Patent Description:
A working machine disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> is previously known.

The working machine (a tractor) disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> includes a vehicle body, an engine, a generator, an electric motor, and a traveling device. The working machine is configured to drive the traveling device with the power from the engine and the power from the generator (a driving force of the electric motor).

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a generator unit for a tractor and an electrical drive system for an agricultural implement mounted to the tractor.

Patent Document <NUM> relates to a generator unit for an agricultural utility vehicle and discloses the pre-characterizing part of claim <NUM>.

Patent Document <NUM> relates to a generator unit to be attached to a tractor.

However, Patent Document <NUM> fails to disclose an attachment structure of a generator for a traveling vehicle.

A working machine according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

Preferably, the structure body has a first front plate and a second front plate attached to a rear surface of the transmission case. The first front plate is connected to a front end portion of the first side plate. The second front plate is connected to a front end portion of the second side plate.

Preferably, the transmission case has a pivotally-supporting portion pivotally supporting a top link that constitutes a three-point linkage mechanism. The structure body is arranged below the pivotally-supporting portion.

Preferably, the transmission case is connected to a lower linkage constituting the three-point linkage mechanism. The lower linkage includes: a first lower linkage arranged to one side of the traveling vehicle in the vehicle width direction; a second lower linkage arranged to the other side of the traveling vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The structure body is arranged between the first lower linkage and the second lower linkage in the vehicle width direction.

Preferably, the attachment structure of the generator mentioned above, includes a power divider portion configured to divide a rotating power from the PTO shaft into a first path for outputting from the PTO shaft and a second path for transmitting to the generator.

Preferably, the generator is arranged above the PTO shaft under a state where the structure body is attached to the transmission case.

Preferably, an output voltage of the generator is sixty volts or less.

Preferably, the traveling vehicle is a tractor.

According to the present invention, an attachment structure of a generator for a traveling vehicle and a working machine having the attachment structure are provided.

Hereinafter, a non-claimed example and an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the working machine <NUM> employed in the work management system and the work management method according to the present invention will be described below.

<FIG> shows a side view of the entire working machine <NUM>, and <FIG> shows a planar view of the rear portion of a working machine <NUM> according to an non-claimed example.

The work machine <NUM> includes a traveling vehicle <NUM> and a working device <NUM>.

The traveling vehicle <NUM> is a vehicle configured to travel while towing the working device <NUM>. Since the traveling vehicle <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a tractor, the traveling vehicle <NUM> will be described as the tractor <NUM> below. However, the traveling vehicle <NUM> is not limited to a tractor, and may be an agricultural vehicle such as a combine or a rice transplanter, or may be a construction vehicle. The traveling vehicle <NUM> may be a pickup truck. In addition, the working device <NUM> may be configured to travel independently without being pulled by the traveling vehicle <NUM>.

First, the overall configuration of the tractor (the traveling vehicle) <NUM> will be described.

The tractor <NUM> includes a vehicle body <NUM>, a traveling device <NUM>, and a coupling device <NUM>. In the example and in the embodiment of the present invention, the front side of an operator seated on the operator seat <NUM> mounted on the vehicle body <NUM> (the left side in <FIG>) is referred to as the front, the rear side of the operator (the right side in <FIG>) is referred to as the rear, the left side of the operator (a front surface side of <FIG>) is referred to as the left, and the right side of the operator (a back surface side of <FIG>) is referred to as the right. In addition, the horizontal direction K2 (see <FIG>), which is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction K1 (see <FIG>), will be described as the vehicle width direction.

The vehicle body <NUM> includes a vehicle body frame <NUM>, a clutch housing <NUM>, and a transmission case <NUM>. The vehicle body frame <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body <NUM>. An internal combustion engine <NUM> is mounted on the body frame <NUM>. In this case, the internal combustion engine <NUM> is the engine <NUM>, and more specifically a diesel engine. The engine <NUM> is mounted on the vehicle body frame <NUM> and arranged at the front portion of the vehicle body <NUM>. The clutch housing <NUM> is connected to the rear portion of the engine <NUM> and houses the clutch. The transmission case <NUM> is connected to the rear portion of the clutch housing <NUM> and extends rearward. The transmission case <NUM> houses a speed-shifting device <NUM> and a rear wheel differential device <NUM> which will be described later. A generator <NUM> is attached to the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM> through a structure body <NUM> described later.

The traveling device <NUM> includes a front wheel 5F provided at the front portion of the vehicle body <NUM> and includes a rear wheel 5R provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body <NUM>. The front wheel 5F is supported by the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The rear wheel 5R is supported on the output shaft of the rear wheel differential device <NUM>. The traveling device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a tire type, but it may be a crawler type.

The coupling device <NUM> is a device configured to connect, to the rear portion of the tractor <NUM>, the working device <NUM> that performs the working on a farm field or the like. In the case of this non-claimed example, the coupling device <NUM> includes a three-point linkage mechanism. A specific configuration of the coupling device <NUM> will be described later. However, the configuration of the coupling device <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as the configuration can connect the working device <NUM> to the rear portion of the traveling vehicle <NUM>. For example, when the traveling vehicle <NUM> is the pickup truck, the coupling device <NUM> couples the working device <NUM> with a mechanism other than the three-point linkage mechanism.

The type of the working device <NUM> coupled to the coupling device <NUM> is not particularly limited. For example, a spreader device that spreads a spread substance such as the fertilizer or the chemicals, a sowing device that disperses seeds such as crops, a tilling device that performs the plowing, a harvesting device that performs the harvesting, a mower device for cutting grass, a tedder device for diffusing the grass, a raking device for collecting the grass, a bailer device for shaping the grass, and the like. <FIG> and <FIG> show an example in which the spreader device is attached as the working device <NUM>.

The tractor <NUM> includes a PTO shaft <NUM> for transmitting power from the engine <NUM> that drives the tractor <NUM> to the working device or the like. The PTO shaft <NUM> protrudes rearward from the transmission case <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a power transmission system of the engine <NUM> and the transmission device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the transmission device <NUM> includes a main shaft (a thrust shaft) 13a, a main transmission portion 13b, and a sub-transmission portion 13c. The thrust shaft 13a is rotatably supported by the housing case of the transmission device <NUM>, and power from the crankshaft of the engine <NUM> is transmitted to the thrust shaft 13a. The main transmission portion 13b includes a plurality of gears and a shifter that changes connection between the gears. The main transmission portion 13b changes and outputs (shifts) the rotating speed inputted from the thrust shaft 13a by appropriately changing the connection (engagement) between the plurality of gears with a shifter.

Similar to the main transmission portion 13b, the auxiliary transmission portion 13c includes a plurality of gears and a shifter that changes connection between the gears. The auxiliary transmission portion 13c changes and outputs (shifts) the rotating speed inputted from the main transmission portion 13b by appropriately changing the connection (engagement) between the plurality of gears with a shifter.

The transmission device <NUM> includes a shuttle portion 13d. The shuttle portion 13d includes a shuttle shaft <NUM> and a forward/reverse switch portion <NUM>. The power outputted from the auxiliary transmission portion 5c is transmitted to the shuttle shaft <NUM> through the gear or the like. The rear wheel differential device <NUM> is provided on the shuttle shaft <NUM>. A rear axle that supports the rear wheel is rotatably supported by the rear wheel differential device <NUM>. The forward/reverse switch portion <NUM> is constituted of, for example, a clutch such as a hydraulic clutch or an electric clutch, and turns on and off the clutch to switch the rotation direction of the shuttle shaft <NUM>, that is, forward traveling and reverse traveling of the tractor <NUM>.

The PTO power transmission portion 13e has the PTO clutch <NUM> and the PTO shaft <NUM>. The PTO shaft <NUM> is rotatably supported and can transmit the power from the thrust shaft 13a. The PTO shaft <NUM> has a PTO thrust shaft 19a and a PTO output shaft 19b. The PTO thrust shaft 19a is connected to the PTO output shaft 19b through the PTO speed-changer portion <NUM>.

The PTO speed-changer portion <NUM> is configured to change the rotating speed of the PTO thrust shaft 19a and transmit the rotating speed to the PTO output shaft 19b with an operation portion such as a PTO transmission lever. The PTO speed-changer portion <NUM> includes a speed-changing actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid or an electric motor that can operate the operation portion based on a control signal from the controller portion <NUM> described later.

The PTO clutch <NUM> is a clutch that can be switched between a connected state in which the power of the thrust shaft 13a is transmitted to the PTO shaft <NUM> and a disconnected state in which the power of the thrust shaft 13a is not transmitted to the PTO shaft <NUM>. In particular, the PTO clutch <NUM> is arranged between the thrust shaft 13a and the PTO thrust shaft 19a. The PTO clutch <NUM> is constituted of a hydraulic clutch, an electric clutch, or the like, and is switched between a state where the power of the engine <NUM> (the power of the thrust shaft 13a) is transmitted to the PTO shaft <NUM> when the clutch is turned on and off and a state where the power of the thrust shaft 13a is not transmitted to the PTO shaft <NUM> when the clutch is turned on and off.

A power dividing portion <NUM> is provided in the middle of the PTO output shaft 19b. The power dividing portion <NUM> divides the rotating power transmitted to the PTO output shaft 19b to a first path 21a for outputting the rotating power from the PTO output shaft 19b directly and a second path 21b for transmitting to the generator <NUM>. The power dividing portion <NUM> is constituted of, for example, the first pulley <NUM> attached to the PTO output shaft 19b, the second pulley <NUM> attached to the input shaft of the generator <NUM>, and the belt <NUM> configured to transmit the rotating power from the first pulley <NUM> to the second pulley <NUM>. However, the configuration of the power dividing portion <NUM> is not limited to the configuration using the pulley and the belt, and may be another configuration (for example, a configuration using a gear transmission mechanism or another power transmission mechanism).

In this manner, the rotating power of the PTO output shaft 19b is divided into two by the power dividing portion <NUM>, one is outputted directly from the PTO output shaft 19b, and the other is transmitted to the input shaft of the generator <NUM>, and thereby activating the generator <NUM>.

The generator <NUM> is connected to a motor <NUM> through an inverter <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is an electric motor, and is driven (rotated) by the power (the electric power) from the generator <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> serves as a transmission device that changes the rotating speed (the number of revolving) of the motor <NUM>. The number of motors <NUM> to be driven by the power from the generator <NUM> may be one, two or more.

In this embodiment, the generator <NUM> is an alternator. However, the generator <NUM> may be a motor generator. The generator <NUM> preferably has an output voltage of 60V or less. By employing the generator <NUM> having the output voltage of 60V or less, the power consumption can be reduced, and the excellent safety is provided. Thus, the working device <NUM> capable of operating at a low voltage of 60V or less is preferably employed. In particular, a spreader device or a seeding device is preferably employed as the working device <NUM>. In the case of this embodiment, since the working device <NUM> is the spreader device, the following description will be made assuming that the working device <NUM> is the spreader device <NUM>.

Next, the attachment structure of the generator <NUM> is described.

As shown in <FIG>, a structure body <NUM> is provided at the rear portion of the transmission case <NUM>, and the generator <NUM> is mounted on the structure body <NUM>.

In the case of the present embodiment, the structure body <NUM> is a coupling device configured to be connected to the working device <NUM> or the like that is driven by the power transmitted from the PTO shaft <NUM> (the PTO output shaft 19b), and is specifically a ladder hitch. The structure body <NUM> constitutes a coupling device different from the coupling device <NUM> including the three-point linkage mechanism.

The structure body <NUM> is detachably attached to the rear surface of the transmission case <NUM>. The structure body <NUM> includes a first front plate 25a, a second front plate 25b, a first side plate 25c, a second side plate 25d, a rear plate 25e, and a lower plate 25f.

The first front plate 25a and the second front plate 25b are arranged at an interval (arranged separately) in the vehicle width direction, and extend in the vertical direction. The first front plate 25a is arranged on one side (the left side) in the vehicle width direction, and is attached to the left portion of the rear surface of the transmission case <NUM> with a bolt B1. The second front plate 25b is arranged on one side (the right side) in the vehicle width direction, and is attached to the right portion of the rear surface of the transmission case <NUM> with a bolt B2. That is, the first front plate 25a and the second front plate 25b constitute a first portion that is attached to the transmission case <NUM>.

The first side plate 25c has a front end portion connected to the first front plate 25a, and extends backward (in a direction separating away from the transmission case <NUM>). The second side plate 25d has a front end portion connected to the second front plate 25b, and extends rearward. The lower plate 25f extends in the vehicle width direction, and connects between the lower portion of the first side plate 25c and the lower portion of the second side plate 25d. A drawbar (a towing hitch) or the like can be attached to the lower plate 25f.

A first attachment portion <NUM> is provided at the rear portion of the first side plate 25c. A second attachment portion <NUM> is provided at the rear portion of the second side plate 25d. A plurality of through holes are formed in the first attachment portion <NUM> and the second attachment portion <NUM> at intervals in the vertical direction. The through-holes are used to connect the working device <NUM>. That is, the working device <NUM> is coupled to the first attachment portion <NUM> and the second attachment portion <NUM> of the structure body <NUM>. In other words, the first attachment portion <NUM> and the second attachment portion <NUM> constitute a second portion to which the working device <NUM> is attached.

The rear plate 25e is a rectangular plate, and is attached so as to connect the first attachment portion <NUM> and the second attachment portion <NUM>. A through hole <NUM> is formed in the rear plate 25e, and the PTO shaft <NUM> (the PTO output shaft 19b) protrudes rearward from the through hole <NUM>. A space S is formed between the rear plate 25e and the rear surface of the transmission case <NUM>, and the power dividing portion <NUM> can be arranged in the space S. The generator <NUM> is attached to the rear surface of the rear plate 25e by a fixing tool such as a bolt. That is, the rear plate 25e forms a third portion in which a through hole <NUM> for projecting the PTO shaft <NUM> is formed and on which the generator <NUM> is mounted under the state where the first portion is attached to the transmission case <NUM>. The generator <NUM> is arranged above the PTO shaft <NUM>. The generator <NUM> is arranged between the first attachment portion <NUM> and the second attachment portion <NUM>.

The structure body <NUM> can be easily attached to and detached from the transmission case <NUM> by attaching and detaching the bolts B1 and B2. By attaching/detaching the structure body <NUM> to/from the transmission case <NUM>, the generator <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the transmission case <NUM>. Thus, the generator <NUM> can be easily attached as necessary to the tractor <NUM> that does not include the generator <NUM>.

The structure body <NUM> just needs to have a structure for attaching the generator <NUM> to the transmission case <NUM>, and is not limited to a coupling device (the ladder hitch or the like) capable of coupling the working device <NUM> or the like. For example, the structure body <NUM> may be a jig or a bracket dedicated for attaching the generator <NUM> to the transmission case <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the coupling device <NUM> is connected to the transmission case <NUM>. The coupling device <NUM> includes the lift arm <NUM>, the three-point linkage mechanism <NUM>, and the lift cylinder <NUM>.

The lift arm <NUM> includes the first lift arm <NUM> and the second lift arm 61R. The first lift arm <NUM> is arranged to one side (to the left) in the vehicle width direction. The second lift arm 61R is arranged to the other side (to the right) in the vehicle width direction. The front ends of the first lift arm <NUM> and the second lift arm 61R are pivotally supported by a horizontal shaft <NUM> that is supported by the upper portion of the transmission case <NUM>, and extend backward.

The three-point linkage mechanism <NUM> includes the top linkage <NUM>, the lower linkage <NUM>, and the lift rod <NUM>. The top linkage <NUM> is arranged between the first lift arm <NUM> and the second lift arm 61R, and the front end portion is pivotally supported by the first pivotal support portion <NUM> that is provided at the upper portion of the transmission case <NUM>. The lower linkage <NUM> includes the first lower linkage <NUM> and the second lower linkage 6226R. The front end portions of the first lower linkage <NUM> and the second lower linkage 6226R are pivotally supported by the second pivotal support portion <NUM> that is provided at the lower portion of the transmission case <NUM>. The lift rod <NUM> includes the first lift rod <NUM> and the second lift rod 623R. The first lift rod <NUM> has an upper end portion connected to the rear end portion of the first lift arm <NUM>, and the lower end portion is connected to a middle portion of the first lower linkage <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. The upper end portion of the second lift rod 623R is connected to the rear end portion of the second lift arm 61R, and the lower end portion is connected to the middle portion of the second lower linkage 622R in the longitudinal direction.

A joint capable of connecting the working device <NUM> is provided at the rear end portion of the top linkage <NUM> and the rear end portion of the lower linkage <NUM>. By connecting the working device <NUM> to the rear end portion of the top linkage <NUM> and the rear end portion of the lower linkage <NUM>, the working device <NUM> is connected to the rear portion of the tractor <NUM> so as to be movable up and down.

The lift cylinder <NUM> is a hydraulic cylinder, and includes a first lift cylinder <NUM> and a second lift cylinder 63R. The first lift cylinder <NUM> has one end portion connected to the first lift arm <NUM> and has the other end portion connected to the lower left portion of the transmission case <NUM>. The second lift cylinder 63R has one end portion connected to the second lift arm 61R and has the other end portion connected to the lower right portion of the transmission case <NUM>. By driving the lift cylinder <NUM>, the first lift arm <NUM> and the second lift arm 61R rotate about the horizontal axis <NUM> and swing vertically. An electromagnetic control valve is connected to the first lift cylinder <NUM> and the second lift cylinder 63R. The electromagnetic control valve can drive the first lift cylinder <NUM> and the second lift cylinder 63R based on a control signal outputted from the controller portion <NUM> described later.

By driving the lift cylinder <NUM>, the height of the working device <NUM> and the inclination in the vehicle width direction (the difference between the height of the right portion and the height of the left portion) can be adjusted. In adjusting the height, both the first lift cylinder <NUM> and the second lift cylinder 63R are driven in the same manner. In adjusting the inclination, either the first lift cylinder <NUM> or the second lift cylinder 63R is driven. In particular, the first lift cylinder <NUM> or the second lift cylinder 63R is driven so that the lift cylinder arranged on the lower side of the working device <NUM> is extended or the lift cylinder arranged on the higher side is shortened. The lift cylinder <NUM> constitutes a height adjuster mechanism <NUM> and a height adjuster mechanism described later.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the spreader device <NUM> includes the container portion <NUM> and the spreader portion <NUM>.

The container portion <NUM> contains the spread substance (the fertilizer, the agrochemicals, and the like) to be spread on a farm field.

The container portion <NUM> is constituted of the substantially inverted pyramid-shaped hopper. The hopper includes a first hopper 31A and a second hopper 31B. However, the number of hoppers is not limited. The container portion <NUM> has a charging inlet for the spread substance at the upper end portion, and has a take-out outlet for taking out the spread substance at the lower end portion. Although the number of the take-out outlets is not limited, in the case of this embodiment, it is set according to the number of rotors (the disks) <NUM> to be described later. In particular, the number of rotors <NUM> is two, and the number of outlets is two.

The spreader portion <NUM> spreads the spread substance contained in the container portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the spreader portion <NUM> is provided below the container portion <NUM>. The spreader portion <NUM> includes at least two or more spreader portions. At least two or more spreader portions preferably have different spreading directions in all the spreader portions, but may include the spreader portions having the same spreading direction.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the spreader portion <NUM> includes the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM>. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the number of the spreader portions <NUM> is two. However, the number of spreader portions <NUM> is not limited to two, and may be three or more. The number of the spreader portions <NUM> and the number of the rotors <NUM> are the same. The first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM> are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, the two spreader portions (the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM>) will be described below.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first spreader portion <NUM> includes a first rotor <NUM> and a first shutter device <NUM>.

The first rotor <NUM> has a disk shape, and is configured to rotate around a center axis 40a extending in the perpendicular direction (in the vertical direction). A plurality of blade members 40b are attached to the upper surface of the first rotor <NUM>. The plurality of blade members 40b are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and are extended in the radial direction from the vicinity of the center axis 40a. By rotating around the center axis 40a, the first rotor <NUM> spreads the spread substance that has fallen from the first take-out outlet <NUM> radially onto the blade member 40b toward the outside (radially outward direction).

The first shutter device <NUM> includes a shutter and an electric motor (not shown n the drawings). The shutter is attached to one take-out outlet (a first take-out outlet) <NUM> of the container portion <NUM>, and is configured to move to change the area (an opening aperture) of the first take-out outlet <NUM>. The electric motor is a stepping motor or the like, and is coupled to the shutter. The first shutter device <NUM> moves the shutter to change the opening aperture of the first take-out outlet <NUM> by driving the electric motor. In this manner, the spreading amount of the spread substance by the first spreader portion <NUM> is adjusted.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second spreader portion <NUM> includes the second rotor <NUM> and the second shutter device <NUM>. Since the configuration of the second rotary body <NUM> is the same as that of the first rotary body <NUM>, the description is omitted. The configuration of the second shutter device <NUM> is the same as that of the first shutter device except that the shutter is attached to the other take-out outlet (a second take-out outlet) <NUM> of the container portion <NUM>. The second shutter device <NUM> is capable of changing the opening aperture of the second take-out outlet <NUM> to adjust the spreading amount of the spread substance by the second spreader portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first rotor <NUM> and the second rotor <NUM> are provided side by side in the vehicle width direction. As shown in <FIG>, the first rotor <NUM> and the second rotor <NUM> rotate in different directions. In the case of the present example and embodiment, as indicated by the black arrow in <FIG>, the first rotor <NUM> rotates counterclockwise and the second rotor <NUM> rotates clockwise in planar view.

The first rotor <NUM> is arranged below the first take-out outlet <NUM> of the container portion <NUM>. The spread substance that has fallen from the first take-out outlet <NUM> is spread by the rotating first rotor <NUM>. The second rotor <NUM> is arranged below the second take-out outlet <NUM> of the container portion <NUM>. The spread substance that has fallen from the second take-out outlet <NUM> is spread by the rotating second rotor <NUM>.

In the case of this example and this embodiment, the spreading directions of the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM> are different from each other. The spreading direction of the first spreader portion <NUM> is one side and the rear side in the vehicle width direction. The spreading direction of the second spreader portion <NUM> is the other side and the rear side in the vehicle width direction. As shown by the white arrowed line in <FIG>, in the example and the embodiment, the spreading direction of the first spreader portion <NUM> is the right and the right rear, and the spreading direction of the second spreader portion <NUM> is the left and the left rear. In addition, the direction shown by the white arrowed line is a main spreading direction, and the spreading direction actually spreads in the fan shape including the direction shown by the white arrowed lines.

As shown in <FIG>, the spreader portion <NUM> has a restrictor plate that restricts the spreading directions of the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM>. The restrictor plate includes a first restrictor plate <NUM>, a second restrictor plate <NUM>, and a third restrictor plate <NUM>. Each of the restrictor plate can be attached to the frame <NUM> or the like described later. The first restrictor plate <NUM> is provided in front of the first rotor <NUM> and extends in the vehicle width direction. The second restrictor plate <NUM> is provided in front of the second rotor <NUM> and extends in the vehicle width direction. The third restrictor plate <NUM> is provided between the first rotor <NUM> and the second rotor <NUM> and extends in the front-rear direction.

The spreading direction by the rotating of the first rotor <NUM> is regulated by the first restrictor plate <NUM> and the third restrictor plate <NUM>, and is mainly restricted to the right and to the right rear. The spreading direction by the rotating of the second rotor <NUM> is regulated by the second restrictor plate <NUM> and the third restrictor plate <NUM>, and is mainly restricted to the left and to the left rear. However, any configuration (the position, the number, the shape, the attachment structure, and the like) can be employed as long as the restrictor plate can regulate the spreading direction of the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM> to a desired direction. In addition, the configuration which does not provide all of or a part of the restrictor plates also may be employed.

In the case of the present example and embodiment, the first spreader portion <NUM> and the second spreader portion <NUM> are each responsible for spreading in different directions. In this manner, uniform spreading to a farm field can be performed easily. In addition, by differentiating the rotating speed of the first rotor <NUM> from the rotating speed of the second rotor <NUM>, the spreading distance to one side of the tractor <NUM> in the vehicle width direction can be differentiated from the spreading distance to the other side. Thereby, appropriate spreading according to the shape of the agricultural field and the traveling position of the tractor <NUM> is facilitated.

The spreader device <NUM> includes a frame (an attachment portion) <NUM>. The frame <NUM> supports the container portion <NUM>, the spreader portion <NUM>, and the motor <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the front portion of the frame <NUM> is connected to a coupling device <NUM> provided at the rear portion of the tractor <NUM>. In this manner, the spreader device <NUM> supported by the frame <NUM> is detachably attached to the rear portion of the tractor <NUM>. The configuration (the shape and the like) of the frame <NUM> is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the spreader device <NUM> includes a power transmission mechanism <NUM>. The power transmission mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism configured to transmit the power from the motor <NUM> and the power from the PTO shaft <NUM> to the first rotor <NUM> and the second rotor <NUM>. The configuration of the power transmission mechanism <NUM> is not particularly limited, but the configuration may be provided with a selection transmission portion (an electric clutch or the like) configured to selectively transmit the power from the motor <NUM> and the power from the PTO shaft <NUM> to the first rotor <NUM> or the second rotor <NUM>. In addition, as the power transmission mechanism <NUM> may be provided with a mechanism (a planetary gear mechanism or the like) to which the power from the motor <NUM> and the power from the PTO shaft <NUM> are inputted and provided with a dividing transmission portion configured to divide the power outputted from the motor <NUM> into two (one and the other) and transmit the divided powers to the first rotor <NUM> or the second rotor <NUM>.

Next, the work management system <NUM> will be described. The work management system <NUM> is a system for managing the working executed by the working machine <NUM> described above.

As shown in <FIG>, the work management system <NUM> includes the generator <NUM>, the motor <NUM>, a detector device <NUM>, and the management device <NUM>. Since the configurations of the generator <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are as described above, the description thereof is omitted.

The detector device <NUM> detects information related to the working device (the spreader device) <NUM> that is operated by the power from the generator <NUM>. The detector device <NUM> includes the height detector device <NUM>, the vehicle-speed detector device <NUM>, the wind-speed detector device <NUM>, the posture detector device <NUM>, and the position detector device <NUM>. The height detector device <NUM>, the vehicle-speed detector device <NUM>, the wind-speed detector device <NUM>, the posture detector device <NUM>, and the position detector device <NUM> are provided in the tractor <NUM> or the working device <NUM>. The tractor <NUM> or the working device <NUM> may be provided with at least one of the height detector device <NUM>, the vehicle-speed detector device <NUM>, the wind-speed detector device <NUM>, the posture detector device <NUM>, and the position detector device <NUM>.

The height detector device <NUM> is a height sensor configured to detect the height of the rotor (disk) <NUM> from the ground. As the height sensor, for example, an ultrasonic level sensor, a microwave level sensor, a laser level sensor, or the like can be employed. The height sensor may directly detect the height of the rotor, or may detect the height of a portion other than the rotor (for example, the frame <NUM>, the coupling device <NUM>, a part of the tractor <NUM>, and the like) and then detect the height of the rotor indirectly based on the difference in height between the detected portion and the rotor. Thus, the height detector device <NUM> is preferably provided in the working device <NUM>, but may be provided in the tractor <NUM>.

The vehicle-speed detector device <NUM> is a speed sensor configured to detect the traveling speed (the vehicle speed) of the working machine <NUM>. The speed sensor may detect the traveling speed of the tractor <NUM>, or may detect the traveling speed (a moving speed) of the working device <NUM> pulled by the tractor <NUM>. Thus, the vehicle-speed detector device <NUM> is preferably provided in the tractor <NUM>, but may be provided in the working device <NUM>. As the speed sensor, for example, a pickup type vehicle speed sensor configured to measure the traveling speed based on the rotating speed of the input shaft of the rear wheel differential device <NUM> can be employed, but the speed sensor is not limited thereto.

The wind-speed detector device <NUM> is a wind speed sensor configured to detect the speed (a wind speed) and direction of the wind received by the working device <NUM>. The wind speed sensor may directly detect the speed and direction of the wind received by the working device <NUM>, or may detect the speed and direction of the wind received by the tractor <NUM> and determine the detected speed and direction as the speed and direction of the working device <NUM>. Thus, the wind-speed detector device <NUM> is preferably provided in the working device <NUM>, but may be provided in the tractor <NUM>.

The posture detector device <NUM> is a posture sensor configured to detect the posture of the working device <NUM>. The posture sensor is, for example, an inclination sensor configured to detect the inclination of the working device <NUM>. The inclination sensor detects the inclination of the working device <NUM> in the vehicle width direction (the difference in height between the left portion and the right portion). The inclination sensor may directly detect the inclination of the working device <NUM>, or may detect the inclination of the tractor <NUM> to calculate the inclination of the working device <NUM> based on the inclination of the tractor <NUM>. Thus, the wind-speed detector device <NUM> is preferably provided in the spreader device <NUM>, but may be provided in the tractor <NUM>.

The position detector device <NUM> is a positioning device configured to detect the position of the working device <NUM>, and to detect the position of the working device <NUM> by receiving a satellite signal from a positioning satellite such as the GPS. The positioning device may directly detect the position of the working device <NUM>, or may detect the position of the tractor <NUM> to calculate the position of the working device <NUM> based on the position of the tractor <NUM>. Thus, the position detector device <NUM> is preferably provided in the working device <NUM>, but may be provided in the tractor <NUM>.

The management device <NUM> is constituted of a computer. The management device <NUM> may be provided in the tractor <NUM> or in the working device <NUM>. In addition, the management device <NUM> may be provided in both the tractor <NUM> and the working device <NUM>. When the management device <NUM> is provided in both the tractor <NUM> and the working device <NUM>, a part of the configuration (the function) of the management device <NUM> is provided in the tractor <NUM>, the remaining part is provided in the working device <NUM>, and thereby providing a configuration to transmit and receive information to and from each other.

The management device <NUM> includes the information obtaining portion <NUM>, the work management portion <NUM>, and the controller portion <NUM>. The information obtaining portion <NUM>, the work management portion <NUM>, and the controller portion <NUM> are constituted of an electronic/electrical component (a CPU, a memory, or the like), a computer program, or the like which is provided in the management device <NUM>.

The information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the operation information at the time of operation of the working device (the spreader device) <NUM> activated by power from the generator <NUM>. The operation information includes, for example, the height information related to the height of the working device <NUM>, the speed information related to the speed of the working machine <NUM>, the posture information related to the posture of the working device <NUM>, the position information related to the position of the working device <NUM>, and the like. In addition, the information obtaining portion <NUM> can also obtain the wind speed information related to the speed (wind speed) and direction of the wind received by the working device <NUM>. The operation information and the wind speed information (hereinafter collectively referred to as "operation information and the like") are detected by the detector device <NUM>, and then is transmitted to the management device <NUM> via the bus. The information obtaining portion <NUM> of the management device <NUM> obtains the operation information and the like outputted from the detector device <NUM>.

The information obtaining portion <NUM> includes the height information obtaining portion <NUM>, the vehicle-speed information obtaining portion <NUM>, the wind-speed information obtaining portion <NUM>, the posture information obtaining portion <NUM>, and the position information obtaining portion <NUM>. The height information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the height information detected by the height detector device <NUM>. The vehicle-speed information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the vehicle speed information detected by the vehicle-speed detector device <NUM>. The wind-speed information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the wind speed information detected by the wind-speed detector device <NUM>. The posture information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the posture information detected by the posture detector device <NUM>. The position information obtaining portion <NUM> obtains the position information detected by the position detector device <NUM>.

The work management portion <NUM> manages the working of the working device <NUM> based on the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>. In particular, the work management portion <NUM> displays the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM> on the display device <NUM>. The display device <NUM> is constituted of a liquid crystal display or the like. For example, the display device <NUM> is provided in front of the operator seat <NUM> of the tractor <NUM>, but may be provided in another position of the tractor <NUM> or may be provided in the working device <NUM>. In addition, the display device <NUM> and the work management portion <NUM> may be integrated or may be separated. The operation information displayed on the display device <NUM> may be all of or a part of the operation information described above. In addition to the operation information and the like, information on the agricultural field in which the working machine <NUM> performs the working can be displayed on the display device <NUM>. For example, the controller portion <NUM> is configured to display an image monitoring which position the working machine <NUM> is traveling in the farm field on the basis of the map information (information indicating the position of the farm field, the boundary line, and the like) stored in the memory of the management device <NUM> in advance on the display device <NUM> in a method such as displaying the working machine <NUM> on a map of the farm field.

The controller portion <NUM> controls the driving of the working device <NUM> based on the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>. In particular, the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor (the disk) <NUM> based on the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>. In more detail, the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on at least one or more pieces of information among the operation information and the like (the height information, the vehicle speed information, the wind speed information, the posture information, the position information) which is obtained by the information obtaining portion. When the working device (the spreader device) <NUM> includes a plurality of rotors <NUM>, the controller portion <NUM> may control the rotating speeds of the plurality of rotors <NUM> individually, or may control the rotating speeds of the plurality of rotors <NUM> in synchronization with each other. When individually controlling the rotating speeds of the plurality of rotors <NUM>, the rotating speeds of the plurality of rotors <NUM> can be made different from each other, or the rotating speeds of the plurality of rotors <NUM> can all be the same.

The rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> can be controlled by controlling the rotating speed of at least one of the motor <NUM> and the PTO shaft <NUM>. The controller portion <NUM> is configured to transmit a control signal to the inverter <NUM> to control the rotating speed of the motor <NUM>. In addition, the controller portion <NUM> is configured to transmit a control signal to the PTO speed-changer portion <NUM> to shift the PTO shaft <NUM>, thereby controlling the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM>. That is, the controller portion <NUM> is capable of shifting the speed of the motor <NUM> to control the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM>, and is also capable of shifting the speed of the PTO shaft <NUM> to control the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM>. In addition, the controller portion <NUM> is also capable of performing the control to switch the PTO shaft <NUM> between the rotating and the stopped by switching the PTO clutch <NUM> between the connected state and the disconnected state.

Hereinafter, the control of the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> by the controller portion <NUM> will be further described.

When the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on the height information, the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> so as to increase as the height of the rotor <NUM> from the ground decreases, for example. In this manner, it is prevented that the spreading distance of a spread substance decreases even when the height of the rotor <NUM> becomes low. That is, even when the height of the rotor <NUM> changes, the spreading distance of the spread substance can be made substantially constant.

When the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on the vehicle speed information, for example, the controller portion <NUM> performs the control so as to increase the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> as the vehicle speed increases. In this manner, when the speed of the tractor <NUM> is increased, it is possible to prevent the amount of spread substance per unit area from decreasing. That is, even when the speed of the tractor <NUM> changes, the amount of spread substance per unit area can be made substantially constant.

When the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on the wind speed information, the controller portion <NUM> performs the control, for example, so as to increase the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> as the speed of the winds in the direction opposite to the spreading direction of the rotor <NUM> increases. In addition, it is possible to control the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> to be reduced as the speed of the winds in the same direction as the spreading direction of the rotor <NUM> increases. In this manner, even when the direction and speed of the wind change, the spreading distance of the spread substance can be made substantially constant.

When the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on the posture information, the controller portion <NUM> performs the control, for example, so as to increase the rotating speed of the rotor (the first rotor <NUM>) arranged to the right to be higher than the rotating speed of the rotor (the second rotor <NUM>) arranged to the left when the working device <NUM> is tilted to the right (when the right is lowered), and so as to increase the rotating speed of the rotor (the second rotor <NUM>) arranged to the left to be higher than the rotating speed of the rotor (the first rotor <NUM>) arranged to the right when the working device <NUM> is tilted to the left (when the left is lowered). That is, it is possible to control the rotating speeds of the rotors on the lower side to be higher than the rotating speed of the rotor on the higher side. In this manner, even when the posture of the working device <NUM> changes, the spreading distance of the spread substance can be made substantially constant.

When the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> based on the position information, for example, when the current position where the tractor <NUM> is traveling is near the boundary line of the agricultural field, the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor <NUM> to be decreased or to be zero (stop). In addition, when there are a plurality of rotors <NUM>, the controller portion <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the rotor on the side close to the boundary line of the agricultural field to be reduced or to be set to zero (stopped). In this manner, it is possible to avoid the spreading of the spread substance beyond the boundary line. The boundary line is, for example, a line indicating a field edge (a boundary line with a road, a boundary line with a building, a boundary line with other person's field), a boundary line between different crops, or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the work management system <NUM> further includes the height adjuster mechanism <NUM> and the posture adjustment mechanism <NUM>.

The height adjusting mechanism <NUM> includes the lift cylinder <NUM> of the coupling device <NUM> and includes an electromagnetic control valve connected to the lift cylinder <NUM>. When the electromagnetic control valve connected to the lift cylinder <NUM> receives a control signal from the controller portion <NUM>, the electromagnetic control valve stretches and shortens the rod of the first lift cylinder <NUM> and the rod of the second lift cylinder 63R. In this manner, since the working device <NUM> connected to the coupling device <NUM> is moved upward and downward, the height of the rotor <NUM> can be adjusted.

In particular, the height adjuster mechanism <NUM> adjusts so that the height of the rotor <NUM> is always constant from the ground. For example, the controller portion <NUM> calculates the difference between the height detected by the height detector device <NUM> and the target height stored in advance in the memory of the management device <NUM>, and drives the lift cylinder <NUM> so that the difference approaches to zero, thereby adjusting the height of the rotor <NUM>. By adjusting the height of the rotor <NUM> from the ground by the height adjusting mechanism <NUM> so that the height of the rotor <NUM> is always constant, the spreading distance of the spread substance by the rotor <NUM> can be made substantially constant. In this manner, the variation in the spreading amount in the agricultural field can be suppressed.

The posture adjuster mechanism <NUM> includes a lift cylinder <NUM> of the coupling device <NUM> and includes an electromagnetic control valve connected to the lift cylinder <NUM>. When receiving the control signal from the controller portion <NUM>, the electromagnetic control valve connected to the lift cylinder <NUM> extends or shortens the rod of the first lift cylinder <NUM> or the second lift cylinder 63R. In this manner, the inclination of the working device <NUM> connected to the coupling device <NUM> in the vehicle width direction (the difference between the height of the left portion and the height of the right portion of the working device <NUM>) changes, so that the posture of the working device <NUM> can be adjusted.

In particular, the posture adjustment mechanism <NUM> adjusts so that the inclination of the working device <NUM> (the inclination with respect to the horizontal plane) becomes small. The controller portion <NUM> drives the first lift cylinder <NUM> or the second lift cylinder 63R so that the inclination (the difference in height between the left portion and the right portion) of the working device <NUM> detected by the posture detector device <NUM> approaches to zero, thereby adjusting the posture of the working device <NUM>. When the posture adjustment mechanism <NUM> performs the adjustment so that the inclination of the working device <NUM> (the inclination with respect to the horizontal plane) is reduced, the spreading distance of the spread substance due to the rotating of the rotor <NUM> can be made substantially constant. In this manner, the variation in the spreading amount in an agricultural field can be suppressed.

The work management method can be executed by the work management system <NUM> described above.

The work management method includes: an information obtaining step for obtaining the operation information representing the operation of the working device <NUM> that is activated by the power from the generator <NUM>; a work management step for managing working of the working device <NUM> based on the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>; and a control step for controlling the working device <NUM> based on the operation information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>.

In the information obtaining step, the wind speed information may be obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM> in addition to the operation information. In this case, in the control step, the working device <NUM> is capable of being controlled based on the wind speed information obtained by the information obtaining portion <NUM>.

The information obtaining step is executed by the information obtaining portion <NUM>. The work management step is executed by the work management portion <NUM>. The control step is executed by the controller portion <NUM>. Since the information obtaining method by the information obtaining portion <NUM>, the work management method by the work management portion <NUM>, and the control method by the controller portion <NUM> are as described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

According to this work management method, it is possible to manage the working of the working machine <NUM> provided with the generator <NUM> that is configured to transmit the power to the working device <NUM> and to control the working device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A working machine (<NUM>) comprising a traveling vehicle (<NUM>) and a working device (<NUM>), the traveling vehicle including a transmission case (<NUM>) and a PTO shaft (<NUM>) protruding from the transmission case (<NUM>), the working machine comprising:
a structure body (<NUM>) attached to a side of the transmission case (<NUM>) from which the PTO shaft (<NUM>) protrudes; and
a generator (<NUM>) attached to the structure body (<NUM>),
the structure body including:
a first portion (25a, 25b) attached to the transmission case (<NUM>);
a second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) to which the working device (<NUM>) is attached;
a third portion (25e) attached to the generator (<NUM>), the third portion (25e) having a through hole (<NUM>) for projecting the PTO shaft (<NUM>); and
a first side plate (25c) and a second side plate (25d) arranged separately in a vehicle width direction of the traveling vehicle (<NUM>), wherein
the second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a first attachment portion (<NUM>) and a second attachment portion (<NUM>), to which the working device (<NUM>) is attached, the first attachment portion (<NUM>) being arranged to one side in the vehicle width direction, and the second attachment portion (<NUM>) being arranged to the other side in the vehicle width direction,
the generator (<NUM>) is arranged between the first side plate (25c) and the second side plate (25d) in the vehicle width direction,
the third portion is formed of a rear plate (25e) arranged between the first side plate (25c) and the second side plate (25d),
the rear plate (25e) connects the first attachment portion (<NUM>) and the second attachment portion (<NUM>),
the generator (<NUM>) is attached to the rear plate (25e),
a coupling device (<NUM>) including a three-point linkage mechanism (<NUM>), a lift arm (<NUM>), and a lift cylinder (<NUM>) is connected to the transmission case (<NUM>)
the structure body (<NUM>) constitutes a coupling device connected to the working device (<NUM>) and differing from the coupling device (<NUM>) including the three-point linkage mechanism (<NUM>), the working device (<NUM>) being configured to be driven by power transmitted from the PTO shaft (<NUM>), characterised in that
a plurality of through holes used to connect the working device are formed in the first attachment portion (<NUM>) and the second attachment portion (<NUM>) at intervals in a vertical direction (<NUM>).