IP Library Granted Patent US 12668120
Granted Patent B2
US 12668120 · App. 18/389,024 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Work machine

Inventor: Kohei Ono (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: Kubota Corporation
B60K13/02B60Y2200/223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668120
App. No.
18/389,024
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A work machine includes (i) an air cleaner being on the inner side of a motive section relative to a radiator and having an air intake port facing an air intake section of a hood and (ii) an air intake state switcher switchable between an outside air introducing state and a hot air introducing state, wherein in the outside air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes outside air to be introduced through the air intake port, and in the hot air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes air to be introduced from a high temperature area hotter than outside air through the air intake port.

Claims (62)

1 . A work machine, comprising:

a hood;

a motive section under the hood;

an air intake state switcher; and

a manual fastener,

wherein:

the motive section comprises:

an engine;

an air cleaner configured to supply combustion air to the engine;

a radiator configured to cool the engine; and

a cooling fan configured to blow cooling air toward the radiator,

the radiator faces an air intake section of the hood,

the air cleaner is on an inner side of the motive section relative to the radiator and has an air intake port facing the air intake section,

the air intake state switcher is switchable between an outside air introducing state and a hot air introducing state, wherein in the outside air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes outside air to be introduced through the air intake port, and in the hot air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes air to be introduced from a high temperature area hotter than outside air through the air intake port,

the air intake state switcher includes a cover switchable between an open state, in which the cover opens a space upstream of the air intake port in a direction in which the air cleaner takes in air, and a path forming state, in which the cover covers the upstream space and forms a guide path for guiding air from around the radiator as the high temperature area to the air intake port, and

the manual fastener is configured to fix the cover in each of the open state and the path forming state.

2 . The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation mechanism configured to switch the cover between the open state and the path forming state.

3 . The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein:

the air intake state switcher causes air to be introduced from around the engine as the high temperature area through the air intake port.

4 . The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein:

the cover is held in a direction crossing the air intake direction and slidable to be switched between the open state and the path forming state.

5 . A work machine, comprising:

a hood;

a motive section under the hood; and

an air intake state switcher,

wherein:

the motive section comprises:

an engine;

an air cleaner configured to supply combustion air to the engine;

a radiator configured to cool the engine; and

a cooling fan configured to blow cooling air toward the radiator,

the radiator faces an air intake section of the hood,

the air cleaner is on an inner side of the motive section relative to the radiator and has an air intake port facing the air intake section,

the air intake state switcher is switchable between an outside air introducing state and a hot air introducing state, wherein in the outside air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes outside air to be introduced through the air intake port, and in the hot air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes air to be introduced from a high temperature area hotter than outside air through the air intake port,

the air intake state switcher includes a cover switchable between an open state, in which the cover opens a space upstream of the air intake port in a direction in which the air cleaner takes in air, and a path forming state, in which the cover covers the upstream space and forms a guide path for guiding air from around the radiator as the high temperature area to the air intake port, and

the cover is held in a direction crossing the air intake direction and slidable to be switched between the open state and the path forming state.

6 . A work machine, comprising:

a hood;

a motive section under the hood; and

an air intake state switcher,

wherein:

the motive section comprises:

an engine;

an air cleaner configured to supply combustion air to the engine;

a radiator configured to cool the engine; and

a cooling fan configured to blow cooling air toward the radiator,

the radiator faces an air intake section of the hood,

the air cleaner is on an inner side of the motive section relative to the radiator and has an air intake port facing the air intake section,

the air intake state switcher is switchable between an outside air introducing state and a hot air introducing state, wherein in the outside air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes outside air to be introduced through the air intake port, and in the hot air introducing state, the air intake state switcher causes air to be introduced from a high temperature area hotter than outside air through the air intake port,

the air intake state switcher includes a cover switchable between an open state, in which the cover opens a space upstream of the air intake port in a direction in which the air cleaner takes in air, and a path forming state, in which the cover covers the upstream space and forms a guide path for guiding air from around the radiator as the high temperature area to the air intake port, and

the cover comprises:

a horizontal and flat first member;

a vertical and flat second member; and

an air intake cover section extending obliquely from an upper portion of the second member to a front portion of the first member in a side view, and

the first and second members and the air intake cover section define the guide path.

7 . The work machine according to claim 6 , wherein:

the cover further comprises:

an air intake pipe through hole in a portion of the air intake cover section which portion corresponds to the air intake port; and

a switchable cover section switchable between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the switchable cover section is fixed to a first position on the air intake cover section which first position corresponds to the air intake pipe through hole to block the air intake pipe through hole, and in the open state, the switchable cover section is fixed to a second position on the air intake cover section which second position is different from the first position to open the air intake pipe through hole.

8 . The work machine according to claim 6 , wherein:

the cover is held in a direction crossing the air intake direction and slidable to be switched between the open state and the path forming state.