Title of Invention

"AGRICULTURAL MACHINE"

Abstract The agricultural machine is composed of a machine body frame member including a pair of left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, each extending longitudinally from the front side to the rear side of the center frame structure member, and a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting a reserved seedling mount, extending latitudinally between the left side and the right side thereof and disposed latitudinally across the front portions of the pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members so as for the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member to support the reserved seedling mount. A front frame structure member is disposed latitudinally across the pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, and the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the front frame structure member are coupled with the respectively left-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member.
Full Text The present invention relates to an agricultural machine.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
A conventional agricultural machine includes a mobile machine body provided with a liftable working device at the rear portion thereof. The mobile machine body is composed of a traveling section disposed under a machine body frame member and a motor section disposed above the front portion of the machine body frame member, and an operation section disposed behind the motor section.
The machine body frame member is shaped in the form of a generally rectangular frame, when looked on the plane, which is composed of a pair of left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, each extending transversely between the front and rear sides of the machine body, a front frame structure member disposed across the front portions of the center frame structure member sand extending latitudinally from the left and right sides of the machine body, and a rear frame structure member of a generally gate shape, when looked from the back, disposed across the rear portions of the center frame structure members.
The machine body frame member is further provided with a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting a reserved seedling mount at the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, which extends latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body. This structure can mount the reserved seedling mount on the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member.
More specifically, such a conventional agricultural machine has a structure as constructed in such a manner that the reserved seedling mount is supported only with the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member of the machine body frame member.
Further, the machine body frame member is structured in such a manner that a step support frame structure member is disposed across the middle
portions and the rear portions of the center frame structure members, which extends latitudinally between the left and right sides thereof. The step support frame structure members support the step member constituting a floor portion of the operation section.
Directly behind the step member of the floor portion, a rear deck member is disposed, and a rear deck support frame structure member for supporting the rear deck member is mounted on the center frame structure member of the machine body frame member. The rear deck member is mounted on the rear deck support frame structure member.
In other words, the conventional agricultural machine has a structure in which the rear deck support frame structure member is mounted on the machine body frame member, and the rear deck member is held on the rear deck support frame structure member.
The conventional agricultural machine, however, is structured so as to support the reserved seedling mount only with the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting the reserved seedling mount of the machine body frame member. Therefore, the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member is formed with large frame members in order to sufficiently support the reserved seedling mount as a heavy member to ensure strength for the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting the reserved seedling mount.
As this structure increases a weight of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting the reserved seedling mount and at the same time costs of manufacturing the machine itself, this becomes a hindrance for making the agricultural machine as a whole lightweight and lower in costs of manufacturing.
Moreover, the conventional agricultural machine has a structure in which the rear deck member cannot be supported with the machine body frame member unless the machine body frame member would be provided with the rear deck support frame structure member that is a member separate from the step support frame structure member.
It is needed, therefore, to use the rear deck support frame structure member separately from the step support frame structure member, so that the number of parts for the agricultural machine is increased, thereby causing an increase in costs of manufacturing and costs for management of parts. Further, this may cause the risk of increasing a weight of the machine body.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention provides an agricultural machine having a machine body frame member consisting of a pair of left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, each extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the machine body, a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member for supporting a reserved seedling mount, extending latitudinally between the left and right sides thereof and disposed across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members to support the reserved seedling mount, and a front frame structure member disposed across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, in which the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the front frame structure member are coupled with the respectively left-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member.
The agricultural machine according to the present invention is further provided with a battery inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member, and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane.
Moreover, the agricultural machine according to the present invention is provided with a hydraulic pump inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member, and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane.
Additionally, the agricultural machine according to the present invention is provided with an engine inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, a middle portion of the front frame structure member, and a middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, while the battery is disposed inside one space range of two space ranges enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member, and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, and the hydraulic pump is disposed inside the other space range.
For the agricultural machine according to the present invention, a step member for forming a floor portion of the operation section is disposed on top of
the machine body frame member, a rear deck member is disposed behind the step member, and the machine body frame member is provided with a step support frame structure member to further support the rear deck member.
The step support frame structure member is further structured in such a manner that the base end portion thereof is extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body and the tip portion thereof is extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof, in which the step member is held with the tip portion thereof and the rear deck member is held with the base end portion thereof.
Further, a bracket for installing the rear deck member is disposed on the base end portion of the step support frame structure member. The bracket can be mounted, in place of the rear deck member, for installing a fertilizer spreader.
More specifically, the agricultural machine according to the present invention is structured so as for a planting machine as a working machine to be connected to the rear portion of a traveling mobile machine body thereof. The traveling mobile machine body is structured in such a manner that the machine body frame member is composed of a pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, each extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the machine body, a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member extending latitudinally between the left and right sides thereof, disposed latitudinally across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, in which the reserved seedling mount is held on the left and right sides of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member.
Moreover, a front frame structure member is disposed latitudinally across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members, and the left and right sides of the front frame structure member are coupled with the respectively left and right sides of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member.
With the structure as described above, a load of the reserved seedling mount can be received not only with the left and right side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member but also with the left and right side portions of the front frame structure member. Therefore, the reserved seedling mount as a heavyweight article can be held with the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member in association with the front frame structure member.
This structure does not require for the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member to be formed with a big frame member in order to ensure a strength of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, accordingly, so that the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member can be made lightweight and costs of manufacturing the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member can be reduced. As a consequence, the weight of the machine body as a whole can be made light and costs of manufacturing the machine can also be reduced.
In particular, in the case where the battery is disposed inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member are located on the periphery of the battery. Therefore, even if the machine body would be spattered with small stones, mud or the like from a road surface while the machine is traveling, such small stones, mud or the like may strike the machine body only on the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member so that the battery can be protected from a direct strike with the stones, mud or the like.
With this structure, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member can work each as a protective member for the battery so that these protective members can prevent damages of the battery and consequently can prolong the life of the agricultural machine itself. Further, this structure does not require another protective member for protecting the battery separately so that the agricultural machine can be made lightweight and costs of manufacturing the agricultural machine can also be reduced.
Further, in the case where the hydraulic pump is disposed inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side
portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member are located on the periphery of the hydraulic pump. Therefore, even if the machine body would be spattered with small stones, mud or the like from a road surface while the machine is traveling, the small stones, mud or the like may strike the machine body only on the front side portions of the center frame structure member, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member so that the hydraulic pump can be protected from a direct strike with the stones, mud or the like.
With the structure as described above, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member can work each as a protective member for the hydraulic pump so that these protective members can prevent damages of the hydraulic pump and consequently can prolong the life of the agricultural machine. Further, this structure does not require another protective member for protecting the hydraulic pump in addition thereto, so that the agricultural machine can be made lightweight and costs of manufacturing the agricultural machine can also be reduced.
Moreover, in the case where the engine is disposed inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the middle portion of the front frame structure member and the middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, while the battery is disposed inside one space range of two space ranges each enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member and the hydraulic pump is disposed inside the other space range, not only the engine as a heavyweight article but also the battery and the hydraulic pump as heavyweight articles can be protected therewith and, further, the weights on the left and right sides of the machine body can be balanced well because the heavyweight battery and the heavyweight hydraulic pump are disposed on the left and right sides with the heavyweight engine interposed therebetween. This structure can also improve a traveling stability of the machine body.
The agricultural machine according to the present invention has a planting machine as a working machine coupled at the rear portion of the traveling mobile machine body so as to be liftable. Further, the traveling machine body is so
structured that the step member for forming the floor portion of the operation section is provided on the machine body frame member and the rear deck member is disposed behind the step member.
In addition, the machine body frame member is provided with a step support frame structure member for supporting the step member to permit the step support frame structure member to further support the rear deck member.
With the structure as described above, not only the step member but also the rear deck member disposed behind the step member can be held only with the step support frame structure member disposed on the machine body frame member. Therefore, it is not needed to separately mount a member for exclusive use in supporting the rear deck member. This can serve in reducing the number of parts structuring the agricultural machine, thereby reducing costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts of the machine. Further, this can serve in making the machine body lightweight.
In particular, in the case where the base end portions of the step support frame structure member are disposed extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body and the tip portions thereof is disposed extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof and where the step member is held with the tip portions thereof and the rear deck member is held with the base end portions thereof, the step support frame structure member can be manufactured with readiness and at low costs. This can also serve in further reducing costs of manufacturing the machine.
Moreover, in the case where the step support frame structure member is provided with a bracket for installing the rear deck member at the base end portion thereof and the bracket is arranged for installing a fertilizer spreader, in place of the rear deck member, it is not needed to separately use an additional member for installing a fertilizer spreader so that the number of parts can be reduced, thereby making costs of manufacturing the machine lower and the machine body lightweight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a left side view showing a rice-planting machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a machine body frame member.
Fig. 3 is a left side view showing the machine body frame member.
Fig. 4 is a left side view in section showing a motor section.
Fig. 5 is a front view showing a steering shaft support frame structure
member.
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the steering shaft support frame structure member.
Fig. 7 is a rear view showing a step support frame structure member.
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a step member.
Fig. 9 is a front view showing a bonnet.
Fig. 10 is a left side view showing a fertilizer spreader.
Fig. 11 is a left side view in section showing a bonnet in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 1 2 is a side view showing a steering mechanism system.
Fig. 1 3 is a side view in section showing a torque generator and a steering case member.
Fig. 1 4 is a plan view showing the torque generator.
Fig. 1 5 is a bottom view showing the steering case member.
Fig. 1 6 is a side view showing a key switch panel member.
Fig. 1 7 is a front view showing the key switch panel member.
Fig. 1 8 is a plan view showing the key switch panel member.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The following description is a specific explanation regarding an embodiment according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the agricultural machine in accordance with the present invention is described by taking a rice-planting machine 1 as an example. In this embodiment, however, the present invention is not limited to the rice-planting machine 1 and it is applicable to agricultural machines for use in a variety of agricultural work such as for use in planting vegetables, such as tractors, combine machines, and so on.
As shown in Fig. 1 , the rice-planting machine 1 is composed of a traveling mobile machine body 2 with a cultivating machine 3 operatively coupled therewith through a lifting mechanism system 4 so as to be liftable.
The traveling machine body 2 is consisting of a traveling section 6 disposed under a machine body frame member 5, a motor section 7 disposed at the front portion of the machine body frame member 5, and an operation section 8 disposed behind the motor section 7, as shown in Fig. 1.
A detailed description will be given regarding the structure of each section of the traveling section 2.
(Machine Body Frame Member 5)
First, the structure of the machine body frame member 5 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the machine body frame member 5 is composed of a pair of left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10, respectively, each extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the machine body and curving upwardly from a generally central portion to a rear side thereof. Between and across the front end portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10 is disposed a hollow front frame structure member 11 in a generally C-shaped form, when looked on the plane, which has the central portion thereof disposed extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body and the left and right side portions thereof curved and extending rearwards. Further, a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 in a hollow and rectangle-shaped form extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body is disposed across the middle portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10 at the front side thereof. Moreover, a cylindrical step support frame structure member 13 extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the vehicle body and a bottom end portion of a cylindrical seat support frame structure member 14 in a general gate-shaped form, when looked from the front, are disposed across the middle portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10. In addition, an upper portion of a hollow and rectangle-shaped rear frame structure member 1 5 in a general gate-shaped form, when looked from the back, is disposed across the rear end portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10.
The machine body frame member 5 is further structured in such a manner that an rectangle-shaped engine support member 1 7 in the form of a flat plate for locating an engine 16, extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the machine body, is interposed between the central portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the central portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12. Moreover, a rectangle-shaped steering support member 19 in the form of a flat plate for supporting a steering mechanism system 18 is extended from the rear end of the engine support member 1 7.
Additionally, the machine body frame member 5 is structured in such a manner that the base end portion of a reserved seedling mount support column 21 constituting a reserved seedling mount 20 is mounted to the left-hand and
right-hand end portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 through brackets 22 and the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the front frame structure member 11 are coupled with the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12, respectively. Between the right sides of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 and the front frame structure member 11 is interposed a rectangle-shaped battery support member 24 in the form of a flat plate for placing a battery 23. Furthermore, a pair of left-hand and right-hand step support columns 51 and 52 are disposed upright in the vicinity of portions intersecting the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 with the center frame structure members 9 and 10, respectively.
In this embodiment, the front frame structure member 11 is disposed latitudinally across the front end portions of a pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10, respectively, and the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the front frame structure member 11 are coupled with the left-hand and right-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12, respectively, in the manner as described above. Therefore, the loading weight of the reserved seedling mount 20 is received not only by the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 but also by the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the front frame structure member 11 , so that the reserved seedling mount 20 as a heavyweight member is supported in association of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 with the front frame structure member 11 .
This structure can ensure strength of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12, so that it is not needed to form the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 with a big member. Therefore, the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 can be made more lightweight and costs of manufacturing the machine can be reduced. This results in making the machine body as a whole lightweight and costs of manufacturing the machine lower.
Further, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the machine body frame member 5 is structured in such a manner that the front end portions of a pair of left-hand and right-hand steering shaft support frame structure members 25 and 26 are mounted on an upper central portion of the front frame structure member 11 and a cylindrical steering post 28 for pivotally supporting a steering shaft 27 is
mounted on the rear end portions of the steering support frame structure members 25 and 26 through a generally U-shaped bracket 29.
Moreover, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the machine body frame member 5 is so structured that the left-hand and right-hand side portions of a gate-shaped rear frame structure member 15 are mounted on the respective base end portions of a pair of left-hand and right-hand cylinder-shaped step support frame structure members 30 and 31 and rear deck support brackets 32 and 33 are mounted to the respective corner portions of the rear frame structure member 15 and the respective base end portions of the step support frame structure members 30 and 31. Each of the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 is formed in a shape that the base end portion thereof extends latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body, the middle portion thereof is curved, and the tip portions thereof extend longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof. (Traveling Section 6)
A description will then be given regarding the structure of the traveling section 6. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the traveling section 6 is structured in such a manner that the front portion of a transmission case member 34 is mounted on the rear portion of a steering support member 19 disposed at the machine body frame member 5. The front portion of the transmission case member 34 is operatively coupled with a pair of left-hand and right-hand front axle case members 35 and 36 and each of front wheels 37 is operatively coupled with the respectively left-hand and right-hand front axle case members 35 and 36.
Further, the traveling section 6 is provided with a rear axle case member 38 extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body, which is operatively coupled with the rear portion of the transmission case member 34. Further, rear wheels 39 are operatively coupled with the respectively left-hand and right-hand end portions of the rear axle case member 38. The rear axle case member 38 is further mounted on the base end portion of the rear frame structure member 15 of the machine body frame member 5 at the left-hand and right-hand upper side portions thereof.
As described above, the transmission case member 34 is mounted on the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5 and the rear axle case member 38 extending from the rear end portion of the transmission case member 34 is mounted on the rear frame structure member 15 of the machine body frame member 5, so that the machine body frame member 5, the
transmission case member 34 and the rear axle case member 38 are integrated yielding a secure frame structure for the machine body. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10 curving upwardly from the middle portions thereof toward the rear portion thereof, the rear frame structure member 15, the transmission case member 34 and the rear axle case member 38 constitute a trans-structure in a generally triangular form, thereby strengthening a rigidity of the machine body and improving traveling stability of the machine body.
Further, in this embodiment, the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10 are inserted into a depressed portion, when looked on the plane, formed with the transmission section 34 and the front axle case members 35 and 36 so that the center of gravity of the machine body can be located at the position lower than the conventional structure, thereby improving stability in traveling and further improving riding performance due to the lowered height of the machine. (Motor Section 7)
Then, the structure of the motor section 7 will be described in more detail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the motor section 7 is composed of the engine 16 loaded on an engine support member 17 of the machine body frame member 5 and a fuel tank 40 disposed above the engine 16. A muffler 59 is disposed extending from the left-hand side portion of the engine 16, and an exhaust vent 60 is disposed projecting downwardly at the front end portion of the muffler 59 and forming an exhaust outlet 61 at the tip portion of the exhaust vent 60. The engine 16, the fuel tank 40 and the muffler 59 are covered with a bonnet 62.
Further, the motor section 7 is structured in such a manner that drive shafts 41 and 42 are disposed projecting at the left-hand rear side portion and the right-hand front side portion of the engine 16, respectively. The drive shaft 41 projecting at the left-hand rear side portion of the engine 16 is operatively coupled with a traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 for transmitting the power to the traveling section 6, and the drive shaft 42 projecting at the right-hand front side portion of the engine 16 is operatively coupled with a power-generating mechanism system 44.
More specifically, the motor section 7 is so structured that the drive shaft 41 is disposed projecting at the left-hand rear side portion of the engine 16, a belt-type non-stage shift system 45 constituting part of the traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 is operatively coupled with the tip portion of
the drive shaft 41, and a hydraulic pump 46 for hydraulically driving a planting machine 3 or other machines is mounted coaxially on the left-hand side portion of the non-stage shift system 45 while the hydraulic pump 46 is operatively coupled with the drive shaft 41 of the engine 16. The traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 is structured in such a manner that an output-sided pulley 47 at the output side of the non-stage shift system 45 is mounted on the drive shaft 41 of the engine 16 and an input-sided pulley 49 at the input side thereof is mounted on an input shaft 48 disposed projecting at the left-hand front side portion of the transmission case member 34. A transmission belt 50 is wound between the output-sided pulley 47 and the input-sided pulley 49, thereby transmitting the power of the engine 16 to the front and rear wheels 37 and 39 via the transmission case member 34, the front axle case members 35 and 36 and the rear axle case member 38 after shifting with the non-stage shift system 45.
On the other hand, the motor section 7 is further structured in such a manner that the drive shaft 42 is disposed projecting at the right-hand front side portion of the engine 16 and the power-generating mechanism system 44 is operatively coupled with the tip portion of the drive shaft 42. The power-generating mechanism system 44 is so structured that an output-sided pulley 53 is mounted on the tip portion of the drive shaft 42 of the engine 16 and a power generator 55 is mounted between a power generator support column 54 disposed upright at the front side portion of the center frame structure member 10 at the right side of the machine body frame member 5 and a step support column 52 disposed at the right side thereof. Moreover, the input-sided pulley 57 is mounted on an input shaft 57 of the power generator 55, and a transmission belt 58 is wound on and between the outside pulley 53 and the input-sided pulley 57.
In this embodiment, the drive shafts 41 and 42 are disposed projecting at the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the engine 16, respectively, and the traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 is disposed at the left-hand side portion of the engine 16 in the manner as described above. Further, the power-generating mechanism system 44 is disposed at the right-hand side portion of the engine 16 and the traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 is operatively coupled with the drive shaft 41 disposed projecting at the left-hand side portion of the engine 16. Therefore, as compared with the conventional agricultural machines having the power-generating mechanism system 44 disposed farther away from the engine 16 disposed at the front portion of the operation section 8, the agricultural machine according to the present
invention can make the length of the machine body on the front side in front of the operation section 8 shorter to the shortest possible extent.
This structure can improve safety at the time of traveling because the front view from the operation section 8 is not blocked by the bonnet 62 covering the engine 16 and the power-generating mechanism system 44.
Further, as the length of the machine body on the front side of the machine body can be shortened so that the minimal cornering radius can be made smaller, a cornering performance can be improved. Moreover, as the length between the front and rear of the machine body can be shortened by the shortened length of the machine body on the front side thereof, so that this structure can greatly serve as making the machine body more compact in size.
In particular, as the exhaust outlet 61 of the engine 16 is disposed spanning the engine 16 at the side opposite to the power-generating mechanism system 44, exhaust gas of a high temperature withdrawn from the exhaust outlet 61 of the engine 16 is withdrawn to the side opposite to the power-generating mechanism system 44. Therefore, exhaust gas does not blow the power-generating mechanism system 44 directly so that as a consequence the outer appearance of the power-generating mechanism system 44 can be prevented from becoming dirty with the exhaust gas withdrawn from the engine 16. Moreover, a rise of the temperature around the power-generating mechanism system 44 can be prevented, and an occurrence of a trouble with the power-generating mechanism system 44 resulting from the exhaust gas having a high temperature can also be prevented.
In addition, as the power generator 55 constituting part of the power-generating mechanism system 44 is supported with the step support column 52 disposed at the machine body frame member 5, the step support column 52 works as a support column for supporting the power generator 55. Therefore, it is not needed to separately provide an additional support member for supporting the power generator 55. As a consequence, a number of parts of the machine body can be reduced, thereby making costs of managing parts thereof and manufacturing the machine lower and further serving in making the machine body more lightweight.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the front frame structure member 11 is disposed latitudinally across and between the front side portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10 and the left-hand and right-hand end portions of the front frame structure member 11 are coupled with
the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12, respectively, in the manner as described above. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, a space range S1 in the form of a closed loop, when looked on the plane, is formed, which is enclosed by the front side portions of a pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10, a middle portion of the front frame structure member 11 and a middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 for supporting the reserved seedling mount.
. Furthermore, likewise, a pair of left-hand and right-hand space ranges S2 and S3 each in the form of a closed loop, when looked on the plane, are formed at the left-hand and right-hand front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, which are enclosed by the front side portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members 9 and 10, the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the front frame structure member 11 and the left-hand and right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12, respectively.
In this embodiment, as described above, the engine 16 and the shift system 45 are disposed inside the central space range S1 , when looked on the plane, while the hydraulic pump 46 is disposed inside the left-hand space range S2 and the battery 23 is disposed inside the right-hand space range S3.
As the heavyweight engine 16 and the heavyweight battery 23 are distributed on the left-hand and right-hand sides, respectively, in the manner as described above, the weight on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the machine body can be well balanced, thereby improving stability of the machine body during traveling.
Moreover, as the engine 16 and the shift system 45 are disposed inside the central space range S1 , when looked on the plane, the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the middle portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 are located around the engine 16 and the shift system 45. Therefore, the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the middle portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 can work each as a protective member for protecting the engine 16 and the shift system 45 from an obstruction such as a ridge of a farm land or the like, so that the protective members can prevent damages of the engine 16 and
the shift system 45 and at the same time the life of the agricultural machine can be made longer. In addition, it is not needed to separately provide an additional protective member for protecting the engine 16 and the shift system 45 from such an obstruction. Therefore, this can also serve as making the machine body lightweight and reducing costs of manufacturing the machine.
Furthermore, the hydraulic pump 46 is disposed inside the left-hand space range S2, when looked on the plane, so that the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the side portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 are located around the periphery of the hydraulic pump 46. Therefore, the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the side portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 can work each as a protective member for protecting the hydraulic pump 46 against an obstruction such as a ridge of a farm field or the like. These protective members can prevent damages of the hydraulic pump 46, accordingly, so that the life of the agricultural machine can be made long. This structure does not require an additional protective member for protecting the hydraulic pump 46 separately and as a consequence the weight of the machine body can be made light and costs of manufacturing the machine can be reduced.
On the other hand, the battery 23 is disposed inside the right-hand space range S3, when looked on the plane, so that the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the side portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 are located around the periphery of the battery 23. Therefore, the front side portions of the center frame structure members 9 and 10, the side portion of the front frame structure member 11 and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member 12 can work each as a protective member for protecting the battery 23 against an obstruction such as a ridge of a farm land or the like, so that the life of the agricultural machine can be made longer. In addition, it is not needed to provide an additional protective member for protecting the battery 23 separately and as a consequence the weight of the machine body can be made light and costs of manufacturing the machine can be reduced.
As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 8, the engine 16, the battery 23 and the hydraulic pump 46 are covered with a front step member 63 in the form of a flat
plate.
The front step member 63 is provided with a cut-away portion 64 in a generally U-shaped form, when looked on the plane, having an opening in a portion of the front side portion thereof at the front central portion thereof. The tip portions of the two-branched side portions of the step member are disposed on the top portions of the step support columns 51 and 52 forming the machine body frame member 5, which extend toward the left-hand and right-hand sides of the engine 16, respectively.
Further, the front step member 63 is structured in such a manner that a front cover member 65 is disposed in the cut-away portion 64 formed at the two-branched front portion thereof so as to be opened. The front cover member 65 is provided with bosses 66 and 66, each in a generally cylindrical form, at the bottom end portions thereof, and the front cover member can be opened and closed forwards and rearwards with respect to the front frame structure member 11 by inserting the bosses 66 and 66 into the central portion of the front frame structure member 11.
Moreover, an opening 67 for use in detecting and feeding engine oil for the engine 16 is located at the inner side portion of the front cover member 65.
In this embodiment, the cut-away portion 64 is formed at the central front portion of the front step member 63 and the front step member 63 is formed in a generally U-shaped form, when looked on the plane, in the manner as described above, so that the members located at the front portion of the machine body, such as the front step member 63, the engine 16, and so on, may be made unlikely to interfere with each other upon detachment of the front step member 63 and as a consequence the front step member 63 can be attached or detached easily. Therefore, workability of maintenance work to be done after detachment of the front step member 63 can be improved.
In particular, the cut-away portion 64 formed in the central front portion of the front step member 63 is provided with the front cover member 65 that can work as an opening and closing lid, so that the maintenance work for the traveling power transmission mechanism system 43 disposed at the bottom portion of the engine 16 and operatively coupled with the engine 16 can be done solely by opening or closing the front cover member 65 without detachment of the front step member 63. Therefore, workability for the maintenance work can be improved.
In addition, the detecting and feeding work of engine oil can be
conducted solely by opening or closing the front cover member 65 without detaching the front step member 63 by locating the opening 67 for detecting and feeding engine oil of the engine 16 at the inner side portion of the front cover member 65. Therefore, workability of the work for detecting and feeding engine oil can be improved.
Moreover, the cut-away portion 64 formed at the central front portion of the front step member 63 can be installed with an attachment such as a winch, a pump and so on, in place of the opening and closing lid.
On the top portion of the front step member 63, the bonnet 62 and a front column cover member 68 are disposed at the front and rear sides, respectively. The front portions and the left-hand and right-hand sides of the engine 16 and the fuel tank 40 are covered with the bonnet 62, and the rear portions of the engine 16 and the fuel tank 40 are covered with the front column cover member 68. The bonnet 62 and the front column cover member 68 are integrally disposed so as to constitute a front portion of the machine body. Further, the bonnet 62 is disposed so as to work as a front bonnet structure member while the front column cover member 68 is disposed so as to work as a rear bonnet structure member.
As shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the bonnet 62 is provided with depressed portions 69 and 69 at the upper side from a generally central portion, when looked from the front, by making the left-hand and right-hand width at the upper portion thereof narrower than the left-hand and right-hand width at the lower portion thereof. The depressed portion 69 is formed so as to have a surface curving smoothly and continuing from the left-hand and right-hand side surfaces of the bonnet 62.
In this embodiment, as the depressed portions 69, when looked from the front, are formed at the upper portion of the bonnet 62 in the manner as described above, a distance between the upper portion of the bonnet 62 and the operator can be used in a wide way while the operator moves on the top of the front step member 63 disposed at the lower side portion of the bonnet 62. Therefore, for example, when the operator moves on the front step member 63 along the bonnet 62 with a fertilizer bag in hand in order to feed a fertilizer in the case where the traveling machine body 2 is loaded with a fertilizer spreader 135 at the rear portion thereof (see Fig. 10), the fertilizer bag can be allowed to pass through the depressed portion formed at the upper portion of the bonnet 62 so that the operator carrying the fertilizer bag can move the upper surface of the front step member 63 with a clearance at a comfortable posture.
In particular, the depressed portion 69 formed in the bonnet 62 is so curved that, even if a fertilizer bag would come into contact with the bonnet 62 during transportation of the fertilizer bag, the bag will not be broken and no fertilizer will scatter and stick to the machine body. Therefore, no rust is caused to occur at the machine body due to scattered and stuck fertilizer and work for removing scattered fertilizer and cleaning the machine body can be prevented in advance.
The bonnet 62 is provided with an engagement portion at the lower front end portion thereof and it is provided with a locking member 71 at the upper rear end portion thereof.
More specifically, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the bonnet 62 is provided with a tongue piece member 70a as an engagement member 70 at the lower front end portion thereof, and a bracket 72 extending latitudinally between the left and right sides thereof is disposed across and between middle portions of steering shaft support frame structure members 25 and 26. An engagement piece member 73 is disposed at a lower central portion of the bracket 72, and an engagement hole 74 in a latitudinally elongated shape is formed in the engagement piece member 73. The insertion of the tongue piece member 70a into the engagement hole 74 engages the front end portion of the bonnet 62 with the machine body frame member 5.
On the other hand, the bonnet 62 is provided with an opening 75 at the upper rear side portion thereof, and an oil supply opening 76 of the fuel tank 40 is located in the opening 75. A supply opening lid 77 for feeding oil is mounted on the opening 75 so as to be opened or closed. Further, the opening 75 is provided with a tongue piece member 71a as a locking member 81 at the upper edge thereof, and a knob screw insertion hole 78 for inserting a knob screw 81 as a locking member is formed in the tongue piece member 71a. Moreover, the steering post 28 is provided at the upper end portion thereof with a bracket 79 projecting forward, and a female screw 80 is mounted on the front end portion of the bracket 79. The knob screw 81 inserted into the know screw insertion hole 78 of the bonnet 62 is engaged with the female 80 to fix the bonnet 62 to the machine body. The knob screw 81 is located inside the supply opening lid 77. With the structure as described above, the locking and unlocking operations for the bonnet 62 can be carried out by opening the supply opening lid 77 and conducting pivotal operations of the knob screw 81 at the inner side portion of the supply opening lid 77.
In this embodiment, the bonnet 62 is provided with the engagement member 70 for engaging the bonnet 62 and with the locking member 71 for locking the bonnet 62, and the locking member 71 is covered with the oil supply opening lid 11 as an opening-closing lid in the manner as described above. With this structure, therefore, the locking operations and the unlocking operations of the locking member 71 can be carried out at the inside of the opening-closing lid (the oil supply opening lid 11).
As the locking member 71 is not exposed outside in the manner as described above, the locking member 71 does not hit the operator in the body and the bonnet 62 is not unlocked, accordingly, so that the bonnet 62 can be prevented from dropping without making the structure complicated. Moreover, safety can be improved. In addition, a favorable design can be realized because the locking member 71 does not expose to the outside of the machine body.
In particular, the oil supply opening lid 11 disposed so as to be opened and closed is used as the opening-closing lid for the bonnet 62 so that it is not needed to separately use an additional opening-closing lid for covering the locking member 71 . Therefore, a number of structuring parts can be reduced, and consequently costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts thereof can be reduced. Moreover, this structure can serve in making the machine body lightweight.
In this embodiment, although the oil supply opening lid 77 is used as the opening-closing lid for covering the locking member 71 in the manner as described above, the front cover member 65 disposed at the bottom end portion of the bonnet 62 so as to be opened and closed can also be used as the opening-closing lid, as shown in Fig. 11 . In Fig. 11, the members having the same or substantially equal functions as the structure of the machine body as shown in Fig. 4 are provided with the same reference numerals.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, the bonnet 62 is provided with the tongue piece member 71a as the locking member 71 at the lower front end portion and with the knob screw insertion hole 78 for inserting the knob screw 81 in the tongue piece member 71a as the locking member. Further, the bracket 72 extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body is disposed latitudinally across middle portions of the steering shaft support frame structure members 25 and 26, and the female screw 80 is formed at the central portion of the bracket 72. Moreover, the female screw 80 is engaged with the knob screw 81 inserted into the knob screw insertion hole 78 of the tongue piece
member 71a, and the bonnet 62 is engaged with the machine body frame member 5. With this structure, the knob screw 81 is located inside the front cover member 65 and covered with the front cover member 65.
On the other hand, the bonnet 62 is further provided with the tongue piece member 70a as the engagement member 70 at the rear end portion thereof, and a depressed engagement portion 82 is formed at the upper front end portion of the front column cover member 68. With this structure, the tongue piece member 70a is engaged with the depressed engagement portion 82.
When the front cover member 65 disposed at the front end portion of the machine body so as to be opened and closed is used as the opening-closing lid covering the locking member 71 of the bonnet 62 in the manner as described above, the work for attaching and detaching the bonnet 62 can be carried out in front of the machine body so that workability of maintenance work for the engine 16 and so on can be improved. (Operation Section 8)
Then, the structure of the operation section 8 will be described in more detail. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the operation section 8 is structured in such a manner that a seat 83 is mounted to the central top portion of the seat support structure member 14 of the machine body frame member 5 and the steering shaft 27 is pivotally disposed in a spaced relationship at a given interval in front of the seat 83. Further, the steering shaft 27 is pivotally supported with the steering post 28, and the steering post 28 is covered with the front column cover member 68. Operating levers (a main shift lever 84a and a seedling lever 84b) as well as left-hand and right-hand braking pedals (although not shown) are disposed at the right-hand side of the front column cover member 68, and a clutch pedal 85 is disposed at the left-hand side of the front column cover member 68. In the drawing, reference numeral 104 stands for a steering wheel mounted on the top of the steering shaft 27.
As shown in Figs. 4 and 16 to 18, a key switch panel member 87 in the form of a latitudinally elongated rectangle-shaped box is mounted on the steering post 28 through a bracket 87 and disposed directly in front of the seat 83.
The key switch panel member 87 is provided on top with a variety of alarm lamps (for example, an alarm lamp 88a for requiring the continuation of seedling work, an alarm lamp 88b for requiring the supplement of fertilizer, an alarm lamp 88c for informing of the clog of fertilizer, an alarm lamp 88d for informing the uncoupling of the left-hand and right-hand braking pedals, and so on) and a
variety of switches 89a to 89c (for example, an alarm buzzer stop switch 89a, an engine start/stop shift switch 89b, an on-off switch 89c for an automatic adjustment of a planting depth, and so on) and at the lower right-hand side portion of the rear side (the side opposite to the seat 83). The key switch panel member 87 is further provided with a depressed portion 90 with a key switch 91 disposed therein so as to allow a key 92 to be inserted thereinto. The depressed portion 90 is structured in such a manner that it is deep enough to cause the rear end of the key 92 to be inserted into the key switch 91 so as to fail to project from the rear end portion of the key switch panel member 87, when looked on the plane.
In this embodiment, the alarm lamps 88a to 88d are disposed on the top of the key switch panel member 87 in the manner as described above, so that the operator can readily watch the alarm lamps 88a to 88d while operating the machine. Therefore, safety of the operations of the machine can be improved. In particular, as the upper front portion of the key switch panel member 87 is disposed horizontally and the alarm lamps 88a to 88d are disposed on the horizontal panel portion, the operator can watch the alarm lamps 88a to 88d easily. Moreover, by arranging for the upper rear portion of the key switch panel member 87 in an inclining relationship with the front portion located at a higher position and the rear portion located at a lower position so as to be set to the operator' s eyes and at the same time locating the switches 89a to 89c on the inclining surface, the operator can easily operate the switches 89a to 89c, thereby improving safety of operating the machine.
Furthermore, in the case where the key switch 91 is disposed in the depressed portion 90 formed in the side of the key switch panel member 87 and the key 92 is inserted into the key switch panel member 87, an amount of the projection of the rear end portion of the key 92 from the side surface of the key switch panel member 87 can be reduced to the least possible extent. Therefore, the risk of the rear end portion of the key 92 striking the operator in the body can be reduced, thereby operating the key 92 without error and improving safety of operation.
In addition thereto, this structure can prevent the key switch 91 from coming into direct exposure to rainwater during rain. Therefore, the penetration of rainwater into the inside of the key switch 91 can be prevented and as a consequence troubles with the key switch 91 can be reduced.
In particular, as the depressed portion 90 is formed on the side surface
opposite to the seat 83, the operator can easily operate the key 92 while sitting on the seat 83, thereby improving operability of the machine. Further, the space at the front side in front of the operator can be widened so that driving operations can be carried out in a comfortable way.
Moreover, the depressed portion 90 is formed so as for the tip of the key 92 to fail to project from the key switch panel member 87, when looked on the plane, upon inserting the key 92 into the key switch 91. Therefore, when the key 92 is inserted into the key switch 91, the risk of the key 92 striking the operator in the body with error can be reduced, thereby preventing an occurrence of an error operation of the key 92 and further improving safety of driving the machine.
In addition, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12, the operation section 8 is structured in such a manner that the upper end portion of a torque generator 93 for power steering is operatively coupled with the base end portion of the steering shaft 27 and a steering case member 95 with a deceleration mechanism system disposed therein (see Fig. 13) is operatively coupled with the bottom end portion of the torque generator 93. Further, the steering case member 95 is formed as a member separate from the transmission case member 34, not in the conventional cases where it is formed inside the transmission case member 34.
The torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 are further interposed between the engine 16 and the transmission case member 34.
More specifically, the torque generator 93 is disposed in a depressed portion 96 formed at the lower rear portion of the engine 16 so as for the top surface thereof to be disposed inclining rearwards and upwardly, and the steering case member 95 is disposed in a depressed portion 97 formed at the lower front portion of the transmission case member 34 in a state in which the top surface of the steering case member 95 inclines rearwards and upwardly.
In this embodiment, as the steering case member 95 and the transmission case member 34 are formed as separate members in the manner as described above, a specification of the agricultural machine in accordance with the present invention can be revised easily. Further, a location of the steering case member 95 can also be changed in an appropriate manner in accordance with the revised specification of the agricultural machine. Moreover, this embodiment does not require a change of the shape of the transmission case member 34. These features, accordingly, allow a prompt and ready change in the specification of the agricultural machine.
Furthermore, by interposing the steering case member 95 and the torque
generator 93 between the engine 16 and the transmission case member 34, a space formed between the engine 16 and the transmission case member 34 can be utilized in an effective manner so that the machine body can be made compact in size.
In particular, as the depressed portions 96 and 97 are formed in the rear portion of the engine 16 and the front portion of the transmission case member 34, respectively, and the steering case member 95 and the torque generator 93 are interposed between the depressed portions 96 and 97, this structure can ensure a space wide enough to install the steering case member 95 and the torque generator 93.
Moreover, the depressed portions 96 and 97 are formed at the upper rear portion of the engine 16 and at the lower front portion of the transmission case member 34, respectively, and the steering case member 95 and the torque generator 93 are interposed between the depressed portions 96 and 97 in a state in which they are disposed with the front sides thereof inclining at a lower position and the rear sides thereof inclining at a higher position. Therefore, the engine 16, the steering case member 95, the torque generator 93 and the transmission case member 34 can be disposed closely to one another in a centralized manner so that this structure can serve in making the machine body more compact in size.
Now, a description will be given regarding the structure of the mounting of the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 with reference to Figs. 4 and 12. As shown in the drawings, the steering support member 19 for supporting the steering case member 95 is disposed extending from the rear end of the engine support member 17 disposed for supporting the engine 16 at the machine body frame member 5, and the torque generator 93 is disposed on the top of the steering support member 19. Further, the steering case member 95 is disposed at the lower portion of the steering support member 19. The torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 are further fastened directly through the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5 with a total number of four of bolts 98, more specifically, two bolts each for the left-hand and right-hand sides thereof. Moreover, the rear end portion of the steering support member 19 is coupled with the front end portion of the transmission case member 34 through a bracket 99, and the lower front end of the transmission case member 34 is coupled with the lower rear end of the steering case member 95 through a reinforcement support member 100.
In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the front end portion of the
engine support member 17 (the front frame structure member 11), the rear end portion of the steering support member 19 (a bolt 101 constituting a fastening portion between the bracket 99 and the transmission case member 34) and the rear end portion of the reinforcement support member 100 (a bolt 102 constituting a fastening portion between the reinforcement support member 100 and the transmission case member 34) are located at each point of a visual triangle 103, when looked from the side.
Therefore, the engine 16 and the transmission case member 34 can be coupled through the steering case member 95 in a reinforced manner, and the strength of the engine support member 17 can be ensured in a favorable way. These features can serve in improving a rigidity of the machine body.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the steering support member 19 constituting the machine body frame member 5 is interposed between the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 in the manner as described above, and the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 are mounted on the steering support member 19.
As the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 are mounted on the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5 and made of the identical member, the mounting structure can be made simple and a number of parts required for mounting can be reduced. Therefore, costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts thereof can be reduced and the machine body can also be made lightweight.
Further, as the torque generator 93 is mounted on the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5, the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5 receives a load burdened on a steering wheel 104 so that the load burdened on the steering case member 95 can be reduced. As a result, the weight of the steering case member 95 can be made lighter than conventional ones. Therefore, these features can make the machine body as a whole lightweight.
In particular, as the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 are directly fastened with each other through the steering support member 19 of the machine body frame member 5, the fastening site can be centralized at one location so that workability of assembly work and a maintenance performance can be improved.
As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the torque generator 93 is superimposed so as to cover a case member 106 located at the bottom end of a torque generator
main body 105 and interposed between the torque generator main body 105 and the steering case member 95. The case member 106 is constructed in such a manner that it tightly closes oil circulating flow passage for the power steering formed inside the torque generator main body 105. In the drawings, reference numeral 107 stands for an oil intake opening and reference numeral 108 stands for an oil drain opening.
The case member 106 is provided with a drain opening 109 at the rear end portion thereof for draining oil of the torque generator main body 105. In the drawings, reference numeral 110 stands for a drain pipe.
The torque generator 93 is further structured in such a manner that the base end portion of an output shaft 112 disposed pivotally at the case member 106 is coupled with the tip portion of a middle shaft 111 projecting at the lower end portion of the torque generator main body 105 and that an output gear 11 3 is mounted on the tip portion of the output shaft 112. In the drawings, reference numeral 114 stands for a bearing and reference numeral 115 stands for a packing.
On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 13 and 15, the steering case member 95 is so constructed that an upper opening of a steering case main body 116 is covered with a steering case lid member 117 and a decelerating mechanism system 94 is disposed inside. In this embodiment, the torque generator 93 is of a tightly closed structure, however, the steering case member 95 is not required to have a closed structure because oil circulating the inside of the torque generator 93 flows inside the steering case member 95.
The deceleration mechanism system 94 has a large-size shift gear 119 mounted on the top of an input shaft 118 held pivotally with the steering case main body 116 and the steering case lid member 117. Further, a small-size shift gear 120 is mounted on the bottom of the input shaft 118. Moreover, a fan-shaped cornering gear 122 is mounted on the top of an output shaft 121 held pivotally at the rear portion of the steering case main body 116, and the cornering gear 122 is in mesh with the small-size shift gear 120.
The steering case member 95 is further structured in such a manner that an output shaft 1 21 is disposed projecting downwardly at the lower rear portion of the steering case main body 116 and that a plate-shaped pitman arm member 123 is mounted on the bottom end portion of the output shaft 121. Further, a pair of left-hand and right-hand drag link members 124 and 125 are operatively coupled with the front end portion of the pitman arm member 123, and the drag
link members 124 and 125 are operatively coupled with left-hand and right-hand front axle case members 35 and 36, respectively, although not shown.
Moreover, the steering case member 95 has an arc-shaped groove 126 formed in the bottom portion of the steering case main body 116 and a pin 127 is disposed projecting upwardly on the top of the pitman arm member 123. Further, the pin 127 is disposed transferring pivotally along the groove 126, and the pivotal movement of the pitman arm member 123 can be blocked by bringing the pin 127 into abutment with both end portions of the groove 126. By using the groove 126 formed in the steering case member 95 as a cut-angle stopper of the steering wheel 104 in the manner as described above, a number of structuring parts can be reduced and an accuracy of a cut angle can be improved.
Furthermore, straight-through holes 128 and 129 are disposed through the steering support member 19 and the steering case lid member 117, respectively, and the output shaft 112 disposed projecting at the bottom portion of the torque generator 93 is inserted through the case member 106 and the straight-through holes 128 and 129. With this structure, the output shaft 112 and the output gear 113 are inserted inside the steering case member 95, and the torque generator 93 is operatively coupled with the steering case member 95 by engaging the output gear 113 with the large-size shift gear 119 inside the steering case member 95.
In this embodiment, as the torque generator 93 is tightly closed with the case member 106 interposed between the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 in the manner as described above, it is not needed to form the steering case member 95 as a closed structure and further to use any packing member and any fastening member for allowing the torque generator 93 and the steering case member 95 each to assume a closed structure. Therefore, a number of parts of the machine body can be reduced so that costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts thereof can be reduced. Further, the machine body can be made lightweight.
Further, a specification of the machine body can be changed rapidly and easily so as to have no power steering function simply by detaching the torque generator 93 and the case member 106 and installing an appropriate coupling tool in place of the torque generator 93.
Moreover, the torque generator 93 and the case member 106 have each a closed structure so that the risk of oil leaking from the torque generator 93 and the case member 106 can be removed even if the torque generator 93 and the case
member 106 would be detached from the steering case member 95. This structure can further improve workability for maintenance of the machine body.
In particular, as the case member 106 is provided with the drain opening 109 for draining oil of from the torque generator main body 105, oil inside the torque generator 93 can be drained from the drain opening 109 and maintenance work of the torque generator 93 can be carried out easily.
Further, the torque generator 93 is operatively coupled with the steering case member 95 by inserting the output shaft 112 of the torque generator 93 with the case member 106 inserted therethrough, so that the output shaft 11 2 of the torque generator 93 can also be used as an input shaft of the steering case member 95. This structure can reduce a number of parts of the machine body and as a consequence reduce costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts thereof and make the machine body lightweight.
In addition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the operation section 8 is so structured that a step member 130 is provided around the seat 83, and the step member 130 and the front step member 63 constitutes a floor section of the operation section 8.
The step member 63 is further structured in such a manner that the front end portion thereof is continued from the rear end portion of the front step member 63 and the left-hand and right-hand side portions thereof are provided with side step members 131 and 132, respectively, for riding the machine and stepping down therefrom.
It is to be noted herein, however, that the divided positions between the step member 130 and the front step member 63 (the position of the front end of the step member 130 and the position of the rear end of the front step member 63) are located at the rear side of the machine body than those of a conventional one and at the position in the vicinity of directly under the read end of the steering wheel 104. This structure enables the maintenance work of the shift system 45 to be conducted simply by detaching the front step member 63 and making the step member 130 compact in size and lightweight by the length in which the divided position is transferred toward the rear side of the machine body. Therefore, the work of attaching and detaching the step member 130 can be carried out readily.
As the step member 130 is further provided with a depressed portion 133 at the foot of the operator by making the portion directly under the seat 83 a depressed portion, when looked from the side, the area at the foot of the operator can be made so wide that the driving operation can be carried out in a comfort
way.
Moreover, the step member 130 is disposed so as to cover an upper front side an accessory wheel (although not shown) to be mounted on the outer side of the rear wheel 39 at a wet field or the like by elongating the left-hand and right-hand end portions thereof up to the left and right sides of the rear wheel 39. This structure can prevent the operator from getting dirty with mud upon operating the seedling lever 84b at the side of the machine body. The widened step member 130 can further serve in improving workability at the time of seedling or feeding a fertilizer, or the like. Moreover, this structure can prevent an article placed over the step member 130 from winding about the accessory wheel as such an article falls down from the machine body.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8, the step member 130 is held with the step support frame structure member 13 of the machine body frame member 5 at a generally central portion thereof, and with the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 of the machine body frame member 5 at the left-hand and right-hand rear end portions thereof.
In addition, the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 supporting the left-hand and right-hand rear end portions of the step member 130 also support the rear deck member 134 covering the rear end portions of the machine body, which are disposed at the step member 130 and at a position behind the step member 130.
More specifically, each of the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 is structured in such a manner that the base end portion thereof is extended latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body, the middle portion thereof is curved, and the tip portion thereof is extended longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof. Further, the rear deck member 134 is held at the base end portion thereof extending latitudinally between the left and right sides thereof, and the step member 130 is held at the tip portion extending longitudinally between the front and right sides thereof.
The rear deck member 134 is further fixed with rear deck support brackets 32 and 33 interposed between the corner portion of the rear frame structure member 15 and the base end portions of the respective step support frame structure members 30 and 31.
As shown in Fig. 10, a fertilizer spreader 135 can be mounted on the rear deck support brackets 32 and 33, in place of the rear deck member 134.
In this embodiment, the machine body frame member 5 is provided with
the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 for supporting the step member 130 and the rear deck member 134 is also held with the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 and the step member 130 in the manner as described above. Therefore, not only the step member 130 but also the rear deck member 1 34 disposed behind the step member 1 30 can be held only with the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 disposed on the machine body frame member 5. Moreover, it is not needed to separately provide an exclusive member for use in supporting the rear deck member 134, so that a number of parts constituting the agricultural machine can be reduced. This can also serve in reducing costs of manufacturing the machine and managing parts thereof as well as making the machine body lightweight.
In particular, the base end portions of the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 are disposed extending latitudinally between the left side and right sides of the machine body and the front and rear tip portions thereof are disposed extending longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof, respectively. Therefore, the step member 130 is held with the tip portions thereof and the rear deck member 134 is held with the base end portions thereof, so that the step support frame structure members 30 and 31 can be manufactured with readiness and at low costs. This structure can further serve in making costs of manufacturing the agricultural machine lower.
Moreover, the rear deck support brackets 32 and 33 are provided for mounting the rear deck member 134 on the base end portions of the step support frame structure members 30 and 31, respectively, and the fertilizer spreader 135 can be connected to the rear deck support brackets 32 and 33, in place of the rear deck member 134. This structure does not require any separate member for loading the fertilizer spreader 135. This can also serve in reducing the number of parts of the machine and as a consequence making the machine body lightweight.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The agricultural machine according to the present invention can be practiced in the modes as described above and can demonstrate effects as will be described hereinafter.
The present invention as described in the first aspect of the invention provides the agricultural machine having the machine body frame member composed of a pair of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure
members, each extending longitudinally between the front side and the rear side of the machine body, a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, extending latitudinally between the left-hand and right-hand sides thereof and disposed latitudinally across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members to support a reserved seedling mount therewith, and a front frame structure member disposed latitudinally across the front portions of the left-hand and right-hand center frame structure members. With the structure as described above, the left and right sides of the front frame structure member are coupled with the left and right sides of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member. Therefore, the load of the reserved seedling mount as a heavyweight article can be received by the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member in association with the front frame structure member, so that it is not needed to form the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member with a big member in order to ensure the strength of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member. As this structure can serve in making the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member itself lightweight, the machine body can be made lightweight as a whole and costs of manufacturing the machine can also be reduced.
In accordance with the agricultural machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, the battery is disposed inside the space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane. Therefore, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, are located at the periphery of the battery, so that the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, can work each as a protective member for protecting the battery from an obstruction such as a ridge of a crop field and the like. Thus, these protective members can prevent damages and breakdown of the battery and serve in making the life of the agricultural machine longer.
Moreover, in addition thereto, no separate member for protecting the battery is needed so that the machine body of the agricultural machine can be
made lightweight and costs of manufacturing the machine can be reduced.
For the agricultural machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the hydraulic pump is disposed inside the space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane. Therefore, the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, are located at the periphery of the hydraulic pump so that the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, can work each as a protective member for protecting the hydraulic pump from an obstruction such as a ridge of a crop field and the like. Thus, these protective members can prevent damages and breakdown of the hydraulic pump and serve in making the life of the agricultural machine longer.
Moreover, in addition thereto, no separate member for protecting the hydraulic pump is needed so that the machine body of the agricultural machine can be made lightweight and costs of manufacturing the machine can be reduced.
In accordance with the agricultural machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the engine is disposed inside a space range enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the middle portion of the front frame structure member and the middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, while the battery is disposed inside one space range of two space ranges, each enclosed by the front side portions of the center frame structure members, the side portion of the front frame structure member and the side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on the plane, and the hydraulic pump is disposed inside the other space range. Therefore, the battery and the hydraulic pump can be protected in the manner as described above as well as the engine as a heavyweight article can be disposed with the battery and the hydraulic pump each as a heavyweight article disposed on both sides. This arrangement can keep the weight balance between the left-hand and right-hand sides of the machine body in a favorable manner so that traveling stability of the machine body can be improved.
The present invention according to the fifth aspect of the present invention provides the agricultural machine having the step member constituting the floor portion of the operation section disposed on top of the machine body frame member and the rear deck member disposed behind the step member, in which the machine body frame member is further provided with the step support frame structure member for supporting the step member and the step support frame structure member also supports the rear deck member. Therefore, not only the step member but also the rear deck member disposed behind the step member can be held solely with the step support frame structure member.
This arrangement for the structure of the agricultural machine does not require any additional member for exclusive use as a member for supporting the rear deck member. Therefore, this structure can decrease the number of parts constituting the agricultural machine and it can also make the weight of the machine body lightweight.
Moreover, for the agricultural machine according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the step support frame structure member has the base end portion thereof extending latitudinally between the left and right sides of the machine body and the tip portions thereof longitudinally between the front and rear sides thereof, in which the step member is held with the tip portion thereof and the rear deck member is held with the base end portion thereof. Therefore, the step support frame structure member can be manufactured with ease and at lower costs, thereby making costs of manufacturing the agricultural machine lower than conventional ones.
In addition, the agricultural machine according to the seventh aspect of the invention is provided with the bracket for installing the rear deck member on the base end portion of the step support frame structure member, in which the fertilizer spreader can be installed on the bracket, in place of the rear deck member. Therefore, no additional member for installing the fertilizer spreader is needed separately, so that the number of parts of the machine body can be reduced and, as a result, the weight of the machine body can be reduced.





WE CLAIM:
1. An agricultural machine, comprising:
a. a machine body frame member (5);
b. a pair of left-hand (9) and right-hand (10) center frame structure
members, each extending longitudinally between a front side and
a rear side of the machine body frame member;
c. a reserved seedling mount support frame structure member (12)
disposed latitudinally between a left side and a right side thereof
so as to hold a reserved seedling mount with left-hand and right-
hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support frame
structure member; and
d. a front frame structure member (11) disposed latitudinally across
front portions of the pair of the left-hand and right-hand center
frame structure members;
e. characterized in that left-hand and right-hand side portions of the
front frame structure member are coupled with left-hand and
right-hand side portions of the reserved seedling mount support
frame structure member, respectively.
2. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space range enclosed by front side portions of the center frame structure members, a side portion of the front frame structure member and a side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on plane, enclose a battery is disposed inside.
3. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space range enclosed by front side portions of the center frame structure members, a side portion of the front frame structure member and a side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on plane dispose inside a hydraulic pump.
4. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the space range enclosed by front side portions of the center frame structure members, a side portion of the front frame structure member and a side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on plane, disposed inside a hydraulic pump.
5. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space range enclosed by front side portions of the pair of the left-hand and right-hand the center frame structure members, a middle portion of the front frame structure member and a middle portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when looked on plane, a battery is disposed inside one space range of two space ranges, each enclosed by front side portions of the center frame structure members, a side portion of the front frame structure member and a side portion of the reserved seedling mount support frame structure member, when
looked on plane, and a hydraulic pump is disposed inside the other space range dispose inside an engine.
6. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 to 5, wherein said agricultural machine comprising a step member constituting a floor portion of an operation section on top of a machine body frame member; a rear deck member disposed behind the step member; and a step support frame structure member for supporting the step member on the machine body frame member, wherein the rear deck member is held with the step support frame structure member.
7. The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step support frame structure member is structured with a base end portion thereof extending latitudinally between a left side and a right side of the center frame structure member and a tip portion thereof extending longitudinally between a front side and a rear side thereof; and wherein the step member is held with the tip portion thereof and the rear deck member is held with the base end portion thereof.
8. The agricuttural machine as claimed in claim 6, optionally comprises a bracket for installing the rear deck member disposed on the base end portion of the step support frame structure member, wherein the bracket is installed on a fertilizer spreader machine, in place of the rear deck member.

Documents:

190-delnp-2003-abstract.pdf

190-delnp-2003-claims.pdf

190-delnp-2003-complete specification(as files).pdf

190-delnp-2003-complete specification(granted).pdf

190-DELNP-2003-Correspondence-Others-(11-05-2011).pdf

190-delnp-2003-correspondence-others.pdf

190-delnp-2003-correspondence-po.pdf

190-delnp-2003-description (complete).pdf

190-delnp-2003-drawings.pdf

190-delnp-2003-form-1.pdf

190-DELNP-2003-Form-16-(11-05-2011).pdf

190-delnp-2003-form-18.pdf

190-delnp-2003-form-2.pdf

190-delnp-2003-form-3.pdf

190-delnp-2003-form-5.pdf

190-DELNP-2003-GPA-(11-05-2011).pdf

190-delnp-2003-gpa.pdf

190-delnp-2003-pct-210.pdf

190-delnp-2003-pct-308.pdf

190-delnp-2003-petition-137.pdf


Patent Number 242478
Indian Patent Application Number 190/DELNP/2003
PG Journal Number 36/2010
Publication Date 03-Sep-2010
Grant Date 27-Aug-2010
Date of Filing 19-Feb-2003
Name of Patentee YANMAR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT CO. LTD
Applicant Address 1-32, CHAYAMACHI, KITA-KU, OSAKA-SHI, 530-0013, JAPAN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 YAMAMOTO TSUGUNORI C/O YANMAR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT CO. LTD., 1-32, CHAYAMACHI, KITA-KU, OSAKA-SHI, 530-0013, JAPAN
PCT International Classification Number A01C 11/02
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2001/09127
PCT International Filing date 2001-10-17
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2001-186398 2001-06-20 Japan