EA005541B1 - Trenching method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Trenching apparatus comprises a cutting device (23), preferably an endless chain cutter, mounted on a prime mover (21) for positioning the cutting device in a trench (18) with the prime mover movable on the ground surface (22) above the level of the trench. Where the cutting device is a chain cutter, the boom projects forwardly and downwardly relative to the direction of cutting the trench, and drive means are arranged to drive the chain in a direction to carry the cutting elements upwardly around the distal end of the boom and rearwardly along the upper run (30) of the endless chain cutter (23). In operation the distal end of the chain cutter (23) is positioned against the end face of the trench at the bottom of the trench (18); the prime mover (21) moves the chain cutter forwardly in the trench while operating the chain cutter, so as to produce an undercut (55) in the end face (54) of the trench; and the lifting means (25) lifts the cutting device (23) upwardly from the undercut through the material of the end face so as to cut material from the end face of the trench.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of laying a trench and to a device for laying a trench, which, in particular, can be used to lay a trench in rocky soil.

There are a large number of trench excavators designed for laying trenches in the ground, using a tractor, such as a crawler tractor or a conventional tractor, pushing a trailer, with which the excavator on the boom is installed in a trench. The main examples are a rotor for excavating, rotating around an axis located transversely a trench, known as a loosening device for excavating, or one or more rotors for excavating, rotating around an axis established along the length of the boom, which is commonly known as a milling cutter or roller cone or a device for excavating, including an elongated continuous support means, on which a plurality of cutting elements are located, moving along the upper and lower sides of the boom, known as the cutting chain . In the case of using a rotor for excavating it, it is installed at the far end of the boom, which runs forward and downward from the main propulsion unit relative to the direction in which the trench is being laid. In the case of using a cutting chain, it is usually mounted on a boom extending down and back from the towing vehicle relative to the direction in which the trench is being laid. With this arrangement, the elongated element of the holder moves in such a direction that the cutting elements move down around the far end of the boom and up and forward along the upper side of the moving elongated element of the holder. Usually in trench excavators of all these types, an installation device is used to raise and lower the far end of the excavation boom to regulate the depth of the trench. Examples of such trench excavators can be found, for example, in the publications CH-A-239498 (ErGergHebe Otapbk Ttaui 8A) and \ UO 95/13433 (Magnetotoek & Sotrapu YtNeb).

Usually, trench excavators of all these types are successfully used for laying trenches under normal soil conditions, but they are unsuitable for laying trenches in rocky soil or for excavating other solid soil materials. For laying trenches in hard rock, typically labor-intensive methods are used using impact drilling tools and explosives.

In another field of technology not related to laying a trench, tunneling in rock is known for using tunneling machines in which a rotor for excavation, known as a ball cutter, is installed so that it is located in front of the boom extending from the primary propulsor, and made with the possibility of movement in the vertical plane due to the hinged rotation of the boom on the primary propulsion device. When using the rotor for excavation is lowered to the bottom of the tunnel, and the primary propeller is configured to move together with the rotor for excavation so that it sinks into the end wall of the tunnel at the bottom level to form a hem. The excavation boom is then rotated in an upward direction with the help of hydraulic lifts so that the rotor or rotors for excavation rise upwards, cutting off a layer of material from the end wall of the tunnel. The excavation boom is raised by applying force between the excavating boom and the bottom of the tunnel. In variants of such a device, a cutting chain is installed that runs along the upper and lower sides of the excavation boom and around the far end of the excavation boom, which is used, for example, in coal mining of coal or soft stone. In such a device, the continuous moving support means on which the cutting tools are mounted is driven in such a direction that the cutting tools move upwards around the far end of the boom and move backwards along the upper side of the moving element of the support means. Examples of both types of tunneling equipment can be found in the brochures published in 1982.

In addition to these known devices, publication EP-A-0080802 (Zayas) describes a device for laying trenches in rock using a loosening device for excavating. Publication EP-A-0080802 also contains references to publications of the prior art that describe a known trench excavator containing a large chain saw mounted on a crawler chassis and equipped with tungsten carbide teeth that are sawn through the rock. However, this device has the disadvantage that significant beats occur along the saw, especially when more hard rock is dredged, and this reduces the efficiency of dredging. This problem arises, first of all, because of the great length without the stop of the excavation boom. In the publication EP-A-0080802 also described spherical devices for excavation, such as were described above in the case of tunneling machines, and it is indicated that the use of other devices for excavation of rock soil known for surface mining operations is known, and such devices contain rotating cutting head mounted on the end of the boom, hinged on the tracked chassis. In this case, however, it is indicated that these known devices cannot be used for laying trenches and, moreover, they also have a similar problem of vibration, since they also contain a long boom mounted without a stop, on which the cutting head is located.

- 1 005541

EP-A-0080802 states that these difficulties can be overcome with the help of a trenching device in rock containing a pivotally mounted boom with a rotating excavation head located at the far end of the boom and a telescopic control lever extending between a movable working platform and the end of the boom located next to the cutting head, and the telescopic control lever is controlled by a hydraulic actuator, which is used to move the head of excavation along the Oring path about a pivot axis of the boom. This device works by means of a hydraulic power drive, which applies a force to the cutting head, having a main vertical component. During operation, such a device is installed by placing it on both sides of the trench line, and the boom is lowered to its contact with the ground. The cutting head rotates when a force from a hydraulic drive is applied so that it moves down an arc-like trajectory and excavates rock from the front end wall of the trench. A conveyor is installed at the bottom of the trench, which removes excavated soil from the trench. The boom is then raised, and the device moves forward, after which the described process is repeated.

The publication states that such a device prevents the occurrence of vibration and beating of a relatively long boom due to the connection of the hydraulic actuator with the boom near the dredging head, which increases the stability of the head, eliminating the problems of vibration and beating that could be observed on a long boom, without the use of a hydraulic drive, when force is applied for excavation. It is argued that due to the application of the required load from the control lever to the head of the excavation and because of the relatively short distance between the head of the excavation and the fulcrum, the problem of the beating of the head of excavation is largely eliminated.

However, in a machine of this type there is a disadvantage, which is described in publication EP-A-0080802, consisting in the fact that the force applied to the cutting head leads to a tendency of lifting the device so that it loses contact with the ground. It assumes the possibility of installing additional ballast, but, nevertheless, there is inevitably a limit on the magnitude of the force that can be applied to move the cutting head along an arcuate path without the risk of lifting the device components installed on the surface with their separation from the ground surface.

Publication ΌΕ-Α-4213523 describes a trench excavator containing a remote milling head mounted on a swing arm, so that it cuts off the material as a result of rotation around the axis of rotation located transverse to the axis of the lever. The lever is connected to the tractor through an arrow that is pivotally mounted on the tractor and connected to the lever. The hinge movement of the boom and lever is provided by hydraulic cylinders. When the device is working, the milling head is installed in the base of the trench and the hem is performed by moving the milling head forward in relation to the direction in which the trench is laid. The milling head is then raised to the top level of the trench with the help of hydraulic cylinders that control the pivoting of the lever and boom. After that, the milling head is lowered to the bottom of the trench, and the procedure is repeated.

The mobile milling loader contains a receiving container designed to contain crushed material into it. On the sides of the lever or the receiving container, lamellar supporting elements are installed, which are made with the possibility of deflection to the outside, due to which a transverse stop is provided with respect to the trench walls. Installed on the sides of the supporting elements are made with the possibility of deflection outward using a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. It is indicated that the supporting elements are designed to provide a transverse stop and can be installed on the working head of the lever. It is indicated that the transverse stop and the control of the working head in the transverse direction can be ensured during operation with the help of support elements deviating outward. It is indicated that the transverse stop and control in the transverse direction by the working head of the lever on which the working head is mounted are provided with respect to the trench walls during operation of the milling loader.

The present invention is directed to a trenching device in which the above problems are eliminated or reduced.

In accordance with the present invention, a method for laying a trench in which a trenching device is installed in a trench and located on a trench over a soil surface is proposed, the dredging device having an articulated dredging boom installed; install the excavation device on the end wall of the trench below the ground level, put the excavation device into contact with the end wall of the trench, and move the excavation device forward into the trench while the excavation device is in operation to form a hem on the end wall of the trench; raise the boom up, essentially in the vertical plane from the hem to the top level of the trench by applying a lifting force between the boom and the ground surface above the trench when the excavation device is in operation while moving up to cut the material from the end wall of the trench; at the same time perform the emphasis in the side walls of the trench of the side components of the device during the execution of the upward movement of the boom and apply to the boom an additional upward force acting between the side

- 2 005541 components and boom during the execution of upward movement on the excavation using the excavation device, while the side components abut the side walls of the trench.

Obviously, the properties of the present invention are set forth herein with respect to the method in accordance with the present invention, and such properties can also be provided with respect to the device in accordance with the present invention, and vice versa.

In particular, in accordance with the present invention, a device for laying a trench is proposed, comprising: a tractor; a excavation device with a plowed excavation boom; installation means for mounting the excavation device on the tractor and for positioning the excavation device in a trench, with the possibility of moving the tractor over the soil surface above the trench level, and the excavation device is positioned with the possibility of abutment into the end wall of the trench for cutting material from the end wall trench; a lifting device installed to lift the boom, essentially in a vertical plane from the hem in the end wall at the bottom of the trench up to the top level of the trench during operation of the excavation device with the possibility of excavating the end wall of the trench by applying an upward force between the boom and the surface soil over the trench; moreover, the device contains side components made with the possibility of emphasis in the side walls of the trench during the execution of the upward movement of the boom, and the power connection connecting the side components with the excavation boom and positioned with the possibility of applying an additional upward force to the excavation boom acting between the side components and boom, during the upward movement of the excavation device, while the side components are installed with emphasis in the side walls of the trench.

The method in accordance with the present invention provides the advantage that during the upward working stroke during excavation, the force applied between the excavation device and the soil surface is limited only by the force produced and applied and is not limited by the risk of detachment of the components of the trench excavator from the soil as in the prior art, when the excavation is carried out when the device is moving, the excavation is directed downward. There is no need to ensure sufficient weight of that part of the device on which the lifting device is installed, as in the case when the lifting device presses the excavation device in the downward direction during the working stroke during excavation.

Below will be described many preferred embodiments of the present invention. Preferably, during the cutting stage, the excavation device is installed so that it comes into contact with the end wall, substantially at the level of the trench bottom. Also preferably, the excavation device is mounted on a hinged boom extending forward with respect to the direction in which the trench is being laid, and this lifting step is performed by moving the excavation device along an arcuate trajectory determined by the hinged boom movement. With this arrangement, it is preferable to perform the step of raising the excavation device in the upward direction by applying a force between the excavation device and the surface area of the soil displaced along the trench from the axis of the hinged boom in the forward direction. Also preferably, the step of lifting the excavating device upward is performed by applying a force between the excavating device and the soil surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom, and the lifting step of the excavating device in the upward direction is performed by applying a force at the far end of the boom. Preferably, the step of lifting the excavation device in the upward direction is performed by applying a force inclined to the vertical in the forward direction with respect to the direction in which the trench is being laid. Such an arrangement improves the stability of the device and allows the most efficient use of the upward force applied to the excavation device.

Although a number of different excavation devices can be used in embodiments of the present invention, it is particularly preferable to perform a material extraction step from the end wall of the trench by moving a plurality of cutting elements along the upper and lower side of the elongated continuous support means extending along the boom, the cutting elements setting in motion in such a way that at the far end of the excavation boom, the elements are moved upwards along the end of the excavation boom and back along rhney side with respect to the direction in which the paving trench. Such an arrangement is particularly preferred because the cutting elements come into contact with the hem in the up and back direction at the far end of the boom so that they interact with the lifting force that ensures the contact of the cutting teeth when excavating with the soil material. In the case of hard rock, this makes it possible to effectively excavate, in which the movement of the cutting elements interacts with the upward movement of the lifting means and the forward movement of the tractor during the excavation. In addition, the upper side of the elongated continuous support means can be effectively used to remove excavated soil, so that there is no need to use a separate non-continuous conveyor or other means to remove excavated soil from the trench, although in some conditions such an additional conveyor can be installed behind the cutting chains.

In alternative arrangements, the excavation device may comprise a excavation rotor mounted on the boom end, and the excavation step from the end wall of the trench is performed by rotating the excavation rotor around an axis transverse to the trench length, or by rotating the excavation rotor around an axis , located generally along the length of the boom.

In preferred forms, a layout can be used in which the lifting means is arranged so that it performs a working stroke in the upward direction and a reverse stroke in a downward direction, and provides greater strength when the working stroke is performed than when performing a reverse stroke.

Preferably, the device comprises a mobile base unit, displaced forward from the tractor and connected to it for co-movement, wherein the lifting device is installed with the possibility of applying a lifting force between the excavation device and the tractor and / or mobile mobile unit. In a particularly preferred form, the mobile base unit is connected to the tractor by means of a frame, and the lifting device comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the tractor and extending forward from it, wherein the pivot link is connected at one end to the front end of the pivot lever and the other end to the boom of the excavating device, and a source of lift is connected between the lever in an intermediate position between its two ends and the frame in an intermediate position between its two ends. Preferably, the lifting device comprises a hydraulic power drive.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises control means programmed to perform a predetermined duty cycle, in which the installation means is arranged to establish a excavation device at the bottom of the trench in contact with the end wall of the trench; the tractor is made with the possibility of moving the excavation device in the forward direction to a predetermined distance inside the trench during operation of the excavation device to form a hem on the end wall of the trench; the lifting device is adapted to raise the excavation device upward from the hemming through the material of the end wall during operation of the excavation device; the tractor is arranged to move the excavation device in the direction backward to a predetermined distance; the lifting device is adapted to lower the excavation device to the bottom of the trench; and the previous steps are repeated.

The base unit may consist of a structure mounted on the runners, which slides along the surface of the ground, being moved forward by the primary propulsor. In other arrangements, the base unit may be mounted on wheels or, in some cases, may be mounted on a second tractor, communicating with the first tractor, while moving the excavating device along the trench.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a known trench excavator device described in EP-A-0080802, FIG. 2 shows in detail the excavation device used on it;

in fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a trench excavator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention using a cutting chain;

in fig. 3a shows a side view of the far end of the cutting chain, which can be used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and for clarity of the image, the side cutting disc shown in FIG. 3;

in fig. 3b shows the front end of the device of FIG. 3 at another stage of work with a raised excavation boom;

in fig. 3c shows a rear view of the side clip assembly of the device of FIG. 3, shown in direction C, indicated in FIG. 3;

in fig. 4 schematically shows an end view of the front part of the device shown in FIG. 3, as seen from direction A, indicated in FIG. 3;

in fig. 5 schematically shows a detailed side view of the cutting chain shown in FIG. 3, and in FIG. 5a is a partial view in plan of the direction B shown in FIG. 5, illustrating the lower end of the cutting chain shown in FIG. five;

in fig. 6a is a block diagram of the control means programmed to perform a predetermined duty cycle of the device, and FIG. 6b is a flowchart flowchart;

in fig. 7a-7d schematically provide an illustration depicting a sequence of work steps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3-6; and in FIG. 8 schematically shows a side view of another alternative implementation of the present invention, in which the excavation device contains a roller cutter.

FIG. 1 and 2 show a known trench excavator device as described in EP-A-0080802 for laying trenches in rocky soil. Two tracked chassis are made in the form of a tracked rear platform 3 and a front tracked platform 5, interconnected with

- 4 005541 using tie beams 7, the rear track platform 3 comprising an excavation boom 2 pivoted at point 6. The front end of the boom 2 comprises a excavation rotor made in the form of a cutting head 7 and driven to rotate around an axis transversely laid trench The far end of the boom 2 is connected to the front tracked platform 5 using a telescopic control lever 8 consisting of a hydraulic power drive and telescopic retractable couplings connected to the boom 2 by connecting 9. When operating, the device is positioned so that it is installed on both sides of the trench line , and the boom 2 is lowered to contact with the ground. The cutting head 7 rotates when a force is applied from the side of the hydraulic power drive 8, which moves the cutting head 7 along a curved trajectory downward so that rock is removed from the front end wall of the trench. Behind the cutting head 7 is a continuous chain conveyor 4, which removes the excavated soil. Arrow 2 is then raised, and the device moves forward, and the process is repeated.

Such a device has the disadvantage that the force applied to the cutting head 7 creates a tendency for the front track platform 5 to lift, tearing it away from the ground. In an attempt to resolve this problem, firstly, the hydraulic actuator 8 is mounted on a heavy independent tracked chassis, and, secondly, additional ballast can be located on one of or on both the front and rear tracked platforms 5 and 3.

FIG. 3 and 4 show a trench excavator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In general, the components of an embodiment of the present invention, known in the art, can be, as described in the above description of EP-A-0080802, modified according to need, taking into account the properties of the present invention, which is made in the form of the presented device. Consider first figs. 3, which shows a trench excavator device for laying a trench in rocky soil or the like, which contains a tractor 21 on which a cab 35 is installed, and a mobile base unit 26 without a cab. The tractor and the mobile base unit consist of a tracked chassis that is designed to move on the surface 22 of the ground. The excavation device, generally designated 23, is mounted on the towing vehicle 21 by means of the installation, indicated generally by 24. The lifting device indicated generally by 25 is connected to the excavating device 23 in the region of its far end. . The mobile base unit 26 is connected to the tractor 21 by means of the frame 27. The entire operation of the machine is controlled by means of the control, indicated schematically by the position 34, which is located in the cab 35 of the tractor 21.

The construction of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in which the excavation device 23 comprises an elongated continuous support means 28, such as a chain, on which cutting elements 29 are mounted in the form of cutting teeth, as shown in greater detail in FIG. 3a The chain runs along the upper and lower sides 30 and 31 of the boom 32. The cutting elements 29 at the end of the boom 32 pass around the pulley 33. The cutting elements 29 are driven by the upper pulley 49, so that at the far end of the boom 32 the cutting elements move upwards around the far end of the boom and back along the upper side 30 with respect to the intended direction of forward movement of the towing vehicle 21, which is indicated by the direction X in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3a shows the far end of the boom 32 and shows in detail the installation of the cutting elements 29 in the form of teeth on a continuous support means 28. The excavation device 23 is driven by means of a drive, including, for example, a hydraulic drive engine mounted inside or on the tractor 21 , and the upper drive pulley 49. In general, the excavation device 23 may be made in the form of a cutting chain, which is described in the well-known published patent application νθ 95/13433, although the cutting chain in this publication is set in motion in the opposite direction compared to that presented in this embodiment, so that in this known publication, the teeth are facing the other way.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the installation means 24 for mounting the boom 32 on the prime mover 21 comprises a hinge shaft 33A mounted between two mounting elements mounted on the main frame of the towing vehicle 21. The lifting device 25 comprises a hinge lever 59 pivotally mounted on the tractor 21 at the point 61 hinge installation and passing forward from it. The articulation 59 A is connected at one end to the front end of the articulated lever 59 and the other end to the boom 32 of the excavation device 23. The lifting force source consists of a hydraulic cylinder 40 and is connected between the lever 59 and the frame 27. The hydraulic cylinder 40 is connected to the lever 59 in an intermediate position between its two ends and with the frame 27 in an intermediate position between its two ends. The drive piston 43 (FIG. 3b) extends downwardly from the hydraulic cylinder 40 and is connected to the frame 27 by means of a hinge 44. The excavation device 23 is shown in its lower position at the bottom of the trench in FIG. 3 and in a raised position in FIG. 3b.

FIG. 3 and 3c, an additional component assembly, used when necessary, is designed to stabilize the hinge rotation of the excavation boom 32. To the excavation boom 32, a side-clamp assembly is attached, generally designated 80. Power ass

- 5 005541 river component 8 is made in the form of a transverse hydraulic cylinder, passing across the trench perpendicular to the direction of movement of the tractor 21. At each end of the power transverse component 81 is installed lateral component 83, made in the form of a round pressure plate, which abuts the inner side walls of the trench. During the lifting phase of the excavation cycle, the power transverse component 81 extends, and the side components 83, made in the form of pressure plates, are pressed outward to the side walls of the trench.

The side components 83, made in the form of pressure plates, are connected to the boom 32 by a second clamping hydraulic cylinder 85 and a spacer containing a hydraulic cylinder 84. The strut is hingedly connected between the first clamping hydraulic cylinder 81 and the hinge point 86 on the boom 32. The second clamping hydraulic the cylinder 85 is pivotally connected between the point 87 of the hinge rotation located between the ends of the strut and the hinge 88 on the boom 32. During the power stroke of the main hydraulic cylinder 40, the clamping hydraulic cal cylinder 84 is actuated to stabilize the movement, and to ensure the formation of an arc torch moving in an upward direction. Obviously, although the primary hydraulic cylinder 40 applies a force upward between the boom 32 and the ground level 22, the clamping hydraulic cylinder 84 applies a upward force to the boom 32 that operates between the boom 32 and the fixedly mounted lateral components 83 plates, which are held in place by the extended power transverse component 81, made in the form of a hydraulic cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 4, the excavation device 23 contains, in addition to the cutting chain, expansion drums 46 and 47 mounted on the sides of the pulley 33 at the far end of the excavation boom to expand the channel cut by the cutting chain. Expansion drums are removable and interchangeable, which allows you to adjust the width of the trench through the use of drums of different widths. On figa detail view of the device 23 of the excavation. Behind the far end of the boom 32 is installed the assembly 48 of the baffle plate intended to collect the crushed material cut by the cutting chain and expansion drums 46, 47. The baffle block 48 guides the crushed material inwards towards the center, from where this crushed material is carried out in the upward direction and back device 23 excavation. As shown in FIG. 5 and 5a, in the upper part of the excavation boom 32, the cutting chain 28 passes around the upper pulley 49 and dumps the crushed material onto the side discharge conveyor 50 using the boom unloading bin 51.

The operation of this embodiment is described below, in particular with reference to FIG. 7a-7d, and also with reference to FIG. 3-5b FIG. 7a-7d schematically show a representation of the various stages of a device operation cycle. FIG. 7a and 7b show the initial stage of the beginning of the laying of the trench. This step may be performed as shown in the drawings, or alternatively, the beginning of the trench may be dug by hand, using explosives, a percussion tool, or using any other means. However, as shown in FIG. 7a and 7b, initially the excavation device 23 is lowered to the level 2 of the soil and is turned on, pressing it down. This is conveniently done by turning in the reverse direction a lifting device 25, which has been described with reference to FIG. 3-5a. As shown in FIG. 7b, as a result, the beginning of the trench is cut with a curved end wall 54. During the steps shown in FIG. 7a and 7b, the excavation device 23 operates as described for the known device in publication EP-A-0080802, i.e. it excavates using a downward working stroke. Alternatively, the initial recess may be formed using other conventional means, such as drilling or blasting, or using a hammer type rotary hammer.

As shown in FIG. 7c, the next step is that the excavation device 23 is turned on while the primary propulsion unit 21 is moving forward so that a notch 55 is formed in the end wall 54 of the trench. The next step is to include a lifting device 25, such as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, as a result of which it pivots the excavation device 23 in the upward direction from the notch 55 when the excavation device 23 is operated, so that it cuts the material of the end wall of the trench 54. Such excavation work is presented in detail in FIG. 5, which shows material 56 cut from the end wall 54 as the excavation device 23 moves upward by means of a lifting device 25. As a result, a new trench end wall 54 is formed, as shown in FIG. 76. When this stage ends, the excavation device 23 is lowered to the bottom 19 of the trench 18, as shown in FIG. 7e. The process is then repeated during operation of the excavation device and moving the primary propulsion unit forward, as shown in FIG. £ 7 to form a new heading 55. Finally, the device of the excavation 23 of the ground again lifts up from the heading 55 to cut a new end wall 54, as shown in FIG. 7d

The main advantage of the embodiment of the present invention, which was described above, is that during the execution of the working stroke of the excavation device 23 produced in the upward direction, the force applied between the excavation device 23 and the soil surface 22 from the mobile base unit 26 limited only by the force produced by the lift

- 6 005541 with a mobile device 25, and is not limited to the risk of the base unit 26 being torn from the ground, as in the case of the device shown in FIG. 1 and 2 (where excavation is carried out when the working stroke is carried out in the downward direction of the excavation device). There is no need to provide sufficient weight in the part of the device on which the lifting means is installed, as in the case when the lifting means presses the excavation device down during the working stroke when excavating.

Additional advantages are evident in connection with the notch cut 55. Since the notch area at the far end of the excavation device 23 is relatively limited and as the tractor 21 moves forward during the excavation, the problem of penetration into hard rock is significantly reduced compared with the difficulty of penetration from above during the working stroke on excavation, directed downwards. This advantage is due to the fact that the number of cutting tools or teeth that are in contact with hard rock is limited to the teeth at the far end of the boom. In an embodiment of the present invention, the available power can be concentrated on a small number of working tools, as a result of which more power per tool can be used.

Referring to FIG. 6a and 6b, the block diagram shown in FIG. 6a and the flow chart shown in FIG. 6b. FIG. 6a shows a control means 34 consisting of a microprocessor 90, which receives information from a set of sensors, schematically shown as a clamp sensor 91 (which determines the fixing of the clamp assembly 80 in the clamp position to the side walls of the trench); a clamp movement sensor 92 (designed to determine the degree of movement of the hydraulic clamp cylinders 81 and 85); engine load control sensor 93 (designed to determine the load applied to the engine at different stages of the cycles); cutout depth sensor 94 (designed to determine the depth of cut of the excavation means 23); sensor 95 support measure of the depth of the cutout (designed to determine the maximum depth of the cutout of the device relative to the desired reference plane); and a forward / reverse sensor 96 (for detecting the direction of travel of the two tracked chassis of the towing vehicle 21 and the mobile base unit 26). The microprocessor is also connected to the operator control unit 97, which allows the operator to set commands to perform seven functions of the device, for example, the following seven functions:

1) moving forward

2) backward movement

3) the maximum depth of excavation,

4) the minimum depth of excavation,

5) enable / disable the trench clamp,

6) system on / off,

7) manual / automatic control.

Operation of the device in a predetermined automatic duty cycle includes the use of the programmed sequence of operations shown in FIG. 6b, and under normal use, is performed as follows. First, the machine is manually brought to the desired position. Then, to excavate the first section of the trench in undisturbed rock, the excavation boom 32 is lowered to the surface and the excavation is carried out to the required depth, which is determined either manually or by a reference signal generated, for example, with a laser Patent № \ ¥ О 95/13433. Then select the automatic mode of operation. At stages 1 and 2, the device moves forward a predetermined distance. Forward speed control is performed automatically and is balanced by controlling the load distribution between the required excavation power and the available engine power to ensure maximum performance. When the device travels a predetermined distance, the forward movement is stopped and the signal supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 40 is automatically generated. In steps 3 and 4, the hydraulic cylinder 40 pushes up the excavation device, which cuts the front wall of the trench. The upward speed is controlled automatically by controlling the load and at the same time balancing between the required excavation power and the available engine power until the excavation device reaches a predetermined distance (minimum depth of cut defined in relation to the reference plane). In steps 5 and 6, the device is moved in the opposite direction to a predetermined distance. After that, in steps 7 and 8, the hydraulic cylinder 40 lowers the excavation device downward to a previously set depth. If the operator then desires to stop the device, he manually enters the stop command at step 9. Otherwise, the cycle repeats from step 1 and beyond.

To improve stability when excavating from the trench walls, a clamp assembly 80 has been added, which rests against the side walls of the trench. The control means 34 can be expanded to also control the operation of the clip assembly. This node is released and withdrawn when lowering the dredging boom and moving the device backward, but it is clamped and used while moving forward and when excavating with the cutting mechanism moving up. This node also works automatically when performing a sequence of device actions.

- 7 005541

The device can be controlled manually or automatically by signals, for example, coming through a pre-installed cable, line or laser beam. The degree of deviation from the vertical position of the trench walls can be adjusted using the system of lateral inclination of the walls, built into the frame of the tracked device.

Described below with reference to FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which the cutting chain of FIG. 1-6, as well as the other components described above, are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the excavation device 23 comprises a excavation boom 32, at the far end of which a roller cutter 71 is mounted. Behind the roller cutter 71 there is a continuous conveyor belt 73 designed to remove the crushed material cut by the roller cutter 71. In the illustrated embodiment, the base unit 26 moves on the track platforms 72. The overall design and operation of the roller cutter 71 and conveyor 73 for the removal of crushed material are described in previously published description EP-A-0080802. In this case, the same general design and operating procedure of the lifting device 25 of FIG. 8 and the general operation of the excavation device, as described with reference to FIG. 3-7 in this application. In other arrangements, the conveyor 73 used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can be used with the cutting chain of FIG. 3-5b

Thus, the trenching method has been described above with reference to the drawings, which includes stabilizing the upward movement of the excavation device when excavating, due to the emphasis on the side walls of the trench using the device’s side components and applying an upward force to the excavating device acting between side components and the excavation device, while performing movement on the excavation of the upward-facing excavation device. The described method includes pressing the side components in the outward direction to the side walls of the trench during the execution of the upward movement on the excavation of the excavation device.

Also with reference to the drawings, a trench excavator device was described, which contains a stabilizing unit extending backward from the excavation device, designed to stabilize the upward movement of the excavating device when excavating, and the stabilizing unit contains lateral components that can be placed in side walls trenches during the execution of an upward movement on the excavation of the excavation device, and a power connection connecting the side components with excavation and installed so that it applies an upward force on the excavation device, acting between the side components and the excavation device during the upward movement of the excavation device. The described stabilizing unit includes a power transverse component located between the side components and configured to press the side components outward to the side walls of the trench while performing an upward movement along the excavation of the excavation device.

Claims (40)

CLAIM 1. Method of laying a trench, in which a trenching device (23) is installed in a trench, located on a tractor (21), which moves over the soil surface (22) above the trench, the excavation device (23) contains an articulated boom (32) excavation; install the excavation device on the end wall of the trench below the ground level, bring the excavation device into contact with the end wall (54) of the trench and move the excavation device (23) forward into the trench during the operation of the excavation device to form an undercut (55) on end wall of the trench; raise the boom (32) upwards, essentially in the vertical plane from the hem to the top level of the trench by applying a lifting force between the boom (32) and the soil surface above the trench and during operation of the excavation device while moving up to cut the material from the end wall of the trench ; at the same time, an emphasis is placed on the side walls of the trench of the side components (83) of the device during the execution of the upward movement of the boom (32) and an additional upward force is applied to the arrow (32) that acts between the side components (83) and the boom (32) during performing upward movement of the excavation using the excavation device (23), while the lateral components (83) rest against the side walls of the trench. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the lateral components (83) are pressed in the outward direction to the side walls of the trench so that they are fixed during the upward movement along the excavation of the excavation device (23). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said material is dredged from the end wall of the trench by moving a plurality of cutting elements (29) along the upper and lower side (30, 31) of the elongated continuous support means (28) extending along the inclined hinge boom (32), with the boom pointing forward and downward in relation to the desired direction of excavation of the trench, and the cutting elements (29) are driven in such a way that at the far end - 8 005541 boom (32) elements move in the upward direction around the end of the excavation boom and in the backward direction along the upper side (30) with respect to the direction (X) of the excavation from the trench. 4. The method according to claim 3, in which the excavation of a trench with a greater width than the width of the continuous support means (28) is carried out due to the use of additional excavation elements mounted on the excavation device (23). 5. The method according to claim 4, in which excavation of a trench with a greater width than the width of the continuous support means (28) is carried out by using a pair of cutting drums (46, 47) protruding along the sides at the far end of the boom (32 ) excavation. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the application of a lifting force is applied to the boom (32) below the ground level. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the application of the lifting force from the sides of the boom (32). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the step of forming the undercut (55) is carried out by driving the tractor (21) in a forward direction on the surface of the ground when the device (23) excavates. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the lifting step is performed by pivoting the boom (32) digging around the axis (33A) of the hinge of the tractor (21), and the said undercut (55) is formed by driving the tractor (21) in direction forward along the surface of the ground due to the presence of ground driving (22) ground behind the hinge axis (33 A) of the boom. 10. The method according to claim 9, in which the hem is formed due to the presence of ground driving contact (22) both behind the hinge axis (33 A) of the boom and in front of the hinge axis (33A) of the boom. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which, at the stage of forming the hem, the excavation device (23) is installed so that it rests against the end wall (54), essentially at the bottom (19) of the trench. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the lifting step is performed by moving the excavation device (23) along an arcuate trajectory defined by the hinged rotation of the boom (32). 13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in which a force is applied between the excavation device (23) and the surface area of the soil displaced forward in the direction (X) along the trench from the axis of the articulated rotation of the boom (32). 14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a force is applied between the excavation device (23) and the soil surface (22) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which a lifting force is applied to the excavation device at the far end of the boom (32). 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which a lifting force is applied to the excavation device in a direction obliquely to the vertical in the forward direction relative to the direction (X) of the excavation from the trench. 17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, comprising a predetermined operating cycle in which the excavation device (23) is installed with an emphasis on the end wall (54) of the trench at the bottom of the trench; move the excavation device (23) forward a predetermined distance into the trench when the device (23) excavates the pound so that, by moving the tractor (21) in the forward direction along the surface (22) of the soil, a hemlock is formed in the end wall of the trench; carry out an emphasis by lateral components (83) in the direction outwards to the side walls of the trench, fixing them in a stationary position so that the excavation device (23) rests against the end wall (54) of the trench; raise the excavation device (23) in the upward direction from the hem through the material (56) of the end wall during the operation of the excavation device (23); freeing and draining the side components from the trench walls; moving the excavation device (23) in the backward direction to a predetermined distance by moving the towing vehicle (21) backward on the soil surface (22); lower the excavation device (23); and repeat the previous steps. 18. A trenching device containing a tractor (21); a excavation device (23) with a excavation pivotally mounted (32); installation means (24) designed to install the excavation device (23) on the tractor (21) and to position the excavation device in the trench so that the tractor can be moved along the soil surface (22) above the trench level, and the device (23 a) the excavation is located with the possibility of an emphasis on the end wall (54) of the trench for cutting material from the end wall of the trench; a lifting device (25) installed to lift the boom (32), essentially in a vertical plane from the undercut (55) in the end wall (54) at the bottom of the trench up to the top level of the trench during operation of the excavation device with the possibility of excavating from the end wall of the trench by applying an upward force between the boom (32) and the surface (22) of the soil above the trench; as well as lateral components (83), made with the possibility of an abutment against the side walls of the trench during the execution of the upward movement of the boom, and a force connection (84, 85, 86, 87, 88) connecting the lateral - 9 005541 components (83) with a dredging boom (32) and positioned with the possibility of applying an additional upward force to the dredging boom (32) acting between the side components (83) and the boom (32) during upward movement of the device (23 ) excavation, while the side components (83) are installed with emphasis in the side walls of the trench. 19. The device according to claim 18, in which the power transverse component (81) is installed between the side components (83) with the possibility of pressing the side components (83) in the outward direction to stop them in the side walls of the trench during the execution of the upward movement along the excavation devices (23) excavation. 20. The device according to claim 18 or 19, in which the lateral components (83) are located behind the excavation device (23). 21. A device according to any one of claims 18 to 20, in which the excavation device (23) comprises an elongated continuous support means (28) on which a plurality of cutting elements (29) are installed, extending along the upper and lower sides (30, 31) boom, and the boom (32) is installed so that it extends in the forward and downward direction relative to the desired direction (X) of excavation from the trench, and the device includes a drive means (49) installed to drive a continuous support means (28) in such a direction that it moves the cutting elements You (29) in the upward direction along the far end of the boom (32) and back along the upper side (30) of the continuous support means. 22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the excavation device (23) comprises additional cutting elements that expand the channel cut by said cutting elements mounted on the continuous support means (28). 23. The device according to p. 22, in which additional cutting elements mounted on the cutting drums (46, 47) located on the sides of the far end of the boom (32) excavation. 24. A device according to any one of claims 18 to 23, in which the lifting device (25) is connected to the boom (32) in a position providing application of lifting force to the excavation boom (32) below the ground level during normal operation. 25. Device according to any one of paragraphs.18-24, in which the lifting device (25) is connected with the boom (32) on the sides of the boom using a swivel (59A). 26. A device according to any one of claims 18-25, in which the excavation boom (32) is mounted on a tractor (21) for pivoting movement around the hinge axis (33A) to obtain said upward movement of the excavation device (23), and the tractor (21) allows for undercutting (55) at the bottom (19) of the trench by actuating the tractor in the forward direction on the ground surface due to driving contact with the ground surface (22) in position behind the hinge axis (33 A) of the boom. 27. Device according to any one of paragraphs.18-25, in which the lifting device (25) is installed with the possibility of applying a lifting force in a direction at an angle to the vertical when used in the forward direction relative to the direction (X) of excavation of the soil from the trench. 28. Device according to any one of claims 18-27, in which the lifting device (25) is installed to move the device (23) excavation along the arcuate path defined by the hinged rotation of the boom (32). 29. Device according to any one of claims 18 to 28, in which the lifting device (25) is installed with the possibility of applying a lifting force between the excavation device (23) and the ground surface (22) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boom. 30. Device according to any one of claims 18-29, in which the lifting device (25) is connected to the boom (32) in the region of the far end of the boom. 31. Device according to any one of paragraphs.1-18-30, in which the tractor (21) contains a rear tracked chassis (39) located behind the hinge axis (33A) of the boom. 32. The device according to p, in which the mobile base unit (26) is shifted forward from the hinge axis (33A) of the boom and connected with it for sharing with her movement. 33. The device according to claim 32, in which the mobile base unit (26) is connected to the rear tracked chassis (39) by means of a frame (27), and the lifting device (25) comprises a pivot arm (59) pivotally mounted on the frame (27 ) and extending forward from it, a swivel (59A) connected at one end with the front end of the hinge lever (59) and the other end with the boom (32) of the excavation device (23), and a source of lift force connected between the lever (59) in the intermediate position, between its two ends, and the frame (27) in the intermediate position, between its two ends. 34. The device according to claim 32 or 33, in which the mobile base unit (26) contains a front tracked chassis. 35. Device according to any one of p-34, in which the lifting device (25) contains a hydraulic cylinder (40). 36. Device according to any one of p-34, in which the power connection contains a hydraulic cylinder (84). - 10 005541 37. Device according to any one of claims 18 to 36, comprising control means (34) installed so that it provides simultaneous operation of the lifting means (25) and the excavation device (23). 38. A device according to any one of claims 19 to 37, comprising control means (34) programmed to perform a predetermined operating cycle, in which the installation means is arranged to establish a device (23) for excavating at the bottom of the trench in contact with the end wall (54 a) trench; the tractor (21) is designed to move the excavation device (23) in the forward direction to a predetermined distance inside the trench when the excavation device (23) operates to form a hem on the end wall of the trench by moving the tractor (21) forward on the soil surface (22) ; power transverse component (81) is made with the possibility of pressing the side components (83) outward to the side walls of the trench and install them stationary, while the device (23) excavation is in contact with the end wall (54) of the trench; the lifting device (25) is arranged to raise the excavation device (23) upward from the hemming through the material (56) of the end wall during operation of the excavation device (23), while the force connection (84, 85, 86, 87, 88 a) an additional force is directed upward on the excavation device (23); power transverse component (81) is made with the possibility of release and discharge of lateral components from the walls of the trench; the tractor (21) is made with the possibility of moving the excavation device (23) in the direction back to a predetermined distance by moving the tractor (21) backwards over the soil surface (22); the lifting device (25) is arranged to lower the excavation device (23) to the bottom of the trench; and the previous steps are repeated. 39. Device according to any one of claims 18 to 20, in which the excavation device comprises a cutting rotor mounted at the far end of the boom rotatably around an axis located across the length of the boom. 40. A device according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the excavation device comprises a cutting rotor mounted at the far end of the boom rotatably around an axis located substantially in the direction of the boom length.