Robot for the repair of sewer pipes

• US 6,101,951 A
• Filed: 01/06/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scheiff GmbH
• Original Assignee: Scheiff GmbH
• Inventors: Sigel, Alwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US09/003,142
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 104/138.2, 104/138.1, 105/78, 166/297, 451/5, 180/9.5
• US Class Current: 104/138.2
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2003/065 Refurbishing of sewer pipes, e.g. by coating, lining
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 3/06 Methods of, or installations for, laying sewer pipes making pipes in situ F16L1/038 ; laying conduits in association with the digging of a trench E02F5/10; laying pipes in general F16L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/12 Installations enabling inspection personnel to drive along sewer canals
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/28 Constructional aspects

Abstract

A robot for the repair of sewer pipes comprises a carriage unit driven by a traction motor (2) arranged internally of a carriage housing (1) with wheels (7,9). The carriage housing (1) is connected to a rotary head (15) arranged immediately before the carriage housing (1). The rotary head (15), having tools and/or inspection devices mounted thereon, is driven by rotary motor (22). The traction motor (2) and the rotary motor (22) are arranged in a mutually overlapping relationship. The rotary head (15) is connected to a hollow shaft (23) extending through the whole carriage housing (1). The rotary head (15) is adapted for attachment of a robot arm carrying a tool support. A swivel arm of the robot arm as well as the tool support can be swiveled by hydraulic cylinders. The end of the robot arm facing away from the rotary head (15) is provided with a support wheel.

Claims

1. A robot for the repair of sewer pipes, comprising a carriage unit including, within a carriage housing (1) with wheels (7,9), a traction motor (2) driving the wheels (7,9), and comprising a rotary head (15) to be driven by a rotary motor (22) and having tools and/or inspection devices mounted thereon, the traction motor (2) and the rotary motor (22) being arranged in a mutually overlapping relationship,

wherein

the rotary head (15) is arranged immediately before the carriage housing (1) of the carriage unit and the rotary motor (22) is mounted as a separate unit on the carriage housing (1) and has a transmission-side end extending into a portion of the carriage housing (1).

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the rotary head (15) is connected to a hollow shaft (23) extending through the whole carriage housing (1).

3. The robot according to claim 2, wherein the hollow shaft (23) on the rear end of the carriage housing (1) facing away from the rotary head (15) is secured against withdrawal in the forward direction.

4. The robot according to claim 2, wherein the hollow shaft (23) on its rear end facing away from the rotary head (15) is provided with a coupling member for connection to a press-out container.

5. The robot according to claim 1, wherein a switch and relay unit is accommodated in the carriage housing (1).

6. A robot for the repair of sewer pipes, comprising a carriage unit including, within a carriage housing (1) with wheels (7,9), a traction motor (2) driving the wheels (7,9), and comprising a rotary head (15) to be driven by a rotary motor (22) and having mounted thereon a robot arm (30,43) carrying treatment tools and/or inspection devices,

wherein

the robot arm (30,43), on an end facing away from the rotary head (15), is provided with a support wheel (49) for taking up treatment forces.

7. The robot according to claim 6, wherein the support wheel (49) is arranged on a side opposite to a tool support (39) connected to the robot arm (30,43).

8. The robot according to claim 6, wherein the support wheel (49) can be turned about an axis (A) extending vertically to the rotary axle (50) for automatically adapting the position of support wheel (49) to the movement of the robot arm (30,43).

9. The robot according to claim 7, wherein the robot arm (30,43) comprises a swivel arm (30) and a support arm (43) which are articulated to each other.

10. The robot according to claim 7, wherein a double joint (42,44,45) is provided between the swivel arm (30) and the support arm (43) and at least one joint of the double joint (42,44,45) can be fixed in different positions.

11. The robot according to claim 8, wherein a pressure cylinder (33) is provided to swivel the swivel arm (30).

12. The robot according to claim 9, wherein the support arm (43) is adapted to have auxiliary instruments (52) mounted thereon.

13. The robot according to claim 6, wherein an extensible support leg (54) is arranged on the end of the robot arm (30,43) facing toward the rotary head (15).

14. The robot according to claim 13, wherein the support leg (54), under the effect of the forces generated when advancing the tool, is pressed onto the sewer pipe wall against a spring force.