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(11) | EP 2 743 406 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device for excavating a channel |
| (57) Device for excavating a channel, comprising a container (1) with standing side walls
(11, 12), a rear end (15) and an open front end (14), which open front end is provided
with cutting edges (21, 22, 23)configured to cut away flanks of the channel; which
container is configured to be moved forward through the channel; a rotor (3) arranged
in the container and provided with a number of knife elements (30), which rotor with
knife elements is configured to dislodge and move soil to the rear end of the container
between the flanks of the channel; wherein the rear end of the container is provided
with a discharge opening (41) through which the dislodged soil can be discharged.
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[0002] Existing devices make use of rotating discs for cutting away the flanks of a channel in combination with a container in which the cut-away material is collected and out of which the cut-away material can be suctioned. Such a device is moved forward in the channel in order to excavate the channel over a determined length.
[0003] The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device for excavating a channel, and particularly to provide a device with which the material for removing can be dislodged and discharged in a more efficient manner.
[0004] A device according to the invention comprises for this purpose a container and a rotor arranged in this container. The container has standing side walls, a rear end and an open front end which is provided with cutting edges configured to cut away flanks of the channel. The rotor is provided with a number of knife elements and is configured to dislodge and move soil to the rear end of the container between the standing side walls of the container. The rear end of the container is provided with a discharge opening through which the dislodged soil can be discharged.
[0005] Providing the container at its open front end with cutting edges on the one hand and providing knife elements rotating in the container on the other ensures that the flanks of the channel are cut away in neat manner, while the material which comes to lie between the standing side walls of the container is dislodged by the rotating knife elements and moved to the rear end of the container by these rotating knife elements. These features make it possible for the container to be moved forward at an acceptable speed in the channel and for a good result to be achieved.
[0006] The rotor is preferably mounted for rotation around a horizontal shaft attached against a standing side wall of the container. This allows the rotor to be positioned roughly in the centre of the container such that the knife elements can be positioned in suitable manner. It is noted that it is possible to provide in the container a hydromotor which drives the rotor.
[0007] The knife elements preferably have substantially the form of a shovel. This shovel form will allow the knife elements to carry material in efficient manner to the rear end of the container. According to an advantageous embodiment, each knife element has a first part with a cutting edge and a second part which forms an angle with the first part, this such that the dislodged soil can be carried in this angle. The cutting edge of such a knife element is preferably parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor. In addition, each knife element is preferably mounted for pivoting around an axis parallel to the rotation axis. A knife element can in this way take up an advantageous position in accordance with the type of material, and the material carried to the rear end of the container can fall off a knife element when this knife element is moved upward by the rotor.
[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment, the rotor comprises a central rotor plate and the knife elements are provided in holders mounted at regular intervals along the periphery of the central plate, preferably on either side of the central rotor plate. The knife elements are preferably arranged pivotally in the holders here, preferably around a pivot axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor.
[0009] The standing side walls of the container preferably run obliquely upward at an angle corresponding substantially to the desired angle of inclination of the flanks of the channel.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the container is formed from a first part with a first standing side wall and a first bottom wall part, and a second part with a second standing side wall and a second bottom wall part. The container is further configured such that the first and second bottom wall parts are mountable in different positions relative to each other such that the width of the bottom wall formed by the first and second bottom wall parts is adjustable. The width of the container can in this way be adjusted to the desired width of the channel to be excavated. In such an embodiment guide means are preferably provided between the first and second parts for the purpose of guiding the first part relative to the second part during setting of the width. This will further facilitate the setting of the width. In addition, locking means are preferably provided for locking the first part relative to the second part once the desired width has been set.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the rear end of the container is provided with a guide piece with a guide wall running gradually upward for the purpose of guiding the dislodged soil upward. This guide wall preferably runs upward in arcuate manner in the direction of an upper wall of the container. According to an advantageous embodiment, the guide wall runs upward along a path roughly parallel to a part of the path followed by the knife elements. The discharge opening can be provided in the wall running gradually upward, close to an upper wall of the container. The material carried upward along the guide wall by the knife elements can in this way be properly discharged. The guide piece can further be provided with a discharge pipe which connects to the discharge opening. This discharge pipe can then for instance be connected by means of a universal coupling to a soil suction excavator, for instance a suction excavator with turbines.
[0012] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the guide piece comprises a first guide part with a first guide wall part and a second guide part with a second guide wall part. This first and second guide wall part are configured such that they are mountable in different positions relative to each other such that the width of the guide wall formed by the first and second guide wall parts is adjustable. A good discharge of material can in this way be realized for channels of differing widths.
[0013] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the front end of the container is provided with a lower cutting edge in the line of the bottom wall of the container and with two standing cutting edges in the line of the standing side walls of the container. This lower cutting edge is preferably formed by a removable elongate knife. A set of lower knives of a differing length can in this way be provided such that an appropriate lower cutting edge can be arranged in accordance with the width of the container.
[0014] The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a number of by no means limitative embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1A is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention as viewed from the front end of the container;
Figure 1B is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1A as viewed from the rear end of the container;
Figures 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views of a left-hand part of the container as viewed from respectively the front end and the rear end of the container;
Figures 3A and 3B are further schematic perspective views of the embodiment of figures 1A and 1B as viewed from respectively the upper side of the container and the inner side of the rear end of the container; and
Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views of a right-hand part of the container as viewed from respectively the upper side and the underside.
[0015] Figures 1A, 1B, 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of a device for excavating a channel according to the invention. The device comprises a container 1 with standing side walls 11, 12, a bottom wall 13 and a rear wall 17. The container has an open front end 14 with a lower cutting edge 23 in the line of bottom wall 13 and with second standing cutting edges 21, 22 in the line of the respective standing side walls 11, 12. Lower cutting edge 23 preferably forms part of a removable knife part which is attachable to bottom wall 13 using for instance bolts 24. The standing side walls 11, 12 run obliquely upward at an angle 16 which substantially corresponds to a desired angle of inclination of the flanks of the channel. As best shown in figure 3A, a discharge opening 41 through which dislodged soil can be discharged is provided at the rear end 14 of the container.
[0016] A rotor 3 provided with a number of knife elements 30 is arranged in container 1. Rotor 3 with knife elements 30 is configured to dislodge and move to the rear end 14 of container 1 soil cut into by cutting edges 21, 22, 23. Rotor 3 is mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis R. The rotor shaft is driven by a hydraulic motor received in a housing 37. This housing is fixed against a standing side wall 12 of container 1. Rotor 3 comprises a central plate 35 on which a number of holders 36 for knife elements 30 are mounted. These holders 36 are arranged distributed along the periphery of central plate 35 on either side thereof. A shovel-like knife element is mounted in each holder 36. The shovel-like knife element 30 comprises a first part 31 with a cutting edge 33 and a second part 32 which forms an angle 34 with first part 31. The dislodged soil can in this way be carried in angle 34. The knife elements are preferably mounted pivotally in holder 36. Breaking of knife elements is in this way avoided when they make contact with a hard object. Cutting edge 33 of each knife element is parallel to the rotation axis R of the rotor and the pivot axis S of knife element 30 is likewise parallel to the rotation axis R of the rotor.
[0017] As illustrated in figures 2A, 2B, 4A and 4B, container 1 is formed from two parts: a first part which is shown in figures 4A and 4B with a first standing side wall 11 and a first bottom wall part 13a; and a second part which is shown in figures 2A and 2B with a second standing side wall 12 and a second bottom wall part 13b. The first and second bottom wall parts 13a, 13b are mountable in different positions relative to each other such that the width of the bottom wall 13 formed by the first and second bottom wall parts is adjustable. In order to facilitate the positioning of the first part relative to the second part, guide means 51, 52 in the form of two sets of telescopically co-acting pipes are provided on the upper side of the container. In the illustrated embodiment a limited number of different positions of the first part is possible relative to the second part, and the first part is lockable relative to the second part using locking means arranged here on the upper side of the container and on rear wall 17. First locking means 60 in the form of for instance a hole-pin locking are provided on the upper side of container 1. A locking mechanism 61 which is adjustable in accordance with the desired width can also be provided on the rear side, see figure 3B in particular.
[0018] The rear end 15 of container 1 is provided with a guide piece 4 with a guide wall 42 running gradually upward for guiding the dislodged soil upward. Guide piece 4 is formed here from a first guide part 4a with a first guide wall part and a second guide part 4b with a second guide wall part, see figures 2A and 4A. The second guide part 4b can slide over the first guide part 4a such that the width of guide piece 4 is also adjustable. Guide wall 42 formed by guide parts 4a, 4b runs upward along a path roughly parallel to a part of the path followed by knife elements 30 such that knife elements 30 move along the guide surface up to a certain height while they move rearward and upward. Discharge opening 41 is formed in the guide wall 42 running gradually upward. The knife elements will in this way ensure that the dislodged soil is moved upward along the guide surface and into the discharge opening. Provided between rear wall 17 and guide wall 42 is a discharge pipe 43 extending from discharge opening 41 to an opening in rear wall 17. Provided from rear wall 17 is a second pipe part 44 which can be connected by means of for instance a universal coupling to a soil suction extractor.
[0019] Rear wall 17 can be provided with a second opening 71 along which container 1 can be further cleaned. This opening 71 is also used for passage of the conduits, for instance the hoses for feed to the hydromotor, for connection to for instance a tractor or mobile crane used to move the container forward in the channel. The mechanical coupling between container 1 and the mobile crane or tractor takes place by means of the gear ring 81 provided on the upper side of the container.
[0020] Finally, container 1 can be provided with a protective cover 18 which has on the one hand a mudguard function and on the other hand functions as a safety guard partially shielding the knife elements.
[0021] The skilled person will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments and that many variants and modifications can be envisaged within the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the following claims.
The skilled person will thus appreciate that container 1 can be embodied with more than one rotor instead of with one rotor, for instance two rotors, one on each side wall of the container. In this case a partition can optionally be provided in the container between the two rotors. Particularly for very wide channels, this can be a useful solution. A plurality of suction openings can also be provided at the rear end of the container.
[0022] The skilled person will also understand that the design of the knife elements is not limited to shovel-like elements. The knife elements could for instance also be partially cup-like or rake-like, and can be optimized in accordance with the type of material to be removed.
[0023] In the embodiment shown in the figures the setting of the width takes place in wholly manual manner. It is however also possible to envisage providing a hydraulic system for the purpose of setting the width. The width can then optionally be adjusted while the container is located in the channel for excavating.
1. Device for excavating a channel, comprising:
- a container (1) with standing side walls (11, 12), a rear end (15) and an open front end (14), which open front end is provided with cutting edges (21, 22, 23) configured to cut away flanks of the channel; which container is configured to be moved forward through the channel;
- a rotor (3) arranged in the container and provided with a number of knife elements (30), which rotor with knife elements is configured to dislodge and move soil to the rear end of the container between the flanks of the channel; wherein the rear end of the container is provided with a discharge opening (41) through which the dislodged soil can be discharged.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rotor (3) is mounted for rotation around a horizontal shaft attached against
a standing side wall (12) of the container.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knife elements (30) have the form of a shovel.
4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each knife element has a first part (31) with a cutting edge (33) and a second part
(32) which forms an angle (34) with the first part, this such that dislodged soil
can be carried in this angle.
5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the rotor (3) has a rotation axis (R) and that the cutting edge (33) of each knife
element is substantially parallel to the rotation axis (R).
6. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the rotor has a rotation axis and that each knife element is mounted pivotally around
an axis (S) parallel to the rotation axis (R).
7. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the rotor (3) comprises a central rotor plate (35) and that the knife elements are
provided in holders (36) distributed along the periphery of the central rotor plate,
preferably on either side of the rotor plate (35).
8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the knife elements are arranged pivotally in the holders.
9. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the standing side walls (11, 12) run obliquely upward at an angle (16) corresponding
substantially to a desired angle of inclination of the flanks of the channel.
10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container is formed from a first part with the first standing side wall (11)
and a first bottom wall part (13a), and a second part with the second standing side
wall (12) and a second bottom wall part (13b), wherein the first and the second bottom
wall part are mountable in different positions relative to each other such that the
width of the bottom wall formed by the first and second bottom wall parts is adjustable.
11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that guide means (51, 52) are provided between the first part and the second part for
the purpose of guiding the first part relative to the second part during setting of
the width.
12. Device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the device comprises locking means (60, 61) for locking the first part relative to
the second part.
13. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the rear end of the container is provided with a guide piece (4) with a guide wall
(42) running gradually upward for the purpose of guiding the dislodged soil upward;
wherein the guide wall runs upward along a path roughly parallel to a part of the
path followed by the knife elements.
14. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the cutting edges at the front end of the container comprise a lower cutting edge
(23) in the line of a bottom wall of the container and two standing cutting edges
(21, 22) in the line of the standing side walls of the container.
15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the lower cutting edge forms part of a removable elongate cutting piece.