Patent Description:
Conventionally, for example, there is a construction machine, such as an excavation work machine, that has a travel motor in each of travel sections provided on both of right and left sides of a center frame in a lower travel body, and the travel motor is connected to a hydraulic hose that extends from a side of the center frame for supporting an upper turning body. On each of the right and left sides of the center frame, the travel motor is provided in a rear end portion of a crawler-type travel section extending in a front-rear direction, and the plural hydraulic hoses, each of which extends rearward from a swivel joint provided to the center frame, are connected to each of the travel motors (for example, see Patent Document <NUM> and Patent Document <NUM>).

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a configuration of connecting the hydraulic hose, which extends rearward from the swivel joint, to a hydraulic pipe, which is projected forward from the travel motor, in order to compactly arrange the hydraulic hose connected to the travel motor in a backhoe including variable legs capable of changing a clearance in a right-left direction between the right and left crawler-type travel sections. In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, the hydraulic hose is disposed in a manner to be bent outward in the right-left direction in a rearward extending portion from the center frame.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a configuration of providing a restraint member for each of right and left hydraulic hose groups respectively connected to the right and left travel motors. The restraint member is provided on a rear side of the center frame in a mini excavator that includes variable legs as the right and left crawler-type travel sections, and restrains the hydraulic hoses by routing the hydraulic hose group through a frame-like portion. In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, the hydraulic hose extends rearward through a hole that is formed to penetrate a cylindrical portion provided to surround the swivel joint. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a traveling device comprising a center frame, a travel frame, a crawler belt, a travel motor attachment unit, a crawler belt driving unit, a travel motor hydraulic pipe, an expanded portion, and a long hole which is formed in the upper surface plate of the travel frame.

According to the configuration disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, in the case where such a configuration is applied to a device with a variable leg configuration, for example, in association with an increase/reduction in a distance in the right-left direction between the right and left travel sections (an increase/reduction of the travel section), such a state is likely to occur that any of the hydraulic hoses in each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups is projected to be bulged with respect to the other hydraulic hoses. The projected hydraulic hose is likely to be damaged by repeatedly contacting an edge of the center frame or contacting an obstacle on the ground.

In this regard, according to the configuration disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, since the right and left hydraulic hose groups are each restrained by the restraint member, it is considered to suppress projection of the hydraulic hose, which is associated with the increase/reduction in the travel section. However, the hole, which is formed in the cylindrical portion surrounding the swivel joint, and the restraint member behind the swivel joint have the same height to restrict the movement of the hydraulic hose. Accordingly, an intermediate portion of the hydraulic hose is likely to be projected to be bulged in either in an up direction or a down direction in association with the increase/reduction in the travel section. For example, the hydraulic hose, which is projected to be bulged upward in association with the reduction in the distance between the travel sections in the right-left direction, is likely to be damaged when contacting a bottom surface of the upper turning body provided above the center frame.

The right and left restraint members disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> are provided to move rightward and leftward in an integral manner with the travel section in association with the increase/reduction in the travel section. As a result, a structure for restricting the movement of the hydraulic hose becomes complicated. In addition, and smooth operation of the travel section is possibly hindered by entry of dirt or the like into a movable section.

The present invention has been made in view of the problem as described above and therefore has a purpose of providing a construction machine capable of limiting a movement range of a hydraulic hose with a simple configuration and suppressing damage to the hydraulic hose, the hydraulic hose extending from a center frame side in a lower travel body and being connected to a travel motor in respective one of right and left travel sections.

A construction machine according to the present invention is a construction machine including: an upper unit; and a lower travel body that supports the upper unit. The lower travel body has: a center frame that supports the upper unit; a side frame that is provided on both of right and left sides of the center frame to support a travel motor and constitutes a crawler-type travel section, around which a crawler track is wound via plural rolling bodies; and plural hydraulic hoses, one end side of each of which is connected to a swivel joint provided to the center frame, and the other end side of each of which is connected to the travel motor. The center frame includes: a wall having an opening, through which the hydraulic hose passes; and a hose guide that is located below the opening, located above the hydraulic hose, and thereby restricts upward movement of the hydraulic hose.

In the construction machine according to another aspect of the present invention, the hose guide is provided at an end on an extension side of the hydraulic hose in the center frame.

In the construction machine according to another aspect of the present invention, the center frame has right and left side walls that form a disposition space for the hydraulic hose, and the hose guide is hung between the right and left side walls.

In the construction machine according to another aspect of the present invention, the center frame has a guide plate section that is provided on the swivel joint side of the hose guide, is located above the hydraulic hose, and thereby restricts the upward movement of the hydraulic hose.

In the construction machine according to another aspect of the present invention, the right and left travel sections are provided to be movable with respect to the center frame in a manner to change a distance therebetween.

According to the present invention, in regard to the hydraulic hose that extends from the center frame side in the lower travel body and is connected to the travel motor in each of the right and left travel sections, it is possible to limit the movement range of the hydraulic hose with the simple configuration and thus to suppress the damage to the hydraulic hose.

In the present invention, a configuration of restricting movement of a hydraulic hose is provided to a configuration in which the hydraulic hose extending from a center frame side is connected to a travel motor in each of travel sections provided on both of right and left sides of the center frame in a lower travel body. In this way, unnecessary movement of the hydraulic hose is suppressed. A description will hereinafter be made on an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a description will be made on an excavation work machine, which is a turning work vehicle, as an example of the construction machine according to the present invention. However, the construction machine according to the present invention is not limited to the excavation work machine, and can widely be applied to other types of the construction machines such as a bulldozer, a compact track loader, and a skid-steer loader.

A description will be made on a first embodiment of the present invention. A description will be made on an overall configuration of an excavation work machine <NUM> according to this embodiment with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the excavation work machine <NUM> is a so-called mini excavator that is relatively small in size, and includes: a self-propelled travel body; and an excavation unit <NUM> and an earth removal unit <NUM>, each of which is a work unit attached to the travel body.

The excavation work machine <NUM> has: a center frame <NUM> as a travel frame that constitutes a base section in the travel body; a right and left pair of crawler-type travel sections <NUM>, <NUM> provided on both of right and left sides of the center frame <NUM>; and a turning base <NUM> provided on the center frame <NUM>. The turning base <NUM> is configured to have a substantially circular shape in plan view, and is provided to be turnable in either a right direction or a left direction about a vertical axis by a turning support section 5a that is provided in the center frame <NUM>.

A driving section <NUM> is provided on the turning base <NUM> to drive/operate the travel sections <NUM>, <NUM>, the excavation unit <NUM>, and the earth removal unit <NUM>. A driver's seat support base <NUM> as a seat mount is provided in a rear portion on a floor 8a of the driving section <NUM>, and a driver's seat <NUM> is provided on the driver's seat support base <NUM>.

An operation section <NUM> is provided in a front portion on the floor 8a of the driving section <NUM>, and is operated by an operator who is seated on the driver's seat <NUM>. The operation section <NUM> is provided with: a travel operation section including a travel lever, a gearshift pedal, and the like for operating travel of the excavation work machine <NUM>; a work operation section including a work operation lever and the like for operating the excavation unit <NUM> and the earth removal unit <NUM>; and various operation tools including a lock lever for locking the operation of the work machine, and the like.

The driver's seat support base <NUM> also serves as a hood, and an engine <NUM> as a drive source is provided in the driver's seat support base <NUM>. In addition, a fuel tank, a hydraulic oil tank, and the like are provided in the driver's seat support base <NUM>. The fuel tank accommodates fuel for the engine <NUM>, and the hydraulic oil tank accommodates hydraulic oil that is supplied to various hydraulic cylinders and the like provided in the excavation work machine <NUM>.

The excavation unit <NUM> is a front work unit that is provided on a front side of the excavation work machine <NUM>. A base end portion of the excavation unit <NUM> is supported by a support bracket <NUM> via a bracket <NUM>, and the support bracket <NUM> is provided in a right-left central portion at a front end of the turning base <NUM>. The excavation unit <NUM> has: a boom <NUM> that constitutes the base end portion thereof; an arm <NUM> that is coupled to a tip side of the boom <NUM>; and a bucket <NUM> that is attached to a tip of the arm <NUM>.

The excavation unit <NUM> also has: a boom cylinder <NUM> that rotationally operates the boom <NUM>; and an arm cylinder <NUM> that rotationally operates the arm <NUM>; and a bucket cylinder <NUM> that rotationally operates the bucket <NUM>. These cylinders are each configured as the hydraulic cylinder.

The earth removal unit <NUM> is attached to a front side of the center frame <NUM>. The earth removal unit <NUM> has: a support frame <NUM> that includes a right and left pair of arms <NUM>, each of which extends in a front-rear direction, at a position between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, <NUM>; a blade <NUM> as an earth removal plate that is provided on a tip side of the support frame <NUM>; and a blade cylinder <NUM> that lifts/lowers the blade <NUM> via the support frame <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, rear ends of the right and left arms <NUM>, which constitute the support frame <NUM>, are supported by arm support brackets <NUM> in a rotatable manner with a right-left direction being a rotation axis direction. The arm support brackets <NUM> are provided in both of right and left ends of a front surface of the center frame <NUM>. Front ends of the right and left arms <NUM> are respectively fixed to right and left sides of a right-left intermediate portion on a back surface side of the blade <NUM>. The support frame <NUM>, which supports the blade <NUM> on the front side just as described, is provided to be rotatably lifted or lowered with respect to the center frame <NUM>.

The blade cylinder <NUM> is a hydraulic cylinder, and has a cylinder tube 33a and a cylinder rod 33b that has a piston on one end side and is slidably provided in the cylinder tube 33a via the piston. At a position between the right and left arms <NUM>, the blade cylinder <NUM> is provided such that an expansion/compression direction thereof is set to the front-rear direction in the plan view, and is provided in such an orientation that the cylinder tube 33a side (a bottom side) is set as a front side and the cylinder rod 33b side (a rod side) is set as a rear side.

The blade cylinder <NUM> is provided in a state of being hung longitudinally between the center frame <NUM> and the blade <NUM>. More specifically, a rod-side end of the blade cylinder <NUM> is supported by a body-side support bracket <NUM> in a rotatable manner with the right-left direction being a rotation axis direction. The body-side support bracket <NUM> is provided in a right-left central portion at a front end of the center frame <NUM>. In addition, a bottom-side end of the blade cylinder <NUM> is supported by a blade-side support bracket <NUM> in a rotatable manner with the right-left direction being a rotation axis direction. The blade-side support bracket <NUM> is provided in the right-left central portion on the back surface side of the blade <NUM>.

Inside of the cylinder tube 33a is divided by the piston into a bottom-side chamber as a space on the bottom side and a rod-side chamber as a space on the rod side. One end sides of hydraulic hoses 38a, 38b are communicably connected to the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber of the blade cylinder <NUM>, respectively. Through the hydraulic hoses 38a, 38b, the hydraulic oil, which is supplied from the hydraulic oil tank provided on the travel body side (a main machine side), is supplied/discharged into/from the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber, respectively.

In such a configuration, the blade cylinder <NUM> is expanded/compressed by the supply/discharge of the hydraulic oil into/from each of the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber. With the expansion/compression of the blade cylinder <NUM>, the blade <NUM> is rotationally lifted/lowered via the support frame <NUM>. A cylinder cover <NUM> that covers the blade cylinder <NUM> from above is attached to an upper side of the cylinder tube 33a.

In the excavation work machine <NUM> that has the configuration as described so far, desired operation or work is performed when the operator who is seated on the driver's seat <NUM> appropriately operates the travel lever, the work operation lever, or the like. More specifically, by operating the travel lever, for example, the excavation work machine <NUM> makes forward/rearward linear travel or right/left turn travel. In addition, by operating the work operation lever, excavation work is performed by the excavation unit <NUM>, or earth removal work or leveling work is performed by the earth removal unit <NUM>.

The excavation work machine <NUM> as a turning work machine includes, as turning components: an upper turning body 20A as an upper unit; and a lower travel body 20B that turnably supports the upper turning body 20A. The upper turning body 20A is mounted on the lower travel body 20B, and is provided to be turnable about a predetermined rotation axis along an up-down direction with respect to the lower travel body 20B.

In the excavation work machine <NUM> according to this embodiment, the upper turning body 20A is a portion including the turning base <NUM>, the driving section <NUM> provided on the turning base <NUM>, and the excavation unit <NUM> provided in front of the turning base <NUM>. The lower travel body 20B is a portion including the center frame <NUM>, the right and left travel sections <NUM>, <NUM>, and the earth removal unit <NUM> provided in front of the center frame <NUM>.

A description will be made on a configuration of the lower travel body 20B with reference to <FIG>. The lower travel body 20B has: the center frame <NUM> that supports the upper turning body 20A; and side frames <NUM> that are provided on both of the right and left sides of the center frame <NUM>. In the lower travel body 20B, the center frame <NUM> and the right and left side frames <NUM> are substantially configured to be bilaterally symmetrical.

A description will be made on the center frame <NUM>. The center frame <NUM> is configured to be schematically box-shaped as a whole, and has a horizontal upper surface <NUM>, right and left vertical side walls <NUM>, and a horizontal bottom surface <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> and the right and left side walls <NUM> are formed of an integral plate-like member. A right-left intermediate portion of the integral plate-like member is used as the upper surface <NUM>, and both of right and left sides thereof are bent downward at right angles and are used as the side walls <NUM>.

A lower front portion of the center frame <NUM> is constructed of a first front support prism section <NUM> and a second front support prism section <NUM> in quadrangular prism shapes that are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction with the right-left direction being set as a longitudinal direction. The first front support prism section <NUM> is provided in front, and the second front support prism section <NUM> is provided behind the first front support prism section <NUM>.

The first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> are constructed of quadrangular steel pipes or members in quadrangular steel pipe shapes having the same length and the same size. Then, opposing side surfaces thereof are fixed to each other by welding or the like. Each of the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> is fixed to the right and left side walls <NUM> by welding or the like in a state where both of right and left ends thereof are fitted to notches 42a that are formed in lower front portions of the right and left side walls <NUM>.

Support holes 44a, 45a, each of which has the quadrangular prism shape and penetrates in the right-left direction, are respectively formed by the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> (see <FIG>). Lengths of the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> substantially match a right-left width of the center frame <NUM>.

Upper surfaces 44b, 45b of the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> are located to be flush at lower positions than the upper surface <NUM>. In the up-down direction, the upper surfaces 44b, 45b of both of the support prism sections <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially located at a center height between the upper surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM>. A rear portion of the body-side support bracket <NUM>, which supports the rear side of the blade cylinder <NUM>, is interposed in a right-left central portion between the upper surface <NUM> and each of the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM>, and the body-side support bracket <NUM> is projected forward from the first front support prism section <NUM>. A front surface 44c of the first front support prism section <NUM> forms the front surface of the center frame <NUM>.

A vertical front wall <NUM> is provided between the second front support prism section <NUM> and the upper surface <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> is a plate-like portion with the front-rear direction being a plate thickness direction. In the front-rear direction, the front wall <NUM> is located substantially at a center of an upper surface 45b of the second front support prism section <NUM>, and is provided in a state of being fixed to each of the upper surface 45b of the second front support prism section <NUM> and a lower surface of the upper surface <NUM> by welding or the like. In front view, the front wall <NUM> is provided to completely close a horizontally-long rectangular opening portion that is formed by the upper surface <NUM>, the right and left side walls <NUM>, and the second front support prism section <NUM>.

A lower rear portion of the center frame <NUM> is constructed of a first rear support prism section <NUM> and a second rear support prism section <NUM> in the quadrangular prism shapes that are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction with a longitudinal direction being the right-left direction. The first rear support prism section <NUM> is provided in front, and the second rear support prism section <NUM> is provided behind the first rear support prism section <NUM>.

The first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> are configured to be symmetrical to the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM> in the front-rear direction. That is, the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> are constructed of quadrangular steel pipes or members in quadrangular steel pipe shapes having the same length and the same size as the first front support prism section <NUM> and the like. Then, opposing side surfaces thereof are fixed to each other by welding or the like.

Each of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> is fixed to the right and left side walls <NUM> by welding or the like in a state where both of right and left ends thereof are fitted to notches 42b that are formed in lower rear portions of the right and left side walls <NUM>. The notch 42b is formed to be recessed in a mode in which a lower side thereof is opened. In this way, in each of the right and left side walls <NUM>, a lower portion at a rear edge of the side wall <NUM>, which serves as a rear side of the notch 42b, also serves as a projection piece 42c that is projected rearward from a rear surface 52c of the second rear support prism section <NUM>.

Support holes 51a, 52a, each of which has the quadrangular prism shape and penetrates in the right-left direction, are respectively formed by the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> (see <FIG>). Lengths of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> substantially match the right-left width of the center frame <NUM>.

Upper surfaces 51b, 52b of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> are located to be flush at the lower positions than the upper surface <NUM>. In the up-down direction, the upper surfaces 51b, 52b of both of the support prism sections <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially located at the center height between the upper surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM>. A rear surface 52c of the second rear support prism section <NUM> forms a rear surface of the center frame <NUM>.

A vertical rear wall <NUM> is provided between the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the upper surface <NUM> in a manner to oppose the front wall <NUM> in the front-rear direction. The rear wall <NUM> is a plate-like portion with the front-rear direction being a plate thickness direction. In the front-rear direction, the rear wall <NUM> is located at a front edge of an upper surface 51b of the first rear support prism section <NUM>, and is provided in a state of being fixed to each of the upper surface 51b of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the lower surface of the upper surface <NUM> by welding or the like. In back view, the rear wall <NUM> is provided to completely close a horizontally-long rectangular opening portion that is formed by the upper surface <NUM>, the right and left side walls <NUM>, and the first rear support prism section <NUM>.

In a rear portion of the upper surface <NUM> that is a portion above the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM>, a recess 41a is formed such that a rear side thereof is opened. The recess 41a has a shape that follows a substantially trapezoidal shape in which a right-left width is gradually increased from the front to the rear, and is formed in a mode in which most of the rear portion of the upper surface <NUM> is cut. In the front-rear direction, a front edge 41b, which is along the right-left direction, in the recess 41a is located above the first rear support prism section <NUM>.

n the configuration of the rear portion of the center frame <NUM> as described so far, a rear space <NUM> in a substantially flat rectangular shape whose rear side is opened is formed by the rear portion of the upper surface <NUM>, rear portions of the right and left side walls <NUM>, the upper surfaces 51b, 52b of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM>, and the rear wall <NUM>. The rear space <NUM> is a space portion above the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM>, and most of an upper portion thereof is opened by the recess 41a of the upper surface <NUM>.

The bottom surface <NUM> is constructed of a plate-like member that is provided to seal a space between a pair of the first front support prism section <NUM> and the second front support prism section <NUM>, which constitute the front portion of the center frame <NUM>, and a pair of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM>, which constitute the rear portion of the center frame <NUM>, from below. The plate-like member that constitutes the bottom surface <NUM> is fixed to a lower surface of each of the first front support prism section <NUM>, the second front support prism section <NUM>, the first rear support prism section <NUM>, and the second rear support prism section <NUM> by welding or the like.

In the center frame <NUM>, a central space 5b whose upper side is opened is formed by the bottom surface <NUM>, the second front support prism section <NUM>, the front wall <NUM> provided on the second front support prism section <NUM>, the first rear support prism section <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM> provided on the first rear support prism section <NUM>, and the right and left side walls <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> is formed with a circular opening 41c for opening the upper side of the central space 5b. The opening 41c is formed to be concentric with the turning support section 5a that follows a circumferential shape in the plan view.

In the central space 5b of the center frame <NUM>, a cylindrical swivel joint <NUM> is vertically provided on the bottom surface <NUM>. The swivel joint <NUM> is arranged at a center of the bottom surface <NUM> in a manner to be concentric to the circumferential shape that is the shape of the opening 41c of the upper surface <NUM> in the plan view. The swivel joint <NUM> has such a height that an upper end thereof is located above the turning support section 5a provided on top of the upper surface <NUM>.

The turning support section 5a is provided with a turning bearing <NUM> as a turning support unit for the upper turning body 20A with respect to the lower travel body 20B. That is, the upper turning body 20A is supported to be turnable with respect to the lower travel body 20B via the turning bearing <NUM>. The turning bearing <NUM> is configured in an annular shape with a predetermined turning axis in the up-down direction, which passes a center of the circumferential shape of the opening 41c of the upper surface <NUM>, being a rotation centerline.

The turning bearing <NUM> has an inner ring <NUM> and an outer ring <NUM> in an annular shape that are arranged in a mutually concentric manner and are provided to move relative to each other via a large number of rolling bodies such as steel balls. The inner ring <NUM> is fixed onto the upper surface <NUM> at plural positions by bolts <NUM> via an annular support plate <NUM> on the upper surface <NUM>. The outer ring <NUM> is fixed to a predetermined portion of a bottom surface (not illustrated) of the upper turning body 20A at plural positions by bolts <NUM>. When the outer ring <NUM> rotates relative to the inner ring <NUM> with a predetermined turning axis being a center, the upper turning body 20A turns with respect to the lower travel body 20B.

The excavation work machine <NUM> includes a turning motor (not illustrated) as a drive source of the turning support unit. The turning motor is engaged with the inner ring <NUM> or the outer ring <NUM> via a gear or the like, and rotationally drives the turning bearing <NUM>. The upper turning body 20A performs turning operation by using drive power of the turning motor. The turning motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, for example.

A description will be made on the side frame <NUM>. The side frame <NUM> has: a side frame body <NUM> that constitutes a body portion thereof; and a motor support frame <NUM> as a portion that supports a travel motor <NUM>. The side frame <NUM> is a longitudinal frame component with the front-rear direction being a longitudinal direction thereof, and has a longer dimension than the center frame <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The side frame body <NUM> has an upper surface and right and left surfaces, and these surfaces constitute a frame portion whose outer shape is a substantially quadrangular prism shape extending in the front-rear direction. At a front end, the side frame body <NUM> supports a driven wheel <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner by a predetermined rotary shaft with the right-left direction being an axial direction.

A lower side of the side frame body <NUM> is opened, and the side frame body <NUM> supports plural rolling wheels <NUM>, which are provided at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction, in a freely rotatable manner by predetermined rotary shafts with the right-left direction being an axial direction of each thereof. In a state where a lower portion of each of the rolling wheels <NUM> is projected downward from a lower edge of the side frame body <NUM>, each of the rolling wheels <NUM> is supported between the right and left surfaces of the side frame body <NUM>. In this embodiment, the three rolling wheels <NUM> are provided.

The motor support frame <NUM> is provided behind the side frame body <NUM>, and is provided as an integral portion of the side frame body <NUM>. The motor support frame <NUM> has: an attachment surface <NUM> that is a fixed portion to the side frame body <NUM>; a motor support surface <NUM> that is provided behind the attachment surface <NUM> and supports the travel motor <NUM>; an outer cover <NUM> that is provided on an inner side in the right-left direction of the motor support surface <NUM>; and an inner surface cover <NUM> that is provided on the inner side in the right-left direction of the outer cover <NUM> (see <FIG>). In <FIG>, a rear portion of the right motor support frame <NUM> is illustrated in a notched cross-section.

The attachment surface <NUM> is a vertical rectangular plate-like portion with the front-rear direction being a plate thickness direction, and is fixed to a rear end of the side frame body <NUM> by welding or the like. In the attachment surface <NUM>, an inner portion in the right-left direction is projected inward in the right-left direction in comparison with an inner surface 73a that is a side surface on the inner side in the right-left direction of the side frame body <NUM>.

The motor support surface <NUM> is a vertical plate-like portion with the right-left direction being a plate thickness direction and has, as a plate-like shape, a slightly tapered shape whose rear portion follows an arcuate shape and whose front portion has a gradually reduced dimension in the up-down direction from a front side to a rear side. The motor support surface <NUM> is provided in a state of being fixed at a position in a substantially right-left central portion of the attachment surface <NUM> in a manner to form a substantial T-shape with the attachment surface <NUM> in the plan view.

The outer cover <NUM> is a curved plate-like portion having a shape that follows a plate shape of the motor support surface <NUM> in side view, and front edges at two upper and lower positions are connected to the attachment surface <NUM>. A space <NUM> that is opened to the inner side in the right-left direction is formed by the inner portion in the right-left direction of the attachment surface <NUM>, the motor support surface <NUM>, and the outer cover <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The inner surface cover <NUM> is a plate-like member that has substantially the same shape and dimensions as the motor support surface <NUM>, and is provided to close the inner side in the right-left direction of the space <NUM> in a mode of opposing the motor support surface <NUM>. At plural positions in an outer edge, the inner surface cover <NUM> is fixed to the outer cover <NUM> by bolts <NUM>, and is detachably attached to the outer cover <NUM>. Each of the bolts <NUM> penetrates the inner surface cover <NUM>, and is screwed into a nut, which is not illustrated and is provided on an inner circumference of the outer cover <NUM>.

The travel motor <NUM> is supported by the motor support frame <NUM> that is configured as described so far. The travel motor <NUM> is a hydraulic motor that is driven by the supply and the discharge of the hydraulic oil, and has: a motor body 71a that has a substantially cylindrical outer shape; and a hose connection section 71b that is provided on one side in a center axis direction of the motor body 71a (see <FIG>).

The travel motor <NUM> is provided in a state of penetrating the motor support surface <NUM> in such an orientation that the center axis direction of the motor body 71a is set in the right-left direction and the hose connection section 71b is located on an inner side in the right-left direction. A flange 71c that is provided to the motor body 71a is fixed at plural positions to the motor support surface <NUM> by bolts <NUM>. In this way, the travel motor <NUM> is provided in a state of being fixed to the motor support surface <NUM> (See <FIG>).

In the travel motor <NUM>, the hose connection section 71b is located in the space <NUM>, and a large portion of the motor body 71a is located on an outer side in the right-left direction of the motor support surface <NUM>. A drive wheel <NUM> is rotatably provided to the motor body 71a of the travel motor <NUM>. The drive wheel <NUM> is provided in a portion of the motor body 71a that is located on the outer side in the right-left direction of the motor support surface <NUM>, and rotates with the right-left direction being a rotation axis direction when receiving the drive power of the travel motor <NUM>. The drive wheel <NUM> is a sprocket, and a crawler track <NUM> is wound around the drive wheel <NUM> together with the driven wheel <NUM> and the plural rolling wheels <NUM>. In this way, the drive power is applied to the crawler track <NUM>.

As it has been described so far, the side frame <NUM> supports the travel motor <NUM>, and constitutes the crawler-type travel section <NUM> by winding the rubber crawler track <NUM> therearound via the driven wheel <NUM>, the plural rolling wheels <NUM>, and the drive wheel <NUM> as plural rotary bodies. In each of the right and left travel sections <NUM>, the drive wheel <NUM> is rotationally driven by the drive power of the travel motor <NUM>, and the travel section <NUM> is thereby driven to travel.

Plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>, each of which extends rearward from the center frame <NUM> side to supply/discharge the hydraulic oil, are communicably connected to the travel motor <NUM>. In this embodiment, the four hydraulic hoses <NUM> are connected to each of the travel motors <NUM>. The four hydraulic hoses <NUM> are: two hydraulic hoses (an advancement hydraulic hose and a reverse hydraulic hose) for supplying the hydraulic oil to cause rotation of the travel motor <NUM>; a hydraulic hose (a return oil hose) for drainage from the travel motor <NUM>; and a pilot oil hose. The hydraulic hose <NUM> is configured by winding a steel wire around an outer side of a hose body that is made of rubber or resin, for example, and is flexible.

One end side of each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> is connected to the swivel joint <NUM> provided in the center frame <NUM>. The one end side of each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> is communicably connected to a connection port, which is provided in a predetermined portion of a circumferential wall of the swivel joint <NUM>, via a joint member <NUM>.

The other end side of each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> is connected to either one of the right and left travel motors <NUM>. The other end side of each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> is communicably connected to a connection port, which is provided in a predetermined portion of the hose connection section 71b of the travel motor <NUM>, via a joint pipe <NUM>. The hose connection section 71b is a portion that is projected from the motor body 71a to have a substantially cuboid projected shape, and the other end side of the hydraulic hose <NUM> is connected to a front surface, an upper surface, or a lower surface of the hose connection section 71b via the joint pipe <NUM>.

A total of the eight hydraulic hoses <NUM>, each of which is connected to respective one of the right and left travel motors <NUM>, is disposed to extend from the swivel joint <NUM>, which is vertically provided in the central space 5b of the center frame <NUM>, and passes through the central space 5b. Then, four each of the eight hydraulic hoses <NUM> are divided into right and left bundles, penetrate the rear wall <NUM>, and extend rearward. Furthermore, the right and left bundles of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> respectively expand rightward and leftward from the front to the rear toward the right and left travel motors <NUM>, which are located on the outer sides in the right-left direction of the center frame <NUM>.

The rear wall <NUM> has a guide hole 53a as an opening through which the hydraulic hose <NUM> passes. The guide hole 53a is a through hole that communicates between the central space 5b and the outside, and is formed at two symmetrical positions on both sides in the right-left direction of the rear wall <NUM>. The guide hole 53a is a long hole with the right-left direction being a longitudinal direction, and is formed on both of right and left sides of an intermediate portion in the right-left direction of an upper portion of the rear wall <NUM>. A hydraulic hose group 90A, which includes the four hydraulic hoses <NUM> connected to the respective travel motor <NUM>, penetrates the respective guide hole 53a.

Each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90Apenetrates the inner surface cover <NUM> and is connected to the hose connection section 71b of the respective travel motor <NUM>. A hole 84a, through which the hydraulic hose group 90A passes, is formed in a front end of the inner surface cover <NUM>.

As it has been described so far, the lower travel body 20B has the plural (eight in this embodiment) hydraulic hoses <NUM>, one end of each of which is connected to the swivel joint <NUM> provided in the center frame <NUM>, and the other end of each of which is connected to respective one of the right and left travel motors <NUM>.

Each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM>, which connects between the swivel joint <NUM> and the travel motor <NUM> just as described, has: a portion located in the central space 5b where the swivel joint <NUM> is provided; a portion located in the rear space <NUM> formed in the rear portion of the center frame <NUM>; and a rear extending portion that extends rearward from the rear space <NUM> and is connected to the travel motor <NUM>. The rear extending portion of the hydraulic hose <NUM> includes: a portion that extends rearward from the rear space <NUM> and is exposed to the outside; and a portion that is located in the space <NUM> where the hose connection section 71b of the travel motor <NUM> is provided.

The hose connection section 71b, to which the other end of the hydraulic hose <NUM> is connected, in the travel motor <NUM> is located below and on the outer side in the right-left direction of the guide hole 53a in the rear wall <NUM>. Accordingly, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A, which respectively extend rearward from the right and left guide holes 53a, are disposed to gradually expand outward from the inner side in the right-left direction from the front to the rear in the plan view (see <FIG>). In addition, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A, which respectively extend rearward from the right and left guide holes 53a, are disposed to gradually expand outward from the inner side in the right-left direction from the upper side to the lower side in the back view (see <FIG>).

In detail, as illustrated in <FIG>, a front portion of each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A is an inclined portion that is inclined outward from the inner side in the right-left direction within the rear space <NUM>. In addition, a rear portion of each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A is a curved portion that is curved to run behind respective one of upper right and left corners in the rear surface 52c and extend toward the travel motor <NUM> located on the outer side in the right-left direction in the rear view. Such a mode of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A is realized in a state where the right and left travel sections <NUM>, each of which is configured as a variable leg as will be described below, increase a distance therebetween.

The hydraulic oil is discharged from an actuator drive pump and a pilot pump, each of which is provided in the upper turning body 20A and mechanically coupled to the engine <NUM>, via a control valve and a gearshift solenoid valve, flows through the swivel joint <NUM>, and is supplied to each of the right and left travel motors <NUM> by the oil supply hydraulic hoses <NUM> included in the hydraulic hose group 90A. In this way, the right and left travel motors <NUM> are driven, and then the excavation work machine <NUM> makes the forward/rearward linear travel or the right/left turning travel by the right and left travel sections <NUM>. The oil discharged from the travel motor <NUM> is returned to the hydraulic oil tank, which is arranged in the upper turning body 20A, via the swivel joint <NUM> by the hydraulic hose <NUM> for drainage. The gearshift solenoid valve for the travel motor <NUM> is operated by a gearshift operator such as a first/second gearshift switch provided in the operation section <NUM>.

In the lower travel body 20B, the right and left travel sections <NUM> are configured as the variable legs capable of changing the distance therebetween in the right-left direction. More specifically, the right and left side frames <NUM> constituting the travel sections <NUM> are coupled to and supported by the center frame <NUM> in a manner capable of moving in parallel in the right-left direction, and are configured to change the distance in a width direction (the right-left direction) between the right and left travel sections <NUM> by changing positions in the right-left direction of the side frames <NUM>.

Each of the side frames <NUM> is accommodated and supported in a manner to be movable in the right-left direction with respect to the center frame <NUM> by two front and rear support legs <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the support legs <NUM>, <NUM> is constructed of a quadrangular steel pipe or a member in the quadrangular steel pipe shape, has the right-left direction as a longitudinal direction thereof, has ends on the outer side in the right-left direction that are fixed to the inner surface 73a of the side frame body <NUM> by welding or the like, and is inserted and fitted into a support prism section (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), which constitutes the center frame <NUM>, in a slidingly movable manner. At a position below a portion of each of the support legs <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the inner surface 73a, a support projection piece <NUM>, which supports respective one of the support legs <NUM>, <NUM> from below, is projected from the inner surface 73a (see <FIG>).

A total of the four support legs <NUM>, <NUM> provided to the right and left side frames <NUM> is alternately inserted and fitted into the four support prism sections (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) provided to the center frame <NUM>. That is, the front support leg <NUM> for the left side frame <NUM> is inserted and fitted into the first front support prism section <NUM> while the rear support leg <NUM> for the left side frame <NUM> is inserted and fitted into the first rear support prism section <NUM>. In addition, the front support leg <NUM> for the right side frame <NUM> is inserted and fitted into the second front support prism section <NUM> while the rear support leg <NUM> for the right side frame <NUM> is inserted and fitted into the second rear support prism section <NUM>.

A distance between the right and left side frames <NUM> varies by expansion/compression operation of a hydraulic cylinder <NUM> for the variable legs that is hung between the right and left side frames <NUM>. The hydraulic cylinder <NUM> has: a cylinder tube <NUM>; and a cylinder rod <NUM> that has a piston <NUM> (see <FIG>) on one end side and is slidably provided in the cylinder tube <NUM> via the piston <NUM>. At a position between the right and left side frames <NUM>, the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> sets the right-left direction as the expansion/compression direction thereof, and is provided in such an orientation that the cylinder tube <NUM> side (a bottom side) is set as a right side and the cylinder rod <NUM> side (a rod side) is set as a left side.

An end portion on the bottom side of the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is supported by the inner surface 73a of the right side frame <NUM> via a support bracket <NUM>, and an end portion on the rod side thereof is supported by the inner surface 73a of the left side frame <NUM> via a support bracket <NUM>. The hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is located behind the swivel joint <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and is provided in a state of penetrating the turning support section 5a through an opening 42d (see <FIG>) that is formed in each of the right and left side walls <NUM>.

Inside of the cylinder tube <NUM> is divided by the piston <NUM> into a bottom-side chamber as a space on the bottom side and a rod-side chamber as a space on the rod side. One end side of the hydraulic hose is communicably connected to each of the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder <NUM>. Through the hydraulic hose, the hydraulic oil, which is supplied from the hydraulic oil tank provided in the upper turning body 20A, is supplied/discharged into/from respective one of the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber. In such a configuration, the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is expanded/compressed by the supply/discharge of the hydraulic oil into/from each of the bottom-side chamber and the rod-side chamber.

In addition, two front and rear stopper rods <NUM> are provided between the center frame <NUM> and each of the right and left side frames <NUM> so as to restrict movement of the right and left side frames <NUM> in an expanding direction. An outer end side in the right-left direction of each of the stopper rods <NUM> is fixed to an upper edge of the inner surface 73a of the side frame body <NUM> by a fixing member <NUM> such as a nut.

Each of the stopper rods <NUM> penetrates the side wall <NUM>, and the other end side thereof on the inner side in the right-left direction is located in the central space 5b. An end on the other end side of the stopper rod <NUM> is provided with a locking section <NUM> that is a portion whose diameter is increased from that in a round rod-like body portion. The stopper rod <NUM> locks the locking section <NUM> from the inner side with respect to the side wall <NUM>, and thereby restricts outward movement in the right-left direction of the side frame <NUM> with respect to the center frame <NUM> at a predetermined position.

With the configuration as described so far, the distance in the width direction between the right and left travel sections <NUM> can be increased or reduced, and the expansion/compression operation of the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> switches between a state where the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM> is increased to open the right and left travel sections <NUM> and a state where the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM> is reduced to close the right and left travel sections <NUM>. Accordingly, in the excavation work machine <NUM>, the right and left travel sections <NUM>, <NUM> are provided to be movable with respect to the center frame <NUM> so as to change the distance therebetween.

Opening/closing of the right and left travel sections <NUM> is switched by using the operation tool, such as a variable leg operation lever, that is provided in the operation section <NUM> according to a work location by the excavation work machine <NUM>, and the like. Here, the excavation work machine <NUM> has a configuration of a small rear turning type such that, in the turning operation of the upper turning body 20A, a rear end of the turning base <NUM> fits into the width between the right and left travel sections <NUM> in the closed state.

In the excavation work machine <NUM> having the configuration as described so far, the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>, each of which is connected to respective one of the right and left travel motors <NUM>, vibrate due to vibration of the machine body during work or travel, or are deformed or move in association with opening/closing operation of the right and left travel sections <NUM>. As a configuration to limit a movement range of the hydraulic hose <NUM> against the vibration or the deformation/movement of each of the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>, the excavation work machine <NUM> has the following configuration.

That is, in the excavation work machine <NUM>, the center frame <NUM> includes: the rear wall <NUM> as a wall having the guide hole 53a, through which the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM> pass; and a hose guide <NUM> as a guide member that is located below the guide hole 53a, is located above the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>, and thereby restricts upward movement of each of the hydraulic hoses <NUM>.

In the rear wall <NUM>, the four hydraulic hoses <NUM> in a substantially transversely arranged state pass through respective one of the right and left guide holes 53a, each of which is formed as transversely long holes (see <FIG>). That is, a dimension in the up-down direction (a short direction) of the guide hole 53a is smaller than twice a diameter of the hydraulic hose <NUM>. Of the four hydraulic hoses <NUM>, portions located in the guide hole 53a and portions near and in front of/behind the guide hole 53a do not overlap each other vertically and are substantially arranged side-by-side in a lateral direction.

The hose guide <NUM> is a linear rod-like portion provided below and behind the guide hole 53a, and is provided at a predetermined position in such an orientation that the right-left direction is set as a longitudinal direction thereof. The hose guide <NUM> is provided by fixing a linear round rod-like member with a circular cross-sectional shape to a predetermined portion of the center frame <NUM>. For example, the hose guide <NUM> has an outer diameter dimension that is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the hydraulic hose <NUM>. In regard to the outer diameter of the hose guide <NUM>, from a perspective of suppressing the hydraulic hose <NUM> from getting caught on the hose guide <NUM>, the outer diameter dimension of the hose guide <NUM> is preferably larger than a winding pitch of the steel wire that is wound around an outer circumference of the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

In the up-down direction, the hose guide <NUM> is located below the guide hole 53a, which is formed in the upper portion of the rear wall <NUM>. In other words, a height position of an upper edge of the hose guide <NUM> is a lower position than an upper edge of the guide hole 53a. In addition, in the up-down direction, the hose guide <NUM> is located below a center position of the rear wall <NUM> in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, in the up-down direction, the height position of the upper edge of the hose guide <NUM> is about the same height as a lower edge of the guide hole 53a (see <FIG>).

In regard to the support configuration of the hose guide <NUM>, the center frame <NUM> has the following configuration. In other words, the center frame <NUM> has the right and left side walls <NUM> that form the rear space <NUM> as a disposition space for the hydraulic hoses <NUM>, and the hose guide <NUM> is hung between the right and left side walls <NUM>.

Both of right and left ends of the rod-shaped member, which constitutes the hose guide <NUM>, are fixed to inner wall surfaces 42e of the side walls <NUM> by welding. However, a structure of fixing the rod-shaped member, which constitutes the hose guide <NUM>, to the side walls <NUM> is not particularly limited, and a structure using a fixture such as a bolt or the like may be adopted. In addition, the rod-shaped member, which constitutes the hose guide <NUM>, is not limited to the round rod, but may be one with an oval transverse cross-sectional shape or a polygonal transverse cross-sectional shape such as a quadrilateral shape or a hexagonal shape.

In regard to the arrangement position of the hose guide <NUM>, the hose guide <NUM> is provided to an end of the center frame <NUM> on the extension side of the hydraulic hose <NUM>. In this embodiment, the extension side of the hydraulic hose <NUM> in the center frame <NUM> is the rear side, and the hose guide <NUM> is provided in the rear end of the center frame <NUM>.

More specifically, the hose guide <NUM> is supported at a position in an upper portion of the rear edge of each of the right and left side walls <NUM>, which support the hose guide <NUM>. That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the hose guide <NUM> is provided in a state of being supported at the position above the rearward projection piece 42c from the rear surface 52c of the second rear support prism section <NUM>.

In detail, an upper side of the rear edge of the side wall <NUM> is an inclined side portion that is inclined downward to the rear, and the hose guide <NUM> is located near a corner at an obtuse angle that is defined by this inclined side portion and a vertical side section constituting the projection piece 42c. The support position of the hose guide <NUM> is located above a rear upper corner of the second rear support prism section <NUM>. In the front-rear direction, such a support position of the hose guide <NUM> is located behind a rear end edge of the upper surface <NUM>.

In regard to the hose guide <NUM> that is provided in an upper portion of the rear edge of the rear space <NUM> in the center frame <NUM> as described so far, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A are routed in a mode of ducking under the hose guide <NUM>. In other words, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A run through a clearance between an upper rear corner of the second rear support prism section <NUM> and the hose guide <NUM>, and extends to the rear of the center frame <NUM>.

Accordingly, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A, each of which extends rearward from the guide hole 53a located at the higher position than the hose guide <NUM> in the up-down direction, are disposed to be inclined downward to the rear in the rear space <NUM>, duck under the hose guide <NUM>, expand outward in the right-left direction while being further inclined downward to the rear at positions behind the hose guide <NUM>, and are connected to the respective travel motors <NUM>. Just as described, in the front-rear direction, portions of the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM> behind the rear wall <NUM> are inclined downward to the rear. In a disposition portion of the hose guide <NUM>, the hose guide <NUM> is positioned above the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>.

According to the excavation work machine <NUM> of this embodiment having the configuration as described so far, in regard to the hydraulic hose <NUM> that extends from the center frame <NUM> side in the lower travel body 20B and is connected to the travel motor <NUM> in respective one of the right and left travel sections <NUM>, it is possible to limit the movement range of the hydraulic hose <NUM> by the simple configuration, and it is thus possible to suppress the damage to the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

In the excavation work machine <NUM>, the center frame <NUM> has: the rear wall <NUM> having the guide hole 53a, through which the hydraulic hose <NUM> passes; and the hose guide <NUM> located behind and below the rear wall <NUM>. According to such a configuration, since the hydraulic hose <NUM> contacts the hose guide <NUM>, the hydraulic hose <NUM> is restricted from moving above the hose guide <NUM>, and thus the hydraulic hose <NUM> can be restrained. In this way, in regard to the extending portion of the hydraulic hose <NUM> behind the rear wall <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the hydraulic hose <NUM> from moving above the guide hole 53a in association with the vibration of the machine body or the opening/closing operation of the right and left travel sections <NUM>.

In particular, since the hose guide <NUM> is provided at the lower position than the guide hole 53a, it is possible to effectively suppress the hydraulic hose <NUM> from moving above the guide hole 53a. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the damage to the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which occurs when the hydraulic hose <NUM> is projected and deformed in a manner to be bulged upward in association with the reduction in the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM> and then contacts the bottom surface of the upper turning body 20A, for example.

In addition, in the center frame <NUM>, the hose guide <NUM> can be provided as the linear rod-shaped portion, for example, by the simple configuration without changing the configurations of the right and left travel sections <NUM> and the like. In this way, as the component to restrict the upward movement of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which is connected to the travel motor <NUM>, the hose guide <NUM> can also easily be provided to the existing configuration.

In the excavation work machine <NUM> according to this embodiment, the right and left travel sections <NUM> have the configuration as the variable legs capable of changing the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>. In such a configuration, for example, in association with the reduction in the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, any of the hydraulic hoses <NUM> in each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A attempts to be deflected in a manner to be bulged upward with respect to the other hydraulic hoses <NUM>. However, due to presence of the rear wall <NUM> and the hose guide <NUM>, it is possible to limit the movement range of the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

In particular, since the hydraulic hose <NUM> runs through the clearance between the second rear support prism section <NUM> and the hose guide <NUM> and extends rearward, it is possible to suppress the upward or downward deflection of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which is caused by the reduction in the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>. In this way, it is possible to release the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A to the center side of the machine body.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the increased state of the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A is in a state of being gently expanded from the upper side to the lower side in the rear view. As illustrated in <FIG>, when the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM> is reduced from the state illustrated in <FIG>, it is possible to limit the vertical movement ranges of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A by the rear wall <NUM> and the hose guide <NUM>, and it is also possible to deflect the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A to be projected inward in the right-left direction, so as to be released to the center side of the machine body.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the reduced state of the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A are deflected to gather in the right-left central portion near the hose guide <NUM>, and are curved to define a so-called substantial X-shape. In other words, from the front to the rear, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A respectively extend from the right and left guide holes 53a, gradually advance to the right-left central portion side, come close to each other in the portion near the hose guide <NUM>, and thereafter extend toward the travel motors <NUM> in a mode of being folded outward in the right-left direction.

Just as described, the movement range of each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A in the up-down direction is limited. As a result, it is possible to suppress the hydraulic hose <NUM> from contacting the bottom surface of the upper turning body 20A, contacting the edge of the center frame <NUM>, and contacting an obstacle on the ground. Thus, it is possible to prevent the damage to the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

The hose guide <NUM> is provided in the rear end of the center frame <NUM>. With such a configuration, it is possible to expand an area where the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which is deflected in association with the reduction in the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, and the like, can be released. In other words, since the hose guide <NUM> is provided at the position away from the rear wall <NUM>, it is possible to expand the range where the movement of the hydraulic hose <NUM> caused by the deflection or the like can be limited, and it is thus possible to easily secure a space for allowing the deflection of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, the upward movement of which is limited by the hose guide <NUM>.

In particular, in this embodiment, as a portion that serves as the lower surface of the rear space <NUM>, through which the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM> extending rearward from the rear wall <NUM> pass, the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM>, into which the rear support legs <NUM> of the right and left side frames <NUM> are inserted and fitted to be supported, are arranged in the front-rear direction. With such a configuration, since the hose guide <NUM> can easily be provided at the position away from the rear wall <NUM> to the rear, it is possible to expand the range where the movement of the hydraulic hose <NUM> caused by the deflection or the like can be limited, and it is thus possible to effectively expand the area where the deflection of the hydraulic hose <NUM> can be released.

In addition, the hose guide <NUM> is provided in a state of being transversely hung between the right and left side walls <NUM> of the center frame <NUM>. With such a configuration, for example, when the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM> is increased, it is possible to prevent the hydraulic hose <NUM> from sticking out to the outside of the center frame <NUM> by the right and left side walls <NUM>. In this way, it is possible to protect the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the hose guide <NUM> is provided as the round rod-shaped portion. With such a configuration, since an edge can be removed from the hose guide <NUM>, with which the hydraulic hose <NUM> comes into contact, it is possible to suppress the damage to the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

In this embodiment, in the rear wall <NUM>, the guide hole 53a, through which the hydraulic hose <NUM> passes, is formed as the transversely long hole. With such a configuration, since the plural (four) hydraulic hoses <NUM>, which pass the respective guide hole 53a, can be arranged side by side, it is possible to reduce the vertical dimension of the center frame <NUM> and thus to make the machine body compact.

The hose guide <NUM> may have a fixture portion in a predetermined shape at each of the ends fixed to the right and left side walls <NUM>. More specifically, for example, as in a modified example illustrated in <FIG>, the hose guide <NUM> may have a bent section <NUM> in each of right and left ends, and the bent section <NUM> is a fixed to the side wall <NUM>.

The bent section <NUM> is a portion of the hose guide <NUM> that is bent rearward in a manner to define a right angle with a linear body portion 110a, and the body portion 110a is hung between the right and left side walls <NUM> along the right-left direction. The bent section <NUM> is the linear portion along the inner wall surface 42e of the side wall <NUM>. The bent section <NUM> is a portion that is fixed to the side wall <NUM> by welding. The hose guide <NUM>, which has the bent sections <NUM> on the right and left sides just as described, is constructed of the integral rod-shaped member, both ends of which are folded.

With such a configuration that the bent sections <NUM> are provided at the right and left ends of the hose guide <NUM>, just as described, it is possible to reliably fix the hose guide <NUM> to the right and left side walls <NUM>. However, the fixing structure of the bent section <NUM> to the side wall <NUM> is not particularly limited, and may be a structure using a fixture such as a bolt.

In this embodiment, the hose guide <NUM> is the linear rod-shaped portion. However, the shape of the hose guide <NUM> is not particularly limited. For example, the hose guide <NUM> may be a bent or curved rod-shaped portion or a bent or curved plate-shaped portion.

A description will be made on a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to <FIG>. Components that are common to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs, and the description thereon will appropriately be omitted. In this embodiment, a configuration to limit the movement range of the hydraulic hose <NUM> differs from that in the first embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the center frame <NUM> according to this embodiment has a hose guide section <NUM> as a hose guide and a plate-shaped guide plate section <NUM>.

Similar to the hose guide <NUM> according to the first embodiment, the hose guide section <NUM> is constructed of a linear rod-shaped member. Similar to the hose guide <NUM>, the hose guide section <NUM> is provided in a state of being located below the guide hole 53a of the rear wall <NUM> and being located between the right and left side walls <NUM> at the rear end of the center frame <NUM>.

The guide plate section <NUM> is provided in front of the hose guide section <NUM>, that is, the swivel joint <NUM> side, is located above the plural hydraulic hoses <NUM>, and thereby restricts the upward movement of the hydraulic hoses <NUM>. The guide plate section <NUM> is constructed of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member, and is provided to be located above the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A in the rear space <NUM>. In other words, each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A passes through a space below the guide plate section <NUM> and the hose guide section <NUM>, and extends rearward.

The guide plate section <NUM> is provided below the upper surface <NUM> and has an entirely flat surface. In the right-left direction, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided in the entire range between the right and left side walls <NUM>. In addition, a rear edge of the guide plate section <NUM> is brought close to the rear side of the rear wall <NUM>. In the front-rear direction, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided in the substantially entire range between the rear wall <NUM> and the hose guide section <NUM>. In the front-rear direction, the rear edge of the guide plate section <NUM> is located behind the rear end edge of the upper surface <NUM>.

The guide plate section <NUM> covers the entire recess 41a, which is formed in the rear portion of the upper surface <NUM>, from below. That is, the guide plate section <NUM> is large enough to encompass an entire formation portion of the recess 41a of the upper surface <NUM>, and is provided to seal the entire recess 41a of the upper surface <NUM> from below in the plan view.

The guide plate section <NUM> is provided to be inclined downward to the rear. The inclination of the guide plate section <NUM> is such an inclination that follows the downward and rearward inclination of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which extends rearward from the guide hole 53a and ducks under the hose guide section <NUM>. In other words, the guide plate section <NUM> is inclined rearward in a manner to correspond to a height relationship between the guide hole 53a and the hose guide section <NUM>. An inclination angle in the front-rear direction of the guide plate section <NUM> with respect to the horizontal direction is approximately <NUM>°, for example.

In the up-down direction, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided to cover the entire or substantially entire guide hole 53a of the rear wall <NUM> in the back view. In other words, in the up-down direction, a front edge end of the guide plate section <NUM>, which is provided to be inclined rearward as described above, is located higher than the upper edge of the guide hole 53a, and the rear edge thereof is located in the substantially same height as the lower edge of the guide hole 53a. The guide plate section <NUM> is provided in a state where the front edge as an upper edge thereof is located below the upper surface <NUM> and the entire guide plate section <NUM> is separated from the upper surface <NUM> with a space being interposed therebetween.

As illustrated in <FIG>, together with the hose guide section <NUM>, the guide plate section <NUM> constitutes an integral guide member <NUM>. In the guide member <NUM>, the hose guide section <NUM> is provided by fixing a straight round rod-shaped member, which has a circular transverse cross-sectional shape, to the rear end edge of the plate-shaped member constituting the guide plate section <NUM> by welding.

For example, the hose guide section <NUM> has substantially the same outer diameter dimension as the hydraulic hose <NUM>. A thickness (plate thickness) of the guide plate section <NUM> is less than the diameter of the hose guide section <NUM>. The thickness of the guide plate section <NUM> is about <NUM>/<NUM> of the diameter of the hose guide section <NUM>, for example. In the side view, in regard to the guide plate section <NUM>, the hose guide section <NUM> is provided to locate the upper edge end thereof on an extension line of an upper surface 220a of the guide plate section <NUM> to the rear.

The hose guide section <NUM> and the guide plate section <NUM> have substantially the same length in the right-left direction. The length in the right-left direction of each of the hose guide section <NUM> and the guide plate section <NUM> is substantially the same dimension as the dimension between the right and left side walls <NUM>.

The guide member <NUM> is attached to the center frame <NUM> by fixing the guide plate section <NUM> to the right and left side walls <NUM>. The guide plate section <NUM> has a bent surface <NUM> on each of right and left edges, and the bent surface <NUM> is a fixed portion to respective one of the right and left side walls <NUM>.

The bent surface <NUM> is a portion that is bent downward from a flat body surface <NUM> of the guide plate section <NUM> in a manner to define a right angle with the body surface <NUM>. The bent surface <NUM> is a planar portion along the inner wall surface 42e of the side wall <NUM> and is a narrower portion than the body surface <NUM>. The guide plate section <NUM>, which has the bent surface <NUM> on each of the right and left sides just as described, is constructed of an integral plate-shaped member, both edges of which are folded. In the guide plate section <NUM>, a lower surface 221a of the body surface <NUM> is a surface on the disposition side of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, and is a surface with which the hydraulic hose <NUM> comes into contact when the hydraulic hose <NUM> is deflected upward.

The guide plate section <NUM> is fixed to the side wall <NUM> by a fixing bolt <NUM>, which is inserted in the side wall <NUM> and screwed thereto from the outside in the right-left direction of the side wall <NUM> in a state where each of the right and left bent surfaces <NUM> is superposed on respective one of the right and left side walls <NUM> from the inner wall surface 42e side. Two fixing portions by the fixing bolts <NUM> are provided longitudinally for each of the right and left bent surfaces <NUM>. Each of the bent surfaces <NUM> is formed with holes 222a, through each of which the fixing bolt <NUM> is inserted, at two positions in the front-rear direction. In addition, in each of the right and left side walls <NUM>, two holes (not illustrated), through each of which the fixing bolt <NUM> is inserted, are formed in the front-rear direction at positions corresponding to the holes 222a.

The fixing bolt <NUM> is inserted through the side wall <NUM> and the bent surface <NUM>, and is screwed into a nut <NUM> that is located on the inner side of the bent surface <NUM>. The nut <NUM> may be a portion that is provided by fixing a nut-like member to an inner surface of the bent surface <NUM> by welding or the like, or may be a separate member from the bent surface <NUM>.

Since the guide plate section <NUM> is fixed to the right and left side walls <NUM>, just as described, the integral guide member <NUM> is attached to the center frame <NUM>. As a part of the guide member <NUM>, the hose guide section <NUM> is provided with the guide plate section <NUM>, and is not directly fixed to the right and left side walls <NUM>.

In the configuration that the guide plate section <NUM> has the right and left bent surfaces <NUM>, a portion, to which the rod-shaped member constituting the hose guide section <NUM> is welded, in the plate-shaped member constituting the guide plate section <NUM> is at least one of a rear edge of the body surface <NUM> and upper portions of rear edges of the right and left bent surfaces <NUM>. In other words, the rod-shaped member constituting the hose guide section <NUM> is welded to one or both of a portion of the body surface <NUM> and a portion of the bent surface <NUM> in the guide plate section <NUM>.

According to the excavation work machine <NUM> of this embodiment having the configuration as described so far, it is possible to effectively limit the movement range of the hydraulic hose <NUM> and thus to suppress the damage to the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

Since the center frame <NUM> has the hose guide section <NUM> and the guide plate section <NUM>, the hose guide section <NUM> and the guide plate section <NUM> restrict the upward movement of the hydraulic hose <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to constrain the hydraulic hose <NUM>. In this way, in regard to the rearward extending portion of the hydraulic hose <NUM> from the rear wall <NUM>, it is possible to reliably suppress the upward deflection of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which is associated with the vibration of the machine body or the opening/closing operation of the right and left travel sections <NUM>, and it is thus possible to effectively protect the hydraulic hose <NUM>.

Each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90Apasses through a space between a pair of the first rear support prism section <NUM> and the second rear support prism section <NUM> and a pair of the guide plate section <NUM> and the hose guide section <NUM>, and extends rearward. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively suppress the upward or downward deflection of the hydraulic hose <NUM>, which occurs by the reduction in the distance between the right and left travel sections <NUM>, and it is thus possible to reliably release the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A to the center side of the machine body.

Since the center frame <NUM> has the guide plate section <NUM>, the guide plate section <NUM> can cover the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A from above. Thus, it is possible to protect the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A against dirt, a stone, rainwater, and the like from the outside. In particular, in this embodiment, since upper, lower, right, and left sides of the rear space <NUM> are covered with the first rear support prism section <NUM>, the second rear support prism section <NUM>, the right and left side walls <NUM>, the upper surface <NUM>, and the guide plate section <NUM>, it is possible to effectively protect the portion of the hydraulic hose <NUM> that is located in the rear space <NUM>.

Since, together with the hose guide section <NUM>, the guide plate section <NUM> is configured as the integral guide member <NUM>, it is possible to easy attach/detach the guide member <NUM> to/from the center frame <NUM>. Accordingly, maintenance of the hydraulic hose <NUM> and the like can easily be performed.

Since, together with the hose guide section <NUM>, the guide plate section <NUM> is configured as the integral guide member <NUM>, there is no need to perform welding and the like for the hose guide section <NUM>, and thus the hose guide section <NUM> can easily be provided.

Since the guide plate section <NUM> is provided, in the center frame <NUM>, the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A can be covered from above. In this way, it is possible to reduce the portion of each of the right and left hydraulic hose groups 90A that is exposed to the outside, and it is thus possible to improve design of external appearance of the excavation work machine <NUM>.

The guide plate section <NUM> is provided to be inclined downward to the rear. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress rainwater, water for washing the machine body, the dirt, or the like from being accumulated on the guide plate section <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the rod-shaped member, which constitutes the hose guide section <NUM>, and the plate-shaped member, which constitutes the guide plate section <NUM>, are fixed to each other by welding. However, these members may be fixed by a method other than welding. In addition, in this embodiment, together with the hose guide section <NUM>, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided by the integral guide member <NUM>. However, the configuration of the hose guide section <NUM> and the guide plate section <NUM> is not limited to such a configuration. It may be configured that the guide plate section <NUM> and the hose guide section <NUM> are fixed as mutually separate components to the right and left side walls <NUM>, and the like.

In this embodiment, the right and left side walls <NUM> are the fixed portions of the guide member <NUM> in the center frame <NUM>. However, portions other than the side walls <NUM> may be used as the fixed portions of the guide member <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided to be inclined rearward. However, the guide plate section <NUM> may be provided horizontally, or may be provided to be inclined forward, for example. In this embodiment, the guide plate section <NUM> is provided below the upper surface <NUM>. However, but the guide plate section <NUM> may be provided above the upper surface <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A construction machine (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper unit (20A); and
a lower travel body (20B) that supports the upper unit (20A),
wherein
the lower travel body (20B) has:
a center frame (<NUM>) that supports the upper unit (20A);
a side frame (<NUM>) that is provided on both of right and left sides of the center frame (<NUM>) to support a travel motor (<NUM>) and constitutes a crawler-type travel section (<NUM>), around which a crawler track (<NUM>) is wound via plural rolling bodies; and
plural hydraulic hoses (<NUM>), one end side of each of which is connected to a swivel joint (<NUM>) provided to the center frame (<NUM>), and the other end side of each of which is connected to the travel motor (<NUM>), and
the center frame (<NUM>) includes:
a wall (<NUM>) having an opening (53a), through which the hydraulic hoses (<NUM>) pass; and
a hose guide (<NUM>) that is located below the opening (53a), located above the hydraulic hoses (<NUM>), and thereby restricts upward movement of the hydraulic hoses (<NUM>), characterized in that
the center frame (<NUM>) has right and left side walls (<NUM>) that form a disposition space for the hydraulic hoses (<NUM>), and
the hose guide (<NUM>) is hung between the right and left side walls (<NUM>).