Patent Description:
Conventionally, there have been known vehicles such as lawn mowing vehicles equipped with lawn mower blades, in which the wheels can be driven by an electric motor to travel, and the lawn mower blade is driven by another electric motor to work. <CIT> discloses a lawn mowing vehicle (electric vehicle) in which left and right wheels can be driven by left and right electric motors, respectively. The vehicle has a storage box which is attachable to and detachable from a vehicle body by bolts. The storage box contains electrical components such as inverters, converters, main relays, and various types of fuses.

In the electric vehicles in which inverters and electrical components to supply power to a battery are installed on a body frame of the vehicle body, if the inverters and electrical components are exposed to an external environment in a normal condition, rainwater and dust may lead to deterioration of the components and electrical shock and degrade the appearance when in use. On the other hand, in the electric vehicles in which components such as inverters and electrical components are placed in a space whose upper side is covered by a vehicle seat and the like in order to protect the components from splashing rainwater, it is necessary to remove the vehicle seat and the like covering the upper side of the components from the vehicle body when performing maintenance or repairs. Furthermore, even when the vehicle seat and the like are removed, other parts are placed in the vicinity of the components in a small space, which results in difficulty of performing maintenance or repairs, and thus there is a need to improve workability.

<CIT> discloses that electrical components such as inverters and the like are accommodated in a storage box that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle body under the seat. Although this may protect the electrical components from splashing rainwater, when performing repairs or maintenance, it is necessary to remove a heavy storage box from the vehicle body after the seat is separated therefrom, and thus there is a need to improve workability.

<CIT> discloses a lawn mower using a battery pack which can be transferred from the lawn mower for an easier maintenance.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle capable of protecting inverters and electrical components from splashing rainwater, improving the appearance of the electric vehicle when in use, and improving the workability of repairs and maintenance.

The present invention is defined by the subject-matter of the independent claim. The subject-matter of the dependent claims defines further optional features.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described based on the following figures, wherein:.

Now some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an electric vehicle is described as a lawn mowing vehicle, but the electric vehicle of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be a work vehicle equipped with a work machine capable of performing at least one task, such as snow removal, excavation, civil engineering, or agricultural work, or an off-road type utility vehicle having a cargo bed and traveling on uneven terrain, or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) called a buggy, or a Recreational Vehicle (RV), or a Recreational Off-highway Vehicle (ROV). In the following, the electric vehicle, in which two rear wheels are driven with two motors, respectively, is described as an example, but it may be configured so that the two rear wheels are driven with a single motor. The electric vehicle may also be configured so that two front wheels are driven with a single motor or twin motors. Also in the following, a left-right lever-type operator with left and right operation levers is described as only an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto; a steering handle may be used as a steering controller, and an accelerator pedal provided in front of a seat may be used as an acceleration controller. In the following description, the same elements are denoted by identical reference numerals throughout all the drawings.

<FIG> show a first embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view of an electric vehicle <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a partially enlarged diagram illustrating an area A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view of the electric vehicle <NUM> shown in <FIG> in which a portion of the electric vehicle is illustrated as a cross sectional view. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a partially enlarged diagram illustrating an area C of <FIG>. In the drawings described below, a side indicated by Fr is defined as the front side, and a side indicated by Lh is defined as the left side.

The electric vehicle <NUM> is of the riding type that a driver sitting in a seat <NUM> can drive, and includes a body frame <NUM>, two caster wheels <NUM>, <NUM> of left and right front wheels, two wheels <NUM>, <NUM> of left and right rear wheels (see <FIG>), a lawn mower <NUM> of a work machine, and two operation levers <NUM>, <NUM> of right-and left levers.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> referred to later, the body frame <NUM> is formed by coupling a plurality of lateral frames 16c extending in a lateral direction to two main frames 16a and 16b extending in a front-and-rear direction on the right and left sides. In <FIG> and <FIG>, only one of the plurality of lateral frames 16c, which is provided at the front end of the vehicle, is shown. The seat <NUM> is positioned and fixed on the upper side of the middle portion in the front-and-rear direction of the body frame <NUM>. The left and right caster wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are supported on the front side from a front end of the body frame <NUM>. As each of caster wheels <NUM>, <NUM> is rotatable freely more than <NUM> degrees around a vertical axis. The left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are rotatably attached on the rear side of the body frame <NUM>. The left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are main drive wheels and are driven by left and right electric motors <NUM> for traveling, respectively (see <FIG>). A plurality of batteries <NUM> supply electric power to the electric motors <NUM> through electrical components <NUM> and inverters <NUM> (see <FIG>). The electrical component <NUM> includes a plurality of contactors, bus bars and fuses. In this disclosure, it is assumed that the inverter <NUM> is a component different from the electrical components <NUM>. The plurality of batteries <NUM> are electrically connected to each other in parallel or in series. For example, one side electrode of the plurality of batteries <NUM> is connected to the first bus bar via a fuse, and the first bus bar is connected to the second bus bar via a plurality of contactors. The second bus bar is connected to a plurality of electric motors <NUM> including the left and right electric motors <NUM> via a plurality of the inverters <NUM>.

The plurality of batteries <NUM> are fixed on the upper side of the body frame <NUM> and on the rear side of the seat <NUM> of the electric vehicle <NUM> and are covered by a battery cover <NUM>. In this example, as shown in <FIG>, the number of the plurality of batteries <NUM> is three, with two batteries <NUM> being disposed on the upper side and one battery <NUM> being disposed on the lower side. A partition (not shown) is provided between the upper side and lower side batteries <NUM> inside the battery cover <NUM>. The two upper side batteries <NUM> are arranged side by side so that the longitudinal direction of each battery is aligned with the right-and-left direction. The one lower side battery <NUM> is positioned at the center in the right-and-left direction of the battery cover <NUM> so that a longitudinal direction of the battery is aligned with the front-and-rear direction. Thereby, it is possible to prevent interference between the lower side battery <NUM> and a gear case <NUM> which is located in the vicinity of the inner sides of the left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> and accommodates the gears for transmitting a driving power of the electric motor <NUM> to the wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition, it is not necessary to increase the length of the electric vehicle <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction excessively in order to prevent such interference.

The inverters <NUM> convert DC power supplied from the batteries <NUM> into AC power and output it to the electric motors <NUM>. Only one battery <NUM> may supply electric power to the electric motors <NUM> through the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM>.

Instead of the two caster wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, only one caster wheel or three or more caster wheels may be attached to the electric vehicle <NUM>, for example. The caster wheels and the wheels of the driving wheels may be replaced in the front-and-rear direction.

The lawn mower <NUM> is supported under the body frame <NUM> at the middle of the body frame <NUM> in the front and rear direction. The lawn mower <NUM> includes a mower deck <NUM> and three lawn mower blades (not shown) as a mowing rotary tool, each of which is rotatable around a vertical axis inside the mower deck <NUM>. The rotation of the lawn mower blades makes it possible to break up and mow grass, etc. Each of the lawn mower blades is driven by an electric motor for the mower (not shown).

The rotation of the lawn mower blade makes it possible to mow the lawn, and the mowed grass is discharged from the inside of the mower deck <NUM> to the outside in the left- and right direction.

The lawn mower may be configured to comprise a lawn mowing reel as a rotary tool for mowing the lawn, which has a spiral blade, for example, arranged on a cylinder with a rotation axis parallel to a ground surface, functions to pinch and mow the grass or the like, and is driven by a deck motor.

The left and right operation levers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on respective sides of the seat <NUM> to be able to pivot around a horizontal axis which is aligned with the right-and-left direction and swing toward the front-and-rear direction. When each of the operation levers <NUM>, <NUM> is in a normally upright state, the electric motor <NUM> for traveling stops rotating. When each of the operation levers is operated to swing, instructions are issued such that a direction and speed of rotation of the electric motor <NUM> on the corresponding side are to be changed according to a direction and amount of swinging.

The swinging position of the operation levers <NUM>, <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction is detected with a lever sensor (not shown). The detection signal of the lever sensor is input to the control unit (not shown) installed in the vehicle as a signal indicating a rotation instruction of the electric motor <NUM>, and the control unit rotates the electric motor <NUM> in a direction following the instruction. The driving power of each of the electric motors <NUM> is transmitted to the left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> through gears and the like. This allows the vehicle to travel in the front-and-rear direction depending on the operation of the operation levers <NUM>, <NUM>. In addition, a difference in a rotation speed between the left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> is caused by varying an amount of a swinging operation between the left and right operation levers <NUM>, <NUM>, so that the vehicle can turn. Furthermore, by tilting one of the two operation levers <NUM>, <NUM> to the front side and the other to the rear side, the left and right wheels <NUM>, <NUM> rotate in opposite directions, so that the turning radius decreases to cause the vehicle to turn quickly.

As described above, in the electric vehicle <NUM>, electric power is supplied from the batteries <NUM> to the electric motors <NUM> through the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> in order to drive the electric motors <NUM>. At this time, in order to protect the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> from splashing rainwater and falling dust, as well as suppress degradation of the appearance, fixing the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> under the seat <NUM> may be conceived of. However, in a configuration where the electrical components and the inverters are simply placed under the seat, it is necessary to remove the seat from the electric vehicle when the electrical components and the inverters need to be repaired or maintained. Furthermore, even when the seat is removed, since other parts are placed in the vicinity of the electrical components and the inverters in a small space, performing maintenance or repairs becomes difficult, and thus there is a need to improve workability. In the electric vehicle <NUM> of this example, in order to eliminate such inconveniences, the inverters <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM> are mounted on a plate member <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the plate member <NUM> is positioned in a covered space S (see <FIG>) which is under the seat <NUM> with the top being covered. In addition, the electric vehicle <NUM> is provided with a configuration in which the plate member <NUM> is drawably guided from a position inside the covered space S to a position outside the covered space S by a guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) supported by the body frame <NUM>.

Specifically, the electric vehicle <NUM> has a seat frame <NUM> to fix the seat <NUM> to the body frame <NUM> so as to bridge over the left and right main frames 16a, 16b along the front-and-rear direction. As shown in <FIG> referred to below, the seat frame <NUM> has a vertically extending inverted U-shaped front end plate <NUM> with an opening 46a on the inside and a U-shaped top plate <NUM> horizontally extending to the rear side, and an upper end of the front end plate <NUM> is coupled to a front end of the top plate <NUM>. The top plate <NUM> is fixed to the body frame <NUM> either directly or via a support base <NUM> described below, which is provided under the seat <NUM>. The seat <NUM> is fixed on the top plate <NUM> so as to block a U-shaped inner opening of the top plate. The U-shaped inner opening of the top plate <NUM> is not necessarily provided. In this state, the covered space S with the top being covered (see <FIG> and <FIG>) is formed under the seat <NUM>. In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the front end plate <NUM> is provided with a lid <NUM> which can be opened and closed with hinges at the top end to block the opening 46a. A lid knob 49a is provided on the front side of the lid <NUM>. This allows a worker who performs repairs or maintenance to easily open the lid <NUM> by gripping the lid knob 49a with his/her fingers.

The plate member <NUM> with a flat plate-shaped body plate <NUM>, which is shown in detail in <FIG> referred to below, is disposed inside the covered space S. The plurality of electrical components <NUM> and inverters <NUM> are detachably mounted on a top surface of the body plate <NUM>. The plurality of inverters <NUM> are waterproof and dustproof due to their own cases, and are arranged side by side along the front-and-rear direction at one side of the body plate <NUM> in the right-and-left direction. An electrical component case <NUM> consists of a square-frame case body <NUM> which can surround an outer periphery of all the electrical components <NUM>, and a top cover <NUM>. A bottom peripheral edge of the case body <NUM> is fixed to the top surface of the body plate <NUM> on the other side in the right-and-left direction, and the top opening thereof is detachably blocked with the plate-shaped top cover <NUM> to form the electrical component case <NUM>. The plurality of electrical components <NUM> (see <FIG>), such as fuses, bus bars, contactors, are detachably arranged inside the electrical component case <NUM>. <FIG> shows a portion of the electrical components <NUM>. This allows the electrical components <NUM> to be protected from splashing rainwater if rainwater should enter into the covered space S. By removing the top cover <NUM> after drawing out the plate member <NUM>, it is possible to access the electrical components <NUM> inside the case body <NUM>. In addition, since the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> located inside the covered space S are less apt to be seen from the outside, the vehicle can be improved in appearance when in use.

The plurality of batteries <NUM> are located at the rear side of the plate member <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> is configured to be drawable in front of the battery <NUM>, and is drawably guided from a position inside the covered space S to a position outside the covered space S by the guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) described below. This improves the workability of repairs and maintenance on the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> as described below.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are provided at the rear end of the electrical component case <NUM> with each protruding from a surface of the rear end. The plurality of connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> include first connectors <NUM> which are connected to the three batteries <NUM> via a first electric wire T1 (see <FIG>). The first electric wire T1 passes through the inside of the battery cover <NUM> and the inside of the support base <NUM> fixed on the front side of the battery cover <NUM>, and leads to the side of the electrical component case <NUM> through an opening 48b (see <FIG>) formed in a front end plate 48a (see <FIG>) provided at the front end of the support base <NUM> to be connected to the first connector <NUM>. This allows the first connector <NUM> to be connected to the battery <NUM> via the first electric wire T1. The first connector <NUM> is connected to the electrical component <NUM> inside the electrical component case <NUM>. This makes it possible to shorten a length of the first electric wire T1 to connect the battery <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM>, and facilitates arrangement of the first electric wire T1. This reduces the cost of the first electric wire T1, and lowers the noise and electrical resistance between the battery <NUM> and the electrical component <NUM>.

Furthermore, the plurality of connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> include a plurality of second connectors <NUM> connected to the plurality of electric motors <NUM> via the inverters <NUM> and a second wire (not shown), and a plurality of third connectors <NUM> connected to the controller via a third wire (not shown). The controller is installed in a space whose top is covered, such as the covered space S or the like, and is connected to a contactor inside the electrical component case <NUM> via the third connector <NUM> to control on/off of the contactor.

As shown in <FIG> referred below, a charging port <NUM> is provided on a front end surface and protrudes from the front end surface, which is a front side surface of the electrical component case <NUM> in the drawing-out direction of the electrical component case <NUM>. The charging port <NUM> is provided to connect with a charger (not shown) connected to a commercial AC power supply as an external power source, via a charging cable (not shown). The charging port <NUM> is connected to the contactor and the bus bar inside the electrical component case <NUM>, and then connected to the first connector <NUM> which is connected to the battery <NUM>. A control of on-and-off switching of a plurality of contactors by the controller enables switching between charging the battery <NUM> with the commercial AC power source and transmitting electric power from the battery <NUM> to the electric motor <NUM>. This allows the charging port <NUM> to be accessed by simply opening the lid <NUM> to the front side without drawing the plate member <NUM> out of the covered space S as described below, and allows the charging cable connected to the commercial AC power source to be connected to the charging port <NUM> and to charge the battery <NUM> via the electrical components <NUM>.

Furthermore, the plate member <NUM> has a front end plate <NUM> bent upward at the front end of the body plate <NUM>. When drawing the plate member <NUM> out of the covered space S, an operator can easily draw it out by gripping the front end plate <NUM> with his/her fingers. A nut 52a is fixed to a front surface of the front end plate <NUM> at a position where the nut faces the lid knob 49a when the lid <NUM> is closed. A shaft of the lid knob 49a is provided with a rear end having a threaded portion, which projects from a rear surface of the lid <NUM> to the rear side. By screwing it into the nut 52a, a closed state of the lid <NUM> is maintained while the plate member <NUM> is held immovably in the covered space S.

Next, the configuration of the plate member <NUM> for drawably guiding the plate member <NUM> and the guide <NUM> is described below. As shown in <FIG> referred to below, the plate member <NUM> has left and right end plates <NUM>, <NUM> which are bent downwardly at left and right ends of the body plate <NUM>, respectively. As shown in <FIG>, the left end plate <NUM> has a plurality of shafts, which protrude from a plurality of side positions of the left end plate <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction to the outside in the left direction, and first rollers <NUM> are rotatably supported on the shafts, respectively. Similar to the left end plate <NUM>, the right end plate <NUM> has a plurality of shafts, which protrude from a plurality of side positions of the right end plate <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction to the outside in the right direction, and second rollers <NUM> (see <FIG>) are rotatably supported on the shafts, respectively. As a result, the plate member <NUM> includes the first rollers <NUM> and the second rollers <NUM> which are rotatably provided on both end portions in a direction orthogonal to the drawing-out direction.

On the other hand, on each of the facing inner surfaces of the left and right main frames 16a and 16b of the body frame <NUM> in a vehicle-wide direction, the guide <NUM> is supported and fixed to drawably guide the plate member <NUM> from a position inside the covered space S to a position outside the covered space S, which is in front of the covered space S.

Specifically, the guide <NUM> has a left first guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) to guide the movement of the plurality of first rollers <NUM> and a right second guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) to guide the movement of the plurality of second rollers <NUM>. The first guide <NUM> extends long in the drawing-out direction of the front side, and is a rail having a horizontally U-shaped cross section as shown in <FIG>. The first guide has two first plates <NUM> at positions sandwiching the plurality of first rollers <NUM>, which are divided vertically and parallel with each other, and a first coupler <NUM> to couple left ends of the two first plates <NUM>. The second guide <NUM> extends long in the drawing-out direction of the front side. The second guide has two second plates <NUM> (see <FIG>) at positions sandwiching the plurality of second rollers <NUM>, which are divided vertically and parallel with each other, and a second coupler <NUM> (see <FIG>) to couple right ends of the two second plates <NUM>. The first guide <NUM> has the first coupler <NUM> fixed to the inner surface of the left main frame 16a, and the first rollers <NUM> run on the lower first plate <NUM>. The second guide <NUM> has the second coupler <NUM> fixed to the inner surface of the right main frame 16b, and the second rollers <NUM> run on the lower second plate <NUM>. This allows the plate member <NUM> to be easily drawn out from the position inside the covered space S with light force without running off, thereby further improving workability when performing repair and maintenance work as described below.

As shown in <FIG> referred to below, rectangular recesses 91a, 91b are formed at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the upper first and second plate members <NUM>, <NUM>, where a portion of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned inside the covered space S. This allows the plate member <NUM> to be assembled to the guide <NUM> so that the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> can be arranged inside the guides <NUM>, <NUM> from above in <FIG> while preventing the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> attached to the left and right ends of the plate member <NUM> from interfering with the guides <NUM>, <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> referred to below, the guides <NUM>, <NUM> extend to near the front ends of the main frames 16a, 16b, respectively. A floor cover <NUM> is assembled to the front side of the electric vehicle <NUM> to place on the two main frames 16a, 16b and the lateral frame 16c at the front side so that the front portions of guides <NUM>, <NUM> are invisible from the outside. The floor cover <NUM> can be made of resin to reduce its weight. This enables the operator to easily remove the floor cover <NUM> as described below.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, a method of drawing the plate member out of the covered space S to perform the repair or maintenance of the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> is described below. <FIG> is a perspective view of the electric vehicle <NUM> with the lid <NUM> being opened. First, during the repair or maintenance, the operator can grip the lid knob 49a (see <FIG>) and open the lid <NUM> upwardly as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the electric vehicle with the floor cover <NUM> being removed in the state shown in <FIG>. The operator can remove the floor cover <NUM> in the state shown in <FIG> to expose the front portions of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> to the outside.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the electric vehicle with the plate member <NUM> being drawn out in the state shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a partially enlarged diagram illustrating an area D of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the electrical component case <NUM> as viewed from the rear side with a portion of the top cover <NUM> being transparent. <FIG> is a front side enlarged diagram of the electric vehicle with the seat <NUM> being removed in the state shown in <FIG>. After the state shown in <FIG>, the operator can draw the plate member <NUM> out of the position inside the covered space S to the position in front of the covered space S while rolling the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> on the guides <NUM>, <NUM> to expose the electrical component case <NUM> and the plurality of inverters <NUM> to a large space outside the covered space. Thus, the operator can perform the repair or maintenance of the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> in the large space. When inspecting and repairing the electrical components <NUM>, it is only necessary to remove the top cover <NUM> of the electrical component case <NUM> with the electrical components <NUM> and inverters <NUM> being mounted on the vehicle.

According to the electric vehicle <NUM> described above, by placing the inverters <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM> inside the covered space S whose top is covered in a normal operation condition, it is possible to protect the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> from splashing rainwater, and to improve the appearance when in use because the inverters <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM> are less apt to be seen from outside. Furthermore, when performing the repair or maintenance, since the plate member <NUM> to which the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> are attached can be drawn out into a large space outside the covered space S, the workability of the repair and maintenance is improved. Furthermore, when performing the repair or maintenance, differing from a configuration disclosed in <CIT>, in which a box containing the inverters and electrical components is detachably provided under the seat on the vehicle body, it is not necessary to remove the seat <NUM> from its mounted position on the electric vehicle <NUM>. This greatly facilitates the workability of the repair and maintenance. As a result, it is possible to protect the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> from splashing rainwater, improve the appearance of the electric vehicle when in use, and improve the workability of repair and maintenance.

Furthermore, since a space under the seat <NUM> can be used effectively by placing the plate member <NUM> inside the covered space S under the seat <NUM>, it is possible to eliminate or reduce parts dedicated to protecting the inverters <NUM> and electrical components <NUM> from splashing rainwater.

Furthermore, the electrical components <NUM> are placed inside the electrical component case <NUM>, and the electrical component case <NUM> has the charging port <NUM> on the front side surface in the drawing-out direction, and the electrical components <NUM> are connected to the battery <NUM>. As a result, by the charging port <NUM> being connected to the electrical components <NUM> inside the electrical component case <NUM>, the charging cable connected to the commercial AC power source can be connected to the charging port <NUM> to charge the battery <NUM> via the electrical components <NUM> without drawing out the plate member <NUM> from the covered space S with only the lid <NUM> being opened, as shown in <FIG>, for example.

In the above mentioned embodiment, an example, in which the guides <NUM>, <NUM> have a horizontally U-shaped cross section to guide the movement of the rollers, has been described, but the configuration of the guides is not limited thereto. For example, it may be the case that no rollers are placed in the guides <NUM>, <NUM>, and left and right ends of the plate member <NUM> are directly inserted into the guides <NUM>, <NUM> to slide thereon in the longitudinal direction. At this time, either or both of guides <NUM>, <NUM> and the plate member <NUM> may be made of resin to slide more easily. Since the guides <NUM>, <NUM> limit the direction of movement of the plate member <NUM> only to the longitudinal direction of the guide elements <NUM>, <NUM>, a vertical movement transmitted to the plate member <NUM> from the ground during traveling is received with the guides <NUM>, <NUM>, so that flapping of the plate member in the covered space S can be suppressed. In addition, the guides may be anything capable of guiding the movement of the plate member <NUM>. For example, the guides may be configured to be a long guide element disposed along the front-and-rear direction at the center of the right-and-left direction of the vehicle with a groove being opened toward the plate member <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> may be configured to have a protruding part formed on the surface facing the groove along the longitudinal direction so that the protruding part can be slidably inserted into the groove.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the plate member <NUM> and a unit case <NUM> to be mounted on the electric vehicle according to an alternative example of the embodiment. In a configuration of this example, while the plurality of inverters <NUM> (see <FIG>) and electrical components <NUM> (see <FIG>) are detachably mounted on the top surface of the plate member <NUM>, all of them are enclosed in a common unit case <NUM>. The unit case <NUM> is formed by removably closing with a plate member-shaped top cover <NUM> a top end opening of a substantially rectangular frame-shaped case body <NUM> whose top end is opened. A bottom end periphery of the case body <NUM> is fixed to the top surface of the plate member <NUM>. The plurality of connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are provided, with each protruding from the rear end of the unit case <NUM>. The charging port <NUM> is provided at the front end of the unit case <NUM>. A port <NUM>, through which a bundled plurality of wires that connect the plurality of inverters <NUM> inside the unit case <NUM> to the outside electric motors pass, is provided at the rear end of the unit case <NUM>.

According to the configuration of this example, not only the electrical components <NUM> but also the inverters <NUM> are covered by the unit case <NUM>, so that waterproof and dustproof characteristics of the inverters <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM> can be improved. The other configurations and actions of this example are the same as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view of a rear portion of the electric vehicle <NUM> according to alternative example NOT ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION in which a portion thereof is illustrated as a cross sectional view. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line E-E of <FIG>. In a configuration of this example, the support base is removed from the inside of the seat frame <NUM>, and a length of the seat frame <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction is shortened. In addition, an extension part 42b extending in the front side is provided on the front upper side of a battery cover 42a. The plate member <NUM> is placed in front of the plurality of batteries <NUM> inside the battery cover 42a and inside the extension part 42b so that it can be drawn out from the top end of the battery cover 42a to an upside from the vehicle body. This allows the plate member <NUM> to be positioned between the battery <NUM> and the seat <NUM> and to be drawn out to the upside from the vehicle body. Furthermore, the plurality of electrical components <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the plurality of inverters <NUM> are detachably mounted on the rear side of the plate member <NUM>. The top, bottom, left, right, and rear sides of the electrical components <NUM> are covered with the electrical component case <NUM> in a manner similar to the embodiment of <FIG> mentioned above. All of the electrical components <NUM> and the plurality of inverters <NUM> may be covered and enclosed by the unit case in a manner similar to the embodiment of <FIG> mentioned above.

The plurality of first rollers <NUM> and second rollers <NUM> are rotatably attached to the left and right end surfaces of the plate member <NUM>, respectively. The plate member <NUM> itself has the same configuration as the plate member illustrated in <FIG>, except that the orientation of the plate member <NUM> is changed from the front-and-rear direction to the vertical direction. Furthermore, the first guide <NUM> and the second guide <NUM>, which constitute the guide 75a, are fixed to the left and right inner end surfaces of the extension part 42b of the battery cover 42a so as to extend in the vertical direction, respectively. Each of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> itself has the same configuration as the corresponding guide illustrated in <FIG>, except that the orientation of each of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> is changed from the front-and-rear direction to the vertical direction. The movement of the plurality of first rollers <NUM> is guided upwardly with the first guide <NUM>, and the movement of the plurality of second rollers <NUM> is guided upwardly with the second guide <NUM> in the drawing-out direction. The top end opening of the battery cover 42a including the extension part 42b is removably closed by the top cover 42c to prevent invasion of rainwater and dust and to protect the electrical components <NUM>, the plurality of inverters <NUM>, and the batteries <NUM>. The covered space S is formed inside the extension part 42b of the battery cover 42a. A backrest of the seat <NUM> can be pivoted toward the front side.

When performing repair or maintenance, as shown by the single dotted line in <FIG>, the backrest of the seat <NUM> is tilted and retreated forward from an upper side of the battery cover 42a in a state of removing of the top cover 42c from the top of the battery cover 42a. In this state, the plate member <NUM> is drawn out upwardly while being guided with the guide 75a to expose the electrical component case <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> outside the battery cover 42a. Thus, the operator can perform the repair or maintenance of the electrical components <NUM> and the inverters <NUM> in the large space. The battery cover 42a has hooks or stopper pins (not shown) which can temporarily engage with the plate member <NUM> in order to hold the plate member <NUM> at an upwardly drawn out position and at an accommodated position at which the plate member <NUM> is accommodated inside the battery cover 42a. For example, by forming apertures on the plate member <NUM> at positions separated in the vertical direction, and protruding the stopper pin from the side of the battery cover 42a by spring force to engage with any one of the holes, it is possible to hold the plate member <NUM> to the battery cover 42a at the upwardly drawn out position and the accommodated position. As a result, even when vibrations are transmitted from the ground to the plate member <NUM> at the accommodated position of the plate member <NUM> while traveling, flapping of the plate member <NUM> inside the covered space S can be effectively suppressed.

According to the configuration of this example, while a space on the rear side of the seat <NUM> and in front of the battery <NUM> can be used effectively, the electric wire T1 connecting the connectors <NUM> to the battery <NUM> can be shortened by placing the connectors <NUM> to connect the electrical components <NUM> to the battery <NUM> in the vicinity of the bottom end of the plate member <NUM>. This reduces the cost of the electric wire T1, and decreases the noise and electrical resistance between the battery <NUM> and the electrical components <NUM>. The other configurations and actions of this example are the same as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view of a front portion of the electric vehicle <NUM> according to alternative example of the embodiment in which a portion thereof is illustrated as a cross sectional view. In a configuration of this example, a hood <NUM> is fixed to the body frame <NUM> in front of the seat <NUM>. The covered space S, whose top is covered with the hood <NUM>, is provided under the hood <NUM>. The hood <NUM> has a box-like shape with its bottom end being opened. At a rear end of a top plate <NUM> provided on the top end of the hood <NUM>, a steering operation shaft <NUM> penetrates through the top plate upward obliquely. A steering wheel <NUM> is attached to a top end of the steering operation shaft <NUM>. A gear mechanism, which is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown) to steer left and right front wheels <NUM>, is connected at the bottom end of the steering operation shaft <NUM>. The orientation of the front two wheels <NUM> is changed by rotating the steering wheel <NUM>. In addition, a motor (not shown) is fixed to the rear side of the body frame <NUM>, and driving power of an output shaft of the motor is transmitted to the rear two wheels <NUM> via an axle drive unit (not shown) having a differential mechanism.

A partition plate <NUM> is horizontally fixed inside the hood <NUM> at the middle part in the vertical direction. One or more batteries <NUM> are mounted on the partition plate <NUM>. This allows the batteries <NUM> to be placed in front of the seat with being covered by the hood <NUM>. A plate member 50a drawable to the rear side, which is one side in the front-and-rear direction, is placed below the partition plate <NUM>. As a result, the plate member 50a is placed inside the covered space S under the hood <NUM>. On the plate member 50a, the electrical component case <NUM> containing electrical components and a plurality of inverters are fixed side by side along the right-and -left direction of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the left side first guide <NUM> forming the guide <NUM> and the right side second guide <NUM> (see <FIG>) are supported and fixed on the inner side faces of the left and right main frames 16a, 16b in a vehicle-wide direction, respectively. Each of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> is formed by coupling along the front-and-rear direction a portion inside the covered space S and a portion located on the rear side of the covered space S. The guide <NUM> drawably guides the plate member <NUM> from a position inside the covered space S to a position outside of and on the rear side of the covered space S. This allows the plate member <NUM> to be placed in the covered space S and to be drawn out from the inside of the covered space S to the rear side thereof, which is one side in the front-and-rear direction. The configuration of the guide <NUM> of this example is the same as that of the guide <NUM> of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

In addition, the lid <NUM>, which can be opened and closed, is provided at the lower side of the rear end of the hood <NUM>. At the rear end of the plate member 50a, a rear end plate <NUM> is formed so as to rise up vertically. The nut 52a is fixed to a rear side surface of the rear end plate <NUM>, so that the nut 52a faces the lid knob 49a when the lid <NUM> is closed. A shaft of the lid knob 49a is provided with a front end having a threaded portion, which projects from a front side surface of the lid <NUM> to the front side. By screwing it into the nut 52a, a closed state of the lid <NUM> is maintained while the plate member 50a is held immovably in the covered space S.

The floor plate <NUM> is assembled to the main frame 16a or a member fixed to the main frame 16a at a portion of each of guides <NUM>, <NUM> located between the hood <NUM> and a seat frame 45a to which the seat <NUM> is fixed. This makes the guides <NUM>, <NUM> are less apt to be seen from the outside in a normal operation condition.

When performing repair or maintenance of the inverters and electrical components, the operator may draw out the plate member 50a from a position in the covered space S to a position on the rear side of the covered space S along each of the guides <NUM>, <NUM> after removing the floor plate <NUM> from the vehicle. This allows the electrical component case <NUM> and the plurality of inverters to be exposed to a large outside space. Thus, the operator can perform the repair or maintenance of the electrical components and the inverters in the large space.

Furthermore, in the configuration of this example, it is possible to share the parts with a vehicle with an engine by providing the battery <NUM> in place of the engine in the vehicle with the engine which is located inside the hood <NUM> as a driving source of the vehicle. Furthermore, an extra space inside the hood <NUM> can be used as a space to accommodate the inverters and the electrical component case <NUM> in which the electrical components are enclosed. In the configuration of this example, while the lid, which can be opened and closed, is provided on the lower side of a front end plate of the hood, the plate member to which the inverters and electrical component case are fixed may be drawn out to a front side of the hood <NUM> by the guides with the lid being opened. In this case, one side in the front-and-rear direction designates the front side. The other configurations and actions of this example are the same as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

By placing the inverters and the electrical components inside the covered space whose top is covered in a normal operation condition, it is possible to protect the electrical components and the inverters from splashing rainwater, as well as improve the appearance when in use because the inverters and the electrical components are less apt to be seen from outside. Furthermore, when performing repair or maintenance, since the plate member to which the inverters and electrical components are attached can be drawn out into a large space outside the covered space, workability of the repair and maintenance is improved. Furthermore, when performing the repair or maintenance, differing from a configuration disclosed in <CIT>, in which a box containing the inverters and electrical components is detachably provided at a fixed position set under the seat on the vehicle body, it is not necessary to separate the seat from its mounted position on the electric vehicle and to temporarily remove the heavy storage box from the vehicle at the time of maintenance of electrical components, and the like. This further improves the workability of the repair and maintenance.

As a result, it is possible to protect the inverters and electrical components from splashing rainwater, improve the appearance of the electric vehicle when in use, and improve the workability of the repair and maintenance.

In the electric vehicle of the present invention, the plate member may be placed in the covered space under the seat to be drawn out to one side along a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle. According to the configuration mentioned above, while the space under the seat can be used effectively, it is possible to eliminate or reduce parts dedicated to protecting the inverters and electrical components from splashing rainwater.

In the electric vehicle of the present invention, the electrical components may be placed inside the electrical component case, the electrical component case may have the charging port on the front side surface in the drawing-out direction, and the electrical components may be connected to the battery. According to the configuration mentioned above, since the charging port is connected to the electrical components inside the electrical component case, the charging cable connected to an external power source can be connected to the charging port to charge the battery via the electrical components without drawing out the plate member from the covered space.

The electric vehicle of the present invention may be configured so that: the battery is disposed on the rear side of the plate member; the plate member is drawable in front of the battery; the electrical components are disposed in the electrical component case; the electrical component case is provided with a connector connected to the electrical components at the rear end; and the connector is connected to the battery with an electric wire. This configuration enables shortening of a length of the electric wire to connect the battery and the electrical components, and facilitates arrangement of the same. This reduces the cost of the electric wire, and decreases the noise and electrical resistance between the battery and the electrical components.

The electric vehicle of the present invention may be configured so that the inverters and the electrical components are disposed in a common case and the case is mounted on the plate member. According to the configuration mentioned above, waterproof and dustproof characteristics of the inverters and the electrical components can be improved.

The electric vehicle of the present invention may be configured so that: the battery is disposed on the rear side of the seat; and the plate member is located between the battery and the seat and be operable to be drawn out above the vehicle. According to the configuration mentioned above, while a space on the rear side of the seat and in front of the battery can be used effectively, the electric wire connecting the connectors and the battery can be shortened by placing the connectors to connect the electrical components to the battery in the vicinity of the plate member. This reduces the cost of the electric wire, and decreases the noise and electrical resistance between the battery and the electrical components.

The electric vehicle of the present invention may be configured so that: the plate member has a first roller and a second roller which are rotatably attached to both end portions in a direction orthogonal to a drawing-out direction, the guide includes a first guide extending long in the drawing-out direction, which has two first plates provided in parallel with each other to sandwich the first roller and a first coupler to couple the two first plates, and a second guide extending long in the drawing-out direction, which has two second plates provided in parallel with each other to sandwich the second roller and a second coupler to couple the two second plates. The above mentioned configuration allows the plate member to be easily drawn out from the position inside the covered space, thereby further improving the workability of repair and maintenance.

Claim 1:
An electric vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
a body frame (<NUM>);
a seat (<NUM>) disposed on the body frame (<NUM>);
a wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>) attached to the body frame (<NUM>) to be driven by an electric motor (<NUM>);
a battery (<NUM>) to supply electric power to the electric motor (<NUM>) via an inverter (<NUM>) and an electrical component (<NUM>);
a plate member (<NUM>) placed inside a covered space (S) with a top being covered and on which the inverter (<NUM>) and the electrical component (<NUM>) are mounted;
characterized in that the electric vehicle (<NUM>) comprises
a guide (<NUM>) supported by the body frame (<NUM>) to drawably guide the plate member (<NUM>) from a position inside the covered space (S) to a position outside the covered space (S), the position outside the covered space (S) being in an outwardly exposed space located in a front-and-rear direction between a front end of the body frame (<NUM>) and the seat (<NUM>).