DEVICE FOR DIGGING NARROW TRENCHES AND LAYING PREFABRICATED TONGUED AND GROOVED COMPONENTS

• US 20040146360A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aplicationes Especiales de Ingenierio Civil SA
• Original Assignee: Aplicationes Especiales de Ingenierio Civil SA
• Inventors: Perez, Eduardo Gomez
• Granted Patent: US 6,830,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/174
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/08 with digging wheels turning round an axis E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/14 Component parts for trench excavators, e.g. indicating devices travelling gear chassis, supports, skids

Abstract

Of those constituted by the association of a trencher comprising a cutting disc (2) with a prefabricated tongued and grooved element feeder comprising a sweeper box (32) with a U-shaped transversal section closed at the front by a rake (34), in such a way that earth cannot fall inside it, and means of pushing the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) comprising drive wheels (7) which transmit to them, by friction, a longitudinal push in order to keep the different prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) coupled together during their descent into the inside of the sweeper box (32). This constitutes a kind of temporary plank mould for the trench, on account of which the lowering and laying of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) inside it may be carried out automatically, safely, and in a working environment that is free of earth, thus enabling the perfect linking of the elements.

Claims

1. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements, of the kind composed of a cutting disc (2) and a prefabricated tongued and grooved element feeder, characterised in that the prefabricated tongued and grooved element feeder comprises:

a sweeper box (32) with a U-shaped transversal section, closed at the front by a rake (34);

mounted in such a way that the excavated earth cannot fall inside it;

means for pushing the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33), comprising a number of drive wheels (7) which transmit by friction to those elements a longitudinal thrust in order to keep the various prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) coupled together while they are deposited into the inside of the sweeper box (32).

2. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 1, characterised in that the cutting disc (2) is fitted with replaceable spikes (17) around its perimeter, while the depth of cut may be regulated on account of the fact that the chassis upon which is mounted the cutting disc (2) rests on the ground by means of a support wheel (3), the position of which may be regulated by means of a hydraulic support piston (19).

3. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 2, characterised in that the setting in motion of the cutting disc (2) originates in the power take-off (15) of a vehicle of traction (1) with the mediation of a bevel pinion (16).

4. Device for opening narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 1, characterised in that the means of pushing the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements comprise a number of pusher rollers (6) upon which the said prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) are pressed together thanks to a number of pneumatic drive wheels (7) which apply to those elements a downward force due to the fact that the said drive wheels (7) are mounted on a wheel axis (22) of piece with a wheel fork (20), which is mounted in such a way that it tilts by means of a swivel wheel (21) on the lateral mounts (26) which support the pusher rollers (6), the wheel fork (20) being pushed downwards by some springs (23) that are compressed between the wheel fork (20) itself and a regulator nut (24) mounted on a headless screw (25) which is articulated on the lateral mounts (26);

and moreover the drive wheels (7) receive a spinning movement from a drive motor (8) by means of drive chains (9), as a result of which they transmit by friction a longitudinal push to the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33).

5. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 4, characterised in that between the cutting disc (2) and the pusher rollers (6) are disposed a number of feeder rollers (4) which form a trajectory which runs transversally with respect to the device'"'"'s direction of advance and is inclined for the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33).

6. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 5, characterised in that over the group of feeder rollers (4), and close to its lowest part, is mounted a stopper (5) in such a way that it detains the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) in their fall, precipitated by gravity, along the feeder rollers (4) upon which they rest.

7. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 6, characterised in that the stopper (5) is mounted of a piece with a stopper axis (27) which bears a stopper lever (28) ending in a grip (29) beneath which is disposed a locking device (30) composed of a double articulated lever, the shorter arm of which is able to penetrate a fixed catch (31), in such a way that when the stopper lever (28) is immobilised by the locking device (30), the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) are retained by the stopper (5), while once the locking device (30) has been disengaged from the fixed catch (31), the stopper lever (28) may rotate freely, and with it the stopper (5), thus permitting the passage of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) to the first pusher rollers (6), where they are retained by the lateral mount (26).

8. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 5, characterised in that over the group of feeder rollers (4), close to their lowest part, is mounted a rotating step-by-step feeder (51), in such a way that it enables the feeding of one single prefabricated tongued and grooved element (33) each time such a element is freed successively.

9. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 8, characterised in that when the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33) are pipe sections with a U-shaped transversal section, the rotating step-by-step feeder (51) is constituted by discs (52) joined by a central axis (53) over which a fixed a number of honeycomb plates (54), distributed evenly around the periphery, and at least one toothed wheel (55) which may be immobilised by a bolt (56) that may be displaced by a pneumatic activator (57) controlled by a switch (58) equipped with a feeler (59).

10. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 9, characterised in that the drive wheels (7) are pneumatic and of the same breadth as the central channel of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33).

11. Device for digging narrow trenches and laying prefabricated tongued and grooved elements according to claim 1, characterised in that between each of the prefabricated tongued and grooved elements (33), a separator (60) is inserted, made of a less hard material, in such a way that direct contact between the elements is prevented.