Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an example of an electric work vehicle. <CIT> states that a transmission case that houses a transmission for travel is provided at a rear portion of the work vehicle, and a motor is connected to a front portion of the transmission case. A battery is provided at a portion slightly higher than front wheels (each of which corresponds to travel devices) in a front portion of the work vehicle.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose examples of related art.

<CIT> discloses a work vehicle comprising:.

In the case of providing an inverter for operating the motor in a work vehicle, there is a demand for compactly providing the inverter in the work vehicle. The present invention aims to configure a work vehicle such that an inverter can be compactly provided in the work vehicle.

A work vehicle according to a first aspect all of the present invention includes:.

According to the present invention, the battery is forward of the operation section, the inverter is between the battery and the operation section, and the battery and the inverter are next to each other in the front-back direction. This enables the inverter to be compactly provided in the work vehicle.

According to the present invention, the inverter is near the battery, making it possible to shorten a harness between the inverter and the battery. This can simplify the harness between the inverter and the battery.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the work vehicle further includes: a steering wheel configured to operate the travel device and located at a front portion of the operation section; and a steering shaft configured to operate the travel device and extending downward from the steering wheel, wherein the inverter is between the battery and the steering shaft in a side view.

A work vehicle is often configured such that a steering wheel is at a front portion of the operation section and a steering shaft extends downward from the steering wheel, and travel devices, such as front wheels, are steered by the steering wheel.

According to this advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the steering wheel and the steering shaft are rearward of the battery, and the inverter is between the battery and the steering shaft. This allows the inverter to be compactly provided in the work vehicle with effective use of a space between the battery and the steering shaft.

In the present invention, the inverter extends in an up-down direction in a side view and extends in a left-right direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the work vehicle in a plan view.

An inverter is often constituted by a rectangular case housing various devices.

According to the present invention, the inverter extends in the up-down direction in a side view and extends in the left-right direction in a plan view, thereby enabling the inverter to extend along a rear portion of the battery. Thus, the inverter can be close to the rear portion of the battery, which is advantageous in terms of compactly providing the inverter in the work vehicle.

In the present invention, the work vehicle further includes a pillar frame having a left section extending in the up-down direction, a right section extending in the up-down direction, and an upper section extending between an upper portion of the left section and an upper portion of the right section, wherein the pillar frame is between the battery and the operation section in a side view, and the inverter is between the left section and the right section and below the upper section in a front view and the inverter is inward of a region surrounded by the pillar frame.

According to the present invention, the pillar frame is between the battery and the operation section, the inverter is between the left section and the right section of the pillar frame, below the upper section of the pillar frame, and inward of the pillar frame. This enables the inverter to be provided with effective use of a region inward of the pillar frame, which is advantageous in terms of compactly providing the inverter in the work vehicle.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the motor is below the inverter.

to this advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the motor is below the inverter and at a relatively low position, allowing the work vehicle to have a lower center of gravity. This can improve the traveling stability of the work vehicle.

A work vehicle according to a further aspect of the present invention includes: a work device;
a travel device; a battery; a motor; an inverter configured to operate the motor; an operation section including an operator seat; and a transmission case housing a transmission for travel, wherein the motor, the transmission, and the travel device are configured such that motive power from the motor is transmitted to the transmission and transmitted from the transmission to the travel device, the transmission case is below the operator seat in the operation section, and the inverter is between the operator seat and the transmission case in a side view.

In the work vehicle, the transmission case is below the operator seat in the operation section, and therefore a relatively large space is likely to be created between the operator seat and the transmission case. According to the present invention, the inverter can be provided with effective use of the space between the operator seat and the transmission case by providing the inverter between the operator seat and the transmission case. Thus, the inverter can be compactly provided in the work vehicle. According to the present invention, work on the inverter can be easily performed by, for example, removing the operator seat, thus improving the maintainability of the inverter.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the inverter extends in a horizontal direction.

According to the present invention, the inverter can be easily provided between the operator seat and the transmission case by providing the inverter in the horizontal direction, which is advantageous in terms of compactly providing the inverter in the work vehicle.

In the present invention, the motor is between the operator seat and the transmission case in a side view.

According to the present invention, the motor is located relatively far rearward from the center of the work vehicle in the front-back direction. This makes it easier for the motor to function as a balance weight while a work device with a relatively large weight is supported by the front portion of the work vehicle. This enables the work vehicle to have a good front-back balance during work travel with a work device having a relatively large weight supported by the front portion of the work vehicle.

According to the invention, the motor can be relatively easily provided with effective use of the space between the operator seat and the transmission case, and the support structure of the motor can be configured relatively easily thus simplifying the support structure of the motor.

According to the present invention, the motor is near the inverter, making it possible to shorten a harness between the inverter and the motor. This can simplify the harness between the inverter and the motor. According to the present invention, work on the motor can be easily performed by, for example, removing the operator seat, thus improving the maintainability of the motor.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the work vehicle further includes: a link mechanism disposed on the transmission case, configured to be raised and lowered, and joined to the work device; a hydraulic cylinder disposed on the transmission case and configured to raise and lower the link mechanism; a hydraulic pump configured to supply hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder; and a pump motor configured to drive the hydraulic pump, wherein the motor, the transmission, and the travel device are configured such that motive power from the motor is transmitted to the transmission and transmitted from the transmission to the travel device, the transmission case is below the operator seat, and the pump motor is between the operator seat and the transmission case in a side view.

In a work vehicle according to this advantageous embodiment, where a link mechanism is disposed on the transmission case such that the link mechanism can be raised and lowered, and a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the link mechanism and a hydraulic pump for supplying hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder are disposed on the transmission case. With this, the work device can be joined to the link mechanism and raised and lowered by raising and lowering the link mechanism with use of the hydraulic cylinder.

In the work vehicle, if the transmission case is below the operator seat in the operation section, a relatively large space is likely to be created between the operator seat and the transmission case.

According to the present invention, in the case of providing the pump motor for driving the hydraulic pump, the pump motor can be provided relatively easily by effectively using the space between the operator seat and the transmission case. This enables the support structure for the pump motor to be configured relatively easily, and simplification of the support structure for the pump motor can be achieved.

According to the present invention, the pump motor is between the operator seat and the transmission case, and thus the pump motor is near the hydraulic pump. This can simplify the structure for driving the hydraulic pump with use of the pump motor.

According to the present invention, work on the pump motor can be easily performed by, for example, removing the operator seat, thus improving the maintainability of the pump motor.

<FIG> show electric tractors, each of which is an example of a work vehicle. In <FIG>, F indicates the forward direction, B indicates the rearward direction, U indicates the upward direction, D indicates the downward direction, R indicates the rightward direction, and L indicates the leftward direction.

As shown in <FIG>, left and right front wheels <NUM> (each of which corresponds to a front travel device) and left and right rear wheels <NUM> (each of which corresponds to a rear travel device) support a body <NUM> of the tractor. A hood <NUM> is provided at a front portion of the body <NUM>, and an operation section <NUM> is provided at a rear portion of the body <NUM>. The operation section <NUM> includes a steering wheel <NUM> for steering the front wheels <NUM>, an operator seat <NUM>, a floor <NUM>, and a ROPS frame <NUM>.

The body <NUM> has left and right body frames <NUM>, a transmission case <NUM>, and so on. The transmission case <NUM> has a front case <NUM> and a rear case <NUM> that are joined to each other. The left and right body frames <NUM> are connected to the transmission case <NUM> and extend in the front-back direction below the operation section <NUM> (floor <NUM>). The transmission case <NUM> is located below the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM>.

A front axle case <NUM> is supported by front portions of the body frames <NUM>, and supports the left and right front wheels <NUM>. The transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>) supports the left and right rear wheels <NUM>.

A top link <NUM> (which corresponds to a link mechanism) and left and right lower links <NUM> (each of which corresponds to a link mechanism) are provided at a rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>) in such a manner as to be swingable in the up-down direction. The top link <NUM> and the lower links <NUM> can be joined to a work device (not shown), such as a rotary cultivator.

Left and right lift arms <NUM> are provided at the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>), and a connecting rod <NUM> is connected to the lift arms <NUM> and the lower links <NUM>. The top link <NUM> and the lower links <NUM> are raised and lowered and the work device is raised and lowered by swinging the lift arms <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a pillar frame <NUM> is provided on the body frames <NUM> between the front wheels <NUM> and the operation section <NUM> (rear wheels <NUM>). The pillar frame <NUM> is constituted by a folded plate material and has a right section 19a, a left section 19b, an upper section 19c, and a rear section 19d.

The rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM> is flat and extends in the up-down direction and the left-right direction. The right section 19a of the pillar frame <NUM> is formed by bending forward a right portion of the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM>, and extends in the up-down direction and the front-back direction. The left section 19b of the pillar frame <NUM> is formed by bending forward a left portion of the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM>, and extends in the up-down direction and the front-back direction.

The upper section 19c of the pillar frame <NUM> is formed by bending forward an upper portion of the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM>, and extends in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. The upper section 19c of the pillar frame <NUM> extends between upper portions of the right section 19a and the left section 19b of the pillar frame <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the hood <NUM> is supported such that the hood <NUM> is openable and closable about a fulcrum in the left-right direction of the upper section 19c of the pillar frame <NUM>, and can be operated from a closed position shown in <FIG> to an open position above the closed position.

A power steering mechanism <NUM> is provided below a rear face portion of the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM>. A steering post <NUM> is attached to the power steering mechanism <NUM> and extends upward from the power steering mechanism <NUM>. A steering wheel <NUM> is supported by an upper portion of the steering post <NUM>, and a steering shaft <NUM> is connected to the steering wheel <NUM> and the power steering mechanism <NUM>.

In response to the steering wheel <NUM> being rotated, the rotation of the steering wheel <NUM> is transmitted to the power steering mechanism <NUM> via the steering shaft <NUM>, and the power steering mechanism <NUM> steers the front wheels <NUM> to the left and right.

With the above configuration, the steering wheel <NUM> for operating the front wheels <NUM> (front travel devices) is provided at a front portion of the operation section <NUM>, and the steering shaft <NUM> for operating the front wheels <NUM> (front travel devices) extends downward from the steering wheel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

A support platform <NUM> is attached to front upper portions of the left and right body frames <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. An inverter <NUM>, which is provided on the support platform <NUM>, has a rectangular case with a small dimension (dimension in the front-back direction) that houses various types of equipment.

The inverter <NUM> extends in the up-down direction in a side view and extends in the left-right direction in a plan view (front view), and is attached to a rear portion of the support platform <NUM> so as to be in contact with a front face portion of the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the tractor has a battery <NUM>, which is constituted by multiple pairs of stacks (not shown) of connected battery modules (not shown) that are housed in a rectangular-parallelepiped case. The battery <NUM> is attached to the support platform <NUM>, and the hood <NUM> at the closed position covers the inverter <NUM> and the battery <NUM>. Maintenance work for the inverter <NUM> and the battery <NUM> can be performed by opening the hood <NUM>.

With the above configuration, the inverter <NUM> is provided between the right section 19a and the left section 19b of the pillar frame <NUM> in a front view and overlaps the right section 19a and the left section 19b of the pillar frame <NUM> in a side view, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The inverter <NUM> is provided below the upper section 19c of the pillar frame <NUM> in a front view and overlaps the upper section 19c of the pillar frame <NUM> in a plan view.

The battery <NUM> is provided forward of the operation section <NUM>, and the inverter <NUM> is provided between the battery <NUM> and the operation section <NUM> in a side view. The inverter <NUM> is provided between the battery <NUM> and the steering shaft <NUM> in a side view.

The pillar frame <NUM> is provided between the battery <NUM> and the operation section <NUM> in a side view, and the inverter <NUM> is provided between the battery <NUM> and the rear section 19d of the pillar frame <NUM> in a side view.

Left and right mounting brackets <NUM> are joined to inner faces of the left and right body frames <NUM>, and left and right portions of a motor <NUM> are joined to the left and right mounting brackets <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The inverter <NUM> converts DC power from the battery <NUM> to AC power and supplies the AC power to the motor <NUM> to operate the motor <NUM>. Motive power from the motor <NUM> is supplied to the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

With the above configuration, the motor <NUM> is provided between the front wheels <NUM> (front travel devices) and the rear wheels <NUM> (rear travel devices) and below the steering wheel <NUM> in a side view, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The left body frame <NUM> and the right body frame <NUM> are disposed in the front-back direction below the operation section <NUM> (floor <NUM>), and the motor <NUM> is provided between the left body frame <NUM> and the right body frame <NUM> in a plan view (front view).

The motor <NUM> is provided below the pillar frame <NUM>, the power steering mechanism <NUM>, the inverter <NUM>, and the rear portion of the battery <NUM> in a side view. The pillar frame <NUM>, the power steering mechanism <NUM>, and the inverter <NUM> are provided above the motor <NUM> in a side view.

A hydrostatic continuously variable transmission <NUM> (which corresponds to a transmission for travel) is housed within the front case <NUM> of the transmission case <NUM>, and motive power from the motor <NUM> is transmitted via a transmission shaft <NUM> to the continuously variable transmission <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The continuously variable transmission <NUM> is capable of steplessly changing forward and backward and is operated by a gearshift pedal (not shown) on the floor <NUM> of the operation section <NUM>.

An auxiliary transmission <NUM> (which corresponds to a transmission for travel), a rear wheel differential device <NUM>, and a front wheel transmission <NUM> (which corresponds to a transmission for travel) are housed within the rear case <NUM> of the transmission case <NUM>. Motive power subjected to speed change by the continuously variable transmission <NUM> is transmitted to the auxiliary transmission <NUM>, and is then transmitted from the auxiliary transmission <NUM> to the rear wheels <NUM> via the rear wheel differential device <NUM>.

Motive power diverted from between the auxiliary transmission <NUM> and the rear wheel differential device <NUM> is transmitted to the front wheel transmission <NUM>, then transmitted from the front wheel transmission <NUM> via the transmission shaft <NUM> to the front wheel differential device <NUM> housed within the front axle case <NUM>, and is transmitted from the front wheel differential device <NUM> to the front wheels <NUM>.

The front wheel transmission <NUM> drives the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM> at the same speed while the front wheels <NUM> are operated within the range of left and right set angles from a straight-ahead position. The front wheel transmission <NUM> drives the front wheels <NUM> at a higher speed than the rear wheels <NUM> while the front wheels <NUM> are steered leftward or rightward beyond the left and right setting angles.

With the above configuration, the tractor has the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) that houses the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), the auxiliary transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), and the front wheel transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), as shown in <FIG>.

Motive power from the motor <NUM> is transmitted via the transmission shaft <NUM> to the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), the auxiliary transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), and the front wheel transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), and is then transmitted from the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), the auxiliary transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel), and the front wheel transmission <NUM> (transmission for travel) to the front wheels <NUM> (travel devices) and the rear wheels <NUM> (travel devices).

A PTO transmission <NUM> is housed within the rear case <NUM> of the transmission case <NUM>, and a PTO shaft <NUM> is provided at a rear portion of the rear case <NUM> of the transmission case <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. A transmission shaft (not shown) is connected to the PTO shaft <NUM> and the work device in response to the work device being joined to the top link <NUM> and the lower links <NUM>.

While motive power from the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the continuously variable transmission <NUM> via the transmission shaft <NUM>, motive power from the transmission shaft <NUM> (motive power that is not subjected to speed change by the continuously variable transmission <NUM>) is transmitted to the PTO transmission <NUM>, and motive power subjected to speed change by the PTO transmission <NUM> is transmitted to the PTO shaft <NUM> and then transmitted from the PTO shaft <NUM> to the work device.

A single-acting hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is provided above the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>), and the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> raises and lowers the lift arm <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

A hydraulic pump <NUM> and a control valve <NUM> are provided within the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>). Lubricating oil that serves as hydraulic oil and stored in the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>) is supplied to the hydraulic pump <NUM>, and is then supplied from the hydraulic pump <NUM> to the control valve <NUM>.

A pump motor <NUM> is provided above the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>) and drives the hydraulic pump <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> converts DC power from the battery <NUM> to AC power and supplies the AC power to the pump motor <NUM> to operate the pump motor <NUM>.

Operations to supply and discharge the hydraulic oil to and from the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> are performed from the control valve <NUM>, and the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> raises and lowers the lift arm <NUM>. The hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> is returned from control valve <NUM> to the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>).

With the above configuration, the hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, which raises and lowers the top link <NUM> (link mechanism) and the lower links <NUM> (link mechanism) to which the work device is joined, and the hydraulic pump <NUM>, which supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, are provided in the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>), as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The pump motor <NUM>, which drives the hydraulic pump <NUM>, is located between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (rear case <NUM>) in a side view.

In the configuration shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the motor <NUM> may be joined to the support platform <NUM> and supported by the body <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may be joined to the pillar frame <NUM> and supported by the body <NUM>.

In the configuration shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inverter <NUM> may be joined to the pillar frame <NUM> and supported by the body <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> may be provided between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) in a side view, as shown in <FIG>, which will be described later.

If the battery <NUM> is provided forward of the operation section <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the inverter <NUM> may be provided forward of the battery <NUM>.

According to the configuration shown in <FIG>, the inverter <NUM> extends in the up-down direction in a side view and extends in the left-right direction in a plan view (front view), and is provided between a front portion of the hood <NUM> and a front portion of the battery <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> may be provided above the front axle case <NUM> (front wheels <NUM> (front travel devices)) in a side view, as shown in <FIG>.

According to the configuration shown in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> is provided below the front portion of the battery <NUM>, and the position of the motor <NUM> is slightly higher. Thus, another support platform <NUM> need only be provided to the support platform <NUM> such that the battery <NUM> is attached to the support platform <NUM> to make the position of the battery <NUM> slightly higher.

In the configuration shown in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> may be joined to the support platform <NUM> and supported by the body <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> may be provided forward of the battery <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The inverter <NUM> may be provided between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) in a side view, as shown in <FIG>, which will be described later.

The motor <NUM> may be provided forward of the front axle case <NUM> (front wheels <NUM> (front travel devices)) in a side view, as shown in <FIG>.

According to the configuration shown in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> is located at a lower position. Thus, a transmission mechanism <NUM> of a gear transmission type need only be attached to a portion of an output shaft (not shown) of the motor <NUM> in such a manner as to extend upward from the motor <NUM>. The transmission shaft <NUM> need only be connected to an output shaft (not shown) at an upper portion of the transmission mechanism <NUM> and the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (see <FIG>) such that the transmission shaft <NUM> extends in the front-back direction above the front axle case <NUM>.

Motive power from the output shaft of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the transmission mechanism <NUM>, then transmitted the output shaft at the upper portion of transmission mechanism <NUM> to the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (see <FIG>) via the transmission shaft <NUM>, and is transmitted to the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, if the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) is provided below the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM>, the motor <NUM> may be attached to the upper portion of the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) and provided between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) in a side view.

The inverter <NUM> may be provided between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) in a side view by attaching the inverter <NUM> to a support frame <NUM> that is provided in the operation section <NUM> to support the operator seat <NUM>.

In the configuration shown in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> need only be attached to the upper portion of the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) such that an output shaft (not shown) of the motor <NUM> faces forward, and a transmission mechanism <NUM> of a gear transmission type need only be attached to the output shaft of the motor <NUM> and a forward-facing input shaft (not shown) of the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Motive power from the output shaft of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the transmission mechanism <NUM>, then transmitted from an output shaft (not shown) at a lower portion of the transmission mechanism <NUM> to the continuously variable transmission <NUM> (see <FIG>), and is transmitted to the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM>.

In the configuration shown in <FIG>, the inverter <NUM> is supported in a suspended manner by a lower portion of the support frame <NUM> and extends in the horizontal direction. The inverter <NUM> is disposed at a position upward of and away from the motor <NUM> and the pump motor <NUM>, and is disposed at a position upward of and away from the upper portion of the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>).

If the motor <NUM> is provided between the operator seat <NUM> in the operation section <NUM> and the transmission case <NUM> (front case <NUM> and rear case <NUM>) in a side view, as shown in <FIG>, the inverter <NUM> may be provided rearward of the battery <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The inverter <NUM> may be provided forward of the battery <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

A work motor <NUM> may be provided on the left and right lower links <NUM> (link mechanism), as shown in <FIG>.

According to the configuration shown in <FIG>, with the work device joined to the top link <NUM> and the lower links <NUM>, a transmission shaft (not shown) is connected to the work motor <NUM> and the work device. The inverter <NUM> converts DC power from the battery <NUM> to AC power, which is supplied to the work motor <NUM> to operate the work motor <NUM>, and motive power from the work motor <NUM> is transmitted to the work device.

In the configuration shown in <FIG>, the PTO transmission <NUM> and the PTO shaft <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be eliminated. The work motor <NUM> may be provided on the top link <NUM> (link mechanism).

The tractor may have a four-wheel steering structure in which the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM> are steered in the same and opposite phases by the steering wheel <NUM>.

Crawler-type travel devices (not shown) may be provided instead of the front wheels <NUM> as the front travel devices. Crawler-type travel devices (not shown) may be provided instead of the rear wheels <NUM> as the rear travel devices. One crawler-type travel device (not shown) may be provided instead of the front wheels <NUM> and the rear wheels <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A work vehicle comprising:
a work device;
a travel device (<NUM>,<NUM>);
a battery (<NUM>);
a motor (<NUM>) configured to supply motive power to the travel device;
an inverter (<NUM>) configured to operate the motor;
a transmission case (<NUM>) housing a transmission for travel (<NUM>);
an operation section (<NUM>) including an operator seat (<NUM>), and
a pillar frame (<NUM>) having a left section (19b) extending in the up-down direction, a right section (19a) extending in the up-down direction, and an upper section (19c) extending between an upper portion of the left section and an upper portion of the right section,
wherein the battery is forward of the operation section,
the inverter is between the battery and the operation section in a side view,
the inverter (<NUM>) extends in an up-down direction in a side view and extends in a left-right direction perpendicular to a forward direction of the work vehicle in a plan view, and
wherein the pillar frame is between the battery (<NUM>) and the operation section (<NUM>) in a side view, and
the inverter (<NUM>) is between the left section and the right section and below the upper section in a front view and the inverter (<NUM>) is inward of a region surrounded by the pillar frame (<NUM>).