G. Since the right rear wheel 12 travels on a flat traveling surface G, the coil spring 76C does not expand and contract. Further, since the operation when the right rear wheel 12 passes through the undulation is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, since the left and right rear wheels 12 independently move up and down, it is possible to prevent the vehicle body of the electric lawn mower 10 from being greatly inclined to the left and right.

  FIG. 11 shows another example of the present invention. The lawn mower (electric riding work vehicle) 110 in this example includes a pair of left and right main frames (chassis) 111, a pair of front wheels 112, and a pair of rear wheels (drive wheels) 113 below the main frame 111. It is a four-wheel lawn mower. Further, one mower deck 114 is provided between the front wheel 112 and the rear wheel 113. The mower deck 114 is a dish shape with a substantially elliptical edge, and is provided with the bottom of the dish up. Two mower blades (mowing blades) (not shown) are arranged inside the mower deck 114 in the major axis direction. More motors (mowing motors) 115 and 115 are attached to the rotation centers of the mower blades, respectively. The mower deck 114 is provided with its minor axis direction inclined slightly to the right (from the straight direction of the electric lawn mower 110). In other words, the rotation center of the right mower blade is slightly in the straight direction, as compared with that on the left side.

  A cowling 120 is put on the main frame 111. A driver's seat 121 is provided on the cowling 120 slightly in front of the rear wheel 113. On the left and right sides of the driver's seat 121, traveling operation levers 122 and 122 for operating the electric lawn mower 110 are provided. A mower deck adjusting lever 124 for adjusting the height of the mower deck 114 from the ground is provided on the outer side of the right traveling operation lever 122. Cooling ports 126A and 126A are provided below the left and right sides of the driver seat 121, and cooling ports 126B are provided below the front side of the driver seat 121. The cooling ports 126 </ b> A and 126 </ b> B are for taking in air for cooling the battery 125, and are openings formed in the cowling 120. Two exhaust ports 127 are provided behind the driver's seat 121. The exhaust ports 127 and 127 are openings through which the air taken in from the cooling ports 126 </ b> A and 126 </ b> B passes through the vehicle body and is discharged, and are formed in the cowling 120. On the other hand, a step ST for footrest is provided in front of the driver seat 121. This step ST is integrally formed as a cowling 120.

  The electric lawn mower 110 is driven by an electric motor in addition to mowing, and includes a traveling motor 116 inside a pair of rear wheels 113, 113. The traveling motor 116 provides rear wheel 113, 113 is driven (a wheel motor may be provided in each of the wheels of the rear wheels 113, 113).

  The two mower motors 115 and the two traveling motors 116 preferably have high performance when a rare earth magnet such as neodymium is used (the same applies to the mower motor and the traveling motor in the above example). The electric power of the mower motor 115 and the traveling motor 116 is supplied from the same battery. Five batteries 125 are laid flat in the cowling 120 below the driver's seat 121 and at the rear of the main frame 111 (the number of batteries 125 is not limited to five). Specifically, three batteries 125 are arranged between the axles of the rear wheels 113 and 113 and on the main frame 111 (with respect to the straight traveling direction of the electric lawn mower 110), and before and after the three batteries 125, One at a right angle to these. Another battery 125 is provided below the rear part of the main frame 111.

  Three batteries 125 are connected in series to form one set, and in this example, two sets are provided. Therefore, the number of batteries 125 may be three. In that case, three are arranged on the main frame 111 (with respect to the straight direction of the electric lawn mower 110). Of course, in the electric riding work vehicle of the present invention, the battery 125 is not subject to such a number of restrictions, and any number can be arranged.

  The fender of the left rear wheel 113 is provided with a power supply port 128 for inserting a plug when charging the battery 125. The power supply port 128 is an opening with a lid on the cowling 120. The power supply port 128 is provided with a plug, and when the lawn mower 110 is not in operation, an electric cord connected to a household power source is inserted to charge the battery 125. An AC adapter, an inverter, a charging device, and the like are appropriately provided between the battery 125 and the plug.

  A control unit (not shown) is provided on the battery 125. This control unit controls the traveling motor 116 of the electric lawn mower 110. The control unit controls the rotation direction and rotation speed of the traveling motor 116 in accordance with the amount of tilt of the traveling operation lever 122 (described later). In addition to the control of the traveling motor 116, the control unit also has a role of controlling the rotation of the mowing motor 115 and correcting a minute voltage fluctuation of the battery 125. The rotation of the mowing motor 115 is controlled so as to be interlocked with the rotational speed of the traveling motor 116. That is, when the traveling speed is increased, the rotational speed of the mower blade is also increased, and when the traveling speed is decreased, the rotational speed of the mower blade is also decreased.

  Each of the front wheels 112 and 112 is rotatably attached to the front tire bracket 117 via a shaft. It is assumed that no drive motor is connected to the front wheels 112 and 112, and each of them freely rotates. Further, the front tire bracket 117 is rotatably attached to the main frame 111. The two front tire brackets 117 and 117 are assumed to freely rotate.

  The traveling operation lever 122 is tiltably provided, and when the driver tilts the traveling operation lever 122 forward, the traveling motor 116 rotates in the forward direction. On the other hand, when the traveling operation lever 122 is tilted later, the traveling motor 116 rotates in the reverse direction. Furthermore, the rotational speed of the traveling motor 116 changes depending on the tilting degree of the operation lever 122. That is, when the operation lever 122 is largely moved forward (backward), the traveling motor 116 rotates faster in the forward (reverse) direction, and when the operation lever 122 is slightly moved forward (rearward), the traveling motor 116 is moved forward ( Slowly rotate in the backward direction. The operation levers 122 and 122 provided on the left and right sides of the driver seat 121 rotate the motor of the right rear wheel 113 when the right operation lever 122 is operated, and operate the left rear wheel 113 when the left operation lever 122 is operated. The motor is designed to rotate. The driver can move the electric lawn mower 110 straight forward, turn left and right, or turn by appropriately operating the left and right traveling operation levers 122 and 122 forward and backward.

  A mowing switch (more work switch) 123 that turns on and off the rotation of the two more blades in the mower deck 114 is provided at the end of the right traveling operation lever 122. The mowing switch 123 is a limit type switch that is turned on when the driver presses it with a finger, and turns off when pressed again.

  One end of a deck support arm 118 for raising and lowering the mower deck 114 is rotatably attached to a substantially central portion of the left main frame 111. The other end of the deck support arm 118 is attached to the mower deck 114 via a stay 119a. The stay 119a is fixed to the surface of the mower deck 114 by welding or the like. Further, the deck support arm 118 is rotatably attached to the stay 119a. The pivot center of the deck support arm 118 is a connecting portion with the main frame 111. The deck support arm 118 is connected to the mower adjustment lever 124 via a link mechanism (not shown). On the other hand, another stay 119b is fixed on the front side of the mower deck 114. One end of a shaft S is rotatably attached to the stay 119b. The other end of the shaft S is rotatably attached to the main frame 111 via a stay (not shown). Reference ST is a step for placing the driver's foot.

  By the way, the rear part of the electric lawn mower 110 is as shown in FIGS. That is, the end frame 111B is spanned between the rear ends of the pair of main frames 111, 111. A spring support frame 111A is spanned between the pair of main frames 111 and 111 slightly ahead of the end frame 111B. The spring support frame 111A is a metal square tube (the spring support frame 111A may be formed of H-shaped steel or L-shaped steel). Motor brackets 70 and 70 are respectively fixed to the lower surfaces of the pair of main frames 111 and 111, and front portions of the motor frames 72L and 72R are rotatably attached to the motor brackets 70 and 70, respectively. A spring bracket 75 is attached to each of the rear portions of the motor frames 72L and 72R, and a lower end portion of the spring device 76 is rotatably attached to the spring bracket 75. A pair of left and right spring brackets 177 and 177 are fixed on the lower surface of the spring support frame 111A. Upper ends of the spring devices 76 and 76 are rotatably attached to spring brackets 177 and 177, respectively.

  The motor frames 72L and 72R are fixed with bolts or the like in a state where the traveling motor 116 is suspended. On the side surfaces of the left and right traveling motors 116, axles, which are output shafts of the traveling motors 116, project outward. A wheel support 190 is fixed to the front end of the axle, and the wheel support 190 is bolted to the wheel of the rear wheel 113.

  The details of the motor frames 72L and 72R are the same as those shown in FIGS. That is, the motor frame 72L includes a first frame 72L1, a second frame 72L2, a third frame 72L3, and a fourth frame 72L4. A bracket 75 is fixed to the rear portion of the first frame 72L1 by welding or the like. A rotation shaft 71 is inserted inside the third frame 72L3 and the fourth frame 72L4, and the motor frame 72L is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 71. A stopper 71 </ b> A is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 71.

  The configuration of the motor frame 72R is the same as the configuration of the motor frame 72L. That is, it is composed of a first frame 72R1, a second frame 72R2, a third frame 72R3, and a fourth frame 72R4. A bracket 75 is fixed to the rear end portion of the first frame 72R1 by welding or the like. A rotation shaft 71 is inserted inside the third frame 72R3 and the fourth frame 72R4, and the motor frame 72R is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 71. A stopper 71 </ b> A is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 71. The motor frame 72R and the motor frame 72L can be rotated independently with respect to the rotation shaft 71.

  The details of the motor bracket 70 are the same as those shown in FIGS. That is, the motor bracket 70 includes a pair of side portions 70A and 70A and a top portion 70B. A through hole 70C is provided in the lower center of the side portion 70A. The motor bracket 70 is fixed to the lower surface of the rear main frame 111 by welding or the like. The rotating shaft 71 is passed through the through hole 70C, and the motor bracket 70 and the rotating shaft 71 are fixed by welding or the like. At this time, a fourth frame 72L4 and a third frame 72L3 are disposed on the left and right sides of the motor bracket 70, respectively. In this way, the motor frame 72L is rotatably attached to the rear main frame 18A via the motor bracket 70. Similarly, the motor frame 72R is rotatably attached to the rear main frame 18A via the motor bracket 70.

  The details of the spring bracket 75 are the same as those shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). That is, the spring bracket 75 includes a pair of side portions 75A and 75A and a top portion 75B. The side portion 75A is provided with a through hole 75C. The spring bracket 75 has its top portion 75B fixed to the lower surfaces of the first frames 72L1 and 72R1 of the motor frames 72L and 72R by welding or the like. A pin to be described later is attached to the through hole 75C. In FIG. 17B, the motor frame 72L is illustrated, but the same applies to the motor frame 72R.

  15A and 15B show details of the spring bracket 177. FIG. The spring bracket 177 includes a pair of side portions 177A and 177A and a top portion 177B. These are formed by bending a single metal plate twice. The side portion 177A is formed in a substantially hexagonal shape, and a through hole 177C is provided in the approximate center. The pair of side portions 177A are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The top part 177B is formed in a rectangular shape. The spring bracket 177 has its top portion 177B fixed to the left and right sides of the spring support frame 111A by welding or the like. Note that the upper end of the spring device 76 is attached to the through hole 177C by a pin PN as will be described later.

  Next, an operation when the rear wheel 113 of the electric lawn mower 110 exceeds the bump will be described. In FIGS. 16A and 16B, when the left rear wheel 113 gets over the bulge, the left rear wheel 113 tends to be pushed upward against the urging force of the spring device 76. As a result, the motor frame 72L rotates upward about the rotation shaft 71, and the coil spring 76C contracts to follow the raised running surface G. At this time, since the right rear wheel 113 is traveling on the flat traveling surface G, the coil spring 76C does not expand and contract. In FIGS. 16C and 16D, when the left rear wheel 113 exceeds the recess, the vehicle weight applied to the left rear wheel 113 is less than usual, and the left rear wheel 113 floats. Become. At this time, the coil spring 76 </ b> C of the spring device 76 extends (by an urging force), so that the motor frame 72 </ b> L rotates downward about the rotation shaft 71. As a result, the left rear wheel 113 is pressed downward and comes into contact with the recessed traveling surface G, and the left rear wheel 113 can be prevented from floating above the traveling surface G. Since the right rear wheel 113 is traveling on the flat traveling surface G, the coil spring 76C does not expand and contract. Further, the operation when the right rear wheel 113 passes the undulation is the same, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, since the left and right rear wheels 113 move up and down independently, it is possible to prevent the vehicle body of the electric lawn mower 110 from being greatly inclined to the left and right.

  FIGS. 17A to 17C show still another example of the present invention. This example is a modification of the electric lawn mower 10 shown in FIG. A rear main frame (chassis) 218 </ b> A is fixed to the rear portion of the main frame 18. The rear main frame 218A is a metal square tube and is formed in a substantially square shape in plan view. A motor support frame 201 is provided in the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the rear main frame 218A, and both ends thereof are fixed to the rear main frame 218A. The motor support frame 201 is formed of a metal square tube (or H-shaped steel) or the like, and motor brackets 270 and 270 are fixed on the lower surface and on the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction. , 270 are rotatably attached to the front portions of the traveling motors 231, 231, respectively. And the lower end part of the spring device (suspension) 176 is rotatably attached to the rear part of the traveling motors 231 and 231. A spring bracket 77 is fixed to the rear portion of the rear main frame 218A. An upper end portion of the spring device 176 is rotatably attached to the spring bracket 77.

  The motor bracket 270 forms a pair of side portions 270A and 270A and a top portion by bending a single metal plate twice at a substantially right angle. The side portion 270A has an inverted trapezoidal shape, and the top portion has a rectangular shape. A through hole 270H is provided in the lower center of the side portion 270A. The top of the motor bracket 270 is fixed to the lower surface of the motor support frame 201 by welding or the like.

  18A to 18D show details of the traveling motor 231. FIG. The traveling motor 231 includes a motor case main part 231A and a motor case lid part 231B. Both are formed by casting or the like. A front bracket 231A2 is integrally formed on the front side of the motor case main part 231A. The front bracket 231A2 is formed in a plate shape, and a through hole 231H2 is formed at the approximate center thereof. On the other hand, a pair of rear brackets 231A1 and 231A1 are integrally formed on the rear surface side of the motor case main portion 231A. The rear bracket 231A1 is formed in a plate shape, and a through hole 231H1 is formed in the approximate center thereof. A motor is built in the motor case main part 231A, and an output shaft (axle) 231X of the motor protrudes from a through hole formed in the motor case main part 231A. A wheel support 290 is fixed to the tip of the output shaft 231X. The wheel support portion 290 is bolted to the wheel of the rear wheel (drive wheel) 12. The motor case main part 231A and the motor case lid part 231B are fixed and closed with bolts or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the spring bracket 77 is composed of a pair of side portions 77A and 77A and a back surface portion 77B. The spring bracket 77 has its back surface portion 77B fixed to the left and right sides of the rear portion of the rear main frame 218A by welding or the like. A pin described later is attached to the through hole 77C.

  Similarly to the spring device 176 shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the upper spring holding member (reference numeral 76A in FIG. 9), the lower spring holding member (reference numeral 76B in FIG. 9), and a coil spring provided therebetween. (Reference numeral 76C in FIG. 9).

  Next, the traveling motor 231 is suspended from the rear main frame 218A. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19A, the pin mounting portion 176A4 of the spring device 176 is inserted between the side surfaces 77A and 77A of the spring bracket 77, and the pin P10 is inserted into the through hole 77C and the through hole 76AH. The spring device 176 is rotatably attached to the spring bracket 77. On the other hand, the pin mounting portion 176B4 of the spring device 176 is inserted between the side surfaces 75A and 75A of the rear bracket 231A1 of the traveling motor 231 and the pin P12 is inserted into the through hole 231H1 and the through hole 76BH, and the spring device 176 is inserted into the rear portion. Attached to the bracket 231A1 so as to be rotatable.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19B, the front bracket 231A2 of the traveling motor 231 is inserted between the pair of side portions of the motor bracket 270, and the through hole 231H2 of the front bracket 231A2 and the motor bracket 270 side are inserted. The traveling motor 231 is attached to the motor bracket 270 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction through the rotation pin 271A together with the through hole 270H of the portion 270A.

  Next, the operation when the rear wheel 12 of the electric lawn mower 10 exceeds the bump will be described. In FIGS. 20A and 20B, when the left rear wheel 12 gets over the bulge, the left rear wheel 12 tends to be pushed upward against the urging force of the spring device 176. As a result, the left traveling motor 231 pivots upward about the pivot pin 271A, and the coil spring contracts while following the raised traveling surface G. At this time, since the right rear wheel 12 is traveling on the flat traveling surface G, the coil spring does not expand and contract. 20 (c) and 20 (d), when the left rear wheel 12 exceeds the recess, the vehicle weight applied to the left rear wheel 12 is less than usual, and the left rear wheel 12 appears to float. Become. At this time, when the coil spring of the spring device 176 extends (by the biasing force), the left traveling motor 231 rotates downward about the rotation pin 271A. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the left traveling motor 231 from being pushed down and grounded to the recessed traveling surface G, and the left rear wheel 12 to be lifted from the traveling surface G. Since the right rear wheel 12 travels on a flat traveling surface G, the coil spring does not expand and contract. Further, since the operation when the right rear wheel 12 passes through the undulation is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, since the left and right rear wheels 12 independently move up and down, it is possible to prevent the vehicle body of the electric lawn mower 10 from being greatly inclined to the left and right.

  In addition, as shown to Fig.21 (a), it is suitable if the spring apparatus 176 is arrange | positioned. That is, a line L1 connecting the rotation center (pivot point of the traveling motor 231 ′) H of the rotation pin 271A and the center of gravity W of the traveling motor 231 ′ and a vertical line passing through the rotation center AX of the wheel support portion 290. An intersection point with L2 is defined as an intersection point K. The spring bracket 77 'and the rear bracket 231A1 are provided so that the center line L3 in the expansion / contraction direction of the spring device 176 passes through the intersection K, and the spring device 176 is attached between them. In addition, a connecting rod (regulating member) CR may be attached between the traveling motor 231 ′ and the motor bracket 270 ′. The connecting rod CR is preferably provided so that the center line L4 passes through the intersection K.

  The attachment of the connecting rod CR is shown in detail in FIG. The connecting rod CR is provided with annular portions CR1 and CR1 at both ends of a plate-like rod CR2 (preferably having a cross-sectional shape of I or H). Then, a rubber bush GB is fitted inside the annular portion CR1. One end of the connecting rod CR is rotatably attached to a rod bracket 231A3 formed on the traveling motor 231 ′ via a support pin PN2. On the other hand, the other end of the connecting rod CR is rotatably attached to the motor bracket 270 ′ via a support pin PN1 (the ends of the support pins PN1 and PN2 are prevented from being detached so as to hold the connecting rod CR). It has become). There is an appropriate amount of play between the diameters of the shaft portions of the support pins PN1 and PN2 and the inner diameter of the annular portion CR1, and a bush GB exists to fill this play (the bush GB is an elastic member). Function). Therefore, the connecting rod CR is not only rotatable around the support pins PN1 and PN2, but is also movable by the amount of play where the bush GB is disposed.

  In addition, you may make it equip both ends of rod CR2 with the long hole part which has a long hole to which support pin PN1, PN2 each loosely fits instead of the annular part CR1. Further, instead of the connecting rod CR, for example, a coil spring may be hung between the rod bracket 231A3 and the motor bracket 270 'to serve as a regulating member. In this case, it is preferable that the spring constant of the coil spring is different from the spring constant of the coil spring of the spring device 176.

  22A to 22C show still another example of the present invention. This example is a further modification of the electric lawn mower 10 shown in FIG. 17 (the same reference numerals in FIG. 22 as those in FIG. 17 indicate the same components). A rear main frame (chassis) 218 </ b> A is fixed to the rear portion of the main frame 18. A motor support frame 201 is provided in the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the rear main frame 218A, and both ends thereof are fixed to the rear main frame 218A. Motor brackets 270 and 270 are fixed on the lower surface of the motor support frame 201 and on the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction. (The basic configuration of the traveling motor 331 is the same as that of the traveling motor 231 and includes a bracket 331B instead of the rear bracket 231A). And the lower end part of the spring device 276 is rotatably attached to the bracket 331B formed on the upper surface of the traveling motors 331 and 331 by a pin 332 (note that the basic configuration of the spring device 276 is a spring The same as device 76).

Also, both sides of a rectangular rear main frame (chassis) 218A are arranged inside (near) the pair of left and right rear wheels (drive wheels) 12, 12, so that both sides of the rear main frame 218A are passed over. The horizontal frames 301A and 301B are attached. The horizontal frames 301A and 301B are formed of a metal plate, and are formed by bending in a gate shape when viewed from the back . Both ends of the horizontal frames 301A and 301B are further bent outward to form through holes. Bolts are passed through the through holes and fixed to the rear main frame 218A.

  A blocking plate 303 is fixed to the horizontal frame 301B by welding or the like so as to cover the portal space. A pair of brackets 302, 302 are fixed to the left and right sides of the closing plate 303. The bracket 302 is formed of a metal plate, and a through hole for passing the pin 333 is provided at the center thereof. The upper end of the spring device 276 is rotatably attached to the bracket 302.

  The horizontal frames 301A and 301B are covered with cowlings, and the driver's seat 13 is mounted thereon via mounting means (not shown). With this configuration, the blocking plate 303 plays a role for attaching the bracket 302 and a role for increasing the strength of the rear main frame 218A by being fixed to the horizontal frame 301B. Similarly, the horizontal frames 301A and 301B have a role to increase the strength of the rear main frame 218A. The shape of the horizontal frames 301A and 301B is not limited to this example. For example, the horizontal frames 301A and 301B may have a continuous shape. The horizontal frames 301A and 301B are not limited to being fixed to the upper surface of the rear main frame 218A, but can be appropriately fixed to the vehicle body. Further, the horizontal frames 301A and 301B are limited to being applied to an electric riding work vehicle having one main frame 18 at the front part of the vehicle body and a substantially main body 218A at the rear part of the vehicle body as in this example. For example, the present invention may be applied to an electric riding work vehicle of the type shown in FIGS.

  The electric riding work vehicle of the present invention is not limited to lawn mowing, and can be applied to any work. Further, the drive source is not limited to the motor, and may be an engine.

10,110 Electric lawn mower (electric riding work vehicle)
11,112 Front wheel 12,113 Rear wheel (drive wheel)
18,111 Main frame (chassis)
18A, 218A Rear main frame (chassis)
70, 270, 270 'Motor bracket 71 Rotating shaft 72L, 72R Motor frame 75, 77, 77', 177 Spring bracket 76, 176, 276 Spring device (suspension)
111A Spring support frame 116, 231, 231 ′, 331 Motor 231A2 Front bracket 231A1 Rear bracket 301A, 301B Horizontal frame CR Connecting rod (regulating member)

Claims (4)

A chassis that is a traveling vehicle body,
A pair of left and right drive wheels for traveling;
Two traveling motors that are separately connected to each of the drive wheels and that drive the drive wheels;
A pair of suspensions elastically connecting the respective driving motors and the chassis;
The traveling motor is rotatable up and down around a first axis extending in the left-right direction with respect to the chassis;
A regulating member for regulating a vertical rotation angle of the traveling motor, between the traveling motor and the chassis,
The restricting member is a rod extending in the front-rear direction, and one end of the restriction member is loosely fitted to the chassis so as to be rotatable about a second axis extending in the left-right direction adjacent to the first axis, and the other end is An electric riding work vehicle that is loosely fitted to the travel motor so as to be rotatable about a third shaft extending in the left-right direction . A motor frame for mounting the traveling motor;
The chassis that supports the motor frame from the top so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the first axis ;
The electric riding work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the suspension that elastically connects the motor frame and the chassis. The traveling motor is attached to the chassis so as to be rotatable up and down around the first axis ,
The electric riding work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one end of the suspension is attached to the traveling motor and the other end of the suspension is attached to the chassis. The chassis is disposed in the vicinity of each of the pair of left and right drive wheels,
It has a gate shape in rear view, and has a horizontal frame whose ends are fixed to the left and right chassis,
The electric riding work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein upper ends of the pair of suspensions are respectively attached to the horizontal frame.

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