Work Vehicle

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-051941, filed Mar. 27, 2024. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to a work vehicle.

Japanese Patent No. 5336646 describes a work vehicle having both a fuel tank and a reducing agent tank. In this work vehicle, the oil filler port is provided to be inclined upward to one of right and left of the vehicle body, and a reducing agent supply port is provided to be inclined upward on the other side of the right and left of the vehicle body. Japanese Patent No. 6314230 describes a tank having an inner tubular element which is provided in a tubular portion protruding obliquely upward from the tank and which is tiltable with respect to the tubular portion. The inner tubular element has a shape complementary to the nozzle tip and may include a filter inside the inner tubular element.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a first wheel provided on a left side of the vehicle body frame, a second wheel provided on a right side of the vehicle body frame, the left side being opposite to the right side in a left-right direction, the first wheel and the second wheel being configured to drive the vehicle body frame in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, a tank supported by the vehicle body frame. The tank includes a tank body, a support port, and a filter. The tank is configured to store a liquid. The supply port protrudes from the tank body in an upward direction toward the vehicle body frame from a ground on which the work vehicle is placed, the upward direction being perpendicular to the left-right direction and to the front-rear direction. The filter is provided in the tank body to be connected to the supply port so as to capture foreign matter that enters the tank body through the supply port. The filter has a cylindrical shape with a cylindrical axis. The filter has a through hole that extends along the cylindrical axis. The cylindrical axis is inclined from the upper direction toward a leftward or rightward direction which is directed to an outside of the vehicle frame body.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a first wheel provided on a left side of the vehicle body frame, a second wheel provided on a right side of the vehicle body frame, the left side being opposite to the right side in a left-right direction, the first wheel and the second wheel being configured to drive the vehicle body frame in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, a first tank provided at one of the left side and the right side of the vehicle body frame, and a second tank provided at another of the left side and the right side of the vehicle body frame, the first tank including a first tank body configured to store a first liquid; and a first supply port that protrudes from the first tank body in an upward direction toward the vehicle body frame from a ground on which the work vehicle is placed, the upward direction being perpendicular to the left-right direction and to the front-rear direction, the second tank including a second tank body configured to store a second liquid; and a second supply port that protrudes from the second tank body in a leftward or rightward direction which is directed to an outside of the vehicle frame body.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the several views.

Referring to, the work vehicleincludes a vehicle body frame, a pair of traveling devices, a work device, and a cabin. The vehicle body framesupports the pair of traveling devices, the work device, and the cabin. The pair of traveling devicesare rotatably supported by the vehicle body frame, and are configured to drive the vehicle body framein the front-rear direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the pair of traveling devicesare crawler type traveling devices. Therefore, each of the pair of traveling devicesincludes a driving wheel, driven wheelsand, and a rolling wheel. The driving wheelcan be referred to as a crawler wheel or a wheel. However, the pair of traveling devicesis not limited to the crawler type traveling device. The traveling devicemay be, for example, a front wheel/rear wheel traveling device(including front wheels and rear wheels) or a traveling devicehaving front wheels (including front wheels) and rear crawlers (including crawler wheels). The work devicecomprises work equipment (bucket)at the distal end of the work device. A proximal end of the work deviceis attached to the vehicle body frame. The work deviceincludes a pair of arm assembliesfor rotatably supporting the bucketvia a bucket pivot shaft. Each of the pair of arm assembliesis connected to a lift linkand an arm.

The lift linkis rotatable relative to the vehicle body frameabout a fulcrum shaft. The armis rotatable relative to the lift linkabout a joint shaft. The work devicefurther includes a plurality of arm cylindersand at least one equipment cylinder. Each of the plurality of arm cylindersis rotatably connected to the vehicle body frameand the arm, and moves the lift linkand the armto raise and lower the bucket. The at least one implement cylinderis configured to tilt the bucket.

Referring to, the cabinis attached to the vehicle body frame. In, a common rotational axis Adefined by the rotation shafts RSL and RSR is shown. The cabinis switchable between a closed state in which the cabinis placed on the vehicle body frameand an open state in which the cabinis separated from the vehicle body frameby pivoting around the rotation shafts RSL and RSR.

In the embodiment according to the present application, a front-rear direction D(forward direction D/backward direction D) means the front-rear direction (forward direction/backward direction) as viewed from the driver seated on the driver's seatof the cabin. A left direction D, a right direction D, and a width direction Drespectively mean a left direction, a right direction, and a left-right direction as viewed from the driver. An upward direction D, a downward direction D, and a height direction Dmean the upward direction, the downward direction, and the height direction as viewed from the driver. Specifically, the downward direction Dis a direction from the vehicle body frametoward the ground, which is perpendicular to the forward direction D, the backward direction D, and the width direction D. The upward direction Dis a direction opposite to the downward direction Din the height direction D. The front-rear/left-right (width)/up-down (height) directions of the work vehiclerespectively coincide with the front-back/left-right (width)/up-down (height) directions as viewed from the driver.

The pair of traveling devicesare opposed to each other in the width direction D. The work vehicleis substantially symmetrical with respect to a vehicle body center plane M located at the center of the vehicle body framein the width direction DW. Among the pair of traveling devices, the traveling deviceprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first traveling devicesL (including a driving wheelor a left wheel), and the traveling devicesprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second traveling devicesR (including a driving wheelor a right wheel). Among the pair of arm assemblies, the arm assemblyprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first arm assemblyL, and the arm assemblyprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second arm assemblyR. The lift linkprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first lift linkL, and the lift linkprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second lift linkR. The armprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first armL, and the armprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second armR. The fulcrum shaftprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first fulcrum shaftL, and the fulcrum shaftprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second fulcrum shaftR. The joint shaftprovided on the left side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a first joint shaftL, and the joint shaftprovided on the right side with respect to the vehicle body center plane M is shown as a second joint shaftR.

Referring to, the work vehiclefurther includes an engineprovided on the vehicle body frame. The engineis configured to provide a driving force to the traveling deviceand the work device. The engineis provided between the pair of arm assembliesin the width direction Dof the work vehicle. The work vehiclefurther includes a bonnet coverfor covering the engine. The work vehiclefurther includes a rear bonnet coveris provided at the rear end of the vehicle body frame. The rear bonnet coveris openable and closable such that a maintenance worker can perform maintenance work of the engineand the like.

Referring to, the work vehicleincludes a first tankand a second tank. Referring to, the first tankis supported by the vehicle body frameat a position shifted from the center of the vehicle body frame(vehicle body center plane M) to one first side in the width direction Darranged. The second tankis supported by the vehicle body frameat a position shifted from the center of the vehicle body frame(the vehicle body center plane M) toward the other second lateral side in the width direction D. In the above embodiment, the first side is the left direction Dand the second side is the right direction D, but the first side may be the right direction Dand the second side may be the left direction D.

Referring to, a part of the first tankis covered with an upper cover. The upper coverhas a recess, and the recessis configured to be openable and closable by an opening and closing door.is an enlarged view of the first tankand its surroundings in. The opening and closing dooris not shown in. Referring to, the first tankincludes a first tank body, a second tank body, a first supply port, and a first plug. The first tank bodyis configured to store the first liquid. The first liquid is preferably urea aqueous. The first supply portis engageable with the first plug. The first plugis configured to open and close the first supply port.

is a top view of the first tank.is a front view of the first tank. In, the upper coveris indicated by a dotted line. The first plugis not shown in. Referring to, the first tankis supported by the vehicle body frame. Referring to, the first tankis connected to the upper coversuch that the first plugand a part of the first supply portengaged with the first plugprotrude into the recessof the upper cover. The upper covercovers the upper portion of the first tank bodyso that the surface of the first tank bodycannot be seen from the inside of the recessof the upper cover. Referring to, a hoseor the like for sending the first liquid to a selective reduction catalyst device (not shown) is connected to the first tank body, but the upper covercovers the side portion of the first tank bodyso that the hoseor the like cannot be seen from the inside of the recessof the upper cover.

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII′ of. Referring to, the first plugincludes a first projectionthat is engageable with the first supply port. Referring to, the first supply portincludes a second projectionengageable with the first projectionIn the example of, the first projectionis a projection of a female screw, and the second projectionis a projection of a male screw. However, one of the first projectionand the second projectionmay be an engagement claw, one of the first projectionand the second projectionmay be a locking claw, and one of the first projectionand the second projectionmay be a claw receiver that receives the engagement claw.

Referring to, the work vehiclefurther includes a filterthat is connected to the first supply portinside the first tank bodyand is configured to capture foreign matter entering from the first supply port. The foreign matter refers to dust, mud, or the like that enters from the first supply port.is a perspective view of the filter. Referring to, the filterincludes a filter bodyhaving a substantially cylindrical shape centered on a center axis (a cylindrical axis) A, and a through holealong the center axis A. The filterhas a flangeextending from a side surfaceof a filter bodyhaving a cylindrical shapein a radial direction with respect to the center axis A. The filterhas a first protrusionprotruding from the side surfacein the radial direction with respect to the center axis A.

is a side view of the first supply port.is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X′ of. Referring to, the first supply portprotrudes from the first tank bodyin an upward direction Dfrom the ground toward the vehicle body frame, the upward direction Dbeing perpendicular to the width direction Dand the front-rear direction Dfrom the first tank body. Referring to, the first supply portincludes a supply port main bodyand a flange. The supply port main bodyhas a cylindrical shape along the center axis Aextending along the height direction Dwhen connected to the first tank body. The flangeextends from the supply port main bodyin the radial direction with respect to the center axis A. The flangeis connected to the first tank bodyby thermal welding.

Referring to, the center axis Aof the filteris inclined by an angle α from the upward direction Dtoward a first side direction in one of the width directions D. In the present embodiment, the first side direction is the left direction D. When the first tankand the second tankare arranged in a laterally reversed manner, the first side direction may be the right direction D. The first supply portis formed such that the center axis Aand the center axis Aare located on the same plane. Therefore,shows that the center axis Aand the center axis Aare on the same line.

shows, by a two dot chain line, a movement path of the radially outer end of the flangeof the filterwith respect to the center axis Awhen the filteris moved along the center axis A. Referring to, the inside diameter D of the first supply portis large enough to prevent the flangefrom contacting the inner surfaceof the first supply portwhen the filteris moved along the center axis A.

is a top view of the first supply port. Referring to, the first supply portincludes a receiving portionconfigured to support the flange. The receiving portionincludes a support surface, a restricting surface (guide surface), a second protrusiontoand libs-. The support surfacesupports the flangein the axial direction DAX along the center axis A. The restricting surfaceis configured to surround the side surfaceof the filter body. The restricting surfaceis configured to expand in the radial direction with respect to the center axis Aas the restricting surfaceis separated from the support surface.

The second protrusionstoprotrude from the restricting surfacetoward the inside of the opening(see) defined by the restricting surface. The second protrusionstoprotrude to such an extent that they engage with the first protrusionsof the filter. That is, the first protrusionof the filtercan engage with the second protrusionstoReferring to the enlarged view of the region A inand, the second protrusionstoeach have a substantially triangular pyramidal shape, and are arranged at positions rotated by 90° with respect to the center axis A. However, the shapes of the second protrusionstoare not limited to the shapes shown in, and may be any shape as long as the shape engages with the first protrusion.

is a partially enlarged view of the work vehiclearound the second tank. In, a part of the vehicle body frame, the second traveling deviceR, the second arm assemblyR, and the like are not shown in order to clarify the structure of the second tank. Referring to, the second tankincludes a second tank body, a second supply port, and a second plug. The second tank bodyis configured to store the second liquid. The second liquid is preferably a fuel. The second supply portprotrudes from the second tank bodyin a direction inclined from the upward direction Dtoward the second lateral side. The second supply portis connected to the second tank bodyvia a relay pipeextending substantially in the height direction D. The second supply porthas a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the center axis A. The center axis Aextends in a direction inclined from the upward direction Dtoward the second side. In the present embodiment, the second side is the right direction D. When the first tankand the second tankare arranged in a laterally reversed manner, the second lateral direction may be the left direction D.

In the work vehicleaccording to the present embodiment, the first tankincludes a first supply portprojecting from a first tank body, and a filter. The filterhas a cylindrical shape centered on the center axis A, and includes a through holealong the center axis A. Since the first supply portprotrudes in the upward direction D, when the water is supplied from the plastic tank containing the urea aqueous by the bellows-shaped nozzle, the nozzle may be naturally suspended, and thus the urea aqueous can be easily supplied. The center axis Ais inclined from the upward direction Dtoward a first side direction in one of the width directions D. As a result, as indicated by a reference sign NZ surrounded by a two dot chain line in, when the urea aqueous is supplied by a nozzle having a bent tip like a gasoline supply nozzle, The nozzle can be stably fixed by hooking the tip of the nozzle to the filterand hooking the base end of the nozzle to the first supply port. In order to realize this, it is desirable that the inside diameter Dof the filteris larger than the outer diameter Dof the nozzle, and the length Lof the filteris a length that allows the base end portion of the nozzle to be hooked. The second tankfurther includes a second supply portthat protrudes from the second tank bodyin a direction inclined from the upward direction Dtoward a second lateral side, which is the other side in the width direction D, from the second tank body. Therefore, the first supply port(supply port of the urea aqueous) and the second supply port(oil supply port) can be more easily distinguished.

In the above-described embodiment, the first tank, the first tank body, the first supply port, the first plug, and the first liquid may be simply referred to as the tank, the tank body, the supply port, the plug, and the liquid, respectively. In the above-described embodiment, the first liquid is the urea aqueous and the second liquid is the fuel, but the first liquid may be the fuel and the second liquid may be the urea aqueous.

In this application, the word “comprise” and its derivatives are used as open-ended terms to describe the presence of elements but not to exclude the presence of other elements not listed. This applies to “having”, “including” and derivatives thereof.

The terms “member,” “part,” “element,” “body,” and “structure” may have a plurality of meanings, such as a single portion or a plurality of portions.

The ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” are merely terms for identifying the configuration, and do not have other meanings (for example, a specific order). For example, the presence of a “first element” does not imply the presence of a “second element,” and the presence of a “second element” does not imply the presence of a “first element.”

Terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about”, and “approximately” can mean a reasonable amount of deviation such that the end result is not significantly changed, unless the embodiment is specifically described otherwise. All numerical values recited herein may be construed to include terms such as “substantially,” “about,” and “approximately.”

The phrase “at least one of A and B” as used herein should be interpreted to include A alone, B alone, and both A and B.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.