HOSE-ROUTING STRUCTURE AND WORKING MACHINE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-103837 filed on Jun. 27, 2024. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hose-guiding structures and working machines.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-066786 describes a known working machine.

The working machine described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-066786 includes a partition that separates a section in which a hydraulic pump is provided from a section in which a control valve is provided. A hydraulic pipeline guided from the hydraulic pump to the control valve extends from the hydraulic pump to the control valve through the partition.

A hydraulic hose guided from the hydraulic pump to the control valve may be arranged to extend through the partition by, for example, attaching a clamp to a portion of the partition through which the hydraulic hose is to be inserted and fixing the hydraulic hose with the clamp such that the hydraulic hose is restrained from moving. In such a case, pulsations in the hydraulic hose generated when the hydraulic pump is driven cannot be easily absorbed, and vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hose are transmitted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention provide hose-guiding structures and working machines in each of which vibrations and noise caused by pulsations in a hose can be suppressed.

A hose-guiding structure according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes at least one hose, a partition including an opening to allow the at least one hose to extend therethrough, a grommet spaced from the partition to allow the at least one hose to extend therethrough, and a hose cover having a tubular shape to cover a periphery of the at least one hose and extending from the grommet to the partition, wherein the hose cover includes a first-end attachment portion at one of opposite ends in a direction of a tube axis of the hose cover, the first-end attachment portion being attached to a peripheral edge portion around the opening in the partition, and a second-end attachment portion at the other of opposite ends opposite the first-end attachment portion, the second-end attachment portion being attached to the grommet such that the grommet blocks an opening portion of the second-end attachment portion, and the hose cover is flexible between the first-end attachment portion and the second-end attachment portion.

A portion of the hose cover that lies between the first-end attachment portion and the second-end attachment portion may have a corrugated tubular shape.

The hose-guiding structure may further include a pressing plate provided at the one of the opposite ends of the hose cover. The first-end attachment portion may include a pair of flange portions to sandwich the peripheral edge portion. The pressing plate may be attached to the partition to press one of the pair of flange portions against the peripheral edge portion, the one of the pair of flange portions being opposite the other of the pair of flange portions that is closer to the second-end attachment portion than the one of the pair of flange portions.

The pressing plate may include a restrainer to restrain the first-end attachment portion from moving toward an interior of the hose cover.

The hose-guiding structure may further include a contact preventing body provided on the opposite side of the partition from the grommet. The at least one hose may include a plurality of hoses. The contact preventing body may be configured to prevent the plurality of hoses from coming into contact with each other.

A working machine according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes the hose-guiding structure.

The working machine may further include a hydraulic pump, and a control valve to control a flow rate of hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump. The partition may separate a section in which the hydraulic pump is provided from a section in which the control valve is provided. The at least one hose may include at least one hydraulic hose to connect the hydraulic pump and the control valve.

The grommet may be provided in the section in which the hydraulic pump is provided. The hose cover may be configured to cover the at least one hose in the section in which the hydraulic pump is provided.

The control valve may be provided in a lower space lower than an operator's seat. The hydraulic pump may be provided in an outside space outside the lower space, the lower space and the outside space being separated by the partition.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of example embodiments of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings described below.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a working machine.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a hose-guiding structure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hose-guiding structure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turning frame viewed from the rear left.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a partition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the partition through which hoses extend.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a region in which a partitioning structure is attached.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the partitioning structure.

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the partitioning structure.

FIG. 10 is a sectional plan view of the partitioning structure.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the region in which the partitioning structure is attached.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a hose cover.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the hose cover.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the region in which the partitioning structure is attached.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the region in which the partitioning structure is attached.

FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating an arrangement in which a pressing plate is located in front of the partitioning structure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the pressing plate is not yet attached.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a region in which the pressing plate is fixed.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a contact preventing body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the various drawings. The drawings are to be viewed in an orientation in which the reference numerals are viewed correctly.

Example embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the overall structure of a working machine 1 according to the present example embodiment. In the present example embodiment, a backhoe, which is a turning working machine, will be described as an example of the working machine 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the working machine 1 includes a machine body (turning base) 2, a traveling device 3, and a working device 4. A cabin 5 is mounted on the machine body 2. An operator's seat 6, on which an operator sits, is provided in the cabin 5. The operator's seat 6 is surrounded by the cabin 5.

Although the working machine 1 is a cabin-equipped working machine 1 in the present example embodiment, the working machine 1 may be a canopy-equipped working machine 1 including a canopy (not illustrated) instead of the cabin 5.

In the present example embodiment, the direction toward the front of the operator sitting on the operator's seat 6 of the working machine 1 (direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 1) is defined as forward (forward relative to the machine body), and the direction toward the rear of the operator (direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 1) is defined as rearward (rearward relative to the machine body).

In addition, the leftward direction relative to the operator (near side in FIG. 1, direction of arrow B1 in FIG. 3) is defined as leftward, and the rightward direction relative to the operator (far side in FIG. 1, direction of arrow B2 in FIG. 3) is defined as rightward.

In addition, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction (machine-body front-rear direction) K1 will be referred to as a machine-body width direction (left-right direction) K2 (see FIG. 3). Leftward and rightward directions from the center of the machine body 2 in the width direction will be referred to as machine-body outward width directions. In other words, the machine-body outward width directions are directions away from the center of the machine body 2 in the width direction along the machine-body width direction K2. The directions opposite to the machine-body outward width directions are referred to as machine-body inward width directions. In other words, the machine-body inward width directions are directions toward the center of the machine body 2 in the width direction along the machine-body width direction K2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the present example embodiment, the traveling device 3 is a crawler traveling device including a traveling frame 8 and crawler traveling mechanisms 9 provided on the left and right of the traveling frame 8. A dozer 7 is attached to a front portion of the traveling device 3.

The machine body 2 is mounted on the traveling frame 8 such that the machine body 2 is capable of turning leftward and rightward. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine body 2 includes a turning base plate 15, which is a base plate defining a bottom portion of the machine body 2. The turning base plate 15 is a thick plate member, and is positioned such that plate surfaces face in the up-down direction. The turning base plate 15 is supported above the traveling frame 8 with a turning bearing 16 provided therebetween such that the turning base plate 15 is rotatable about an axis extending in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine body 2 includes a turning frame 19 including the above-described turning base plate 15. The turning frame 19 includes a support bracket 17 fixed to a front portion of the turning base plate 15 such that the support bracket 17 projects forward, and a pair of longitudinal ribs 18 extending rearward from left and right positions on a rear portion of the support bracket 17 and fixed to the turning base plate 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a swing bracket 11 is supported by the support bracket 17 such that the swing bracket 11 is rotatable about an axis extending in the up-down direction. A working device 4 is attached to the swing bracket 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the working device 4 includes a boom 26, a boom cylinder 27, an arm 28, an arm cylinder 29, a working tool (bucket) 30, and a working-tool cylinder (bucket cylinder) 31. The boom 26 includes a proximal portion that is rotatably connected to the swing bracket 11, so that the boom 26 is swingable in the up-down direction. The boom cylinder 27 extends and retracts to swing the boom 26. The arm 28 is rotatably connected to a distal end portion of the boom 26, so that the arm 28 is swingable in a front-rear direction K1. The arm cylinder 29 extends and retracts to swing the arm 28. The working tool 30 is rotatably connected to the distal end of the arm 28, so that the working tool 30 is swingable in the front-rear direction K1. The working-tool cylinder 31 extends and retracts to swing the working tool 30. In the present example embodiment, a bucket is illustrated as an example of the working tool 30.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a prime mover 23, which includes any of various engines, a motor, or the like, is mounted on a rear portion of the machine body 2. In the present example embodiment, the prime mover 23 is a diesel engine. A hydraulic pump 24 is provided on a side (left side in the present example embodiment) of the prime mover 23. The hydraulic pump 24 is, for example, a pump unit including a plurality of pumps that deliver hydraulic fluid for activating hydraulic actuators, pilot hydraulic fluid for activating valves, and hydraulic fluid for signals. The hydraulic pump 24 may include a single pump. The hydraulic pump 24 is driven by power provided from the prime mover 23.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a control valve V1 is attached to the turning base plate 15. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the control valve V1 is provided in a lower space 78 lower than a space (cabin 5) in which the operator's seat 6 is provided above a left front portion of the turning base plate 15. More specifically, a step 14 that defines the floor of the space in which the operator's seat 6 is provided is supported at a position spaced from and above the turning base plate 15. The control valve V1 is provided in the lower space 78 between the turning base plate 15 and the step 14.

The control valve V1 controls the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump 24. More specifically, the control valve V1 is a valve unit including a plurality of controlling valves that control the flow rates of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuators driven by the hydraulic fluid.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the prime mover 23 is accommodated in a prime mover chamber 32. The prime mover chamber 32 is defined by a partition 33, a separation wall 34, a hood 35, a weight 36, the turning base plate 15, a turning cover 38 (see FIG. 1), and other components. The partition 33 covers the front of a lower portion of the prime mover 23. The separation wall 34 covers the front of an upper portion of the prime mover 23 and the top of a front portion of the prime mover 23. The hood 35 covers the rear of the upper portion of the prime mover 23 and the top of a rear portion of the prime mover 23. The weight 36 covers the rear and side rear of the lower portion of the prime mover 23. The turning base plate 15 covers the bottom of the prime mover 23. The turning cover 38 includes a portion that covers the side front of the lower portion of the prime mover 23. Components other than the above-described components that define the prime mover chamber 32 are not illustrated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partition 33 stands upright on the turning base plate 15. The partition 33 extends in the machine-body width direction K2. A left portion of the partition 33 projects leftward from a left end of the turning base plate 15.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the control valve V1 is provided on the turning base plate 15 in front of the left portion of the partition 33. Thus, the partition 33 separates a section in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided from a section in which the control valve V1 is provided.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one hydraulic hose (hose) 41 connecting the hydraulic pump 24 and the control valve V1 (guided between the hydraulic pump 24 and the control valve V1) extends through the partition 33.

In the present example embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, four hydraulic hoses 41 (a plurality of hydraulic hoses 41) are guided to extend through the left portion of the partition 33. For example, of the four hydraulic hoses 41, two hydraulic hoses 41A and 41B are hydraulic hoses 41 through which main hydraulic fluid flows, and the remaining two hydraulic hoses 41 are hydraulic hoses 41C and 41D for a load sensing system. The main hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid for driving the hydraulic actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors. The load sensing system is a system for controlling the delivery amount of the hydraulic pump 24 in accordance with the load pressure of each of the hydraulic actuators in the working machine 1 to cause the hydraulic pump 24 to deliver the hydraulic power required for the load. One of the two hydraulic hoses 41C and 41D for the load sensing system is the hydraulic hose 41D for transmitting the maximum load pressure among the load pressures of the controlling valves in the load sensing system, and the other is the hydraulic hose 41C for transmitting the delivery pressure of the hydraulic pump 24. Thus, the four hydraulic hoses 41 are the hydraulic hoses 41 with large pulsations.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partition 33 includes a main plate 42 having plate surfaces facing in the front-rear direction K1. The main plate 42 includes a first plate 42A, a second plate 42B, and a third plate 42C. The first plate 42A extends from a right portion to a left end portion of the turning base plate 15. A left portion of the first plate 42A projects leftward from the left end of the turning base plate 15. The second plate 42B is located in the machine-body outward width direction (leftward direction) relative to the first plate 42A. The third plate 42C is located above the second plate 42B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 11, the partition 33 has an opening 43 through which the hydraulic hoses 41 extend. As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the opening 43 is defined by the left portion of the first plate 42A and the second plate 42B. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the left portion of the first plate 42A has a cut 43A that opens leftward. The second plate 42B has a cut 43B that opens rightward. The left end of the first plate 42A and the right end of the second plate 42B are arranged to face each other so that the cut 43A in the first plate 42A and the cut 43B in the second plate 42B define the opening 43. When viewed from the front, the opening 43 has an elliptical shape elongated in the up-down direction (in other words, the opening 43 has an oval shape obtained by connecting two circles with the same radius with common tangent lines).

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a first attachment piece 44 and a second attachment piece 45 are fixed to the second plate 42B. The first attachment piece 44 is fixed to an upper portion of a rear surface of the second plate 42B. The second attachment piece 45 is fixed to a lower portion of the rear surface of the second plate 42B. A right portion of the first attachment piece 44 projects rightward from the second plate 42B, and the protruding portion is attached to the first plate 42A with a bolt 46. A right portion of the second attachment piece 45 also projects rightward from the second plate 42B, and the protruding portion is attached to the first plate 42A with a bolt 47. Thus, the second plate 42B is removably attached to the first plate 42A. A left portion of the first attachment piece 44 is attached to the third plate 42C with a bolt 48. A third attachment piece 50, which is attached to the first plate 42A with a bolt 49, is fixed to the third plate 42C.

In the following description, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43 is a portion of the partition 33 along an edge of the opening 43. In other words, the peripheral edge portion 51 includes a first edge portion 51a, which is a portion of the first plate 42A along an edge of the cut 43A, and a second edge portion 51b, which is a portion of the second plate 42B along an edge of the cut 43B.

When the hydraulic hoses 41 are guided to extend through the opening 43 in the partition 33, the opening 43 needs to be blocked so that heat in the prime mover chamber 32 is not transmitted to the section in which the control valve V1 is provided. In this case, for example, a clamp that blocks the opening 43 and through which the hydraulic hoses 41 extend may be attached to the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43, and the hydraulic hoses 41 may be fixed by the clamp so that the hydraulic hoses 41 are restrained from moving. However, in such a case, the pulsations in the hydraulic hoses 41 generated when the hydraulic pump 24 is driven cannot be easily absorbed, and vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hoses 41 are transmitted.

Accordingly, in the present example embodiment, a partitioning structure 54 is provided. The partitioning structure 54 is capable of separating a section 52 (prime mover chamber 32) in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided from a section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided while allowing the hydraulic hoses 41 to move in response to the pulsations. Since this partitioning structure 54 allows the hydraulic hoses 41 to move in response to the pulsations, the vibrations caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hoses 41 can be released, and the vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hoses 41 can be suppressed. In addition, according to the partitioning structure 54, the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided and the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided can be separated from each other while the hydraulic hoses 41 are allowed to move in response to the pulsations.

The partitioning structure 54 will now be described in detail. In the present example embodiment, the partitioning structure 54 is provided in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the partitioning structure 54 includes a grommet 56, a hose cover 57, a fastener 58, and a pressing plate 59.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the grommet 56 is an elastic body made of rubber or the like. The hydraulic hoses 41 are arranged to extend through the grommet 56 (see FIG. 7). The grommet 56 has an elliptical cross-sectional shape elongated in the up-down direction when viewed from the front, and includes a body 56a having a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction K1, a first protruding portion 56b protruding from a front portion of the body 56a along the entire circumference, and a second protruding portion 56c protruding from a rear portion of the body 56a along the entire circumference. Therefore, a loop-shaped groove is provided between the first protruding portion 56b and the second protruding portion 56c in the outer periphery of the grommet 56. When viewed from the front, the first protruding portion 56b and the second protruding portion 56c have an elliptical (or oval) shape elongated in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the grommet 56 (body 56a) has a plurality of hose insertion holes 60 extending through the grommet 56 in the front-rear direction K1. Four hose insertion holes 60 are provided to correspond to the four hydraulic hoses 41. The four hose insertion holes 60 have diameters corresponding to the thicknesses of the hydraulic hoses 41 that extend therethrough. The four hose insertion holes 60 are arranged at intervals in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the grommet 56 has slits 61 that correspond to the respective hose insertion holes 60. The slits 61 extend from the inner surfaces of the hose insertion holes 60 to the outer surface of the grommet 56. Therefore, the slits 61 can be expanded to enable the hydraulic hoses 41 to be inserted into the hose insertion holes 60 through the slits 61. Thus, the hydraulic hoses 41 can be arranged to extend through the grommet 56.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the hose cover 57 is an elastic member made of rubber or the like and has a tubular shape with a tube axis X1 extending in the front-rear direction K1. The hose cover 57 has a tubular shape that opens at both ends in the direction of the tube axis X1 (front-rear direction K1). In addition, the hose cover 57 has an elliptical tubular shape elongated in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, the hose cover 57 includes a first-end attachment portion 62, which is a portion (front portion in the present example embodiment) at one of opposite ends in the direction of the tube axis X1; a second-end attachment portion 63, which is a portion (rear portion at the other of the opposite ends in the direction of the tube axis X1 in the present example embodiment) opposite the first-end attachment portion 62; and an intermediate tubular portion 64, which is a portion between the first-end attachment portion 62 and the second-end attachment portion 63.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the first-end attachment portion 62 is attached to the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43 in the partition 33. More specifically, the first-end attachment portion 62 includes a tubular portion 62a and a pair of front and rear flange portions 62b and 62c that sandwich the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43. The tubular portion 62a has an elliptical tubular shape elongated in the up-down direction, and opens at both ends in the direction of the tube axis X1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the tubular portion 62a has an outer peripheral shape that substantially coincides with an inner peripheral shape of the opening 43. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the front flange portion 62b (flange portion at the end opposite to the end at which the flange portion 62c adjacent to the second-end attachment portion 63 is provided) projects outward from the front portion of the tubular portion 62a along the entire circumference. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the rear flange portion 62c projects outward from a rear portion of the tubular portion 62a. The rear flange portion 62c is shaped such that a portion corresponding to the first attachment piece 44 is cut to avoid interference with the first attachment piece 44.

The procedure for attaching the first-end attachment portion 62 to the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43 will now be described. To attach the first-end attachment portion 62 to the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43, first, while the second plate 42B is removed from the first plate 42A as illustrated in FIG. 7, a right outer surface of the tubular portion 62a of the first-end attachment portion 62 is brought into contact with the edge portion along the cut 43A such that the first edge portion 51a of the first plate 42A is sandwiched between the front and rear flange portions 62b and 62c (see FIG. 10). Next, the edge portion along the cut 43B in the second plate 42B is brought into contact with a left outer surface of the tubular portion 62a of the first-end attachment portion 62. Thus, the second edge portion 51b of the second plate 42B is sandwiched between the front and rear flange portions 62b and 62c (see FIG. 10). After that, the first attachment piece 44 and the second attachment piece 45 are fixed to the first plate 42A with bolts. Thus, the first-end attachment portion 62 is attached to the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second-end attachment portion 63 has a tubular shape that opens at both ends in the direction of the tube axis X1, and is attached to the grommet 56 such that an opening portion 65 of the second-end attachment portion 63 is blocked by the grommet 56. Since the opening portion 65 of the second-end attachment portion 63 is blocked by the grommet 56, the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided and the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided can be separated from each other. More specifically, when the grommet 56 is inserted into the second-end attachment portion 63 and the second-end attachment portion 63 is fixed to the grommet 56 with the fastener 58 (see FIG. 11), the opening portion 65 of the second-end attachment portion 63 is blocked, and the second-end attachment portion 63 is attached to the grommet 56. More specifically, the second-end attachment portion 63 is shaped such that an intermediate portion 63c provided between a front portion 63a and a rear portion 63b is a loop-shaped recess that is recessed inward from outer peripheral surfaces of the front portion 63a and the rear portion 63b over the entire circumference, and such that the shape of an inner peripheral surface of the second-end attachment portion 63 substantially coincides with the shape of an outer peripheral surface of the grommet 56.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the fastener 58 includes a band 66 and a tightener 67. The band 66 includes a band body 66a fitted to the outer periphery of the intermediate portion 63c of the second-end attachment portion 63 along the circumferential direction, a first extending portion 66b extending from one end of the band body 66a, and a second extending portion 66c extending from the other end of the band body 66a. The tightener 67 includes a bolt 67A and a nut 67B fixed to the first extending portion 66b. The bolt 67A is inserted through the first extending portion 66b and the second extending portion 66c, screwed into the nut 67B, and tightened to attach the second-end attachment portion 63 to the grommet 56.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the intermediate tubular portion 64 has a corrugated tubular shape. More specifically, the intermediate tubular portion 64 includes a plurality of ridges 64a and a plurality of grooves 64b that are alternately arranged in the direction of the tube axis X1. The ridges 64a are loop-shaped projections that project outward along the circumferential direction of the intermediate tubular portion 64. The grooves 64b are loop-shaped recesses that are recessed inward along the circumferential direction of the intermediate tubular portion 64, and connect the ridges 64a that are adjacent to each other. A front end of the intermediate tubular portion 64 is connected to the tubular portion 62a of the first-end attachment portion 62, and a rear end of the intermediate tubular portion 64 is connected to the second-end attachment portion 63.

The hydraulic hoses 41 move mainly in the up-down direction in response to the pulsations. The intermediate tubular portion 64 is bent to allow the hydraulic hoses 41 to move in response to the pulsations. Thus, the hose cover 57 has flexibility to allow the hydraulic hoses 41 to move in response to the pulsations between the first-end attachment portion 62 and the second-end attachment portion 63.

When the hydraulic hoses 41 move in the up-down direction in response to the pulsations, for example, when the hydraulic hoses 41 move upward, the grommet 56 and the second-end attachment portion 63 move upward together with the hydraulic hoses 41. Accordingly, the intermediate tubular portion 64 is bent to allow the upward movement of the grommet 56 and the second-end attachment portion 63. Thus, the hydraulic hoses 41 are allowed to move in response to the pulsations.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the pressing plate 59 is located at one end (front end) of the hose cover 57. As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 16, and 17, the pressing plate 59 includes a pressing plate body 70, collars 69, and at least one restrainer 68. The pressing plate body 70 is a hard plate member made of a metal or the like, and has the shape of the letter C that opens leftward.

Thus, the pressing plate 59 can be placed in front of the hose cover 57 from a side (left side) of the hydraulic hoses 41. The pressing plate body 70 is placed in contact with a front surface of the front flange portion 62b of the first-end attachment portion 62.

The collars 69 are provided in upper and lower regions of a left portion of the pressing plate body 70. The pressing plate body 70 (pressing plate 59) is attached to the partition 33 with bolts 72 inserted through the collars 69 and fixed to the partition 33.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, each collar 69 extends through the pressing plate body 70 and is fixed to the pressing plate body 70 by, for example, welding. In addition, each collar 69 is inserted through an insertion hole 71 in the front flange portion 62b. The bolts 72 are inserted into the collars 69 from the front and screwed into threaded holes (holes having internal threads on inner peripheries) 73 in the second plate 42B, so that the pressing plate 59 presses the front flange portion 62b against the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43 in the partition 33. Thus, the first-end attachment portion 62 can be restrained from moving when the hydraulic hoses 41 move in response to the pulsations and when the hose cover 57 is elastically deformed accordingly.

When the pressing plate 59 presses the front flange portion 62b against the peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43, the front flange portion 62b is compressed by a certain amount by the pressing plate 59. Since each collar 69 comes into contact with the partition 33 (second plate 42B), an amount 74 (see FIG. 18) by which the front flange portion 62b is compressed can be made constant due to the collars 69. In addition, since the amount by which the front flange portion 62b is compressed by the pressing plate 59 when the bolts 72 are fastened is constant, the fastening torque applied when the bolts 72 are fastened can be made constant.

The restrainer 68 restrains the first-end attachment portion 62 from moving toward an interior of the hose cover 57 when the hydraulic hoses 41 move in the up-down direction in response to the pulsations and when the hose cover 57 is elastically deformed accordingly. In the present example embodiment, the restrainer 68 is provided in a plurality. The plurality of restrainers 68 include a pair of upper and lower pins 68A and 68B and one plate member 68C. The upper pin 68A is fixed to a lower surface of an upper right portion of the pressing plate body 70. The lower pin 68B is fixed to an upper surface of a lower right portion of the pressing plate body 70. In the present example embodiment, a left portion of the pressing plate 59 (pressing plate body 70) is fixed with the bolts, but a right portion of the pressing plate 59 (pressing plate body 70) is not fixed. Therefore, there is a possibility that the first-end attachment portion 62 will move toward the interior of the hose cover 57 on the right portion of the pressing plate body 70. The pair of pins 68A and 68B are capable of restraining the movement of the first-end attachment portion 62 that may move toward the interior of the hose cover 57.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the plate member 68C is provided between the upper and lower collars 69 on the left portion of the pressing plate body 70. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the plate member 68C has the shape of the letter L defined by a first portion 68Ca fixed to the front surface of the pressing plate body 70 and a second portion 68Cb extending rearward from a right end of the first portion 68Ca. The second portion 68Cb is positioned inside the first-end attachment portion 62, and is capable of restraining the first-end attachment portion 62 from moving inward. In the present example embodiment, the left portion of the pressing plate body 70 is fixed with the bolts 72 in the upper and lower regions. Therefore, there is a possibility that the first-end attachment portion 62 will move toward the interior of the hose cover 57 in a middle region of the left portion of the pressing plate body 70 in the up-down direction. The plate member 68C is capable of restraining the movement of the first-end attachment portion 62 that may move toward the interior of the hose cover 57.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the working machine 1 includes a contact preventing body 75 that prevents the plurality of hydraulic hoses 41 from coming into contact with each other as a result of the pulsations. The contact preventing body 75 is provided on the opposite side of the partition 33 from the grommet 56. In the present example embodiment, the grommet 56 is provided in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided. Therefore, the contact preventing body 75 is provided in the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided, that is, in front of the partition 33. In the present example embodiment, when the plurality of hydraulic hoses 41 move in response to the pulsations, there is a possibility that the hydraulic hoses 41 will come into contact with each other in the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided and in which the grommet 56 is not provided. In the present example embodiment, the contact preventing body 75 prevents the hydraulic hoses 41 from coming into contact with each other in the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided and in which the grommet 56 is not provided.

The contact preventing body 75 is made of, for example, rubber. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the contact preventing body 75 has an elliptical shape elongated in the up-down direction, and has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction K1. The contact preventing body 75 has a plurality of hose insertion holes 76 extending through the contact preventing body 75 in the front-rear direction K1. Four hose insertion holes 76 are provided to correspond to the four hydraulic hoses 41. The four hose insertion holes 76 have diameters corresponding to the thicknesses of the four hydraulic hoses 41. The four hose insertion holes 76 are arranged at intervals in the up-down direction. The contact preventing body 75 has slits 77 that correspond to the respective hose insertion holes 76. The slits 77 extend from the inner surfaces of the hose insertion holes 76 to the outer surface of the contact preventing body 75. Therefore, the slits 77 can be expanded to enable the hydraulic hoses 41 to be inserted into the hose insertion holes 76 through the slits 77. Thus, the hydraulic hoses 41 can be arranged to extend through the contact preventing body 75.

Although the partitioning structure 54 is provided in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided in the present example embodiment, the partitioning structure 54 is not limited to this, and may be provided in the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided. In addition, the partitioning structure 54 may be provided in both the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided and the section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided. In addition, the number of hydraulic hoses 41 guided through the partitioning structure 54 is not limited to more than one, and may be one. In other words, at least one hydraulic hose 41 is guided through the partitioning structure 54. In addition, the hose 41 guided through the partitioning structure 54 is not limited to a hydraulic hose 41, and the partitioning structure 54 (hose-guiding structure of the present example embodiment) may be applied to any hose 41 that moves in response to pulsations. In addition, the shape of the portion of the hose cover 57 that lies between the first-end attachment portion 62 and the second-end attachment portion 63 is not limited to a corrugated tubular shape as long as the flexibility for allowing the hydraulic hose (hose) 41 to move in response to the pulsations is provided. In addition, although the four hydraulic hoses 41 extending through the grommet 56 are arranged in the up-down direction in the present example embodiment, the arrangement is not limited to this. The four hydraulic hoses 41 extending through the grommet 56 may, for example, be provided at the apices of a rectangle. Therefore, the shape of the grommet 56 is not limited to the shape in the above-described embodiment. This also applies to the contact preventing body 75.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide hose-guiding structures and working machines 1 described in the following items.

(Item 1) A hose-guiding structure including at least one hose 41, a partition 33 including an opening 43 to allow the at least one hose 41 to extend therethrough, a grommet 56 spaced from the partition 33 to allow the at least one hose 41 to extend therethrough, and a hose cover 57 having a tubular shape to cover a periphery of the at least one hose 41 and extending from the grommet 56 to the partition 33, wherein the hose cover 57 includes a first-end attachment portion 62 at one of opposite ends in a direction of a tube axis X1 of the hose cover 57, the first-end attachment portion 62 being attached to a peripheral edge portion 51 around the opening 43 in the partition 33, and a second-end attachment portion 63 at the other of opposite ends opposite the first-end attachment portion 62, the second-end attachment portion 63 being attached to the grommet 56 such that the grommet 56 blocks an opening portion 65 of the second-end attachment portion 63, and the hose cover 57 is flexible between the first-end attachment portion 62 and the second-end attachment portion 63.

With the hose-guiding structure of item 1, when the hose 41 receives a force due to pulsations in the hose 41, the hose cover 57 is bent to allow the hose 41 to move in response to the pulsations, and vibrations caused by the pulsations in the hose 41 can be released. Thus, the vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hose 41 can be suppressed.

(Item 2) The hose-guiding structure according to item 1, wherein a portion of the hose cover 57 that lies between the first-end attachment portion 62 and the second-end attachment portion 63 has a corrugated tubular shape.

With the hose-guiding structure of item 2, the hose cover 57 appropriately follows the movement of the hose 41 in response to the pulsations.

(Item 3) The hose-guiding structure according to item 1 or 2, further including a pressing plate 59 provided at the one of the opposite ends of the hose cover 57, wherein the first-end attachment portion 62 includes a pair of flange portions 62b, 62c to sandwich the peripheral edge portion 51, and the pressing plate 59 is attached to the partition 33 to press one of the pair of flange portions 62b against the peripheral edge portion 51, the one of the pair of flange portions 62b being opposite the other of the pair of flange portions 62c that is closer to the second-end attachment portion 63 than the one of the pair of flange portions 62b.

With the hose-guiding structure of item 3, the first-end attachment portion 62 can be restrained from moving when the hose cover 57 is deformed in accordance with the movement of the hose 41.

(Item 4) The hose-guiding structure according to item 3, wherein the pressing plate 59 includes a restrainer 68 to restrain the first-end attachment portion 62 from moving toward an interior of the hose cover 57.

With the hose-guiding structure of item 4, the first-end attachment portion 62 can be restrained from moving toward the interior of the hose cover 57 when the hose cover 57 is deformed in accordance with the movement of the hose 41.

(Item 5) The hose-guiding structure according to any one of items 1 to 4, further including a contact preventing body 75 provided on the opposite side of the partition 33 from the grommet 56, wherein the at least one hose 41 includes a plurality of hoses 41, and the contact preventing body 75 is configured to prevent the plurality of hoses 41 from coming into contact with each other.

With the hose-guiding structure of item 5, when the hoses 41 move in response to the pulsations, the hoses 41 can be prevented from coming into contact with each other.

(Item 6) A working machine 1 including the hose-guiding structure according to any one of items 1 to 5.

With the working machine 1 of item 6, the vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hose 41 in the working machine 1 can be suppressed.

(Item 7) The working machine 1 according to item 6, further including a hydraulic pump 24, and a control valve V1 to control a flow rate of hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump 24, wherein the partition 33 separates a section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided from a section 53 in which the control valve V1 is provided, and the at least one hose 41 includes at least one hydraulic hose to connect the hydraulic pump 24 and the control valve V1.

With the working machine 1 of item 7, the vibrations and noise caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hose 41 connecting the hydraulic pump 24 and the control valve V1 can be suppressed.

(Item 8) The working machine according to item 7, wherein the grommet 56 is provided in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided, and the hose cover 57 covers the at least one hose 41 in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided.

The pulsations in the hydraulic hose 41 increase as the distance from the hydraulic pump 24 decreases. With the working machine 1 of item 8, since the hydraulic hose 41 is restrained by the grommet 56 and the hose cover 57 in the section 52 in which the hydraulic pump 24 is provided, transmission of the noise and vibrations caused by the pulsations in the hydraulic hose 41 can be more effectively suppressed.

(Item 9) The working machine according to item 7 or 8, wherein the control valve V1 is provided in a lower space 78 lower than an operator's seat 6, and the hydraulic pump 24 is provided in an outside space outside the lower space 78, the lower space 78 and the outside space being separated by the partition 33.

With the working machine 1 of item 9, the hose 41 guided between the lower space 78 lower than the operator's seat 6 and the space outside the lower space 78 is allowed to move in response to the pulsations, and the lower space 78 below the operator's seat 6 and the space outside the lower space 78 can be separated from each other.

While example embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.