EP0016736B1

EP0016736B1 - Improvements in telescopic column structures for excavating trenches, foundations and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0016736B1
Application number: EP80830006A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruno Casagrande
Original assignee: Casagrande and C SpA
Current assignee: Casagrande and C SpA
Priority date: 1979-02-21
Filing date: 1980-02-07
Publication date: 1983-05-11
Also published as: IT1125326B; IT7983338A0; EP0016736A1; DE3063011D1

Description

The present invention relates to telescopic column structures for excavating trenches and foundations.
The improvements relate to telescopic column structures which serve to sustain, guide and drive buckets, drills and other tools normally used in excavating trenches, foundations and similar.
In the field of digging linear trenches, foundations and perforations by columns, telescopic columns may be used which permit digging to a great depth.
It is also known that the telescopic columns are equipped with buckets, drills or similar means for the purpose of executing the required excavation.
As the name itself implies the telescopic columns are formed of a plurality of columns insertable within each other and made to extend for use according to the depth of the job. Such a telescopic column is known from FR-A-2313510.
There are also various types of known equipments which are terminally provided on the columns and also known are the driving and manipulation system of these equipments.
A column structure is described in FR-A-2311921 which includes digging assembly supported on a platform rotatable about a horizontal axis and about the axis of the digging tool and able to be extended away from the crawler track which carries said structure.
Another column structure is described in US-A-4,106,225, which is suitable for excavating underpinning holes and has a horizontal beam and a boom extending angularly upwardly and outwardly above the beam and a digging assembly which includes a vertical rod suspended from the boom, said rod being engaged by means on the horizontal beam to move the rod inwardly or outwardly along the beam and to rotate the rod about its own axis.
The present telescopic column structure is directed to the system of installing, anchorage and displacement of the columns.
The present invention improves the manoeuvrability of the telescopic columns expanding thus their field of utility.
It is an object of the invention to permit a simpler and more precise drive control of the known means.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a telescopic column structure which has improved manoeuvrability and which gives the possibility of being applicable to telescopic columns for excavation work in tunnels or in uncomfortable work sites having scarce useful overhead space.
One further object of the invention is to permit the digging of excavations which are located laterally of the structure, without difficulties nor complicated auxiliary manoeuvres of the support means.
These objects as well as other objects and various advantages are achieved by the present invention, as defined in claim 1.
These improvements permit the elimination of the traditional girder columns and also simplify the installation on the excavator tractor and lead to an improvement of the general and particular efficiency.
The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings given by way of example only and in which:

- Fig. 1 illustrates a crawler tractor carrying a telescopic column according to the invention;
- Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention for tunnels or work stations with little overhead space;
- Fig. 3 shows the invention in an enlarged scale;
- Fig. 4 shows the invention as illustrated in Fig. 3 according to the sectional view AA;
- Fig. 5 shows an enlarged vertical section of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, similar parts or parts with similar functions carry similar reference numbers.
In the drawings, 10 generically indicates the machine for excavating the foundation 11 stationed on the terrain 12 and provided in the example with crawler tracks 13; 14 is the body of the machine which contains the drive system; 15 is the telescopic column which is displaceable forward (or backward) until it reaches the position 115, and laterally displaceable until it at least reaches the angular positions 215 and 315 (Fig. 4) separated by at least 90°; 16 is the platform sustained by the struts 17 and a tie or ties 19; 17 are the platform support struts which are anchored at 129 to the machine's body 14 and at 29 to the platform 16; 18 is at least one jack which serves to horizontally position said platform 16; 19 are the ties which counteract the struts 17 with which they cooperate at 29 to sustain in the platform 16; 20 is a cable which permits movement of the elements of the telescopic column downward; the said cable runs on a pulley 30, then on a pulley 31 (both provided on the platform 16) and then on pulley 25 provided on the front of the central element 228 of the telescopic column 15 to eventually rise and terminate at 24 in the external fixed body of the telescopic column; 21 is an excavating tool such as a bucket of a known type integrally connected to base 26 provided in the frontal body of a central element 328.
The actuation of the bucket 21 is done, for instance, by means of the hydraulic conduits 35 wound on a drum 23.
22 is a tie bar (or bars) which connects the position 29 of the platform 16 with the top of the fixed body of the column 15 in order to create a sturdy articulation system; 23 is the drum for winding and unwinding the conduits 35 which actuate the bucket 21, such a drum is connected in a known way to the operating plant which pilots the oil and is provided in the machine's body 14; 24 is the anchorage of the cable 20 on the external fixed body; 25 is the transmission pulley provided on the internal central element 328 of the telescopic column 15; 26 is the base on which is provided the bucket 21; said base is situated on the central internal element 328 of the telescopic column 15; 27 is the support member which horizontally restrains the column and is rotatable, and whose rotation can be obtained either by means of a motor or a jack 32 as shown in the example; the support member 27 is sustained and guided by the platform 16; 28, 128, 228, 328 are the various components forming the telescopic column 15.
The element 28 of the example is slidable in the external fixed body of the columns 15 and the element 328 is central while the elements 128 and 228 are intermediate.
29 is the location of attachment means of the platform 16 where at least the struts 17 are anchored; 30 is the posterior pulley on which runs the cable; 32 is, in the example, the jack which causes the partial rotation of the support member 27; 33 is the attachment means of the jack 32 to the platform; 35 are the hydraulic actuation conduits, which are known, of the bucket 21.
We now look into the way the invention works.
The telescopic column is advantageously laid on the ground (Fig. 1, position 415) then hooked at 219 and the braces 19 are connected at 29.
The cable 20 is also connected.
By means of the ties 19, the telescopic column can be moved between position 15 and 1 15 of Fig. 1.
By further acting on jack 18, the proper positioning of the column and the platform 16 is achieved.
Then the hydraulic feed conduits are connected (if not already done) to the winding drum 23.
The tool 21 is installed on the plate 26 and connected to the hydraulic conduit as the latter is withdrawn from the drum 23.
By known mechanism provided within the machine 14, the cable 20 is relaxed until the column elements descend lowering thus the tool 21.
The digging tool 21 is then actuated in the usual manner.
To raise the tool, the cable 20 is withdrawn in the usual way which causes the withdrawal of the columns elements.
In order to adjust the position of the equipment it is sufficient to relax the tie 19 and then act on the jack 18 to move the telescopic column 15 into the required vertical position.
To advance the excavation laterally it is sufficient to drive the machine to the side by means of the crawler tracks 3 (or wheels).
In the case where a lateral excavation is required, the telescopic column is placed in position 215, and then, by means of jack 32, is moved into position 315.
Preferential embodiments have been described hereinabove but alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A telescopic column structure for excavating trenches, foundations and the like and mountable on a carriage, such as a crawler tractor, comprising a telescopic column (15) having an excavating tool (21) attached to its lower end, characterized in that the structure includes a support and positioning platform (16) pivotally mounted on the upper end of strut means (17), said strut means being adapted to be pivotally mounted at the lower end to said carriage, extensible thrust means (18) cooperating with said strut means and said platform so as to maintain said platform horizontal during pivoting of said strut means, tie means (19) attached at its upper end to said platform and being adapted at its lower end for attachment to said carriage, said tie means cooperating with said strut means to retain said platform in position, said strut means (17), extensible thrust means (18) and tie means (19) cooperating so as to permit positional adjustment of the platform towards and away from said carriage, a support member (27) is rotatably mounted on said platform (16) for horizontally restraining said column (15), and means (32) is provided for rotating said support member for selectively positioning the column laterally of the longitudinal axis of the platform.

2. A telescopic column structure as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the strut means (17) is placed at an extremity of the platform (16) and the thrust means comprises a jack (18) acting at an intermediate position of said platform (16).

3. A telescopic column structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that the telescopic column (15) is positioned displaced on the platform (16) in relation to the attachment of said platform (16) to the strut means (17).

4. A telescopic column structure as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the telescopic column (15) extends above and below the platform (16).

5. A telescopic column structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the telescopic column (15) extends substantially only below the platform (16).