BE1019038A3 - METHOD FOR POSITIONING AND EMBODIING PIPES OF TRENCHES PIPES (PIPES) AND PIPE VENTUMS USING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR PURPOSES OF THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of positioning and interlocking pipe elements at the bottom of trenches using a handling device characterized in that it comprises a telescopic beam comprising a fixed segment (5) intended to be mounted on the end of the articulated arm (2) of a lifting device (3) and on which is fixed the fixed gripping head (7) consisting of one or more suction cups as well as a movable segment (6) movable telescopically in the segment fixed (5) and on which is mounted the mobile gripping head (8) consisting of one or more suction cups.

Description

"Method of positioning and suction-fitting piping elements (pipes) at the bottom of trenches as well as a suction cup device for handling this process"

The present invention relates to a method of positioning and interlocking pipe elements trench bottom using suction cups.

The buried pipes which can extend over lengths of several kilometers are conventionally constituted by the assembly of a large number of essentially similar elements (pipes) nested within each other.

To allow such interlocking, these pipe elements comprise a male end and a female end in which is mounted a sealing system (seal).

However, the establishment of pipe elements in the bottom of the trenches and their interlocking into each other are not easy operations, especially since these elements must be perfectly aligned at the time of nesting to ensure the right implementation.

Such difficulties are especially encountered in the case of pipes of large diameter such as, for example, drinking water supply pipes for the installation of which it is necessary to go down and fit into the bottom of trenches. having a depth of 2 meters (or more) heavy piping elements and therefore not easy to handle and handle.

Once delivered to the site, these pipe elements are conventionally handled using straps or hooks and successively down to the bottom of the trench using mechanical bucket shovels, then pushed into each other by the end so as to allow their interlocking. Another system is to use a strong pull trench bottom to proceed to the nesting.

Such essentially artisanal systems do not make it possible to guarantee an irreproachable alignment of the various elements and can therefore lead to leakage defects.

In addition, such a pose requires many manual manipulations and further unsatisfactory from the point of view of safety insofar as it is necessary for at least one man to descend into the trench to allow correct positioning of the pipe elements, manipulation of the lifting accessories, and the installation of a device for protection against shocks at the end of the pipes at the time of the interlocking.

The object of the present invention is to provide a process for automated positioning and interlocking and mechanized trench bottom pipe elements making it possible to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular not requiring any dangerous trench bottom manipulations for the personnel. while at the same time allowing better efficiency.

Such a method makes it possible: on the one hand to lower and set up a pipe element comprising a male end and a female end, in particular a pipe element for supplying drinking water, at the bottom of a trench in which has already been positioned a section of pipe constituted by a series of substantially similar pipe elements nested within each other, this pipe section having a free female end, and - on the other hand to fit the male end of this pipe element in the free female end of the pipe section already positioned in the trench, it fully automated, without human intervention is necessary trench bottom for the manipulation of the pipe element.

The first step of the method according to the invention consists in transporting the pipe element to be placed near the trench or near the place of the interlocking to be performed. The pipe element thus transported is then gripped by means of a suction handling device mounted at the end of the arm of a lifting machine via a gimbal and a crown of orientation allowing adjustment in the different directions of this device for the proper alignment of the pipe element.

The essential characteristic of the handling device used to grasp the pipe element is related to the fact that it is equipped with at least two sucker gripping heads, one of which is fixed while the other is movable in translation by relative to the fixed gripping head.

According to the invention, these gripping heads are preferably constituted by suckers cooperating with a source of vacuum.

The suction cups and vacuum cupping are known in themselves, and have already been used in particular for laying slabs, windows or different parts on machines.

These suction cups have many advantages especially related to the speed of gripping and removal of the parts to handle and the guarantee of staff safety.

The next step of the method according to the invention is to position the pipe element in the trench so that its male end is located opposite and at a small distance from the free female end of the pipe section already positioned.

The handling device is then moved so as to apply and maintain on the one hand the fixed suction gripping head against the outer wall of the pipe section already positioned in the trench, near its free female end, and on the other hand, the suction head movable against the outer wall of the pipe element, near its male end.

The last step of the method according to the invention then consists in moving the assembly constituted by the movable gripping head and the pipe element so as to fit the male end of this section into the free female end of the section. of pipe already positioned in the trench.

This process must of course be successively reiterated to allow positioning and interlocking of all the elements of the pipe and thus constitute the desired pipe sections.

This installation can thus be carried out particularly quickly with a reduced handling staff whose safety can be guaranteed insofar as all the steps of the process are automated, not requiring human interventions trench bottom for handling the pipes .

The invention also relates to a handling device that allows the implementation of the method of positioning and nesting of the pipe element trench bottom that has been described above.

According to the invention, such a handling device is characterized in that it is constituted by a telescopic beam comprising a fixed segment intended to be mounted at the end of the articulated arm of a hoist, this via a gimbal and an orientation ring allowing an angular displacement of this beam in all directions, and a movable segment movable telescopically in the fixed segment.

The gripping head with fixed suction cups is positioned on the beam while the movable sucker gripping head is fixed on the telescopic part of this beam.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the gripping heads are constituted by lifting and handling suction cups capable of cooperating with a source of vacuum so as to allow the section of pipe to be applied against the suction cups and to secure it to safe way to these.

These lifting suction cups preferably have a shape appropriate to the diameter of the pipe elements to be handled.

According to the invention, the use of lifting and handling suction cups makes it possible to obtain an appreciable financial gain because it makes it possible to reduce the duration of the installation as well as the personnel of handling, the seizure and the removal of the elements of pipes being made by the driver of the hoist by action of a command at his cockpit.

In this way, accidents can be avoided to a large extent.

The characteristics of the process as well as the handling device which are the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying nonlimiting drawings (for the purposes of the demonstration on the ground, and not at the bottom of the trench) in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the handling device mounted on a hoist.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the handling device during the seizure of a pipe element to be positioned and fitted, FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the device of FIG. manipulation applied and held against the pipe element; - Figure 4 is also a perspective view showing the handling device applied against two pipe elements nested one inside the other.

According to FIG. 1, the handling device designated by the reference numeral 1 is mounted at the end of the articulated arm 2 of a motorized lifting device 3 via a universal joint 4 and an orientation ring 4 'so as to allow its angular displacement in all directions.

This device 1 is connected to the hydraulic control circuit of the machine 3 in a manner known per se and essentially consists of a telescopic beam of appropriate section and having a fixed segment 5 and a movable segment 6.

The fixed segment 5 is attached to the end of the articulated arm 2 of the machine 3 and carries a lifting and handling suction cup attached to it.

The mobile segment 6 is telescopically movable to the inner part of the fixed segment 5 and also carries a lifting and handling suction cup 8 similar to the lifting and handling suction cup 7 and secured integrally to this segment 6.

In a manner not shown in the figures, the two lifting and handling suction cups 7, 8 are connected to a vacuum source via a safety reserve.

The displacement of the movable segment 6 in the fixed segment 5 of the telescopic beam causes the lifting and handling suction cup 8 to move relative to the lifting and handling suction cup 7.

According to Figure 2, the handling device 1 is shown during its movement to a pipe element 9 which must be grasped so as to allow its positioning at the bottom of a trench not shown.

According to Figure 3, the lifting and handling suction cups 7, 8 are applied and held against the pipe element 9 and the female ends 11 and male 12 of this section 9 are visible.

According to FIG. 4, the mobile lifting and handling suction cup 8 is fixed to the pipe element 9 near the male end 12 of this pipe element while the lifting and fixed handling suction cup 7 is applied and held against the outer wall of another substantially similar pipe element 10 symbolizing a pipe section already positioned, this close to the female end 11 of this section.

In this position, the assembly consisting of the lifting and handling sucker with movable suction cups 8 and the section of pipe 9 can be moved so as to fit the male end 12 of this element into the female end 11 of the pipe element 10.

Claims (4)

1) Method allowing on the one hand to descend and set up a pipe element of any type (9) having a male end (12) and a female end (11), in particular a pipe element of drinking water supply, at the bottom of a trench in which has already been positioned a section of pipe consisting of a series of essentially similar pipe elements nested within each other, this pipe section having a free female end, and on the other hand to fit the male end of this pipe element in the free female end of the pipe section already positioned in the trench, characterized by the following steps: - the pipe element (9) is carried near the trench and near the free female end of the pipe section already positioned in the trench i, - the pipe element (9) is grasped by means of a handling device (1) mounted at the end of the articulated arm (2) of a motorized lifting device (3) by the intermediate of a universal joint (4) and an orientation ring (Λ ') and equipped with at least two suction gripping heads (7, 8), one of which is fixed while the other is movable in translation relative to the gripping head with fixed suction cup, - positioning the pipe element (9) in the trench so that its male end (12) is located opposite and at a short distance from the free end of the pipe section already positioned in the trench, - the fixed suction gripper head (7) is applied and held against the outer wall of the pipe section already positioned in the trench near its female end; free, and on the other hand the mobi suction cup gripping head the (8) against the outer wall of the pipe element (9), preferably close to its male end, and - the assembly constituted by the movable suction grip head (8) and the element pipe (9) so as to engage the male end (12) of this element (9) in the free female end of the pipe section already positioned in the trench. 2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping heads are constituted by suction cups and handling (7, 8) cooperating with a vacuum source. 3 °) Handling device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it is constituted by a telescopic beam having a fixed segment (5) to be mounted to the end of the articulated arm (2) of a hoist (3) and on which is fixed the fixed gripping head (7), and a movable segment (6) movable telescopically in the fixed segment (5) and on which is mounted the movable gripping head (8). 4) Handling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the gripping heads are constituted by suction cups and handling (7, 8) capable of cooperating with a vacuum source.