The present invention relates to a traveling vehicle.
Related Art
[0002]
There has been widely known traveling vehicles having a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).
[0003]
The mechanical brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending in the front-back
direction at sides of the case. The brake of the rear wheel can be controlled by transmitting the
operation of the brake pedal from the brake pedal disposed in the front of a driver to the brake device
disposed in the rear of the driver through the brake rod.
Patent Literature
[0004]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-167811 A
Summary of the Invention
[0005]
In recent years, in foreign countries in particular, traveling vehicles are sometimes used for
the efficient cultivation or reclamation of undeveloped lands (for example, forests, groves). When a
traveling vehicle is used for cultivation, a brake rod of the vehicle is sometimes deformed. When
the brake rod is deformed, the brake may not work even if the brake pedal is operated. Since the
brake is vital for safety, it is required to reduce deformation of the brake rod.
[0006]
In a typical approach, the periphery of the brake rod can be surrounded by a guard not to
expose the brake rod in order to reduce deformation of the brake rod. However, surrounding the
periphery of the brake rod by a guard requires a design change of a tractor, and a material only for
surrounding the brake rod, thereby possibly significantly increasing the cost of the traveling vehicle.
[0007]
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traveling vehicle capable of
reducing deformation of a brake rod while preventing a significant increase in cost.
[0008]
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
3
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels. The brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case. A guard having a pair of guard members extending in
the front-back direction below the pair of brake rods is provided. The pair of brake rods overlaps
the pair of guard members in a vertical direction. In side view of the traveling vehicle, the pair of
brake rods has: a higher portion positioned above a lower surface of the case to be distanced by a
predetermined interval or more and positioned above the lower surface of the case; and a lower
portion positioned below the higher portion. The pair of guard members overlaps at least all of the
lower portions in the vertical direction.
[0009]
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels. The brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case. A guard having a pair of guard members extending in
the front-back direction below the pair of brake rods is provided. The pair of brake rods overlaps
the pair of guard members in a vertical direction. The pair of guard members has a short guard
member and a long guard member longer in the front-back direction than the short guard member.
The long guard member overlaps all portions of one brake rod of the pair of brake rods in the vertical
direction.
[0010]
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels. The brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case. A guard having a pair of guard members extending in
the front-back direction below the pair of brake rods is provided. The pair of brake rods overlaps
the pair of guard members in a vertical direction. The traveling vehicle comprises a mechanical
PTO clutch link mechanism for transmitting operation of a PTO clutch lever to a PTO clutch. The
PTO clutch link mechanism has a PTO clutch rod extending in the front-back direction at sides of the
case. One of the pair of guard members being positioned below the PTO clutch rod and
overlapping the PTO clutch rod in the vertical direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a traveling vehicle according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a steering device, as viewed from the upper left rear, of the
traveling vehicle according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a left side view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a right side view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the embodiment;
4
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the traveling vehicle, as viewed from the lower left
front, according to the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the embodiment; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a guard according to the embodiment as viewed from the
upper right front.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012]
(Summary of the Embodiments)
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels, the brake link mechanism having a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case; and a guard having a pair of guard members extending
in the front-back direction below the pair of brake rods, the pair of brake rods overlapping the pair of
guard members in a vertical direction. In side view of the traveling vehicle, the pair of brake rods
has: a higher portion positioned above a lower surface of the case to be distanced by a predetermined
interval or more and positioned above the lower surface of the case; and a lower portion positioned
below the higher portion. The pair of guard members overlaps at least all of the lower portions in
the vertical direction.
[0013]
As a result of intensive examination, the inventors have found that a brake rod is pushed up
from a tree root or stone when removing the tree root or stone buried in the soil by using the
traveling vehicle, an obstacle such as a stump or stone exposed from the ground when traveling on an
unpaved road hits the brake rod from below, and thus a strong upward thrust works on the brake rod,
and the brake rod is deformed.
[0014]
Since the pair of guard members overlaps the pair of the brake rods in the vertical direction,
the upward thrust the brake rod acts on the guard member before acting on the brake rod, so that the
thrust acting on the brake rod can be reduced. Thus, the deformation of the brake rod can be
reduced. In addition, the guard is not required to be disposed to the side and the higher portion of
the brake rod, and thus the significant increase in cost can be suppressed. In addition, the lower
portion is closer to the lower surface of the case than the higher portion, and thus, for example, a
stone is easily hit even when the stone hits on the lower surface of the case. Thus, the lower portion
which is easily hit by, for example, a stone is protected by the guard member, so that the deformation
of the second brake rod by the upward thrust can be easily reduced.
[0015]
According to a preferred aspect, the pair of guard members may have a short guard member
5
having a length shorter in the front-back direction than the length of one brake rod of the pair of
brake rods and overlapping only a part of the one brake rod in the vertical direction. A front edge of
the short guard member may be positioned rearward of a front edge of the one brake rod. The
traveling vehicle may have an extension member extending laterally from the case at a position
anterior to the front edge of the short guard member. The extension member overlaps the one brake
rod in the vertical direction below the one brake rod.
[0016]
According to a preferred aspect, the higher portion may be positioned above the extension
member.
[0017]
According to a preferred aspect, the pair of guard members further may have a long guard
member longer in the front-back direction than the short guard member. The guard may have a
plurality of support members fixed to the case. The plurality of support members may have a
support member for supporting the long guard member and a support member for supporting the
short guard member. The number of support members supporting the long guard member may be
larger than the number of support members supporting the short guard member.
[0018]
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels, the brake link mechanism having a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case; and a guard having a pair of guard members extending
in the front-back direction below the pair of brake rods, the pair of brake rods overlapping the pair of
guard members in a vertical direction. the pair of guard members has a short guard member and a
long guard member longer in the front-back direction than the short guard member. The long guard
member overlaps all portions of one brake rod of the pair of brake rods in the vertical direction.
[0019]
According to a preferred aspect, the traveling vehicle may comprise a front working
machine having a working unit for performing work and a mounting frame for mounting the working
unit on a vehicle body. A part of the one brake rod may overlap the mounting frame in the vertical
direction. The long guard member may extend forward while curving upward from the lower side
so as to be disposed between a part of the one brake rod and the mounting frame.
[0020]
According to a preferred aspect, the guard may have a plurality of support members fixed to
the case. The plurality of support members may have a support member for supporting the long
guard member and a support member for supporting the short guard member. The number of
support members supporting the long guard member may be larger than the number of support
members supporting the short guard member.
[0021]
6
According to a preferred aspect, each of the plurality of support members may be fastened
to the case. The total number of fasteners of the support members supporting the long guard
member may be larger than the total number of fasteners of the support members supporting the
short guard member.
[0022]
A traveling vehicle according to an aspect comprises: a mechanical brake link mechanism
for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake device which is housed in a case and controls
brakes of right and left rear wheels, the brake link mechanism having a pair of brake rods extending
in a front-back direction at sides of the case; a guard having a pair of guard members extending in the
front-back direction below the pair of brake rods, the pair of brake rods overlapping the pair of guard
members in a vertical direction; and a mechanical PTO clutch link mechanism for transmitting
operation of a PTO clutch lever to a PTO clutch, the PTO clutch link mechanism having a PTO
clutch rod extending in the front-back direction at sides of the case. One of the pair of guard
members being positioned below the PTO clutch rod and overlapping the PTO clutch rod in the
vertical direction.
[0023]
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, the same or similar reference numerals
denote the same or similar portions. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic,
and the proportions of each dimension are different from the actual figures. Therefore, specific
dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following explanation. Further, the
drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios between the
drawings. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same
functions and structures are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description
thereof is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the
drawings.
[0024]
(1) Schematic Configuration of Traveling Vehicle 1
The schematic configuration of a traveling vehicle 1 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a side view of the traveling vehicle according to an embodiment. FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a steering device according to the embodiment as viewed from the upper left
rear. In this embodiment, a tractor is exemplified as the traveling vehicle 1. An arrow X shown in
the drawing indicates the width direction of the traveling vehicle 1, an arrow Y indicates the
front-back direction of the traveling vehicle 1, and an arrow Z indicates the vertical direction of the
traveling vehicle 1. An arrow X1 indicates the right direction of the traveling vehicle 1, and an
arrow X2 indicates the left direction of the traveling vehicle 1. An arrow Y1 indicates a front
direction (forward direction) of the traveling vehicle 1, and an arrow Y2 indicates a rear direction
(backward direction) of the traveling vehicle 1. An arrow Z1 indicates an upward direction of the
7
traveling vehicle 1, and an arrow Z2 indicates a downward direction of the traveling vehicle 1. The
direction from the center to the right or left in the width direction X of the traveling vehicle 1 is
referred to as the outward direction, and the direction from the right or left to the center in the width
direction X of the traveling vehicle 1 is referred to as the inward direction. Thus, the center of the
traveling vehicle 1 in the width direction X may be referred to as “inside of the vehicle”, and the
right and left sides of the center in the width direction X may be referred to as “outside of the
vehicle”.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the traveling vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 capable of traveling.
In this embodiment, the vehicle body 2 has an engine 3, a case 5, a case cover member 6, and a
steering device 10. The engine 3 is a diesel engine. The engine 3 is positioned at the front of the
traveling vehicle 1 and is covered with a bonnet. The engine 3 may be an electric motor or a hybrid
type having a diesel engine and an electric motor.
[0026]
The case 5 has a flywheel housing, a clutch housing, and a transmission case. The
flywheel housing is coupled to the rear of the engine 3 and houses the flywheel. The clutch housing
is coupled to the rear of the flywheel housing and houses a clutch for intermittently transmitting
power of the engine 3 transmitted through the flywheel. The transmission case is coupled to the
rear of the clutch housing.
[0027]
The case 5 houses brake devices for controlling the brakes of the right and left rear wheels
8B, which will be described later. The case 5 also houses a PTO clutch. The case 5 houses
devices such as a forward/reverse switching device for switching the forward/reverse movement of
the traveling vehicle, and a transmission device for shifting the power from the engine 3 and
transmitting it to the drive wheels. The case 5 is disposed below the steering device 10 in the
vertical direction Z.
[0028]
The case cover member 6 covers the upper part of the case 5. A driver's foot is placed on
the case cover member 6. The case cover member 6 is disposed on the front side of the driver's seat
9 in the front-back direction Y. The case cover member is disposed on the rear side of a steering
base 12 in the front-back direction Y.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1, the traveling vehicle 1 has a traveling device 8 for supporting the
vehicle body 2 so that the vehicle body can travel. The traveling device 8 is a wheel type traveling
device having a plurality of front wheels 8A provided at the front of the vehicle body 2 and a
plurality of rear wheels 8B provided at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The plurality of front wheels
8A include a left front wheel supported on the left side of a front axle case supported in the front of
the engine 3 and a right front wheel supported on the right side of the front axle case. The plurality
8
of rear wheels 8B includes a left rear wheel 8BL supported on the left side of the case 5 such as a
transmission case and a right rear wheel 8BR supported on the right side of the case 5. The
traveling device 8 may be a semi-crawler type traveling device (a traveling device having the front
wheel 8A and a crawler type traveling mechanism adopted in place of the rear wheel 8B).
[0030]
The front wheel 8A is a steering wheel steerable by movement of a cylinder rod of a steering
cylinder disposed at the front of the front axle case. Steering the front wheels 8A can change the
direction of the vehicle body 2 or steer the vehicle body. The steering cylinder is of hydraulic type.
At least the rear wheel 8B of the front wheel 8A and the rear wheel 8B is a driving wheel, and power
outputted from the transmission device is transmitted to the driving wheel. The driver's seat 9 on
which a driver sits is mounted at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The steering device 10 partially
covered with a steering cover 11 is provided in the front of the driver's seat 9.
[0031]
The traveling vehicle 1 may be mountable with a front working machine 20 such as a front
dozer. The front working machine 20 may be used for work for cultivation or reclamation. The
front working machine 20 has a working unit 21 for performing work and a mounting frame 22 for
mounting the working unit 21 on the vehicle body 2. The working unit 21 is mounted through the
mounting frame 22 by mounting the mounting frame 22 on the vehicle body 2. The working unit
21 is positioned at the front of the vehicle body 2. The mounting frame 22 extends in the front-back
direction Y below the vehicle body 2.
[0032]
(2) Detailed Configuration of Traveling Vehicle 1
The detailed configuration of the traveling vehicle 1 will be then described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 3 is a left side view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to an
embodiment. FIG. 4 is a right side view of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the
embodiment. The traveling vehicle 1 has a mechanical brake link mechanism 30. The brake link
mechanism 30 transmits the operation of the brake pedal 31 to a brake device housed in the case 5.
The brake link mechanism 30 has a pair of right and left brake link mechanisms. Specifically, the
brake link mechanism 30 has a right brake link mechanism 30R for transmitting the operation of a
right brake pedal 31R to the brake device, and a left brake link mechanism 30L for transmitting the
operation of a left brake pedal 31L to the brake device. A brake link mechanism 30 according to the
embodiment has a brake pedal 31, a spindle 32, an arm 33, and a brake rod 34. Each of the spindle
32, the arm 33, and the brake rod 34 may be a pair of right and left members disposed on the right
and left sides of the traveling vehicle 1.
[0033]
The brake pedal 31 has the right brake pedal 31R and the left brake pedal 31L. The right
brake pedal 31R is stepped on by a driver, and thus the right rear wheel 8BR is braked. The right
brake pedal 31R is released from the stepped-on state, and thus the brake applied to the right rear
9
wheel 8BR is released. Similarly, the left brake pedal 31L is stepped on by a driver, and thus the
left rear wheel 8BL is braked. The left brake pedal 31L is released from the stepped-on state, and
thus the brake applied to the left rear wheel 8BL is released.
[0034]
The spindle 32 is rotatably fixed and is rotated by operation of the brake pedal 31. The
spindle 32 may have a first spindle 321, a second spindle 322, and a third spindle 323. The arm 33
is fixed to the spindle 32, and thus the arm 33 rotates in cooperation with rotation of the spindle 32.
The arm 33 may have a first arm 331 fixed to the first spindle 321, a second arm 332 fixed to the
second spindle 322, a third arm 333 fixed to the second spindle 322, and a fourth arm 334 fixed to
the third spindle 323.
[0035]
A brake rod 34 is disposed between the arms 33 and is rotatably coupled to the arms 33.
The brake rod 34 is a rod-shaped member. An end of the brake rod 34 is coupled to the arm 33.
The brake rod 34 may have a first brake rod 341 extending in the vertical direction Z and a second
brake rod 342 extending in the front-back direction Y at sides of the case 5. The upper end of the
first brake rod 341 is coupled to the first arm 331, and the lower end of the first brake rod 341 is
coupled to the second arm 332. The front end of the second brake rod 342 is coupled to the third
arm 333, and the rear end of the second brake rod 342 is coupled to the fourth arm 334.
[0036]
The second brake rod 342 may have a higher portion 342H and a lower portion 342Lo.
The higher portion 342H is positioned above the lower surface 5b of the case 5 to be distanced by a
predetermined interval or more in side view of the traveling vehicle 1. When the second brake rod
342 is positioned at a lowermost level (low level), the higher portion 342H may be, for example, 150
mm or more higher than the lower surface 5b of the case in side view of the traveling vehicle 1.
The higher portion 342H may be, for example, 700 mm or more higher than the ground at the low
level, or may be positioned above an extension member 50 described later. The lower portion
342Lo is positioned below the higher portion 342H. At the low level, the distance in the vertical
direction Z between the lower portion 342Lo and the lower surface 5b of the case may be less than
150 mm. The lower portion 342Lo may be 700 mm or more higher than the ground at the low level,
or may be positioned below the extension member 50 described later.
[0037]
The second brake rod 342 has a second right brake rod 342R disposed on the right side of
the case 5 and a second left brake rod 342L disposed on the left side of the case 5. Thus, the second
brake rod 342 is a pair of right and left brake rods. The other members constituting the brake link
mechanism 30 may also be a pair of right and left members.
[0038]
The operation of the brake link mechanism 30 will be then described using the right brake
link mechanism 30R as an example. The right brake pedal 31R is stepped on by a driver, and thus
10
the first spindle 321 is rotated and the first arm 331 is rotated upward around the first spindle 321.
Thus, the first brake rod 341 coupled to the first arm 331 is pulled upward. The first brake rod 341
is pulled upward, and thus the second arm 332 is rotated around the second spindle 322 and the third
arm 333 is also rotated around the second spindle 322. The third arm 333 is rotated, and thus the
second brake rod 342 is pulled forward and the fourth arm 334 is rotated around the third spindle 323.
Thus, the third spindle 323 fixed to the fourth arm 334 is rotated. The third spindle 323 is coupled
to the brake device, and the brake device operates to brake the right rear wheel 8BR by rotation of
the third spindle 323. The brake pedal 31 is released from the stepped-on state and thus reversely
operates its components. The brake device operates to release the brake applied to the right rear
wheel 8BR. The left brake link mechanism 30L has the same structure as the right brake link
mechanism 30R, and thus redundant description is omitted.
[0039]
The traveling vehicle 1 may have a mechanical PTO clutch link mechanism 40. The PTO
clutch link mechanism 40 transmits the operation of a PTO clutch lever 41 to the PTO clutch. The
PTO clutch link mechanism 40 according to the embodiment is disposed on the left side of the
traveling vehicle 1. The PTO clutch link mechanism 40 according to the embodiment has the PTO
clutch lever 41, a spindle 42, an arm 43, and a PTO clutch rod 44.
[0040]
The driver operates the PTO clutch lever 41 forward to engage the PTO clutch while
operating the PTO clutch lever 41 backward to disengage the PTO clutch. The spindle 42 is
rotatably fixed, and is rotated by operation of the PTO clutch lever 41. The spindle 42 may have a
first spindle 421, a second spindle 422, and a third spindle 423.
[0041]
The arm 43 is fixed to the spindle 42, and thus the arm 43 rotates in cooperation with
rotation of the spindle 42. The arm 43 may have a first arm 431 fixed to the first spindle 421, a
second arm 432 fixed to the second spindle 422, a third arm 433 fixed to the second spindle 422, and
a fourth arm 434 fixed to the third spindle 423.
[0042]
The PTO clutch rod 44 is disposed between the arms 43 and is rotatably coupled to the arms
43. The PTO clutch rod 44 is a rod-shaped member. An end of the PTO clutch rod 44 is coupled
to the arm 43.
[0043]
The PTO clutch rod 44 may have a first PTO clutch rod 441 extending in the vertical
direction Z and a second PTO clutch rod 442 extending in the front-back direction Y at sides of the
case 5. The upper end of the first PTO clutch rod 441 is coupled to the first arm 431, and the lower
end of the first PTO clutch rod 441 is coupled to the second arm 432. The front end of the second
PTO clutch rod 442 is coupled to the third arm 433, and the rear end of the second PTO clutch rod
442 is coupled to the fourth arm 434. The second PTO clutch rod 442 may be disposed below the
11
second brake rod 342 (second left brake rod 342L).
[0044]
In the PTO clutch link mechanism 40 according to the embodiment, the PTO clutch lever 41
is operated forward by a driver, and thus the first spindle 421 is rotated and the first arm 431 is
rotated upward around the first spindle 421. Thus, the first PTO clutch rod 441 coupled to the first
arm 431 is pulled upward. The first PTO clutch rod 441 is pulled upward, and thus the second arm
432 is rotated around the second spindle 422 and the third arm 433 is also rotated around the second
spindle 422. The third arm 433 is rotated, and thus the second PTO clutch rod 442 is pulled
backward and the fourth arm 434 is rotated around the third spindle 423. Thus, the third spindle
423 fixed to the fourth arm 434 is rotated. The third spindle 423 is coupled to the PTO clutch, and
the PTO clutch is engaged by rotation of the third spindle 423. The PTO clutch lever 41 is operated
backward and thus reversely operates its components to disengage the PTO clutch.
[0045]
The traveling vehicle 1 may have the extension member 50. The extension member 50
extends laterally from the case 5 at a position anterior to the front edge of a right guard member
210R, which is a short guard member described later, and overlaps the second brake rod 342 in the
vertical direction Z below the second brake rod 342. The extension member 50 may be, for
example, at least one of an oil filter 51 for filtering oil and an oil pipe 52 through which oil passes.
[0046]
(3) Guard
A guard 200 will be then described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 5 is a perspective
view of a part of the traveling vehicle, as viewed from the lower left front, according to the
embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 are bottom views of a part of the traveling vehicle according to the
embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the guard according to the embodiment as viewed
from the upper right front.
[0047]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the guard 200 is disposed below the pair of second brake rods
342. The guard 200 is not disposed on the side and above the pair of second brake rods 342. The
guard 200 may have a pair of guard members 210 and a plurality of support members 220.
[0048]
The guard member 210 is disposed below the second brake rod 342. The guard member
210 is disposed below the brake link mechanism 30 to be distanced from the mechanism. Thus,
even if, for example, the second brake rod 342 moves, the second brake rod 342 does not come into
contact with the guard member 210. Therefore, even if the guard member 210 is disposed below
the second brake rod, the guard member does not obstruct the transmission of the operation of the
brake pedal 31. The guard member 210 has a main body 211 extending in the front-back direction
L. The main body 211 may be formed of a cylindrical (for example, a prismatic cylindrical shape)
frame having openings at both ends in the front-back direction L. Thus, the weight of the guard
12
member 210 can be reduced. The cylindrical frame of the main body 211 can reduce deformation
of the main body by an upward thrust compared with the case where the main body is formed of a
flat plate-shaped member.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 6, in bottom surface view of the traveling vehicle 1, the guard member
210 (main body 211) may be disposed inside the outermost surface of the case 5 in the width
direction X, and may be disposed outside the innermost surface of the case 5 in the width direction W.
Such a configuration enables the length of the guard member 210 in the width direction W to be not
too long, and the cost required for the guard member 210 to be reduced. The guard member 210
may have a front lid portion 212 for closing an opening on the front side of the main body 211 and a
rear lid portion 213 for closing an opening on the rear side of the main body 211. Such a
configuration allows, for example, muddy water not enter through the opening of the main body 211
extending in the front-back direction L, and enables to inhibit the main body 211 from being rusted.
[0050]
The pair of guard members 210 may have a short guard member. The short guard member
is shorter in the front-back direction L than one of the second brake rods 342, and overlaps only a
part of one of the second brake rods 342 in the vertical direction Z. The pair of guard members may
also have a long guard member. The long guard member is longer in the front-back direction L than
the short guard member. The pair of guard members 210 has a right guard member 210R disposed
on the right side of the vehicle body 2 and a left guard member 210L disposed on the left side of the
vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the right guard member 210R is a short guard member, and the
left guard member 210L is a long guard member. The main body 211L of the left guard member
210L is longer in the front-back direction L than the main body 211R of the right guard member
210R. The front edge of the right guard member 210R may be positioned rearward of the front
edge of the second right brake rod 342R.
[0051]
The plurality of support members 220 supports the guard member 210. The plurality of
support members 220 is fixed to the case 5. The plurality of support members 220 may be fastened
to the case 5 by fastening members such as bolts and nuts. The plurality of support members 220
may be fixed to the lower surface 5b of the case 5. The support member 220 extends from a portion
fixed on the lower surface 5b of the case 5 toward the outside in the width direction X, and supports
the guard member 210 at the outside in the width direction W of the support member 220. The
guard member 210 and the support member 220 may be joined by welding, for example.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 8, the support member 220 may have a first plane portion 221 having a
plane fixed in contact with the case 5, a second plane portion 222 coupled to the first plane portion
221 and having a plane fixed in contact with the guard member 210, and a rib portion 223 attached at
a right angle to each of the first plane portion 221 and the second plane portion 222. The first plane
13
portion 221 may include a fastening hole 224 into which the fastening member is inserted. The
second plane portion 222 extends downward from the outer part in the width direction W of the first
plane portion 221.
[0053]
In this embodiment, the plurality of support members 220 has a left support member 220L
(220LA, 220LB, 220LC) for supporting a left guard member 210L as a long guard member, and a
right support member 220R (220RA, 220RB) for supporting a right guard member 210R as a short
guard member. The left support member 220L and the right support member 220R may be
disposed apart from each other in the width direction W. Further, each left support member 220L
may be disposed apart in the front-back direction L, and each right support member 220R may be
disposed apart in the front-back direction L. Thus, the cost required for the support member 220
can be reduced because the support member 220 is not continuously disposed. In the embodiment,
there are three left support members 220L and two right support members 220R. The forwardmost
left support member 220LA is fixed to a portion on the front side of a portion extending forward
while curving upward from the lower side.
[0054]
As shown in, for example, FIGS. 3 to 7, the pair of guard members 210 extends in the
front-back direction Y below the pair of right and left brake rods (specifically, the pair of the second
brake rods 342). The pair of second brake rods 342 overlaps the pair of guard members 210 in the
vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. 7, when the guard 200 is removed from the traveling vehicle
1, the second brake rod 342 faces the ground.
[0055]
As a result of intensive examination, the inventors have found that the second brake rod 342
extending in the front-back direction L is pushed up from a tree root or stone when removing the tree
root or stone buried in the soil by using the traveling vehicle, an obstacle such as a stump or stone
exposed from the ground when traveling on an unpaved road hits the second brake rod 342 from
below, and thus a strong upward thrust works on the second brake rod 342, and the second brake rod
342 is deformed. The inventors have found that the second brake rod 342 is easily deformed by an
upward thrust, particularly because the second brake rod is a rod-shaped member extending in the
front-back direction L.
[0056]
As described above, since the pair of guard members 210 overlaps the pair of second brake
rods 342 in the vertical direction Z, the upward thrust the second brake rod 342 acts on the guard
member 210 before acting on the second brake rod 342, so that the thrust acting on the second brake
rod 342 can be reduced. Thus, the deformation of the second brake rod 342 can be reduced. In
addition, the guard 200 is not required to be disposed to the side and the higher portion of the second
brake rod 342, and thus the significant increase in cost can be suppressed.
[0057]
14
The pair of guard members 210 may overlap at least all of the lower portions 342Lo of the
second brake rod 342 in the vertical direction Z. The lower portion 342Lo is closer to the lower
surface 5b of the case 5 than the higher portion 342H, and thus, for example, a stone is easily hit
even when the stone hits on the lower surface 5b of the case 5. Thus, the lower portion 342Lo
which is easily hit by, for example, a stone is protected by the guard member 210, so that the
deformation of the second brake rod 342 by the upward thrust can be easily reduced.
[0058]
The extension member 50 may overlap the second right brake rod 342R in the vertical
direction Z below the second right brake rod 342R. Making the right guard member 210R (short
guard member) shorter than the second right brake rod 342R can protect the lower portion easily hit
by, for example, a stone with the guard member 210 while reducing the cost required for the guard
member 210. On the other hand, the front portion of the second right brake rod 342R, which is
disposed forward of the front edge of the right guard member 210R, overlaps the extension member
50 in the vertical direction, and thus even if, for example, a stone is about to hit the front portion, the
stone hits the extension member 50 before the stone hits the front portion, so that the thrust acting on
the front portion can be reduced. Although there is a possibility that the extension member 50 is
deformed by getting the extension member 50 hit by, for example, a stone, the guard members can
give a driver a sense of security by placing priority on reducing deformation of the brake rod 34 as a
function vital for safety.
[0059]
The distance in the front-back direction Y from the right guard member 210R (short guard
member) to the extension member 50 may be 150 mm or less. Thus, for example, a stone passes
through between the right guard member 210R and the extension member 50 and hardly hits the
second right brake rod 342R directly, and the deformation of the second right brake rod 342R can be
reduced.
[0060]
The higher portion 342H may be positioned above the extension member 50. The lower
portion 342Lo positioned below the extension member 50 is protected by the guard member 210, so
that the deformation of the second brake rod 342 by the upward thrust can be easily reduced. Since
the higher portion 342H not protected by the guard member 210 is distanced from the lower surface
5b of the case 5, not only, for example, a stone hardly hits the higher portion, but also the stone hits
the extension member 50 before the stone hits the higher portion, so that the thrust acting on the
higher portion 342H can be reduced.
[0061]
The left guard member 210L, which is a long guard member, may overlap all portions of the
second left brake rod 342L in the vertical direction Z. Thus, all portions of the second left brake
rod 342L can be protected by the left guard member 210L, so that the deformation of the second left
brake rod 342L by the upward thrust can be reduced.
15
[0062]
A part of the second left brake rod 342L may overlap the mounting frame 22 in the vertical
direction Z. The left guard member 210L may extend forward while curving upward from the
lower side so as to be disposed between a part of the second left brake rod 342L and the mounting
frame 22. Thus, even if the front working machine 20 overlapping a part of the second left brake
rod 342L in the vertical direction Z is mounted on the traveling vehicle 1, the second left brake rod
342L does not come into contact with the mounting frame 22, so that both the front working machine
20 and the guard 200 can be mounted. Therefore, the deformation of the second left brake rod 342L
can be reduced during work by the front working machine 20. The upward thrust acts on the
mounting frame 22 before the upward thrust acts on the left guard member 210L. Thus, the upward
thrust acting on the left guard member 210L can be reduced.
[0063]
The number of left support members 220L supporting the left guard member 210L as the
long guard member may be larger than the number of right support members 220R supporting the
right guard member 210R as the short guard member. The left guard member 210L having a longer
length in the front-back direction Y is more likely to receive the upward thrust than the right guard
member 210R. By increasing the number of left support members 220L supporting the left guard
member 210L, the thrust applied to the left guard member 210L is dispersed and released to the
many left support members 220L, so that the breakage of the left guard member 210L can be easily
reduced.
[0064]
The total number of fasteners of the left support member 220L (specifically, the total
number of fastening holes 224) may be larger than the total number of fasteners of the right support
member 220R. Thus, when the upward thrust acts on the left guard member 210L, which is a long
guard member susceptible to the upward thrust, it is possible to weaken the force applied to each
fastening portion. The breakage of the fastening portion can be reduced. In the embodiment, the
total number of fasteners of the left support member 220L is five, and the total number of fasteners
of the right support member 220R is three.
[0065]
The number of rib portions 223 of the right support member 220R may be larger than the
number of rib portions 223 of the left support member 220L. Thus, since the number of right
support members 220R is smaller than the number of left support members 220L, the load on the
right support members 220R per a member is larger than that on the left support member 220L, so
that the right support member 220R is easily deformed. The deformation of the left support
member 220L can be reduced by increasing the number of rib portions 223 of the right support
member 220R.
[0066]
The left support member 220LA disposed farthest forward and the left support member
16
220LC disposed farthest rearward of the plurality of left support members 220L may have a longer
length in the front-back direction L than the remaining left support member 220LB. Further, the
right support member 220RA disposed farthest forward of the plurality of right support members
220R may be longer in the front-back direction L than the remaining left support member 220LB.
Thus, by firmly supporting the end of the guard member 210 in the front-back direction L, the guard
member 210 can be made hard to come off even when receiving the upward thrust.
[0067]
One of the pair of guard members 210 may be positioned below the second PTO clutch rod
442 extending in the front-back direction L and may overlap the second PTO clutch rod 442 in the
vertical direction Z. The upward thrust to the second PTO clutch rod 442 acts on the guard member
210 before acting on the second PTO clutch rod 442, so that the thrust acting on the second PTO
clutch rod 442 can be reduced. Thus, the deformation of the second PTO clutch rod 442 can be
reduced.
[0068]
Since the object to be most protected by the guard 200 is the second brake rod 342, the
guard member 210 does not have to overlap a part (for example, a portion less than 5% of the second
PTO clutch rod 442) of the second PTO clutch rod 442 in the vertical direction Z in bottom surface
view of the traveling vehicle 1 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Thus, the second brake rod 342 can be
protected without enlarging the guard member 210, so that design change of a tractor and a
significant increase in cost for the guard 200 can be suppressed.
[0069]
In the embodiment, the lower end of the fourth arm 334 is positioned closest to the ground
among its components of the brake link mechanism 30, so that the guard member 210 may overlap
the fourth arm 334 in the vertical direction Z. Thus, the fourth arm 334, which is less likely to
deform than the second brake rod 342 but is more susceptible to the thrust by, for example, a stone,
can be protected.
[0070]
In the embodiment, the left guard member 210L overlaps its components coupled to from
the first arm 331 to the fourth arm 334 in the vertical direction Z. Thus, not only the second left
brake rod 342L but also the other members constituting the left brake link mechanism 30L can be
protected. The left guard member 210L may also overlap members (in particular, the rod member)
of the other link mechanisms other than the PTO clutch link mechanism 40 in the vertical direction Z.
Thus, members of the other link mechanisms can also be protected.
[0071]
In the embodiment, the guard 200 is fixed to the lower surface 5b of the case 5 by fastening
members such as bolts and nuts. Therefore, the guard 200 can also be provided in the existing
traveling vehicle 1. The brake rod can be protected without changing the design of a tractor.
[0072]
17
(4) Other Embodiments
Although the present invention has been described in detail using the embodiments
described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited
to the embodiments described herein. The present invention may be practiced as modifications and
variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
claims. Accordingly, the description herein is intended to be illustrative and has no restrictive
meaning with respect to the present invention.
[0073]
In the above-described embodiment, the right guard member 210R is a short guard member
and the left guard member 210L is a long guard member, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. The right guard member 210R may be a long guard member, and the left guard member
210L may be a short guard member. The length of the right guard member 210R and the left guard
member 210L in the front-back direction L may be the same. Both the right guard member 210R
and the left guard member 210L may overlap all of the second brake rods 342 in the vertical
direction Z.
[0074]
In the above-described embodiment, the guard member 210 is formed of a cylindrical frame,
but the present invention is not limited thereto. The guard member 210 may be formed of a flat
plate-shaped member.
[0075]
In the traveling vehicle 1 provided with the guard 200, the distance between the lowermost
end of the second brake rod 342 and the ground may be less than 1 meter at the low level. Thus, the
guard 200 can be provided when the second brake rod 342 is close to the ground and the second
brake rod 342 is likely to receive an upward thrust.
[0076]
Then entire contents of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2019-142378 (filed on August 1,
2019) are incorporated in this specification by reference.
[Description of the reference numerals]
[0077]
1 Traveling Vehicle
2 Vehicle Body
5 Case
8B Rear Wheel
20 Front Working Machine
21 Working Unit
22 Mounting Frame
30 Brake Link Mechanism
18
31 Brake Pedal
32 Spindle
33 Arm
34 Brake Rod
341 First Brake Rod
342 Second Brake Rod
40 PTO Clutch Link Mechanism
50 Extension Member
51 Oil Filter
52 Oil Pipe
200 Guard
210 Guard Member
220 Support Member
19

We Claim:
[Claim 1]
A traveling vehicle comprising:
a mechanical brake link mechanism for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake
device which is housed in a case and controls brakes of right and left rear wheels, wherein
the brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending in a front-back direction at
sides of the case;
a guard having a pair of guard members extending in the front-back direction below the pair
of brake rods is provided;
the pair of brake rods overlaps the pair of guard members in a vertical direction;
in side view of the traveling vehicle, the pair of brake rods has:
a higher portion positioned above a lower surface of the case to be distanced by a
predetermined interval or more and positioned above the lower surface of the case; and
a lower portion positioned below the higher portion; and
the pair of guard members overlaps at least all of the lower portions in the vertical direction.
[Claim 2]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the pair of guard members has a short guard member having a length shorter in the
front-back direction than the length of one brake rod of the pair of brake rods and overlapping only a
part of the one brake rod in the vertical direction;
a front edge of the short guard member is positioned rearward of a front edge of the one
brake rod;
the traveling vehicle has an extension member extending laterally from the case at a position
anterior to the front edge of the short guard member; and
the extension member overlaps the one brake rod in the vertical direction below the one
brake rod.
[Claim 3]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the higher portion is positioned above
the extension member.
[Claim 4]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
the pair of guard members further has a long guard member longer in the front-back
direction than the short guard member;
the guard has a plurality of support members fixed to the case;
20
the plurality of support members has a support member for supporting the long guard
member and a support member for supporting the short guard member; and
the number of support members supporting the long guard member is larger than the number
of support members supporting the short guard member.
[Claim 5]
A traveling vehicle comprising:
a mechanical brake link mechanism for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake
device which is housed in a case and controls brakes of right and left rear wheels, wherein
the brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending in a front-back direction at
sides of the case;
a guard having a pair of guard members extending in the front-back direction below the pair
of brake rods is provided;
the pair of brake rods overlaps the pair of guard members in a vertical direction;
the pair of guard members has a short guard member and a long guard member longer in the
front-back direction than the short guard member; and
the long guard member overlaps all portions of one brake rod of the pair of brake rods in the
vertical direction.
[Claim 6]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 5, comprising
a front working machine having a working unit for performing work and a mounting frame
for mounting the working unit on a vehicle body, wherein
a part of the one brake rod overlaps the mounting frame in the vertical direction; and
the long guard member extends forward while curving upward from the lower side so as to be
disposed between a part of the one brake rod and the mounting frame.
[Claim 7]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, wherein
the guard has a plurality of support members fixed to the case;
the plurality of support members has a support member for supporting the long guard
member and a support member for supporting the short guard member; and
the number of support members supporting the long guard member is larger than the number
of support members supporting the short guard member.
[Claim 8]
The traveling vehicle according to claim 4 or 7, wherein
each of the plurality of support members is fastened to the case; and
21
the total number of fasteners of the support members supporting the long guard member is
larger than the total number of fasteners of the support members supporting the short guard member.
[Claim 9]
The traveling vehicle according to any one of claims 4, 7 and 8, wherein
the support member has a first plane portion having a plane fixed in contact with the case, a
second plane portion coupled to the first plane portion and having a plane fixed in contact with the
guard member, and a rib portion attached at a right angle to each of the first plane portion and the
second plane portion; and
the number of rib portions of the support member supporting the short guard member is
larger than the number of rib portions of the support member supporting the long guard member.
[Claim 10]
A traveling vehicle comprising:
a mechanical brake link mechanism for transmitting operation of a brake pedal to a brake
device which is housed in a case and controls brakes of right and left rear wheels, wherein
the brake link mechanism has a pair of brake rods extending in a front-back direction at
sides of the case;
a guard having a pair of guard members extending in the front-back direction below the pair
of brake rods is provided;
the pair of brake rods overlaps the pair of guard members in a vertical direction;
the traveling vehicle comprises a mechanical PTO clutch link mechanism for transmitting
operation of a PTO clutch lever to a PTO clutch;
the PTO clutch link mechanism has a PTO clutch rod extending in the front-back direction
at sides of the case; and
one of the pair of guard members being positioned below the PTO clutch rod and
overlapping the PTO clutch rod in the vertical direction.