Patent Publication Number: US-2022220698-A1

Title: Construction machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a construction machine. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A construction machine, such as a backhoe, includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body provided capable of turning above the lower traveling body, and a work machine that is supported vertically rotatably at the front of the upper turning body. 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses, as a pump suction piping structure of a construction machine, a technology for routing a suction hose by being passed through left and right vertical plates extending in a front-rear direction of the upper turning body and by being followed along a partition plate dividing the vertical plates. 
     In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses, as a pump suction piping structure of a construction machine, a technology for routing a suction hose by being passed through the left and right vertical plates extending in the front-rear directions of the upper turning body, and by further being passed through the partition plate dividing the vertical plates. 
     In both Patent Literatures 1 and 2, since the partition plate dividing the vertical plates is a plate material, the rigidity is not sufficient and thus, when holes are drilled in the vertical plates, the rigidity needs to be ensured by increasing the thickness of the vertical plates or the like. In addition, in order to make effective use of a space in a bonnet of a small-sized construction machine, when an engine support part is to be provided on the vertical plate or the partition plate and the pump suction piping below an engine, there is a problem that strength of the engine will be insufficient. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
       
         
           103440227.1 
         
       
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-90106 
         Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-196046 
       
    
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, an object of which is to provide a construction machine capable of increasing a degree of freedom of a piping layout while securing rigidity of a turning frame in the upper turning body. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     The construction machine of the present invention includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body provided capable of turning above the lower traveling body, an engine disposed at a rear part of the upper turning body, and a turning frame that constitutes the bottom part of the upper turning body and on which the engine is mounted, in which the turning frame has a bottom plate, a left and right pair of a first vertical plate and a second vertical plate provided upright on the bottom plate so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and a coupling member connected to the first and second vertical plates and dividing a space between the first and second vertical plates, the coupling member includes at least a top plate and a pair of front and rear side plates extending downwardly from front and rear ends of the top plate, and forms a box shape structure together with the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate, and the box shape structure has a first opening formed through the first vertical plate, a second opening formed through the second vertical plate, and an engine support part formed in the top plate. 
     In the construction machine of the present invention, a third opening open to the front may be formed through the box shape structure. 
     In addition, the construction machine of the present invention has a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, a suction port of the hydraulic pump disposed on the left and right outer sides of the second vertical plate, and a hydraulic oil tank disposed on the left and right outer sides of the first vertical plate, and a suction hose connecting the suction port to the hydraulic oil tank may be inserted through the first and second openings. 
     In addition, the construction machine of the present invention also has a grease nipple disposed on the left and right outer sides of the first vertical plate and a grease supply port for a turning bearing disposed on the left and right outer sides of the second vertical plate, and a grease hose connecting the grease nipple to the grease supply port may be inserted through the second opening and the third opening. 
     According to the present invention, pipes such as various hoses can be routed across the turning frame in the left-right direction while passing under the engine without reducing the rigidity of the turning frame by routing the pipes by using an internal space of the box shape structure. As a result, a degree of freedom of the piping layout can be increased while securing the rigidity of the turning frame in the upper turning body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an example of a construction machine according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of an upper turning body. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a turning frame. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a routing structure of a suction hose. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a routing structure of a grease hose. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Outline of Construction Machine 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a construction machine  1  includes a lower traveling body  2 , an upper turning body  3  provided capable of turning above the lower traveling body  2 , a boom bracket  4  which is a swinging body supported horizontally rotatably by the upper turning body  3 , and a work machine  5  which is supported vertically rotatably by the boom bracket  4 . The construction machine  1  is configured as an excavator (backhoe) with a boom swing function. In general, the boom swing function is provided in a compact excavator in which workability in a narrow space is required. 
     The lower traveling body  2  is driven by power from an engine  60  (see  FIG. 2 ) to travel and turn the construction machine  1 . The lower traveling body  2  includes a left and right pair of crawlers  21  and  21 , and a left and right pair of traveling motors  22  and  22  for driving the aforementioned crawlers  21  and  21 . The lower traveling body  2  also includes a blade  23 . 
     The upper turning body  3  is constituted capable of performing a turning operation around an axis extending in a vertical direction at a center part thereof. The upper turning body  3  has an engine  60 , a turning motor  61  (see  FIG. 2 ), a maneuvering unit  62  and the like disposed. The maneuvering unit  62  is equipped with a driver&#39;s seat and operating devices. 
     The boom bracket  4  is mounted at a front end of the upper turning body  3  via a mounting portion  35 . The boom bracket  4  is supported by the mounting portion  35  in a horizontally rotatably (that is, laterally swingable manner). A swing cylinder (not shown), which performs an extending/contracting motion in a front-rear direction, is provided between the upper turning body  3  and the boom bracket  4 . The horizontal rotation of the boom bracket  4  is performed in accordance with the extension and contraction of the swing cylinder. 
     The work machine  5  is driven by power from the engine  60  and performs an excavation work of earth and sand and the like in response to an operation at the maneuvering unit  62 . The work machine  5  is supported on the boom bracket  4  vertically rotatably. The boom bracket  4  has a pivot pin  54  with an axis directed toward the horizontal direction provided. A base end of the work machine  5  (base end of a boom  51  described later) is supported vertically rotatably around the pivot pin  54  thereof. In addition, the work machine  5  is capable of performing a swing motion in conjunction with the horizontal rotation of the boom bracket  4 . 
     The work machine  5  includes the boom  51 , an arm  52 , and a bucket  53 . The boom  51  is mounted on the boom bracket  4  vertically rotatably. The boom  51  vertically extends in the vertical direction from the base end thereof supported by the boom bracket  4 , and is curved in a boomerang shape in a side view. A boom cylinder  51   a , which is movable in an extensible and contractible manner, is provided between the boom bracket  4  and an intermediate portion of the boom  51 . The vertical rotation of the boom  51  with respect to the boom bracket  4  is performed in accordance with the extension and contraction of the boom cylinder  51   a.    
     The arm  52  is mounted on the boom  51  vertically rotatably. A pivot pin  55  having an axis directed toward the horizontal direction is provided at a distal end of the boom  51 . A base end of the arm  52  is supported vertically rotatably (rotatably back and forth) around the pivot pin  55 . An arm cylinder  52   a , which is movable in an extensible and contractible manner, is provided between an intermediate portion of the boom  51  and the base end of the arm  52 . The vertical rotation of the arm  52  with respect to the boom  51  is performed in accordance with the extension and contraction of the arm cylinder  52   a.    
     The bucket  53  is mounted on the arm  52  vertically rotatably. A pivot pin  56  having an axis directed toward the horizontal direction is provided at a distal end of the arm  52 . A base end of the bucket  53  is supported capable of vertical rotation (back and forth rotation) around the pivot pin  56 . A bucket link  57  is interposed between the distal end of the arm  52  and the bucket  53 . The bucket link  57  is configured as a link for transmitting a driving force to the bucket  53 . A bucket cylinder  53   a , which is movable in an extensible and contractible manner, is provided between the bucket link  57  and the base end of the arm  52 . The vertical rotation of the bucket  53  with respect to the arm  52  is performed in accordance with the extension and contraction of the bucket cylinder  53   a.    
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of the upper turning body  3 . In the upper turning body  3 , the engine  60 , a battery, a fuel tank and the like are placed on a turning frame  30 , these are covered by a bonnet  66 , and the maneuvering unit  62  is disposed at the front thereof. A hydraulic pump  63  is connected to the engine  60 , and the hydraulic pump  63  is driven by the engine  60  and discharges the hydraulic oil. 
     The hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump  63  is supplied to the swing cylinder, the boom cylinder  51   a , the arm cylinder  52   a , the bucket cylinder  53   a , a blade cylinder, the traveling motors  22 ,  22 , the turning motor  61  and the like via hydraulic hoses, the control unit and the like 
     The turning frame  30  includes a flat plate-shaped bottom plate  31 , a left and right pair of a first vertical plate  32  and a second vertical plate  33  provided upright on the bottom plate  31  so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and a coupling member  34  connected to the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  and dividing a space between the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33 . 
     The bottom plate  31  is circular with the front end cut out in the left-right direction on a plan view. The first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  are located on the bottom plate  31  at an interval in the left-right direction, and are provided upright so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  are disposed to expand rearwardly. The first vertical plate  32  is disposed on the right side of the turning frame  30  from the center in the left-right direction, and the second vertical plate  33  is disposed on the left side of the turning frame  30  from the center in the left-right direction. The bottom plate  31  between the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  has a joint opening  31   a  into which a swivel joint is inserted and a motor mounting portion  31   b  for mounting the turning motor  61 . In addition, a plurality of other openings for drainage and maintenance are formed through the bottom plate  31 . 
     The first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  have their lower edges welded to the upper surface of the bottom plate  31 . A front end  32   a  of the first vertical plate  32  and a front end  33   a  of the second vertical plate  33  protrude forward from the bottom plate  31  and constitute a part of the mounting portion  35 . A rear end  32   b  of the first vertical plate  32  and a rear end  33   b  of the second vertical plate  33  are connected to a counterweight mounting portion  36 . The counterweight mounting portion  36  is provided on a rear end of the bottom plate  31  along the left-right direction, and a counterweight  67  is mounted on the counterweight mounting portion  36 . 
     The coupling member  34  is connected to the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  behind the joint opening  31   a . The coupling member  34  has a top plate  341  disposed along the horizontal direction and a pair of a front side plate  342  and a rear side plate  343  extending downwardly from the both ends in the front-rear direction of the top plate  341 . The lower ends of the front side plate  342  and the rear side plate  343  are fixed to the bottom plate  31 , and the front side plate  342  and the rear side plate  343  stand upright with respect to the bottom plate  31 . That is, the coupling member  34  having a substantially U-shaped cross section with the lower side open forms a box shape structure  37  together with the bottom plate  31 , the first vertical plate  32 , and the second vertical plate  33 . 
     A first opening  32   c  is formed in the first vertical plate  32 . The first opening  32   c  is formed by being notched on the lower part of the first vertical plate  32 . The first opening  32   c  is formed on the right side of the coupling member  34  and is connected to an internal space of the coupling member  34 . 
     A second opening  33   c  is formed through the second vertical plate  33 . The second opening  33   c  is formed by being notched on the lower part of the second vertical plate  33 . The second opening  33   c  is formed on the left side of the coupling member  34  and is connected to the internal space of the coupling member  34 . 
     A third opening  34   a  open to the front is formed through the coupling member  34 . The third opening  34   a  is formed by being notched from the front side plate  342  to the top plate  341 . 
     The top plate  341  of the coupling member  34  has a front engine support part  34   b  on which an engine mount  601  (see  FIG. 2 ) is mounted. The front engine support parts  34   b  are formed on the right and left sides of the top plate  341 , respectively. In addition, at the rear part of the bottom plate  31  and in front of the counterweight mounting portion  36 , a pair of rear engine support parts  31   c  and  31   c  on which the engine mount  601  is mounted are provided, and the engine  60  is supported by the front engine support part  34   b  and the rear engine support part  31   c.    
     At the front end of the turning frame  30 , a mounting portion  35  on which the boom bracket  4  is mounted is provided so as to protrude forward. The mounting portion  35  has a tapered shape on a plan view, and an insertion hole  35   a  through which a pivot pin, not shown, is inserted is opened in the vertical direction at the front end thereof. The mounting portion  35  includes a pair of upper and lower stays  351 ,  352  spaced apart from each other. The pair of stays  351 ,  352  sandwich the front end  32   a  of the first vertical plate  32  and the front end  33   a  of the second vertical plate  33  from above and below. The lower stay  352  is attached to the front upper surface of the bottom plate  31  and protrudes forward from the front end of the bottom plate  31 . 
     A swing cylinder, not shown, is disposed along the front-rear direction on the right side of the first vertical plate  32 . 
     In the swing cylinder, a cylinder tube is rotatably supported by a cylinder mounting portion  38  formed in the turning frame  30 , and a cylinder rod is rotatably connected to the boom bracket  4 . By extending and contracting the cylinder rod, the boom bracket  4  can be rotationally moved to the left and right. Accordingly, the swing cylinder swings left and right around the cylinder mounting portion  38 . 
     A control unit, not shown, is disposed on the left side of the second vertical plate  33 . The control unit has control valves that control operations of hydraulic cylinders (swing cylinder, boom cylinder  51   a , arm cylinder  52   a , bucket cylinder  53   a , blade cylinder) and hydraulic motors (traveling motor  22 ,  22 , turning motor  61 ) disposed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a hydraulic oil tank  64  is disposed on the right side of the first vertical plate  32 . The hydraulic oil tank  64  stores the hydraulic oil of the hydraulic pump  63  and is connected to the hydraulic pump  63  by a suction hose  65 . The hydraulic oil tank  64  is disposed at the center part in the front-rear direction of the right end of the turning frame  30 . The lower end of the hydraulic oil tank  64  is fixed to the bottom plate  31 . 
     The hydraulic pump  63  includes a suction port  63   a  on the left side of the second vertical plate  33  on a plan view. One end of the suction hose  65  is connected to the lower part of the rear surface of the hydraulic oil tank  64 , and the other end of the suction hose  65  is connected to the suction port  63   a.    
     The suction hose  65  is disposed to cross the turning frame  30  in the left-right direction through the inside of the box shape structure  37  disposed below the engine  60 . In other words, the suction hose  65  runs from the hydraulic oil tank  64  through the box shape structure  37  to the hydraulic pump  63 . 
     At this time, the suction hose  65  is inserted through the first opening  32   c  and the second opening  33   c.    
     The upper turning body  3  turns with respect to the lower traveling body  2  via a turning bearing  39  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 5 ). The turning bearing  39  is fixed to the bottom surface of the turning frame  30 . A grease supply port  31   d  for the turning bearing is provided on the bottom plate  31  of the turning frame  30 . The grease supply port  31   d  is formed on the left side of the second vertical plate  33 . 
     A grease hose  70  for supplying grease to the grease supply port  31   d  is inserted through the second opening  33   c  and the third opening  34   a  to a grease nipple  71  disposed on the right side of the first vertical plate  32 . The grease injected from the grease nipple  71  reaches the grease supply port  31   d  via the grease hose  70  and is supplied to the turning bearing  39 . 
     As described above, the construction machine body  1  of the present embodiment includes the lower traveling body  2 , the upper turning body  3  provided capable of turning above the lower traveling body  2 , the engine  60  disposed at the rear of the upper turning body  3 , the turning frame  30  constituting the bottom part of the upper turning body  3  and on which the engine  60  is mounted, the turning frame  30  includes the bottom plate  31 , the left and right pair of the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  provided upright on the bottom plate  31  so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the coupling member  34  connected to the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  and dividing the space between the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33 , the coupling member  34  includes at least the top plate  341  and the front and rear pair of the front side plate  342  and the rear side plate  343  extending downwardly from the both ends in the front-rear direction of the top plate  341 , and forms the box shape structure  37  together with the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33 , and the box shape structure  37  has the first opening  32   c  formed through the first vertical plate  32 , the second opening  33   c  formed through the second vertical plate  33 , and the front engine support part  34   b  formed in the top plate  341 . 
     According to this configuration, the space between the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  of the turning frame  30  is divided by the box shape structure  37 , and the pipes can be routed across the turning frame  30  in the left-right direction while passing under the engine  60  without reducing the rigidity of the turning frame  30  by routing the pipes such as various hoses by using the internal space of the box shape structure  37 . As a result, a degree of freedom of the piping layout can be increased while securing the rigidity of the turning frame  30  in the upper turning body  3 . This is particularly useful for a small-sized construction machine with a narrow space inside the bonnet  66 . 
     The box shape structure  37  preferably has the third opening  34   a  which is open to the front formed. 
     By providing the third opening  34   a  in front of the box shape structure  37 , devices isolated by the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  can be connected with a greater degree of freedom. 
     The construction machine  1  also includes the hydraulic pump  63  driven by the engine  60 , the suction port  63   a  of the hydraulic pump  63  disposed on the left side of the second vertical plate  33 , and the hydraulic oil tank  64  disposed on the right side of the first vertical plate  32 , and the suction hose  65  connecting the suction port  63   a  and the hydraulic oil tank  64  is preferably inserted through the first opening  32   c  and the second opening  33   c.    
     According to this configuration, the length of the suction hose  65  can be shortened and conduit resistance (suction resistance) can be reduced because the suction hose  65  and the like can be routed across the turning frame  30  in the left-right direction while passing under the engine  60 . 
     The conventional suction hose extends from the hydraulic oil tank  64  via the rear of the engine  60  to the hydraulic pump  63  and is located near an oil pan of the engine  60 . According to the construction machine  1  of the present embodiment, the space behind the engine  60  can be expanded, so that a passage for cooling air can be secured. As a result, a flow of cooling air can flow more easily and cool the oil pan, which contributes to the heat balance of the engine  60 . 
     The construction machine  1  also includes the grease nipple  71  disposed on the right side of the first vertical plate  32 , the grease supply port  31   d  for the turning bearing disposed on the left side of the second vertical plate  33 , and the grease hose  70  connecting the grease nipple  71  to the grease supply port  31   d  is preferably inserted through the second opening  33   c  and the third opening  34   a.    
     By providing the third opening  34   a  in front of the box shape structure  37 , the grease hose  70  can be used to connect the grease nipple  71  and the grease supply port  31   d  isolated by the first vertical plate  32  and the second vertical plate  33  in an optimal route. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment in any way, and various improvements and changes can be made within the scope not departing from the purpose of the present invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Construction machine 
               2  Lower traveling body 
               3  Upper turning body 
               4  Boom bracket 
               5  Work machine 
               30  Turning frame 
               31  Bottom plate 
               31   d  Grease supply port 
               32  First vertical plate 
               32   c  First opening 
               33  Second vertical plate 
               33   c  Second opening 
               34  Coupling member 
               34   a  Third opening 
               341  Top plate 
               342  Front side plate 
               343  Rear side plate 
               37  Box shape structure 
               39  Turning bearing 
               60  Engine 
               63  Hydraulic pump 
               63   a  Suction port 
               64  Hydraulic oil tank 
               65  Suction hose 
               70  Grease hose 
               71  Grease nipple