Swiveling work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022018092-A1
Application number	US-202117488060-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A swiveling work machine includes a swivel base, a prime mover provided on the swivel base, a work device provided on the swivel base, and a support mechanism to support a fuel cylinder storing fuel for the prime mover.

First claim

1 . A swiveling work machine comprising:
a swivel base; a prime mover provided on the swivel base; a work device provided on the swivel base; and a support mechanism to support a fuel cylinder storing fuel for the prime mover.

2 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a hood defining an engine compartment incorporating the prime mover, wherein the support mechanism is configured to support the fuel cylinder above the hood.

3 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the hood is openable and closable, and the support mechanism is configured to support the fuel cylinder shiftably between a installation position where the fuel cylinder is supported above the hood and a retracting position where the fuel cylinder is prevented from interfering with the hood when being opened or closed.

4 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 3 , wherein
the support mechanism includes a first pivotal shaft for pivoting the fuel cylinder horizontally rotatably.

5 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 3 , wherein
the support mechanism is configured to support the fuel cylinder at the installation position inward from a rotating locus of the swivel base.

6 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 4 , wherein
the support mechanism includes a second pivotal shaft for pivoting the fuel cylinder rotatably downward from the retracting position.

7 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 6 , wherein
the support mechanism includes:
a base supporting the first pivotal shaft;
an installation part to install the fuel cylinder thereon;
a first pivotal bracket joining the first pivotal shaft and the second pivotal shaft to each other and being rotatable around the first pivotal shaft; and
a second pivotal bracket joining the second pivotal shaft and the installation part to each other and being rotatable around the second pivotal shaft, and
the base is formed with a notch such that, when the first pivotal bracket is rotated around the first pivotal shaft, the second pivoting bracket is engaged to the notch so as to limit a rotation range of the first pivotal bracket.

8 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an upper member provided above the hood to cover the fuel cylinder set at the installation position from thereabove, wherein the support mechanism includes an extended portion extending outward of the machine body from the lower portion of the fuel cylinder set at the installation position so as to face the lower portion of the fuel cylinder set at the installation position, and an interval between the upper member and the extended portion is less than a diameter of the fuel cylinder.

9 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the support mechanism includes a fastener to fix the fuel cylinder.

10 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
natural gas or petroleum gas serving as the fuel is compressed or liquefied and is stored in the fuel cylinder.

11 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reserve cylinder to supply fuel to the prime mover when a residual quantity of fuel in the fuel cylinder is reduced and becomes a predetermined quantity or less.

12 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an accommodating portion to accommodate the fuel cylinder; an upper member provided above the fuel cylinder; and a lower member provided below the upper member, wherein the fuel cylinder set in the accommodating portion is arranged inward from a virtual circle touching the upper member and the lower member.

13 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 12 , wherein
the support mechanism includes an installation part to install the fuel cylinder thereon, and the lower member serves as the installation part.

14 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 12 , wherein
the swivel base includes a weight opposite to the work device, and the lower member serves as the weight.

15 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a hood provided on a rear portion of the swivel base to define an engine compartment; and a protection mechanism to protect an operator seat provided on the swivel base, the protection mechanism including a strut above the hood, wherein the work device is provided on a front portion of the swivel base, and an accommodating portion to accommodate the fuel cylinder an accommodated object is provided between the hood and the strut.

16 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a supporter supporting the strut and forming the accommodating portion, wherein the supporter includes:
a vertical member extended upward from a front portion of the hood; and
an upper member extended rearward from an upper portion of the vertical member and provided above the hood,
the strut is attached to the upper member, and the accommodating portion is defined as a space surrounded by the hood, the vertical member and the upper member.

17 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 16 , wherein
the strut of the protection mechanism is paired so that the pair of struts are arranged with a space therebetween in a machine-width direction, the upper member extends to have one and the other end portions in the machine-width direction, and the pair of struts are attached to the one and the other end portions of the upper member, respectively.

18 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 15 , wherein
the strut includes:
a first portion extended upward from a front portion of the hood;
a second portion curved rearward from an upper end of the first portion and provided above the hood, and
a third portion extended upward from an upper portion of the second portion, and
the accommodating portion is defined as a space surrounded by the hood, the first portion and the second portion.

19 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuel tank storing first fuel; and a fuel changer to change the fuel to be supplied to the prime mover, wherein the fuel cylinder stores, as the fuel, a second fuel, the prime mover is driven selectively by either the first fuel or the second fuel, and the fuel changer changes the fuel to be supplied to the prime mover from one of the first fuel and the second fuel to the other.

20 . The swiveling work machine according to claim 19 , further comprising:
an operation member operable to change the fuel to be supplied to the prime mover.

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Kunizawa Teruo
• Matsui Kiyoshi
• Ito Junki
• Ikeda Haruhito
• Date Masamitsu
• Cecchini Alessandro
• Barchi Massimo

Classifications

• B60K15/07

  of gas tanks · CPC title

• B60K15/063

  Arrangement of tanks · CPC title

• E02F9/267

  Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles · CPC title

• E02F9/121

  Turntables, i.e. structure rotatable about 360° · CPC title

• E02F9/0891

  Lids or bonnets or doors or details thereof (doors for cabins E02F9/163 takes precedence; for motor vehicles B62D25/10) · CPC title