Riding-type working machine

Claim 2

A riding-type working machine comprising: a machine frame, said machine frame defining an engine compartment in a front portion thereof; an engine mounted in said engine compartment; a steering column in the form of a framework defining a space therein, said steering column being vertically mounted on said machine frame behind said engine; a steering shaft disposed within said space in the steering column and secured to an upper end of said steering column, a steering wheel, a radiator for cooling said engine, said radiator being disposed within said space in the steering column; a steering gearbox, support means for fixedly mounting said steering gearbox horizontally on said machine frame under said radiator and steering column, said steering shaft extending from said steering wheel into said steering gear box, a lower end of said steering column being fixedly secured to said support means, and means for securing and supporting a lower end of said radiator to said support means.

Claim 3

A riding-type working machine according to claim 1, wherein a side section of the steering column has a larger horizontal cross-sectional area than the area of a bottom section, thereby allowing said radiator to be accommodated in said steering column.

Claim 4

A riding-type working machine according to claim 1, said steering column including a dual structure comprising a plurality of bolt-like support members having lower ends fixed to said machine frame and extending through said steering gearbox, an upper flat member interconnecting upper ends of at least two of said bolt-like support members, said steering gearbox serving as a lower flat member, and support pipes interposed between said upper and lower flat members, said bolt-like support members extending through said support pipes, respectively, said bottom section being joined to said support plates.

Claim 5

A riding-type working machine comprising: a machine frame, said machine frame defining an engine compartment in a front portion thereof; an engine mounted in said engine compartment; a steering column providing a rear partition of said engine compartment; a steering shaft mounted in and vertically extending through said steering column and secured to an upper end of said steering column; a radiator for cooling said engine, a fan located between said engine and said radiator for drawing cooling air through said radiator and blowing it over said engine, a shroud disposed about said fan, a steering gearbox, said steering column being in the form of a framework defining a space therein, said radiator and fan being disposed in said space in the steering column, support means for fixedly mounting said steering gearbox on said machine frame generally horizontally below and under said radiator, fan and said steering column for thereby reducing at least the length of said engine compartment in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, a lower end of said steering column being secured to and supported by said support means, and means for securing and supporting a lower end of said radiator to said support means.

Claim 6

A riding-type working machine comprising: a machine frame, said machine frame defining an engine compartment in a front portion thereof; an engine mounted in said engine compartment; a steering column providing a rear partition of said engine compartment; a steering shaft mounted in and vertically extending through said steering column and secured to an upper end of said steering column; a radiator for cooling said engine, a fan located between said engine and said radiator for drawing cooling air through said radiator and blowing it over said engine, a shroud disposed about said fan, a steering gearbox, said steering column being in the form of a framework defining a space therein, said radiator and fan being disposed in said space in the steering column, support means for fixedly mounting said steering gearbox on said machine frame generally horizontally below and under said radiator, fan and said steering column for thereby reducing at least the length of said engine compartment in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, a lower end of said steering column being secured to and supported by said support means, and means for securing and supporting a lower end of said radiator to said support means.

Claim 7

A riding-type working machine according to claim 4, wherein said steering column comprises a plurality of bent pipes defining said space therebetween.

Claim 8

A riding-type working machine according to claim 5, further including frame said steering shaft having a lower end operatively coupled to said steering gearbox, said steering column being mounted on said steering gearbox, said steering gearbox and said steering column being fastened together.

Claim 9

A riding-type working machine according to claim 6, said steering column including a dual structure comprising a lower flat member, a plurality of bolt members having lower ends fixed to said machine frame and extending through said lower flat member, an upper flat member interconnecting upper ends of at least two of said bolt members, and support pipes interposed between said upper and lower flat members, said bolt members extending through said support pipes, respectively, at least two of said pipes having a first portion extending substantially horizontally at an upper portion of said steering shaft, said first portion serving as an upper section of said steering column, a second portion extending substantially downwardly from a distal end of said first portion, said second portion serving as a side section of said steering column, and a third portion extending substantially horizontally from a distal end of said second portion, said third portion serving as a bottom section of said steering column, at least one of said pipes having an inclined portion extending obliquely out of physical interference with said steering shaft from the upper portion of said steering shaft, said inclined portion serving as a rear portion of said side section of said steering column, and a lower inclined portion extending obliquely rearwardly from a distal end of said inclined portion, said third portion and said lower inclined portion having distal ends joined to sides of said support pipes of said dual structure.

Claim 10

A riding-type working machine according to claim 7, wherein said steering gearbox is of a substantially flat shape and serves as said lower flat member.

Claim 11

A riding-type working machine according to claim 8, wherein said radiator and said cooling fan are disposed between the rear portion of the side section of said steering column and a front portion of the side section of said steering column.

Claim 12

A riding-type working machine according to claim 9, wherein said radiator is joined to said upper and bottom sections of said steering column.