Utility vehicle

A utility vehicle includes: an engine; an engine room in which the engine is contained and that has a front opening in a front face thereof and a rear opening in a rear face thereof; and an air intake duct that has an air inlet in a front part of a vehicle body and extends in a front-rear direction, the air intake duct guiding air from the air inlet to the front opening, in which the engine room includes a bottom plate and a left partition wall and a right partition wall that are provided on respective sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the engine and cover at least a crankcase part of the engine in side view.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in a utility vehicle, air is taken into an engine room in which an engine is contained through an opening provided in a lower side of the engine room, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,333,846.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, it can be assumed that mud, water, foreign substances, and the like flow into the engine room through the opening provided in the lower side of the engine room. It is therefore necessary to take a measure to make it hard for these foreign substances to flow into the engine room in the utility vehicle.

In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a utility vehicle that makes it possible to suppress flow of a foreign substance and the like into an engine room.

In order to attain the above object, a utility vehicle according to the present invention includes: an engine; an engine room in which the engine is contained and that has a front opening in a front face thereof and a rear opening in a rear face thereof; and an air intake duct that has an air inlet in a front part of a vehicle body and extends in a front-rear direction, the air intake duct guiding air from the air inlet to the front opening, in which the engine room includes a bottom plate and a left partition wall and a right partition wall that are provided on respective sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the engine and cover at least a crankcase part of the engine in side view.

According to the configuration, air is taken into the engine room from the air inlet in a front part of the vehicle body through the front opening and is not taken into the engine room from a lower side thereof. This makes it possible to suppress flow of a foreign substance and the like into the engine room. The left partition wall and the right partition wall of the engine room form flow of air from the front opening toward the rear opening in the engine room. This allows less air to stay in the engine room. The left partition wall and the right partition wall of the engine room can block engine sound and block heat radiated from the engine.

The present invention preferably further includes the following configurations.

(1) The air inlet is supported by frames that support left and right fender covers for front wheels; and

the air intake duct is formed by a center tunnel that extends forward and backward at a center in the vehicle width direction.

(2) A bracket for attachment of an auxiliary machine of the engine is attachable to each of the left partition wall and the right partition wall.

(3) A containing space in which a good is contained is formed between the left partition wall and a left outer plate of the utility vehicle and/or between the right partition wall and a right outer plate of the utility vehicle.

(4) A front end of the left partition wall and a front end of the right partition wall are each attached to an intermediate vertical frame that supports a seat frame;

a rear end of the left partition wall and a rear end of the right partition wall are each attached to a rear vertical frame that supports a cargo bed frame;

an upper end of the left partition wall and an upper end of the right partition wall are each attached to a seat frame that supports a seat; and

a lower end of the left partition wall and a lower end of the right partition wall are each attached to a floor plate frame that supports a floor plate.

According to the configuration (1), in which the air inlet is supported by frames that support left and right fender covers, the air inlet can be provided at the center in the vehicle width direction in the front part of the vehicle body. Furthermore, a center tunnel extending forward and backward at the center in the vehicle width direction can be used as an air intake duct.

According to the configuration (2), the left partition wall and the right partition wall can be used for fixation of an auxiliary machine of the engine.

According to the configuration (3), a good can be contained in the containing space.

According to the configuration (4), the left partition wall and the right partition wall can be attached by using the vehicle body frame, and therefore the rigidity of the vehicle body frame can be improved by the left partition wall and the right partition wall.

In summary, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a utility vehicle that makes it possible to suppress flow of a foreign substance and the like into an engine room.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A utility vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A utility vehicle is a vehicle mainly for off-road traveling not only on a grass field, a gravel field, and a sandy field, but also on unpaved mountain road and forest road, a muddy road, and a rocky field. For convenience of description, it is assumed that a direction toward which the utility vehicle travels is a “front side” of the utility vehicle and parts thereof and that left and right, in a vehicle width direction, of a driver of the utility vehicle facing forward are “left and right” of the utility vehicle and the parts thereof.

[Overall Structure of Vehicle]

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a utility vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a utility vehicle10includes a pair of left and right front wheels21on a front side of a body thereof, a pair of left and right rear wheels22on a rear side of the body, and a riding space (cabin)23between the front wheels21and the rear wheels22. The riding space23is surrounded by a ROPS24, a pair of left and right doors25, and a top plate26. The ROPS is an abbreviation of a rollover protective structure, and is part of a body frame1. The top plate26is attached onto an upper end of the ROPS24.

A cargo bed27is provided behind the riding space23, and a bonnet28is provided ahead of the riding space23. A screen29that serves as a partition between the cargo bed27and the riding space23is provided at a front end of the cargo bed27.

A pair of left and right independent seats31are provided in the riding space23. Operating units such as a steering wheel32and the like are provided ahead of the seats31.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the body frame1of the utility vehicle10ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a top view ofFIG. 2, andFIG. 4is a bottom view ofFIG. 2.FIG. 5is a right side view ofFIG. 2. InFIGS. 2 to 5, the ROPS24of the body frame1is omitted.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the body frame1includes, in a bottom portion thereof, a pair of left and right floor plate frames (bottom first frame11and bottom second frame12) that extend substantially horizontally in a front-rear direction and support a floor plate91and a pair of left and right bottom side frames13and14that are provided on outer sides, in a vehicle width direction, of the bottom first frame11and the bottom second frame12, extend substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, and support the floor plate91. The bottom first frame11and the bottom second frame12are square pipe frames.

The bottom first frame11and the bottom side frame13are coupled to each other by a plurality of bottom cross frames15that extend substantially horizontally in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) and that are provided at certain intervals in the front-rear direction.

A door frame51that supports the door25is coupled to a front end of the bottom side frame13. The door frame51extends upward from the front end of the bottom side frame13and then extends inward in the vehicle width direction toward the upper side.

The bottom second frame12and the bottom side frame14are coupled to each other by a plurality of bottom cross frames16that extend substantially horizontally in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) and that are provided at certain intervals in the front-rear direction.

A door frame52that supports the door25is coupled to a front end of the bottom side frame14. The door frame52extends upward from the front end of the bottom side frame14and then extends inward in the vehicle width direction toward the upper side.

The body frame1includes a bottom front frame17that couples a front end of the bottom first frame11and a front end of the bottom second frame12and that extends substantially horizontally in a linear manner in the left-right direction. The bottom front frame17is a cylindrical pipe frame.

A ROPS mount front frame53is provided above the bottom front frame17. The ROPS mount front frame53extends substantially horizontally in the left-right direction and couples an upper end of the door frame51and an upper end of the door frame52, and the ROPS24is coupled to the ROPS mount front frame53. A front U shape frame54having a U shape protruding toward the front side is coupled to a front portion of the ROPS mount front frame53.

A front gear support member41that supports a gear box for front wheels from below is provided ahead of the bottom front frame17. The front gear support member41includes a pair of left and right front gear support frames411and412that extend in the front-rear direction so as to be inclined upward toward the front side, a front gear support front frame413that couples front ends of the front gear support frames411and412, and a front gear under guard414having a rectangular shape that couples intermediate portions of the front gear support frames411and412. The front gear support frames411and412are joined to the bottom front frame17by welding.

A pair of left and right front curved frames55and56are provided on a front portion of the front U shape frame54. The front curved frames55and56extend from the front portion of the front U shape frame54downward toward the front side and then extend downward and are coupled to the front gear support front frame413.

The front U shape frame54is coupled to left and right ends of the bottom front frame17by a pair of left and right vertical frames57and58that extend downward and backward from a lower portion of the front U shape frame54.

The body frame1includes a bottom rear frame18that couples a rear end of the bottom first frame11and a rear end of the bottom second frame12and that extends substantially horizontally in a linear manner in the left-right direction. The bottom rear frame18is a cylindrical pipe frame.

A rear gear support member42that supports a gear box for rear wheels from below is provided behind the bottom rear frame18. The rear gear support member42includes a pair of left and right rear gear support frames421and422that extend substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, a rear gear support intermediate frame423that couples intermediate portions, in the front-rear direction, of the rear gear support frames421and422, a rear gear support rear frame424that couples rear portions, in the front-rear direction, of the rear gear support frames421and422, and a rear gear under guard425having a rectangular shape that is supported by the rear gear support intermediate frame423and the rear gear support rear frame424from below. The rear gear support frames421and422are joined to the bottom rear frame18by welding.

A pair of left and right seat frames61and62that extend substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction and support the seats31are provided above the bottom first frame11and the bottom second frame12. The seat frame61is coupled to the bottom first frame11by an intermediate vertical frame611extending in the top-bottom direction. The seat frame62is coupled to the bottom second frame12by an intermediate vertical frame621extending in the top-bottom direction.

A cargo bed frame (upper first frame63) is provided above the seat frame61. The cargo bed frame (upper first frame63) is joined to an upper surface of a rear portion of the seat frame61, extends substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction to a rear end of the vehicle body along the seat frame61, and supports the cargo bed27. A cargo bed frame (upper second frame64) is provided above the seat frame62. The cargo bed frame (upper second frame64) is joined to an upper surface of a rear portion of the seat frame62, extends substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction to a rear end of the vehicle body along the seat frame62, and supports the cargo bed27.

The upper first frame63is coupled to a right end of the bottom rear frame18by a rear vertical frame631extending in the top-bottom direction.

The upper second frame64is coupled to a left end of the bottom rear frame18by a rear vertical frame641extending in the top-bottom direction.

A ROPS mount rear frame613is provided above the upper first frame63and the upper second frame64. The ROPS mount rear frame613extends substantially horizontally in the left-right direction and couples the upper first frame63and the upper second frame64via support members612, and the ROPS24is coupled to the ROPS mount rear frame613.

A rear end of the upper first frame63and a rear end of the upper second frame64are coupled by a rear U shape frame65having a U shape that extends in the left-right direction and protrudes downward. The upper first frame63and the upper second frame64are also coupled, at intermediate portions thereof in the front-rear direction, by a rear cross frame66that extends substantially horizontally in the left-right direction.

The rear vertical frame631and the rear U shape frame65are coupled by a rear L shape frame67having a substantially L shape that extends inward in the vehicle width direction and backward from an inner side surface, in the vehicle width direction, of the rear vertical frame631.

The rear vertical frame641and the rear U shape frame65are coupled by a rear L shape frame68having a substantially L shape that extends inward in the vehicle width direction and backward from an inner side surface, in the vehicle width direction, of the rear vertical frame641.

[Structure of Engine Room and Surroundings Thereof]

FIG. 6is a front perspective view illustrating an engine room and surroundings thereof taken along a specific horizontal cross section, andFIG. 7is a rear perspective view illustrating the engine room and surroundings thereof taken along a specific horizontal cross section. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, an engine9of the utility vehicle10is disposed behind the floor plate91so as to be located in a central part in the vehicle width direction. The engine9is contained in an engine room90. The engine room90has a front opening90ain a front face thereof and a rear opening90bin a rear face thereof.

The utility vehicle10has an air inlet101in a front part of the vehicle body. The air inlet101is formed by a right front panel741that is supported by the front vertical frame57that supports a fender cover for right front wheel71and a left front panel742that is supported by the front vertical frame58that supports a fender cover for left front wheel72.

The fender covers for front wheels71and72are provided as a pair of left and right fender covers. The fender cover for front wheel71is located behind the front wheel21, and a front end thereof is attached to the front vertical frame57and a rear end thereof is attached to the door frame51. The fender cover for front wheel72is located behind the front wheel21, and a front end thereof is attached to the front vertical frame58and a rear end thereof is attached to the door frame52.

The fender cover for front wheel71and the fender cover for front wheel72are provided so as to be symmetrical with respect to a central line in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body in top view.

A right front vertical panel743extending in the front-rear direction is attached to a left end of the right front panel741, and a left front vertical panel744extending in the front-rear direction is attached to a right end of the left front panel742. The right front vertical panel743and the left front vertical panel744form a center tunnel that extends forward and backward at the center in the vehicle width direction, and this center tunnel serves as an air intake duct that guides air from the air inlet101into the front opening90a.

A right intermediate lateral panel745that extends rightward in the vehicle width direction to the bottom side frame13is attached to a rear end of the right front vertical panel743, and a left intermediate lateral panel746that extends leftward in the vehicle width direction to the bottom side frame14is attached to a rear end of the left front vertical panel744. A right rear vertical panel747that extends backward on the bottom side frame13to a rear end of the bottom side frame13is attached to a right end of the right intermediate lateral panel745, and a left rear vertical panel748that extends backward on the bottom side frame14to a rear end of the bottom side frame14is attached to a left end of the left intermediate lateral panel746.

A right rear lateral panel749that extends leftward in the vehicle width direction on the bottom cross frames15to the bottom first frame11is attached to a rear end of the right rear vertical panel747, and a left rear lateral panel750that extends rightward in the vehicle width direction on the bottom cross frames16to the bottom second frame12is attached to a rear end of the left rear vertical panel748. A right rear end panel751that extends backward on the bottom first frame11to the rear vertical frame631is attached to a left end of the right rear lateral panel749, and a left rear end panel752that extends backward on the bottom second frame12to the rear vertical frame641is attached to a right end of the left rear lateral panel750.

The right intermediate lateral panel745, the left intermediate lateral panel746, the right rear vertical panel747, the left rear vertical panel748, the right rear lateral panel749, the left rear lateral panel750, the right rear end panel751, and the left rear end panel752form a space S1, and air that flows into the space S1from the air intake duct is discharged backward from the rear opening90bof the engine room90.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 through 7, the engine room90is provided in the space S1and includes the floor plate91and a right partition wall92and a left partition wall93that are provided on respective sides of the engine9in the vehicle width direction and cover at least a crankcase part of the engine9in side view.

To the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93, a bracket for attachment of an auxiliary machine of the engine9is attachable. In the present embodiment, a bracket931for attachment of a canister99is provided on the left partition wall93, and the canister99is attached to the left partition wall93with the bracket931interposed therebetween.

A front end of the right partition wall92is attached to the intermediate vertical frame611that supports the seat frame61, and a rear end of the right partition wall92is attached to the rear vertical frame631that supports the cargo bed frame (upper first frame63). An upper end of the right partition wall92is attached to the seat frame61that supports the seat31, and a lower end of the right partition wall92is attached to the floor plate frame (bottom first frame11) that supports the floor plate91.

A front end of the left partition wall93is attached to the intermediate vertical frame621that supports the seat frame62, and a rear end of the left partition wall93is attached to the rear vertical frame641that supports the cargo bed frame (upper second frame64). An upper end of the left partition wall93is attached to the seat frame62that supports the seat31, and a lower end of the left partition wall93is attached to the floor plate frame (bottom second frame12) that supports the floor plate91.

Although the panels illustrated inFIG. 6and the panels, the right partition wall92, the left partition wall93illustrated inFIG. 7are cut on a specific horizontal cross section in an intermediate part in the top-bottom direction in order to provide easy view of an interior space of the vehicle body, the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93are not cut on the specific horizontal cross section inFIG. 6. As described above, the upper ends of the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93are attached to the seat frames61and62, respectively, so that the positions of upper ends of the panels741through752substantially match in the top-bottom direction those of the upper ends of the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93.

A containing space S2in which a good is contained is formed between the right partition wall92and the right rear vertical panel747that serves as a right outer plate of the utility vehicle10. A containing space S3in which a good is contained is formed between the left partition wall93and the left rear vertical panel748that serves as a left outer plate of the utility vehicle10.

According to the utility vehicle10configured as above, the following effects can be produced.

(1) Air is taken into the engine room90from an air inlet in a front part of the vehicle body through the front opening90aand is not taken into the engine room90from a lower side thereof. This allows less foreign substance and the like to flow into the engine room90.

(2) The right partition wall92and the left partition wall93of the engine room90form flow of air from the front opening90atoward the rear opening90bin the engine room90. This allows less air to stay in the engine room90.

(3) The right partition wall92and the left partition wall93of the engine room90can block engine sound and block heat radiated from the engine9. In order to accomplish the function of blocking sound and heat from the engine9, it is only necessary that the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93cover at least the crankcase part of the engine9in side view.

(4) Since the air inlet is supported by the front vertical frames57and58that support the left and right fender covers71and72, respectively, the air inlet can be provided at the center in the vehicle width direction in the front part of the vehicle body. Furthermore, the center tunnel that is formed by the right front vertical panel743and the left front vertical panel744and extends forward and backward at the center in the vehicle width direction can be used as an air intake duct.

(5) Brackets921and931for attaching the auxiliary machine99of the engine9are attachable to the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93, respectively, and therefore the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93can be used for fixation of the auxiliary machine99of the engine9.

(6) The containing space S2in which a good is contained is formed between the right partition wall92and the right rear vertical panel747serving as a right outer plate of the utility vehicle10, and the containing space S3in which a good is contained is formed between the left partition wall93and the left rear vertical panel748serving as a left outer plate of the utility vehicle10. This makes it possible to contain a good in the containing spaces S2and S3.

(7) The front end, rear end, upper end, and lower end of the right partition wall92are attached to the vehicle body frame, and the front end, rear end, upper end, and lower end of the left partition wall93are attached to the vehicle body frame. Since the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93can be attached by using the vehicle body frame, the rigidity of the vehicle body frame can be improved by the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93.

In the above embodiment, the right rear end panel751and the left rear end panel752are provided. However, the right rear end panel751and the left rear end panel752may be omitted by attaching a left end of the right rear lateral panel749to the right partition wall92and attaching a right end of the left rear lateral panel750to the left partition wall93.

In the above embodiment, the containing space S2is provided on the right of the right partition wall92, and the containing space S3is provided on the left of the left partition wall93. Alternatively, a containing space may be provided only on an outer side, in the vehicle width direction, of any one of the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93.

In the above embodiment, the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93cover at least the crankcase part of the engine9in side view. However, the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93preferably cover the whole cylinder block of the engine9.

In the above embodiment, the canister99is attached to the left partition wall93with the bracket931interposed therebetween. Alternatively, a canister may be attached to the right partition wall92with a bracket interposed therebetween. Alternatively, another engine auxiliary machine may be attached to the right partition wall92and the left partition wall93with a bracket interposed therebetween.

Various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims.