Coupling structure of construction machine

The present disclosure relates to a coupling structure of a construction machine having improved durability of a hinge and improved assembling properties by allowing an engine cover to be easily assembled to a main body regardless of an assembly order of a counterweight, the coupling structure having effects that since another side of a connection plate is positioned so as to be upwardly spaced apart from an upper portion of a counterweight by a height of a protruding support, vibration generated from the counterweight is not transmitted to another side of the connection plate, thereby improving durability of the hinge. In addition, since the connection plate is supported by the support, there is an effect that the engine cover may be easily coupled to the connection plate by using the hinge, regardless of the assembly order of the counterweight.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0189108, filed on Dec. 31, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a coupling structure of a construction machine, and more particularly, to a coupling structure of a construction machine having improved durability of a hinge and improved assembling properties by allowing an engine cover to be easily assembled to a main body regardless of an assembly order of a counterweight.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

In general, construction machine is a mechanical equipment designed to perform various tasks in construction works, for example, mainly in civil engineering, such as excavation, transport, drilling, and paving. Such a construction machine may include an excavator, a loader, a forklift, and the like. As a configuration of such a construction machine, it includes a traveling body, a main body (e.g., vehicle body) positioned on the top of the traveling body and including an engine, a work device mounted at the front of the main body to perform works, and a cabin installed on the top of the main body and in which the driver rides. In addition, a counterweight having a certain weight is provided at the rear of the main body, so that an external force of the work device acting on the main body and a load of the counterweight are balanced with each other.

FIG.1is a view schematically illustrating a conventional construction machine,FIG.2is a view illustrating a counterweight mounted at the rear of a main body and an engine cover for covering an upper portion of the main body in the conventional construction machine,FIG.3is a view illustrating a hinge connecting the counterweight and the engine cover in the conventional construction machine, andFIG.4is a view illustrating a state in which the hinge connecting the counterweight and the engine cover of the conventional construction machine is supported by a support.

Referring toFIGS.1to4, in a conventional construction machine1, a main body4including an engine is positioned on a traveling body2, and an engine cover6for covering the engine is provided on the main body4. In addition, a work device8is provided at the front of the main body4, and a counterweight9is provided at the rear of the main body4.

As an assembly structure between the engine cover6and the counterweight9of the conventional construction machine1, a hinge7aof the engine cover6is coupled to a support9aprotruding from an upper portion of the counterweight9, and a gas cylinder7bis mounted inside the engine cover6. The gas cylinder7bincludes one side and another side coupled to a side of the counterweight9and an inner upper portion of the engine cover6, respectively.

However, since the hinge7aof the engine cover6is coupled to the support9aas described above, in order to assemble the engine cover6, the assembly of the counterweight9should be preceded, leading to a problem that an assembly process of the engine cover6may be limited. In addition, since the support9aof the counterweight9is connected to a lower portion of the hinge7a, vibration generated in the counterweight9is transmitted to the engine cover6through the support9aand the hinge7a, and this vibration of the engine cover6applies a significant impact to the vicinity of the hinge7a, leading to a problem that malfunction of the hinge7amay occur frequently.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to a coupling structure of a construction machine having improved durability of a hinge and improved assembling properties by allowing an engine cover to be easily assembled to a main body regardless of an assembly order of a counterweight.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be further directed to a coupling structure of a construction machine that reinforces a strength of a hinge coupled to an engine cover.

According to an embodiment, in a coupling structure of a construction machine, the construction machine includes a counterweight positioned to face a main body and an engine cover covering an upper portion of the main body, and the coupling structure includes: a connection plate including one side supported by the main body and another side extending upwardly of the counterweight; and a hinge including one side mounted on another side of the connection plate and another side mounted on the engine cover to guide rotation of the engine cover, wherein another side of the connection plate and an upper side of the counterweight are positioned to be spaced apart from each other.

In some embodiment, the counterweight may include a sidewall facing the main body, and an upper portion formed at an upper end of the sidewall in an opposite direction to the main body, the coupling structure may further include a support supported by the main body and positioned above the sidewall facing the main body, and one side of the connection plate may be supported by the support and another side of the connection plate extends to face the upper portion.

In some embodiment, the coupling structure of the construction machine may further include a protruding support protruding above the support and including an upper end positioned above the upper portion, wherein one side of the connection plate is supported by the protruding support.

In some embodiment, the connection plate may be formed in a plate shape, and one side of the connection plate in a longitudinal direction may be connected to the protruding support and another side of the connection plate in the longitudinal direction may extend in a cantilever shape to face the upper portion.

In some embodiment, the support may include: a first support elongated along a longitudinal direction and is positioned above the sidewall; and a second support bent from an upper portion of the first support in a direction away from the sidewall.

In some embodiment, the protruding support may be configured as a pair so as to be spaced apart from each other at opposite sides of the second support in a longitudinal direction of the second support.

In some embodiment, the first support may be upwardly spaced apart from the sidewall, and the coupling structure may further include a support bar including one side supporting a lower portion of the second support and another side elongated to be supported by a lower portion of the main body.

In some embodiment, the engine cover may include a cover plate for covering an upper portion of the main body, and a rim portion extending downward along a rim of the cover plate, the hinge may include a first hinge coupled to the connection plate, and a second hinge including one side rotatably coupled to the first hinge and another side coupled to an outer side of the rim portion, a reinforcement portion may be provided at an inner side of the rim portion positioned in an opposite direction to the second hinge, and a gas cylinder may be provided between the support and the cover plate, and the engine cover is rotated by operation of the gas cylinder.

In some embodiment, the reinforcement portion may include a reinforcement plate spaced apart from an inner side of the rim portion and elongated along an inner longitudinal direction of the rim portion; and a reinforcement bent portion bent at opposite sides of the reinforcement plate in a longitudinal direction to be coupled to the inner side of the rim portion in a unitary structure.

According to an embodiment, a coupling structure of a construction machine includes: a counterweight positioned to face a main body of the construction machine; an engine mounted on the main body; an engine cover for covering the engine; a connection plate including one side supported by the mainbody and another side extending upwardly of the counterweight; a protruding support coupled between the main body and the connection plate; and a hinge including one side mounted on another side of the connection plate and another side mounted on the engine cover to guide rotation of the engine cover, wherein another side of the connection plate and an upper portion of the counterweight are positioned to be spaced apart from each other according to a height of the protruding support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a coupling structure of a construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.5is a view schematically illustrating a coupling structure of a construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.6is a view schematically illustrating a support and a connection plate of the coupling structure of the construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.7is a view schematically illustrating a state in which the connection plate of the coupling structure of the construction machine is upwardly spaced apart from an upper portion according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS.5to7, a coupling structure of a construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to couple a counterweight100and an engine cover200of the construction machine. The coupling structure of the construction machine may include a support300, a connection plate400, a hinge500, and a gas cylinder600, and may further include a reinforcement portion700. The counterweight100includes a sidewall120facing a main body (not illustrated) in which an engine is positioned, and an upper portion110formed at an upper end of the sidewall120in a direction opposite to the main body. The engine cover200is configured to cover an upper portion of the main body and includes a cover plate210for covering the upper portion of the main body, and a rim portion220extending downward along a rim of the cover plate210.

The support300is positioned above (or on) one surface of the sidewall120facing the main body and supports the connection plate400to be described below. The support300may include a first support310and a second support320, and may further include a support bar330and a protruding support340. The first support310is elongated along a longitudinal direction and is positioned above (or on) the sidewall120. The second support320is formed to be bent from an upper portion of the first support310in a direction away from the sidewall120. In such an embodiment, the first support310may be in close contact with the upper portion of the sidewall120or may be positioned to be spaced apart from the upper portion of the sidewall120. When the first support310is spaced apart from the upper portion of the sidewall120, the second support320may be supported by the support bar330to be described below. The support bar330is elongated to be erected in a vertical direction, and includes an upper portion supporting a lower portion of the second support320and a lower portion extending to be supported by a lower portion of the main body. The protruding support340is configured as a pair so as to be spaced apart from each other at opposite sides of the second support320in a longitudinal direction of the second support320and is formed to protrude above (e.g., from) the second support320, and an upper end of the protruding support340may be positioned higher than the upper portion110. In an embodiment, the protruding support340may be coupled (disposed) between the main body and the connection plate400.

The connection plate400is provided in the form of a plate-shaped bar, including one side supported by the protruding support340and another side extending in a cantilever shape to face the upper portion110, and another side of the connection plate400is upwardly spaced apart from the upper portion110by a predetermined distance d. As such, since another side of the connection plate400is positioned to be upwardly spaced apart from the upper portion110of the counterweight100by a height of the protruding support340, there is an effect that vibration generated in the counterweight100is not transmitted to another side of the connection plate400. In other words, another side of the connection plate400and the upper side of the counterweight100may be positioned to be spaced apart from each other according to the height of the protruding support340.

The hinge500is configured to guide rotation of the engine cover200and includes a first hinge510coupled to another side of the connection plate400, and a second hinge520including one side rotatably connected to the first hinge510and another side coupled to an outer side of the rim portion220. As such, since the first hinge510is coupled to another side of the connection plate400, and another side of the connection plate400is upwardly spaced apart from the upper portion of the counterweight100, the vibration generated in the counterweight100is not transmitted to the first hinge510, and there is an effect that durability of the hinge500is improved. In addition, since the connection plate400is supported by the support300, the engine cover200may be easily coupled to the connection plate400using the hinge500, regardless of an assembly order of the counterweight100.

In an embodiment, the gas cylinder600is provided between the support bar330of the support300and the cover plate210, and the engine cover200is configured to rotate by the operation of the gas cylinder600in a state that the engine cover200is supported by the hinge200. In such an embodiment, since high stress is generated in vicinity of a portion of the engine cover200connected to the hinge500, there is a risk that a shape of the engine cover200may be deformed. In order to solve this problem, in the present disclosure, a reinforcement portion700is provided in the engine cover200.

FIG.8is a view schematically illustrating a state in which a reinforcement portion is provided on the engine cover of the coupling structure of the construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.9is a view schematically illustrating the reinforcement portion of the coupling structure of the construction machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS.8and9, the reinforcement portion700is provided at an inner side of the rim portion220of the engine cover200positioned in an opposite direction to the second hinge520and is configured to reinforce strength of the rim portion220. This reinforcement portion700is elongated in a longitudinal direction, and its cross-section is bent in a ‘C’ shape. As a detailed configuration, the reinforcement portion700includes a reinforcement plate710spaced apart from an inner side of the rim portion220and elongated along an inner longitudinal direction of the rim portion220, and a reinforcement bent portion720that is bent at opposite sides of the reinforcement plate710in a longitudinal direction to be coupled to an inner side of the rim portion220in a unitary structure.

As the reinforcement portion700includes the reinforcement bent portion720bent at opposite sides of the reinforcement plate710in an inward direction of the rim portion220, thus reinforcing an inner strength of the rim portion220, there is an effect that a strength of the rim portion220of the engine cover200connected to the hinge500may be improved.

As set forth hereinabove, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, since another side of the connection plate is positioned so as to be upwardly spaced apart from an upper portion of the counterweight by a height of the protruding support, vibration generated from the counterweight is not transmitted to another side of the connection plate, thereby improving durability of the hinge.

In addition, since the connection plate is supported by the support, there is an effect that the engine cover may be easily coupled to the connection plate by using the hinge, regardless of the assembly order of the counterweight.

In addition, since the reinforcement portion includes the reinforcement bent portion which is bent at opposite sides of the reinforcement plate in an inward direction of the rim portion, it is possible to reinforce the inner strength of the rim portion, thereby improving the strength of the rim portion of the engine cover connected to the hinge.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with the above embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and if these variations and modifications are within the scope of the claims, the technical idea should also be regarded as belonging to the present disclosure.