Patent Description:
Conventionally, a work vehicle (such as a wheel loader or a forklift) is provided with a pump (such as a hydraulic fluid pump or a fuel pump) for discharging a fluid and a filter device for filtering the fluid. The filter device is attached to the vehicle body.

A pulsation when the pump discharges the fluid is transmitted not only as noise to an operator sitting in the operator's seat due to solid propagation from the filter device through the vehicle body to the operator's seat, but also is transmitted as noise outside the work vehicle due to air-borne propagation of the pulsation of the filter device itself.

Accordingly, <CIT> proposes a method for suppressing noise caused by the pulsation of the pump by interposing an elastic member between a bracket attached to the vehicle body frame and the filter device attached to the bracket. <CIT> discloses the features of the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

However, further improvement is desired in the method of <CIT> since the elastic member is likely to be partially compressed and unable to sufficiently suppress the noise.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filter attachment body that can suppress noise caused by pulsation of a pump, and to provide a work vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a filter attachment body is attachable to a vehicle body of a work vehicle provided with a pump. The filter attachment body comprises a bracket attachable to the vehicle body, a filter device attached to the bracket, and a plurality of elastic members interposed between the bracket and the filter device. The bracket has an attachment plate to which the filter device is attached. The attachment plate is disposed substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction. The filter device has a filter case connected to the pump, and a filter body attached to the filter case. A geometric center of the filter body overlaps a figure drawn by linking each of the plurality of elastic members with straight lines when viewed from a top view of the attachment plate. At least one elastic member among the plurality of elastic members is located outside of the filter body when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate.

According to a preferred embodiment, the filter attachment body further comprises a plurality of first coupling members that couple the bracket and the filter device via the plurality of elastic members, wherein each of the plurality of elastic members has a first elastic part disposed between the bracket and the filter device and a second elastic part disposed between the bracket and the first coupling member.

According to a preferred embodiment, the filter device has a plate disposed between the attachment plate and the filter case, and a plurality of second coupling members that couple the plate and the filter case, and the plurality of second elastic parts is located inside of the filter body when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate.

According to a preferred embodiment, a center of gravity of the filter device overlaps the figure when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate.

According to a preferred embodiment, the figure is a figure drawn by linking respective geometric centers of the plurality of elastic members with straight lines.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a filter attachment body attachable to a vehicle body of a work vehicle provided with a pump, the filter attachment body comprises: a bracket attachable to the vehicle body; a filter device attached to the bracket; and a plurality of elastic members interposed between the bracket and the filter device; a plurality of first coupling members that couple the bracket and the filter device via the plurality of elastic members, wherein each of the plurality of elastic members has a first elastic part disposed between the bracket and the filter device and a second elastic part disposed between the bracket and the first coupling member; the bracket having an attachment plate to which the filter device is attached, the attachment plate being disposed substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction, the filter device having a filter case connected to the pump, and a filter body attached to the filter case, wherein a geometric center of the filter body overlaps a figure drawn by linking each of the plurality of elastic members with straight lines when viewed from a top view of the attachment plate, wherein at least a portion of at least one elastic member among the plurality of elastic members is located outside of the filter body when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate, wherein the filter device has a plate disposed between the attachment plate and the filter case, and a plurality of second coupling members that couple the plate and the filter case, and the plurality of second elastic parts is located inside of the filter body when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a work vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a work implement attached to the vehicle body, a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the work implement, and the filter attachment body described in any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to the present invention, there are provided a filter attachment body that can suppress noise caused by pulsation of a pump, and a work vehicle.

A wheel loader <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. The wheel loader <NUM> is an example of a "work vehicle" according to the present invention. In the following explanations, "up," "down," "front," "rear," "left," and "right" indicate directions relative to the state of looking forward from the driver's seat. The "front-back direction" signifies the front-back direction of the vehicle. The "vehicle width direction" signifies the left-right direction of the vehicle. The "up-down direction" signifies the vertical direction of the vehicle and a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction. The "up-down direction" may not coincide with the vertical direction.

<FIG> is a side view of a configuration of the wheel loader <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The wheel loader <NUM> is provided with a vehicle body frame <NUM>, a work implement <NUM>, a plurality of traveling wheels <NUM>, and a cab <NUM>.

The vehicle body frame <NUM> is an articulated type and includes a front frame <NUM> and a rear frame <NUM>. The front frame <NUM> is disposed in front of the rear frame <NUM>.

The work implement <NUM> is mounted to a front part of the front frame <NUM>. The work implement <NUM> has a boom <NUM> and a bucket <NUM>. The boom <NUM> is rotatably attached to the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The bucket <NUM> is rotatably attached to the tip of the boom <NUM>. The wheel loader <NUM> is provided with a hydraulic fluid pump (not illustrated) that discharges hydraulic fluid for driving the work implement <NUM>. Various types of pumps such as a gear pump or a piston pump can be used as the hydraulic fluid pump.

A pair of the traveling wheels <NUM> are attached to the left and right of the front frame <NUM>. A pair of the traveling wheels <NUM> are also attached to the left and right of the rear frame <NUM>.

The cab <NUM> is disposed on the rear frame <NUM>. The operator's seat, various operating members, and a display device, etc. are disposed inside the cab <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of the wheel loader <NUM> below the cab <NUM>.

The wheel loader <NUM> is provided with a filter attachment body <NUM>. The filter attachment body <NUM> is attached to the rear frame <NUM>. The filter attachment body <NUM> may be attached to the vehicle body of the wheel loader <NUM>. The vehicle body of the wheel loader <NUM> signifies a portion other than the work implement <NUM> and the traveling wheels <NUM>. The filter attachment body <NUM> may be covered by a cladding plate of the wheel loader <NUM> or may be exposed to the outside of the wheel loader <NUM>.

The filter attachment body <NUM> has a bracket <NUM> and a filter device <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> is attached to the rear frame <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is fixed directly to the rear frame <NUM> with bolts <NUM>. However, the method for attaching the bracket <NUM> is not limited thereto.

The filter device <NUM> is attached to the bracket <NUM>. The filter device <NUM> is connected to the unillustrated hydraulic fluid pump via a hydraulic pressure pipe <NUM>. Hydraulic pressure pulsations are transmitted to the filter device <NUM> when the hydraulic fluid pump discharges the hydraulic fluid.

<FIG> is a side view illustrating a configuration of the filter attachment body <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of the filter attachment body <NUM>.

The filter attachment body <NUM> has three sets of attachments <NUM> in addition to the abovementioned bracket <NUM> and the filter device <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> has a first attachment plate <NUM>, a second attachment plate <NUM>, and an intermediate part <NUM>.

The first attachment plate <NUM> is fixed to the rear frame <NUM> with the bolts <NUM>. The first attachment plate <NUM> is formed in the shape of a flat plate. While the first attachment plate <NUM> according to the present embodiment is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal direction, the disposition thereof is not limited. The shape and size of the first attachment plate <NUM> may be changed as appropriate.

The second attachment plate <NUM> is an example of an "attachment plate" according to the present invention. The second attachment plate <NUM> is attached to the filter device <NUM> via the three attachments <NUM>. The second attachment plate <NUM> is formed in the shape of a flat plate. The second attachment plate <NUM> is disposed substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction. The second attachment plate <NUM> extends substantially in the horizontal direction. As seen in a side view, the angle formed by the second attachment plate <NUM> with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably five degrees or less. Four through-holes 22a and three through-holes 22b are formed in the second attachment plate <NUM>. The four through-holes 22a are holes for inserting four bolts <NUM> described below. The three through-holes 22b are holes for mounting the three attachments <NUM> described below. The shape and size of the second attachment plate <NUM> may be changed as appropriate.

The intermediate part <NUM> is joined to the first attachment plate <NUM> and the second attachment plate <NUM>. The shape and size of the intermediate part <NUM> may be changed as appropriate.

The filter device <NUM> has a filter case <NUM>, a filter body <NUM>, a plate <NUM>, and the four bolts <NUM>.

The filter case <NUM> has a case body 24a, a first pipe connecting part 24b, a second pipe connecting part 24c, and four bosses 24d. The case body 24a is disposed on the filter body <NUM>. An oil path linked to the filter body <NUM> is formed inside the case body 24a. The first pipe connecting part 24b is attached to the case body 24a. An unillustrated hydraulic pressure pipe is connected to the first pipe connecting part 24b. The second pipe connecting part 24c is attached to the case body 24a. The hydraulic pressure pipe <NUM> (see <FIG>) is connected to the second pipe connecting part 24c.

The filter body <NUM> has a cylindrical shape that extends in the up-down direction. The filter body <NUM> is disposed below the filter case <NUM>. The filter body <NUM> is attached to the case body 24a. The filter body <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the case body 24a. When the filtering function of the filter body <NUM> has deteriorated, the filter body <NUM> can be replaced with a new filter body <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the center of gravity 12P of the filter device <NUM> is located in the filter body <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> is a member for attaching the three attachments <NUM> to the filter device <NUM>. The plate <NUM> is disposed between the second attachment plate <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> and the filter case <NUM>. The plate <NUM> is formed in the shape of a flat plate. The plate <NUM> is disposed substantially parallel to the second attachment plate <NUM> of the bracket <NUM>. The shape and size of the plate <NUM> may be changed as appropriate. Four through-holes 26a and three through-holes 26b are formed in the plate <NUM>. The three through-holes 26b are located outside of the four through-holes 26a.

The four bolts <NUM> are an example of the "plurality of second coupling members" according to the present invention. The four bolts <NUM> couple the plate <NUM> and the filter case <NUM>. The four bolts <NUM> are inserted through the four through-holes 26a of the plate <NUM> and are fastened to the four bosses 24d of the filter case <NUM>. While four bolts <NUM> are used in the present embodiment, the number of the bolts <NUM> may be changed as appropriate.

The three sets of attachments <NUM> are members for attaching the filter device <NUM> to the bracket <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the attachments <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the attachment <NUM> has a bolt <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM>.

The bolt <NUM> is an example of the "first coupling member" according to the present invention. The bolt <NUM> couples the second attachment plate <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> and the plate <NUM> of the filter device <NUM> via the elastic members <NUM>. The bolt <NUM> is inserted into a collar <NUM> and the through-hole 26b of the plate <NUM>. The top part (upper end part) of the bolt <NUM> is disposed on the elastic member <NUM> via a washer <NUM>. The lower end part of the bolt <NUM> is fastened to a nut 26c fixed at the lower surface of the plate <NUM>.

The elastic members <NUM> are formed in an annular shape or a cylindrical shape. The elastic members <NUM> are interposed between the bracket <NUM> and the filter device <NUM>. The elastic members <NUM> not only suppress the transmission of vibrations from the filter device <NUM> to the bracket <NUM>, but also suppress the vibration of the filter device <NUM> itself. The elastic members <NUM> may be configured of a synthetic rubber such as chloroprene rubber, but are not limited in this way.

In the present embodiment, the elastic member <NUM> includes a first elastic part 31a, a second elastic part 31b, and the collar <NUM>.

The first elastic part 31a is disposed between the second attachment plate <NUM> and the plate <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first elastic part 31a is sandwiched between the second attachment plate <NUM> and a washer <NUM> because the washer <NUM> is disposed on the plate <NUM>. The second elastic part 31b is disposed between the second attachment plate <NUM> and the top part of the bolt <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the second elastic part 31b is sandwiched between the second attachment plate <NUM> and the washer <NUM> because the washer <NUM> is disposed between the top part of the bolt <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM>. In this way, workability when assembling the attachments <NUM> can be improved because the elastic member <NUM> is configured by two elastic parts in the present embodiment. However, the elastic member <NUM> may include one elastic part or may include three or more elastic parts.

The collar <NUM> is inserted through the first elastic part 31a, the second elastic part 31b, and the second attachment plate <NUM>. The bolt <NUM> is inserted inside the collar <NUM>. The collar <NUM> is disposed between the plate <NUM> and the top part of the bolt <NUM>. The collar <NUM> is sandwiched between the washer <NUM> and the washer <NUM>. The collar <NUM> suppresses the entire elastic member <NUM> from being excessively crushed. The collar <NUM> can be configured by a metal material such as steel, but is not limited in this way.

<FIG> is a top view of the second attachment plate <NUM>.

A figure 31Q is drawn when respective geometric centers 31P of the three elastic members <NUM> are linked by straight lines when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the figure 31Q, which is drawn by linking the respective geometric centers 31P of the three elastic members <NUM> with straight lines, assumes a triangular shape because three elastic members <NUM> are disposed.

A geometric center 25P of the filter body <NUM> overlaps the figure 31Q when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate <NUM>. Moreover, the three elastic members <NUM> are each located outside of the filter body <NUM> in the top view of the second attachment plate <NUM>. As a result, the vibrations of the filter device <NUM> can be widely received over the range of the figure 31Q, whereby the transmission of the vibrations of the filter device <NUM> to the bracket <NUM> can be effectively suppressed even when the filter device <NUM> vibrates due to hydraulic pressure pulsations. Moreover, the compression of a portion of the elastic members <NUM> can be suppressed because the vibrations of the filter device <NUM> are received over the range of the figure 31Q. As a result, the vibrations of the filter device <NUM> itself can be effectively suppressed.

The center of gravity 12P (see <FIG>) of the filter device <NUM> overlaps the figure 31Q when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate <NUM>. As a result, the transmission of the vibrations of the filter device <NUM> to the bracket <NUM> can be even more effectively suppressed and the vibration of the filter device <NUM> can be more effectively suppressed.

The matter of a certain object "overlapping the figure 31Q" is a concept that includes the object being located inside the figure 31Q and the object being located on the outer edge of the figure 31Q.

Moreover, the four bolts <NUM> are located inside of the filter body <NUM> when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate <NUM>. In this way, even when the four bolts <NUM> are disposed in a narrow range, the three elastic members <NUM> can be disposed well apart from each other due to the plate <NUM> being interposed as described above. As a result, the size of the filter device <NUM> can be made smaller because the four bosses 24d can be disposed in a compact manner to the filter case <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A filter attachment body (<NUM>) attachable to a vehicle body of a work vehicle provided with a pump, the filter attachment body (<NUM>) comprising:
a bracket (<NUM>) attachable to the vehicle body;
a filter device (<NUM>) attached to the bracket (<NUM>); and
a plurality of elastic members (<NUM>) interposed between the bracket (<NUM>) and the filter device (<NUM>);
the bracket (<NUM>) having an attachment plate (<NUM>) to which the filter device (<NUM>) is attached,
the attachment plate (<NUM>) being disposed substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction,
the filter device (<NUM>) having a filter case (<NUM>) connected to the pump, and a filter body (<NUM>) attached to the filter case (<NUM>), wherein
a geometric center (25P) of the filter body (<NUM>) overlaps a figure drawn by linking each of the plurality of elastic members (<NUM>) with straight lines when viewed from a top view of the attachment plate (<NUM>), characterized in that
at least one elastic member (<NUM>) among the plurality of elastic members (<NUM>) is located outside of the filter body (<NUM>) when viewed from the top view of the attachment plate (<NUM>).