Abstract:
The present invention aims to increase the storability around the operator&#39;s seat and reduce labor for reverse rotation in a work vehicle in which the operator&#39;s seat is formed to be reversely rotated. The operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on the machine frame of the work vehicle so that the operator&#39;s seat can be rotated on the support member, hydraulic hoses are held along the side face of the support member, a storage part rotated together with the operator&#39;s seat is installed on the front lower seat surface of the operator&#39;s seat, and that the rotating center axis of the operator&#39;s seat at the sliding center of the operator&#39;s seat is approximately on the seat index point of the operator&#39;s seat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a structure of a rotatable seat arranged in a work vehicle. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    A work vehicle called Backhoe Loader is conventionally known in which a front loader is attached to the front part of the tractor vehicle body, and a backhoe is attached to the back part. 
         [0005]    In such work vehicle, a seat frame is generally formed into a box shape, and access to under the seat frame in time of maintenance is made by removing the cover configured into a great number of layers. The space under the seat is formed narrow since the seat frame is a box shape. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, a storage part for storing instruction manual and the like is installed on the back surface of the operator&#39;s seat or on the side of the seat in the conventional work vehicle. 
         [0007]    Patent document 1 discloses one example of an operator&#39;s seat of the backhoe loader. 
         [0008]    In the backhoe loader disclosed in the relevant document, the operator&#39;s seat is arranged in a freely forward and backward reversely rotatable manner on a tractor vehicle body by way of a reverse rotation support device, where the operator&#39;s seat faces the front when the tractor is traveling or when using the front loader, and the operator&#39;s seat faces the back when using the backhoe according to the reverse rotation support device. The reverse rotation device of the operator&#39;s seat is configured by parallel links and a turntable. 
         [0009]    Piping cannot be arranged in the vicinity of the operator&#39;s seat since the operator&#39;s seat is reversely rotated by a complex mechanism. 
         [0010]    Patent document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-229377 
         [0011]    However, in the tractor disclosed in patent document 1, the space between the operator&#39;s seat and a safety frame is narrow, it is troublesome when the operator reversely rotates the operator&#39;s seat and again sits on the operator&#39;s seat, and a great amount of trouble is needed when reversely rotating the operator&#39;s seat. In particular, labor is required to again sit on the reversely rotated operator&#39;s seat in the tractor in which a canopy is configured around the operator&#39;s seat. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, taking out from and putting in to the storage part become difficult if the storage part is arranged around the operator&#39;s seat or on the back surface of the operator&#39;s seat. If the storage part is arranged on the side of the operator&#39;s seat, there is a possibility that the storage part may be missed when reversely rotating the operator&#39;s seat. If the storage part is arranged on the back surface of the operator&#39;s seat, taking out from and putting in to the storage part become difficult. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
       [0013]    The object of the present invention includes increasing storability around the operator&#39;s seat and reducing labor for reverse rotation in the work vehicle in which the operator&#39;s seat is formed to be reversely rotatable. 
       Means for Solving the Problems 
       [0014]    That is, in an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, and a storage part rotated together with the operator&#39;s seat is installed on a front lower seat surface of the operator&#39;s seat. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, in an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, a seating surface of the operator&#39;s seat is slidable towards the front and the back, and a rotating center axis of the operator&#39;s seat at the central position of the slide of the operator&#39;s seat is approximately on the seat index point of the operator&#39;s seat. 
         [0016]    Moreover, in an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, and holding parts of hydraulic hose are installed on the support member to hold the hydraulic hose along the side face of the support member. 
       EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, and a storage part rotated together with the operator&#39;s seat is installed on a front lower seat surface of the operator&#39;s seat, and thus access to the storage part from the sitting state is facilitated irrespective of the position of the operator&#39;s seat. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, in an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, a seating surface of the operator&#39;s seat is slidable towards the front and the back, and a rotating center axis of the operator&#39;s seat at the central position of the slide of the operator&#39;s seat is approximately on the seat index point of the operator&#39;s seat, and thus the stricture of the operator&#39;s seat is simplified, and the assembly property of the operator&#39;s seat and the support member is enhanced. The access to under the operator&#39;s seat is facilitated, and the operator&#39;s seat can be rotated while sitting thereon through a natural operation when rotating the driver&#39;s seat. 
         [0019]    Moreover, in an operator&#39;s seat of a work vehicle of the present invention, an operator&#39;s seat support member is disposed on a machine frame of the work vehicle so as to be rotatably formed on the support member, and holding parts of hydraulic hose are installed on the support member to hold the hydraulic hose along the side face of the support member, and thus replacement of the hydraulic hose of the work machine is facilitated, and maintenance of the hydraulic path is enhanced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the entire backhoe loader including a canopy. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a frame structure of a canopy. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side view showing a frame structure of a canopy. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a frame structure of a canopy. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a structure of a top frame. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the structure of the operator&#39;s seat and a piping mechanism. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the operator&#39;s seat. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of an operator&#39;s seat support structure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a view showing the position relationship between the steering control device and the seat. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a structure of the front and back position adjustment of the seat and the seat rotation. 
       
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  work vehicle 
           5  canopy 
           9  seat 
           10  operation unit 
           11  seat pillar 
           12  vehicle body frame 
           13  beam 
           22  stand frame 
           22   b  storage part 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    In the operator&#39;s seat arranged in the work vehicle, the operator&#39;s seat is formed to be rotatable, and the storage part is installed on the front lower seat surface of the operator&#39;s seat, where the rotating center of the seat is coaxial with the reference point of the seat in the rotatable operator&#39;s seat. Piping is arranged exterior to the frame in the vicinity of the operator&#39;s seat to simplify the piping configuration. 
         [0040]    An example of the present invention will now be described using the figures. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the entire backhoe loader including a canopy. 
         [0042]    The work vehicle  1  is a backhoe loader, where the loader  2  serving as a loading device and a drilling device  3  are attached to the work vehicle  1 . A bracket  4  is arranged on both left and right sides of the bonnet of the work vehicle  1 , which bracket  4  is fixed to the vehicle body frame of the work vehicle  1 . 
         [0043]    A canopy  5  is arranged on the vehicle body frame, and the operator operates the work vehicle in the canopy  5 . 
         [0044]    The structure of the frame configuring the canopy will now be described using  FIGS. 2 to 4 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the frame structure of the canopy,  FIG. 3  is a side view of the same,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the same, and  FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the structure of the top plate. 
         [0046]    The canopy  5  is configured by front frames  7 ,  7 , rear frames  8 ,  8 , a top frame  16 , and a front top frame  17 . The front frame  7 , the rear frame  8 , the top frame  16 , and the front top frame  17  are formed by square pipes, so that each frame is easily molded, and members are easily connected and arranged to each frame. 
         [0047]    The front frames  7 ,  7  and the rear frames  8 ,  8  are respectively connected by the top frame  16  at the upper end. The top frame  16  is formed into a U-shape in plan view, and an opening is formed facing the front side, which the opening side of the top frame  16  is closed by bridging the front top frame  17 . The front frames  7 , the top frame  16  and the front top frame  17  are connected by one joint  15 . 
         [0048]    A roof  6  is arranged on the top frame  16 . A reinforcement frame  18  is arranged in the left and right direction at the center of the top frame  16 , and a top plate  19  is arranged between the front top frame  17  and the reinforcement frame  18 . The roof  6  is arranged on the top plate  19 . 
         [0049]    The canopy  5  is attached to the vehicle body frame  12  of the work vehicle, and the lower ends of the front frames  7  and the rear frames  8  are fixed to the vehicle body frame  12  arranged in the front and back direction of the work vehicle. 
         [0050]    A seat  9  on which the operator sits and the operation unit  10  of the work machine are arranged in the canopy  5 , the seat  9  being positioned at approximately the center in the canopy  5 . The operation unit  10  is positioned on the side of the seat  9 . The operation unit  10  is attached to the vehicle body frame  12 , and operation tools of the work machine such as operation lever is arranged at the upper part of the operation unit  10 . 
         [0051]    The seat  9  is arranged by way of a seat pillar  11  on a beam  13  bridged between the left and right vehicle body frames  12 ,  12  arranged in the front and back direction. The seat pillar  11  is positioned on the shaft center of the rotation shaft  9   b  of the seat  9 , the seat pillar  11  supporting the seat  9  in a freely rotatable manner. The operator rotates the seat  9  while sitting on the seat  9  and reversely rotates the seat  9  from the front towards the back or from the back towards the front. 
         [0052]    The front frames  7  are arranged in the up and down direction at the front part of the canopy  5 . The front frames  7  are arranged with the upper ends tilted towards the rear side, and the lower parts of the front frames  7  are also fixed to the bracket  4  for supporting the front loader of the work vehicle. 
         [0053]    The rear frames  8  are arranged in the up and down direction at the back part of the canopy  5 . The rear frames  8  have a configuration having the lower parts extended diagonally upward towards the rear side at the back part of the canopy  5 , bent and then extended diagonally slightly towards the front side from the direction of immediately above. The bent point  8   t  of the rear frame  8  has a stricture approximately aligned with the height  9   h  of the seat surface of the seat  9 , so that the foot space of the operator sitting on the seat  9  is ensured. 
         [0054]    Since the bent point  8   t  of the rear frame  8  is positioned at the height  9   h  of the seat surface of the seat  9 , the bent point  8   t  most distant from the seat  9  in the rear frame  8  becomes equal to the position of the knee of the operator sitting on the seat  9 . Thus, the rear frames  8  avoid the knee of the operator when the seat  9  is reversely rotated, thereby facilitating the reverse rotation while sitting on the seat  9 . 
         [0055]    The flat surface on the seat  9  side of the rear frame  8  is orthogonal to the line connecting the rotating shaft  9   b  of the seat  9  and the rear frame  8 , and the flat surface on the seat  9  side of the rear frame  8  is parallel to the tangent line of a circle having the rotating shaft  9   b  as the center at the arrangement position of the rear frame  8 . Therefore, the projection towards the seat  9  of the frame  8  is eliminated, and the operator is less likely to hit the frame  8  with his/her leg when reversely rotating the seat  9 . The flat surface on the seat  9  side of the rear frame  8  is a flat surface in the longitudinal side in cross sectional view of the square pipe forming the rear frame  8 , and thus resistance force in the front and back direction and left and right direction, and furthermore, in the twist direction is exhibited by arranging the rear frame  8 . 
         [0056]    The foot space of the operator is ensured, the operator is able to rotate the seat  9  while sitting thereon, and the strength of the canopy  5  is increased since the frame  8  is radially arranged with the rotating shaft  9   b  of the seat  9  as the center in plan view. The rigidity is exhibited to the force in the traverse direction and the load in the front and back direction applied to the canopy  5  by arranging the rear frame  8  in the above manner. 
         [0057]    The top frame  16  is formed into a shape that lies substantially along the tangent line of the circumference of the rotation of the seat  9 , and configures the surface facing the back, surfaces facing the left and the right, and the surface diagonally facing the rear side at the back part of the canopy  5 . The rear frames  8  can be easily arranged radially from the rotating center of the seat  9 , the connection between the rear frame  8  and the top frame  16  is facilitated, and the connection between the rear frames  8  and the top frame  16  is easily performed by configuring the top frame  16  in such manner. 
         [0058]    The rear frame  8  is arranged radially with respect to the seat  9  in plan view, the concave side portion of the bent rear frame  8  is faced towards the seat  9 , and the back part of the top frame  16  is formed into a circumferential shape that aligns with the rotating center of the seat  9 , and thus the volume of the canopy  5  is increased, the distance between the frames is shortened, and a sufficient rigidity is provided to the canopy  5 . That is, the canopy  5  can be miniaturized while enhancing the interior comfort of the canopy  5 . 
         [0059]    The configuration near the operator&#39;s seat will now be described using  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the structure of the operator&#39;s seat and a piping mechanism,  FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view showing the structure of the operator&#39;s seat, and  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of an operator&#39;s seat support structure. 
         [0061]    The seat  9  is supported on the beam  13  by way of the seat pillar  11 , and the beam  13  is fixed to the vehicle body frame  12 . The operation unit  10  arranged on the side of the seat  9  is also arranged on the vehicle body frame  12 . The operation unit  10  is equipped with operation tools such as lever for operating the work machine and the like, which operation tools are connected to a control valve arranged in the operation unit  10 . A hydraulic hose  21  is connected to the operation unit  10 , and the hydraulic hose  21  introduced into the operation unit  10  is connected to the control valve. 
         [0062]    The hydraulic hose  21  is arranged so as to traverse the machine of the work vehicle in the left and right direction. The hydraulic hose  21  is arranged along the beam  13 . Hooks  13   c  are installed on the front surface of the beam  13 , and the beam  13  is mounted on the hook  13   c . The hydraulic hose  21  can be arranged on the exterior side of the vehicle body frame  12  by arranging the hooks  13   c  serving as guides for passing the hydraulic hose  21 , which extends from the control valve of the operation unit  10  to the hydraulic cylinder of the work machine attached to the vehicle, to the beam  13  arranged across the vehicle body frames  12 ,  12 . 
         [0063]    The hook  13   c  fixed to the beam  13  has the upper side opened, and engages the hydraulic hose  21  when the hydraulic hose  21  is arranged on the hook  13   c . Thus, the hydraulic hose  21  is arranged in the left and right direction of the machine, and is arranged in an easily visible state on the side of the beam  13 . Steps etc. are arranged on the upper side of the hook  13   c , and the hydraulic hose  21  is protected by the steps etc. 
         [0064]    The configuration of the seat  9  will now be described. 
         [0065]    The seat  9  is arranged on a stand frame  22 , and the seat  9  can be sled forward and backward with respect to the stand frame  22  to adjust the front and back position of the seat  9 . The stand frame  22  is attached to the upper end of the seat pillar  11  by way of a bearing  11   b.    
         [0066]    The seat  9  is arranged so that the seat index point (hereinafter referred to as SIP) at the center of the seat slide and the central rotating axis of the seat are coaxial. The SIP (seat index point) is defined in ISO 5353. 
         [0067]    A phantom line in  FIG. 8  shows the rotating axis of the seat  9  and the position of the SIP. 
         [0068]    Thus, the load acting on the seat pillar  11 , which acts as the rotating axis of the seat  9 , and the bearing  11   b  is reduced. 
         [0069]    The moment including the operator of when rotating the seat  9  is made small, and the rotation of the seat  9  is facilitated since the SIP that acts as the center of body axis of the operator sitting on the seat  9  and the rotating axis of the seat  9  are arranged coaxially or as close as possible. 
         [0070]    The stand frame  22  is formed into a box shape with the upper part opened, a partition is arranged at the middle in the front and back direction, and the back upper part from the partition is covered by a plate  25 . The front upper part of the stand frame  22  is opened with the plate  25  attached to the stand frame  22 , which area is used as the storage part  22   b  that is used by being taken out from and put in between the front lower surface of the seat  9  and the front end of the stand frame  22 . 
         [0071]    The stand frame  22  rotates together with the seat  9 , and the storage part  22   b  is formed in the stand frame  22 , whereby the storage part  22   b  is positioned under the front part of the seat  9  even when the seat  9  is rotated. Thus, the positional relationship between the operator sitting on the seat  9  and the storage part  22   b  is maintained, so that the instruction manual, tool etc. can be taken out while facing the front without twisting the body, thereby configuring a user-friendly storage part  22   b.    
         [0072]    A space is formed under the seat  9  since the seat  9  is supported in a freely rotatable manner by the seat pillar  11  while being attached to the stand frame  22 . The foot space for the operator is thereby ensured. 
         [0073]    The stand frame  22  is simplified, and assembly property between the stand frame  22  and the seat  9  as well as the assembly property between the stand frame  22  and the seat pillar  11  are enhanced by supporting the seat  9  by such configuration. Furthermore, the maintenance of under the seat is enhanced, and the rotating operation of the seat  9  is easily performed. 
         [0074]    The rotating configuration of the seat  9  will now be described using  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0075]      FIGS. 9(   a ) and ( b ) are views each showing the position relationship between the steering control device and the seat,  FIG. 9(   a ) being a view showing the state of the seat when operating the steering control device,  FIG. 9(   b ) being a view showing a state of the seat when operating the work machine;  FIG. 10(   a ) to ( d ) are views each showing a structure of the front and back position adjustment of the seat and the seat rotation,  FIG. 10(   a ) being a view showing the position adjustment range of the seat,  FIG. 10(   b ) being a view showing the configuration of the front and back position adjustment with the seat facing the front,  FIG. 10(   c ) being a view showing the configuration of the front and back position adjustment with the seat facing the back, and  FIG. 10(   d ) being a view showing the seat rotating state. 
         [0076]    The seat pillar  11  is positioned in the intermediate position of the steering  23  serving as the steering control device and the operation lever  24  serving as the work machine operation device, and rotating axis of the seat  9  is also at the intermediate position between the steering  23  and the operation lever  24 . Therefore, the preferred seat position of the operator can be realized by similarly adjusting the front and back position of the seat  9  even when operating the steering  23  or even when operating the operation lever  24  when adjusting the front and back position of the seat  9 . That is, the operation after reverse rotation of the seat  9  can be easily performed without taking into consideration whether the operator is facing forward or facing backward. 
         [0077]    The seat  9  has a configuration of being rotated with the rotating axis approximately coinciding with the SIP of the seat  9 . That is, when reversely rotating the seat  9 , the seat  9  is rotated in a state returned to the central position of the forward and backward slide. The SIP of the seat  9  approximately aligns with the rotating axis of the seat  9  with the seat  9  at the central position of the forward and backward slide. Thus, the spacing between the steering  23  and the seat  9 , and the spacing between the operation lever  24  and the seat  9  after rotation become the same, and operation can be performed at the same posture. The spacing between the rear frame  8  and the knee of when rotating towards the front or towards the back is also widely formed. That is, the spacing with the rear frame  8  becomes narrow and the knee is likely to hit the rear frame  8  when the seat  9  is sled towards the front, and the back rest tends to contact the operation unit  10  when the seat  9  is sled towards the back. Thus, the interference between the seat  9  and the operation unit  10  is avoided even if the operation unit  10  is arranged on the side of the seat  9 . That is, the seat  9  that avoids contact with other members in a space within the cabin is configured. 
         [0078]    Moreover, the seat pillar  11  supports the seat  9  at the lower side of the SIP in time of rotation, and the seat  9  is reliably supported by the seat pillar  11 , whereby the durability of the seat  9  increases since excess load is not applied to the seat pillar  11 , the bearing  11   b , the stand frame  22  and the like. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0079]    In the operator&#39;s seat of the work vehicle of the present invention, a storage part that can be easily accessed from a sitting state is widely provided in the work vehicle, the operator&#39;s seat being rotatable while sitting through a natural operation. 
         [0080]    It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.