Cabin for a work vehicle

• US 20070044492A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Nobushige, Nagasawa, Shota, Inaba, Daisuke, Mukai, Hisao, Sato, Kenichi, Motoki, Aya
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/239
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00021 Air flow details of HVAC devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00235 Devices in the roof area of the passenger compartment

Abstract

A cabin for a work vehicle comprises: a driver'"'"'s seat positioned within the cabin; cabin frames including at least a transverse frame located in a rear region of the cabin; a roof supported by at least some of the cabin frames; at least one air-conditioning duct located within the roof; an air conditioning unit located rearwardly with respect to a rearward end of a seat portion of the driver'"'"'s seat and adjacent the transverse frame for conditioning air and for feeding air-conditioned air into the at least one air-conditioning duct.

Claims

1. A cabin for a work vehicle comprising:

a driver'"'"'s seat (12) positioned within the cabin (1);

cabin frames (2),(6) including at least a transverse frame (6B) located in a rear region of the cabin (1);

a roof (7) supported by at least some of the cabin frames (2),(6);

at least one air-conditioning duct (15) located within the roof (7);

an air conditioning unit (A) located rearwardly with respect to a rearward end of a seat portion of the driver'"'"'s seat (12) and adjacent the transverse frame (6B) for conditioning air and for feeding air-conditioned air into the at least one air-conditioning duct (15).

2. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the transverse frame (6B) has an air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C) that is positioned lower than top ends of frames located next to and on either side of the transverse frame (6B), and wherein the air conditioning unit (A) is supported on an upper side of the air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C).

3. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the air conditioning unit (A) is disposed on a front side of the air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C).

4. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the transverse frame (6B) has an air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C) that is positioned higher than the cabin frames that are located next to and on either side of the transverse frame (6B), and wherein the air conditioning unit (A) is supported on an under side of the air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C).

5. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the air conditioning unit (A) is disposed on a rear side of the air conditioning unit mounting portion (6C).

6. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the at least one air-conditioning duct (15) includes air-conditioning ducts (15B) located forwardly of the air conditioning unit (A) and in right and left lateral regions of the roof (7).

7. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the at least one air-conditioning duct (15) includes:

a main air-conditioning duct (15E) extending forwardly of the air conditioning unit (A) at a location generally central in a lateral direction, and

branch air-conditioning ducts (15F) that branch out generally laterally from the main air-conditioning duct (15E).

8. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the at least one air-conditioning duct (15) includes a duct (15H) that has a width that extends to regions of right and left edges of the cabin (1) in plan view and that has a for-and-aft length extending from a front of the air conditioning unit (A) to a region of a front edge. of the cabin (1).

9. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an ambient air intake opening (13B) located rearwardly of the air conditioning unit (A) for introducing ambient air into the air conditioning unit (A); and

an ambient air intake duct (b) communicating the ambient air intake opening (13B) with the air conditioning unit (A).

10. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an ambient air intake opening (13B) located laterally of the air conditioning unit (A) for introducing ambient air into the air conditioning unit (A); and

an ambient air intake duct (b) communicating the ambient air intake opening (13B) with the air conditioning unit (A).

11. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

an interior air intake duct (a) for guiding interior air from the interior of the cabin (1) to the air conditioning unit (A);

a switching valve (17) for communicating the interior air intake duct (a) with the ambient air intake duct (b) and for switching between a state of drawing interior air into the air conditioning unit (A) and a state of drawing ambient air into the air conditioning unit (A).

12. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

an interior air intake duct (a) for guiding interior air from the interior of the cabin (1) to the air conditioning unit (A);

a switching valve (17) for communicating the interior air intake duct (a) with the ambient air intake duct (b) and for switching between a state of drawing interior air into the air conditioning unit (A) and a state of drawing ambient air into the air conditioning unit (A).

13. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

an eaves portion (13E) that projects laterally out from the roof (7), wherein the ambient air intake opening (13B) is provided to the eaves portion (13E).

14. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

the air conditioning unit (A) includes a ventilating fan (24), an evaporator (20), and a heater (21) and wherein the ventilating fan (24) is located in one of right and left hand side regions of the roof (7) and wherein the evaporator (20) and the heater (21) are located on the other of the right and left hand side regions of the roof (7) such that the evaporator (20) and the heater (21) are positioned next to each other in the fore-and-aft direction.

15. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 14, wherein

the ventilating fan (24) is located immediately above or rearwardly of the transverse frame (6B).

16. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein

the frames located next to the transverse frame (6B) are vertical frames (2) that are connected to the transverse frame (6B).

17. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein

the frames located next to the transverse frame (6B) are frames (6A) that generally extend in a fore-and-aft direction and that are connected to the transverse frame (6B).

18. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein

upper ends of right and left vertical frames (2) that support the front windshield (25) are located rearwardly with respect to lower ends of the right and left vertical frames (2) so that the upper edge of the windshield (25) is located rearwardly with respect to the front end of the side windows (8).

19. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein

the frames located next to the transverse frame (6B) are vertical frames (2) that are connected to the transverse frame (6B).

20. A cabin for a work vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein

the frames located next to the transverse frame (6B) are frames (6A) that generally extend in a fore-and-aft direction and that are connected to the transverse frame (6B).

21. A cabin for a work vehicle. as defined in claim 13, wherein

the eaves portion.(13E) is.provided to each of a right and left side of the roof (7), wherein the ambient air intake opening (13B) is provided only to one of the eaves portion (13E).