JP2020150630A - Electric work vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electric work vehicle in which a battery can be easily loaded and unloaded on a truck or the like even when a battery unit is not mounted in a battery storage portion.SOLUTION: An electric work vehicle includes: a vehicle body having running wheels 11, 12; a traveling motor capable of driving the running wheels 11, 12; a battery unit 4 having a pair of left and right caster wheels at one end thereof, the battery unit being configured to be attachable to and detachable from a battery storage portion 3 of the vehicle body and being capable of supplying electric power to the traveling motor; and a traction portion 15A capable of towing the battery unit 4 not installed to the battery storage portion 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

The present invention relates to an electric work vehicle provided with a battery unit capable of supplying power to a traveling motor capable of driving traveling wheels.

For example, the electric work vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a battery unit (“battery pack” in the document) and a battery storage unit capable of storing the battery unit, and the battery unit is attached to and detached from the battery storage unit. It is configured to be possible. The battery unit has a capacity capable of mowing for a long time, but has a weight that is difficult for an operator to hold and carry. For this reason, the battery unit is provided with caster wheels (“wheels” in the literature), and the battery unit is configured so that the operator can easily carry the heavy battery unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-11574

By the way, in the electric work vehicle exemplified in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable that a replacement battery unit is prepared in addition to the battery unit already mounted in the battery storage portion. The replacement battery unit is transported by truck together with the electric work vehicle, and when the electric work vehicle is lowered from the truck bed to the ground by a slope, the replacement battery unit is also lowered from the truck bed to the ground by the slope. It is expected that In this case, the electric work vehicle is self-propelled, but with respect to the replacement battery unit, it is necessary for the operator to lower the battery unit while rolling the caster wheels, even though it is a heavy object. For this reason, if the truck does not have lifting equipment such as a lift gate, loading and unloading of the battery unit is a heavy labor for the worker.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric work vehicle in which a battery can be easily loaded and unloaded on a truck or the like even if the battery unit is not mounted in the battery storage unit.

The electric work vehicle according to the present invention is configured to have a vehicle body having traveling wheels, a traveling motor capable of driving the traveling wheels, a pair of left and right caster wheels at one end, and detachable from the battery storage portion of the vehicle body. Further, it is characterized by being provided with a battery unit capable of supplying power to the traveling motor and a traction unit capable of towing the battery unit not attached to the battery housing portion.

According to the present invention, the electric work vehicle is provided with a towing portion capable of towing the battery unit. Since the electric work vehicle can run on its own by a traveling motor, the replacement battery unit is towed by the electric work vehicle while the replacement battery unit is connected to the towing portion. Therefore, for example, when loading and unloading a replacement battery unit on the truck bed, even if the truck does not have lifting equipment such as a lift gate and goes through a slope, the battery unit loading and unloading work is performed by an electric work vehicle. It is done by towing. As a result, even if the battery unit is not mounted in the battery storage unit, an electric work vehicle in which the battery can be easily loaded and unloaded on a truck or the like is realized. It should be noted that the "traction" in the present invention includes not only the meaning of pulling the object but also the meaning of propulsion to push the object forward.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the battery accommodating portion is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body and the towing portion is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body.

In this configuration, since the towing portion is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body, the passengers on the electric work vehicle can operate the electric work vehicle while visually recognizing the front towing portion.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a handle capable of pulling the battery unit is provided on the upper portion of the battery unit so that the tow portion and the handle can be engaged with each other.

In this configuration, the handle of the battery unit is used as an engaging member with the traction portion. The handle may be configured to pull the battery unit manually, for example, on level ground. With this configuration, the handle can be used as both a towing tool operated by human power and a towing tool operated by an electric work vehicle.

It is a left side view of an electric mower. It is a top view of an electric mower. It is a side view which shows the process of mounting a battery unit in a battery housing part. It is a side view which shows the process of mounting a battery unit in a battery housing part. It is a side view which shows the process of mounting a battery unit in a battery housing part. It is a side view which shows the state which the battery unit is attached to the battery housing part. It is a side view which shows the state which the battery unit is located in front of the vehicle body. It is a side view which shows the process of lifting a vehicle body by a battery unit. It is a front view which shows the positional relationship between the front part of a vehicle body and a battery unit. It is a side view which shows the state which the battery unit lifted a vehicle body. It is a side view which shows the state which the battery unit is towed by the vehicle body.

[Basic configuration of electric work vehicle]
An example of the embodiment of the electric work vehicle according to the present invention will be described. In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, "front" means the front in the vehicle body front-rear direction (traveling direction), and "rear" means the rear in the vehicle body front-rear direction (traveling direction). Further, the left-right direction or the lateral direction means a vehicle body crossing direction (vehicle body width direction) orthogonal to the vehicle body front-rear direction. "Upper" or "lower" is a positional relationship in the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle body, and indicates a relationship in ground clearance. Further, the "passenger" and the "worker" in the present embodiment may indicate the same person. In addition, the "traction" in the present embodiment includes not only the meaning of pulling the object but also the meaning of propulsion to push the object forward.

An electric mower is shown as an example of an electric work vehicle in FIGS. 1 and 2. This electric mower is provided with a vehicle body 1, a pair of left and right front wheels 11, 11, a pair of left and right rear wheels 12, 12, a mower unit 2, and a battery storage unit 3. A pair of left and right front wheels 11 and 11 are provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 1, and a pair of left and right rear wheels 12 and 12 are provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1. The "running wheels" in the present invention are a pair of left and right front wheels 11 and 11 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 12 and 12. The mower unit 2 is supported at the lower part of the vehicle body 1 between a pair of left and right front wheels 11 and 11 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 12 and 12 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The battery storage portion 3 is supported between the pair of left and right rear wheels 12, 12 at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1.

The vehicle body 1 is provided with a frame 10, and the frame 10 has a pair of left and right front and rear beams 10A and 10A, and a cross beam (not shown). A pair of left-right front-rear beams 10A and 10A extend in the front-rear direction, and these front-rear beams 10A and 10A are connected by a cross beam. The front wheels 11 are supported below the front ends of the left and right front and rear beams 10A and 10A via the driven wheel support portion 10B. The pair of left and right driven wheel support portions 10B and 10B are configured to swing around the vertical shaft core, and the pair of left and right front wheels 11 and 11 are swingable around the vertical shaft core. That is, among the traveling wheels, the pair of left and right rear wheels 12 and 12 are driving wheels, and the pair of left and right front wheels 11 and 11 are caster-type driven wheels that are free to idle.

A driver's seat 13, a rops frame 14, and the like are provided on the upper part of the vehicle body 1. The driver's seat 13 is supported by the frame 10, and the lower portion of the rops frame 14 is connected to the frame 10. A floor plate 15 is formed in front of the driver's seat 13 in the vehicle body 1, and the floor plate 15 is a foothold for passengers. The front end of the floor plate 15 is located on the rear side of the machine body with respect to the front ends of the front and rear beams 10A and 10A, respectively.

A pair of left and right traveling motors 16 and 16 and a pair of left and right reduction mechanisms 17 and 17 are arranged at the rear of the frame 10. The power of the traveling motor 16 on the right side of the machine body is transmitted to the rear wheels 12 on the right side of the machine body via the reduction mechanism 17 on the right side of the machine body. Further, the power of the traveling motor 16 on the left side of the machine body is transmitted to the rear wheels 12 on the left side of the machine body via the reduction mechanism 17 on the left side of the machine body.

A pair of left and right speed change levers 18 and 18 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the driver's seat 13. When the passenger operates the speed change lever 18 on the right side of the machine body to the neutral position, the traveling motor 16 on the right side of the machine body stops. When the passenger operates the speed change lever 18 on the right side of the machine to the forward side, the traveling motor 16 on the right side of the machine rotates to the forward side. When the passenger operates the speed change lever 18 on the right side of the machine to the reverse side, the traveling motor 16 on the right side of the machine rotates to the reverse side. Further, when the passenger operates the speed change lever 18 on the left side of the machine body to the neutral position, the forward side and the reverse side, the traveling motor 16 on the left side of the machine body operates in the same manner as described above. As a result, the traveling motor 16 is configured to be able to drive the rear wheels 12 as traveling wheels. That is, when the passenger independently operates the left and right shift levers 18 and 18, the left and right rear wheels 12 and 12 are driven independently. As a result, the electric mower is capable of running and turning.

The mower unit 2 is provided with a housing unit 20, a cutting blade 21, a cutting blade motor 22, and a link mechanism 23. The lower portion of the housing unit 20 is opened downward, and the cutting blade 21 and the cutting blade motor 22 are housed in the housing unit 20. Therefore, the front, rear, left, and right sides of the cutting blade 21 and the upper side of the cutting blade 21 are covered by the housing unit 20. The cutting blade 21 is configured to be rotatable around the vertical axis core inside the housing unit 20 by the power of the cutting blade motor 22. The housing unit 20 is suspended from the frame 10 so as to be able to move up and down by the link mechanism 23.

As described above, the battery storage unit 3 is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1, and the battery storage unit 3 is configured to be able to store the battery unit 4. The battery unit 4 is configured to be able to supply electric power to the traveling motor 16 and the cutting blade motor 22. The battery storage unit 3 is provided with a rear cover 30, and the rear cover 30 is configured to swing up and down around the lateral axis of the machine body at the front portion of the battery storage unit 3. As a result, the upper portion of the battery housing portion 3 is covered with the rear cover 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the battery accommodating portion 3 has a pair of left and right side walls 31 and 31, a front wall 32, and a floor plate 33. The left and right side walls 31, 31 are fixed to the rear portion of the frame 10. The front ends of the left and right side walls 31 and 31 are connected to the front wall 32. Further, the lower ends of the side walls 31 and 31 and the lower ends of the front wall 32 are connected to the horizontal floor plate 33. The guide rail 34 and the auxiliary roller 35 are fixed to the left and right side walls 31 and 31, respectively. The pair of left and right guide rails 34, 34 have a channel-shaped cross section and extend in the front-rear direction so that the battery unit 4 can be guided to the battery housing portion 3. The auxiliary roller 35 is rotatably provided slightly behind the rear end of the guide rail 34. Near the front end of the guide rail 34, a stopper 36 made of an elastic body such as a spring or rubber is provided inside the channel.

[Battery unit configuration]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, in the present embodiment, a trolley-shaped carrier 40 is provided below the battery unit 4. Although not described in detail, the carrier 40 is configured by combining a plurality of frames, and the main body of the battery is placed and supported on the carrier 40. As a result, the battery unit 4 can be transported by the carrier 40 without the need for another loading platform or the like.

Shoe 41s are attached downward to each of the right end portion and the left end portion in the front lower portion of the carrier 40. Right and left large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 for movement are rotatably provided in the lower rear portion of the carrier 40 via a bracket. That is, the battery unit 4 has large diameter caster wheels 42, 42 as a pair of left and right caster wheels at one end.

As shown in FIG. 3, the large-diameter caster wheel 42 as a caster wheel and the shoe 41 as the other end on the opposite side to the position of the large-diameter caster wheel 42 in a state of being removed from the battery housing portion 3. And touch the ground. This state is called a "flat state". The battery unit 4 can stand on its own when the shoe 41 and the large-diameter caster wheel 42 are grounded. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, by floating the shoe 41, the battery unit 4 can be smoothly moved by the large-diameter caster wheel 42. The battery unit 4 can stand on its own in a state where it rotates around the axis of the large-diameter caster wheel 42 and the shoe 41 as the other end is positioned higher than the large-diameter caster wheel 42 (see FIG. 10). This state is referred to as an "inclined state". A small diameter caster wheel 43 is rotatably provided on the side portion at the rear end of the carrier 40. When the large-diameter caster wheel 42 and the small-diameter caster wheel 43 are grounded, the tilted state of the battery unit 4 is maintained, and the battery unit 4 can move and stand on its own. As described above, the battery unit 4 is configured so that the posture can be changed between a flat state and an inclined state when the battery unit 4 is removed from the battery storage unit 3.

Guide rollers 44 are rotatably attached to the left and right side portions of the front portion of the carrier 40. Further, a guide rod 45 is provided behind the guide roller 44, and the guide rod 45 extends in the front-rear direction on each of the left and right side portions of the carrier 40.

A handle 46 is provided at the front upper end portion of the battery unit 4, and the handle 46 extends upward from the upper end portion of the battery unit 4. The handle 46 is configured so that the battery unit 4 can be towed by an operator or the like gripping and pulling the handle 46. Although not described in detail, the handle 46 is configured to swing around the horizontal axis at the upper end of the battery unit 4, and the handle 46 can hold the swing angle with respect to the battery unit 4 at a set angle by a lock mechanism (not shown). It is configured as follows. Note that this set angle is not limited to one angle, but is configured to be adjustable to a plurality of angles. Further, the length from the swing base end portion to the free end portion of the handle 46 can be appropriately changed.

3 to 6 show a process of loading the battery unit 4 into the battery storage unit 3. FIG. 3 shows a state before the start of loading, in which the battery unit 4 is located behind the vehicle body 1. The rear cover 30 is swung upward to open the rear and upper parts of the battery housing portion 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the battery unit 4 is brought close to the battery storage unit 3, the guide rod 45 of the battery unit 4 is placed on the auxiliary roller 35 of the battery storage unit 3, and the shoe 41 rides on the floor plate 33. , The battery unit 4 is moved in an inclined state.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operator moves the battery unit 4 forward while returning it to the horizontal posture, and the guide roller 44 of the battery unit 4 enters the guide rail 34 of the battery storage unit 3. Let me. The battery unit 4 can be smoothly moved forward in the horizontal posture by the rolling support by the guide rail 34 and the guide roller 44 and the rolling support by the auxiliary roller 35 and the guide rod 45. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the contact between the guide roller 44 and the stopper 36 restricts the movement of the battery unit 4 to the front of the machine body. As described above, the battery unit 4 has large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 as a pair of left and right caster wheels at one end thereof, and is configured to be detachably attached to the battery storage portion 3 of the vehicle body 1. The battery unit 4 can supply electric power to the traveling motor 16 in a state where the battery unit 4 is housed in the battery storage unit 3.

[Battery unit as a jack]
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the battery unit 4 can also be used as a jack for lifting the front portion of the vehicle body 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the width of the battery unit 4 in the left-right direction is smaller than the distance between the inner ends of the front-rear beams 10A and 10A of the left and right beams 10A and 10A, respectively. Therefore, any of the front and rear ends of the battery unit 4 is in a space S (see FIG. 2) surrounded by a region of the front ends of the pair of left and right front and rear beams 10A and 10A and the front end of the floor plate 15. It is possible to enter.

Connection stays 10C and 10C are provided on the inner side of the fuselage of the left and right front wheels 11 and 11, respectively. The connecting stay 10C is integrally formed with the front wheel 11. An inclined surface 10d facing downward is formed on the front portion of the connecting stay 10C, and the inclined surface 10d inclines forward toward the forward side. A semicircular recess 10e is formed at the rear of the connecting stay 10C, and the arc shape of the inner diameter of the recess 10e has the same or substantially the same shape as the arc shape of the outer diameter of the guide roller 44. The upper half portion can enter the recess 10e. In the front-rear direction, the arcuate surface of the recess 10e inclines upward from the rear end of the inclined surface 10d.

7 to 10 show a process of lifting the front portion of the vehicle body 1 with the battery unit 4. As shown in FIG. 7, the battery unit 4 is arranged in front of the vehicle body 1 so that the side where the large diameter caster wheel 42 is located is located on the front side. That is, the front-rear direction of the battery unit 4 is opposite to the direction when the battery unit 4 is stored in the battery storage unit 3. Then, the operator or the like moves the battery unit 4 backward while holding the handle 46, and causes the end portions of the battery unit 4 on the side where the guide rollers 44, 44 are located to enter the space S (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 9, the distance between the pair of left and right guide rollers 44 and 44 and the distance between the pair of left and right connecting stays 10C and 10C are the same or substantially the same in the front-rear view of the machine body. As shown in FIG. 8, when the battery unit 4 is pushed further rearward by an operator or the like in a state where the end portions of the battery unit 4 on the side where the guide rollers 44, 44 are located have entered the space S, the left and right ends are respectively. The guide rollers 44 and 44 of the above and the left and right connecting stays 10C and 10C come into contact with each other. Then, the guide roller 44 rolls backward along the inclined surface 10d, and the upper half portion of the guide roller 44 enters the recess 10e. As a result, the pair of left and right guide rollers 44, 44 and the pair of left and right connecting stays 10C, 10C are engaged with each other.

That is, in the battery unit 4, a "lift member" capable of lifting one end side of the vehicle body 1 is provided in the region of the other end of the battery unit 4 on the side opposite to the side where the large-diameter caster wheel 42 is located. A pair of left and right guide rollers 44, 44 that can rotate along the guide rail 34. A pair of left and right connecting stays 10C and 10C are provided on the inner side of each of the pair of left and right driven wheel support portions 10B and 10B as "engagement portions" that can engage with the lift member.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, when an operator or the like applies a lever force CCW1 in the front direction of the machine to the handle 46, the lever force CCW1 causes the entire battery unit 4 to rotate counterclockwise on the paper in FIG. Rotate in the direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the operator may apply a lever force CCW2 in the rearward direction of the machine body to the end portion of the battery unit 4 on the side where the large diameter caster wheels 42, 42 are located. In this case, the lever force CCW1 and the lever force CCW2 rotate the entire battery unit 4 in the counterclockwise direction on the paper surface of FIG. As described above, the handle 46 provided on the upper portion of the battery unit 4 is configured to enable the operation of changing the posture of the battery unit 4 between the flat state and the tilted state.

When the battery unit 4 rotates as described above, a pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 roll rearward along the ground. Further, the engaged state of the pair of left and right guide rollers 44 and 44 and the pair of left and right connecting stays 10C and 10C is maintained. Therefore, as the pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 rolls backward, the positions of the pair of left and right guide rollers 44, 44 are lifted upward. That is, with the portion of the battery unit 4 where the large diameter caster wheels 42 and 42 are located on the front side, the portion of the battery unit 4 on the rear side of the large diameter caster wheels 42 and 42 is inclined backward. In other words, in the state where the large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 of the battery unit 4 are located on the front side, the portion of the battery unit 4 above the large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 is inclined forward. To do. Then, the small-diameter caster wheel 43 located on the front side of the machine touches the ground, and the rotation of the battery unit 4 stops. As a result, the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is lifted by the battery unit 4.

The stay 47 extends from one or both sides of the carrier 40. With the shoe 41 and the large-diameter caster wheel 42 in contact with each other, the stay 47 tilts backward, and the stay 47 and the large-diameter caster wheel 42 overlap in a side view. The stay 47 is located laterally outside (the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 10) with respect to the large-diameter caster wheel 42.

The lifted state of the vehicle body 1 is maintained in a state where the pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 and the small-diameter caster wheels 43 are in contact with the ground. At this time, the stay 47 extends in the vertical direction, a through hole 47a is formed at the lower end of the stay 47, and the holder 48 is inserted through the through hole 47a. The holder 48 in this embodiment is a substantially linear rod. With the holder 48 inserted through the through hole 47a, the holder 48 comes into contact with the ground in a state of extending in the front-rear direction. The holder 48 cannot swing with respect to the stay 47. Since the holder 48 is in contact with the ground, the pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 and the small-diameter caster wheels 43 do not roll on the ground, and the position of the battery unit 4 is held.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the battery unit 4 is tilted and the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is lifted, the length of the holder 48 in the longitudinal direction is the length extending between the front end and the rear end of the battery unit 4. is there. From this, for example, even when a pressing force is applied to the battery unit 4 in the front-rear direction, the pressing force in the front-rear direction is applied to the stay 47 by inserting the holder 48 into the through hole 47a of the stay 47. Is accepted by. Therefore, the tilted state of the battery unit 4 is maintained in a state where the holder 48 is inserted into the through hole 47a of the stay 47, and the lifted state of the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is maintained without the battery unit 4 moving.

In this way, the tilting of the battery unit 4 lifts the front portion of the vehicle body 1, and the tilted state of the battery unit 4 is held by the holder 48. Therefore, the battery unit 4 realizes a jack structure that requires less labor for workers and is stably supported.

When the worker or the like releases the lift of the vehicle body 1, the worker or the like first removes the holder 48 from the through hole 47a. Then, for example, when an operator or the like applies a force opposite to the lever force CCW1 to the handle 46, the entire battery unit 4 rotates in the clockwise direction on the paper surface of FIG. Along with this, a pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 roll forward of the machine body, and a pair of left and right guide rollers 44, 44 descend. As a result, the lifted state of the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is released.

In a state where the holder 48 is removed from the through hole 47a, the holder 48 is configured to be storable by being fixed to a part of the battery unit 4. For example, the holder 48 may be attached to the handle 46, or the holder 48 may be attached to the carrier 40. Further, the holder 48 may be fixed to the battery housing portion 3.

[Battery unit traction structure]
As shown in FIG. 11, the free end portion of the handle 46 and the vehicle body 1 are configured to be connectable, and the battery unit 4 can be towed by the electric mower by these connections. In FIG. 11, the battery unit 4 located on the front side of the machine body with respect to the electric work vehicle can be stored in the battery storage unit 3, and is a replacement battery unit separate from the battery unit 4 housed in the battery storage unit 3. It is 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the electric mower is located on the slope SL between the truck bed F and the ground G, and the front portion of the vehicle body 1 is located on the lower side of the slope SL. Then, the replacement battery unit 4 for replacement is located on the lower side of the slope SL than the electric mower.

The replacement battery unit 4 is arranged in front of the vehicle body 1 so that the side where the large diameter caster wheel 42 is located is located on the rear side. That is, the orientation of the replacement battery unit 4 in the front-rear direction is the same as the orientation when the replacement battery unit 4 is housed in the battery storage unit 3. In this state, the pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 and the small-diameter caster wheels 43 come into contact with each other. In the state where the large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 of the replacement battery unit 4 are located on the rear side, the portion of the replacement battery unit 4 on the front side of the large-diameter caster wheels 42, 42 is tilted forward. To do. In other words, in the replacement battery unit 4, the portion of the replacement battery unit 4 where the large diameter caster wheels 42, 42 are located is on the rear side, and the portion of the replacement battery unit 4 above the large diameter caster wheels 42, 42. Tilts backwards.

A traction portion 15A is provided at the center of the left and right sides of the front portion of the floor plate 15. The tow portion 15A and the handle 46 are configured to be engageable. When an operator or the like hooks the free end portion of the handle 46 on the towing portion 15A, the towing portion 15A is configured to be able to tow the battery unit 4 in a state of being removed from the battery housing portion 3. As described above, with the pair of left and right large-diameter caster wheels 42 and 42 and the small-diameter caster wheels 43 grounded and the replacement battery unit 4 tilted, the swing base end of the handle 46 is the replacement battery. This is the upper end of the unit 4. Further, in the inclined state of the replacement battery unit 4, the swing base end portion of the handle 46 is located higher than the tow portion 15A in the direction perpendicular to the inclined surface of the slope SL. Then, an operator or the like swings the handle 46 toward the side where the vehicle body 1 is located, and hooks the free end portion of the handle 46 to the towing portion 15A. As a result, the electric mower and the replacement battery unit 4 are connected to each other, and the electric mower can tow the replacement battery unit 4 on the slope SL.

In the electric mower of the present embodiment, a pair of left and right traveling motors 16 and 16, a pair of left and right deceleration mechanisms 17 and 17, and a battery unit 4 are provided in the vicinity of the front and rear of the pair of left and right rear wheels 12 and 12 in a side view. Be placed. In particular, the weight of the battery unit 4 accounts for a high proportion of the total weight of the electric mower, and the ratio of the weight of the front half of the vehicle body 1 to the weight of the rear half of the vehicle body 1 is, for example, about "1: 9". is there. That is, the weight of the rear half of the vehicle body 1 occupies about 90% of the total weight of the electric mower. In the present embodiment, the battery storage portion 3 is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1, and the traction portion 15A is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 1. When the replacement battery unit 4 is connected to the front of the vehicle body 1, the ratio of the weight of the front half of the vehicle body 1 in the state where the replacement battery unit 4 is connected to the weight of the rear half of the vehicle body 1 is, for example, It will be about "4: 6". That is, since the replacement battery unit 4 is connected to the front of the vehicle body 1 to balance the front and rear weight balance of the vehicle body 1, the electric mower can tow the replacement battery unit 4 without losing the front and rear balance. .. Further, since the traction unit 15A is located on the front side of the driver's seat 13, the operator or the like can easily visually recognize the connected state of the replacement battery unit 4 while seated on the driver's seat 13.

In the slope SL, when an operator or the like operates the electric mower backward, the replacement battery unit 4 is towed along with the backward drive of the electric mower, and the replacement battery unit 4 moves toward the loading platform F. Further, when an operator or the like advances the electric mower, the replacement battery unit 4 is pushed by the electric mower and moves toward the ground G by its own weight as the electric mower is driven forward. This facilitates the loading and unloading work of the replacement battery unit 4 on the loading platform F even if the loading platform F is not provided with equipment such as a tailgate lifter (not shown).

[Another Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above-described embodiments, and the following, typical alternative embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the electric work vehicle is self-propelled to pull the replacement battery unit 4, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the electric work vehicle and the replacement battery unit 4 are put together in a state where the rear portion of the electric work vehicle is connected by a winch on the truck bed, and the replacement battery unit 4 is hooked on the towing unit 15A. It may be configured to be pulled by the winch.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the battery storage unit 3 is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1, but the battery storage unit 3 may be provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 1 or at the center of the front, rear, left and right of the vehicle body 1. It may be provided in a place. Further, the towing portion 15A may be provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 1. That is, the battery unit 4 may be pushed or towed by the electric work vehicle behind the vehicle body 1.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the traction portion 15A and the handle 46 are configured to be engageable, but the traction portion 15A and the handle 46 may not be engaged with each other. For example, the battery unit 4 is provided with an engaging member different from the handle 46, and the battery unit 4 is pushed or towed by the electric work vehicle by engaging the engaging member with the traction unit 15A. There may be.

(4) The above-mentioned electric work vehicle is not limited to the electric mower. The electric work vehicle may be, for example, an electric cleaning vehicle, an electric carrier, or the like.

The configuration disclosed in the above-described embodiment (including another embodiment, the same shall apply hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configuration disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. Moreover, the embodiment disclosed in the present specification is an example, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the object of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to an electric work vehicle provided with a battery unit having caster wheels.

1: Body 3: Battery compartment 4: Battery unit 11: Front wheels (wheelies)
12: Rear wheel (running wheel)
15A: Tow part 16: Travel motor

Claims (3)

A car body with running wheels and
A traveling motor capable of driving the traveling wheels and
A battery unit having a pair of left and right caster wheels at one end, detachable from the battery storage portion of the vehicle body, and capable of supplying power to the traveling motor.
An electric work vehicle provided with a towing portion capable of towing the battery unit, which is not attached to the battery housing portion. The electric work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery storage portion is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body, and the towing portion is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body. A handle capable of towing the battery unit is provided on the upper portion of the battery unit.
The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tow portion and the handle are engaged with each other.

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