EP0397822A1

EP0397822A1 - Cutter

Info

Publication number: EP0397822A1
Application number: EP19890912111
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maurice Achard
Original assignee: INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS SERVICE (ITS)
Current assignee: INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS SERVICE (ITS)
Priority date: 1988-10-14
Filing date: 1989-10-13
Publication date: 1990-11-22
Also published as: BE1002544A6; WO1990004068A1

Abstract

Trancheuse destinée à creuser une ouverture dans le sol et comportant un support rigide (1) et un socle (2) disposé à l'extrémité du support. Le socle est pourvu d'une pointe (3) ayant une base évasée et étant reliée à des premiers moyens agencés pour animer, indépendamment d'une force de traction exercée sur la trancheuse, cette pointe suivant un mouvement aidant à une progression de la trancheuse dans le sol. La trancheuse peut également être pourvue d'au moins une lame (13).Slicer intended to dig an opening in the ground and comprising a rigid support (1) and a base (2) arranged at the end of the support. The base is provided with a point (3) having a flared base and being connected to first means arranged to animate, independently of a pulling force exerted on the slicer, this point following a movement helping a progression of the slicer in the ground. The slicer can also be provided with at least one blade (13).

Description

"Slicer ¹¹ .

The invention relates to a slicer intended for digging an opening in the ground and comprising a rigid support and a base disposed at the end of the support.

Such trenches are among others used in public works to dig ditches or trenches to accommodate cables or conduits. The support and its base are sunk into the ground and then towed in order to dig an opening in the ground.

A disadvantage of known slicers is that their progression in the ground is achieved essentially as a function of the traction applied to the slicer. When the trencher encounters an obstacle in the ground, such as a piece of a rock or a root, it is very likely that this obstacle will abruptly stop the progression of the slicer and that it will stuck in this obstacle, which if necessary can

• even cause damage to the machine towing the slicer.

The purpose of the invention is to produce a slicer, the progression of which in the ground is not solely a function of the traction applied to the slicer. To this end a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the base is provided with a point having a flared base and being connected to first means arranged to animate, independently of a pulling force exerted on the slicer , this point following a movement helping a progression of the slicer in the ground. The presence of said first means allows the conical tip to form a passage in the ground by stirring the earth and if necessary by grinding or removing obstacles.

A first preferred form of a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the point is a conical point in the form of a twist and in that said first means are arranged to animate the point in a rotary movement and / or an alternating movement. A rotary and / or reciprocating movement is entirely suitable for progression through the soil. A second preferred form of a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the slicer is provided with at least one blade disposed downstream of the support and oriented in the direction of progression of the slicer. The presence of a blade is an additional advantage to facilitate the progression of the slicer. A third preferred form of a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the slicer comprises second means arranged to animate, independently of a pulling force exerted on the slicer, each blade according to a movement helping the progression of the trencher in the ground. By imposing a movement on the blades, the progression of the assembly in the self is considerably facilitated.

The invention will now be described in more detail using the drawing. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated in the drawing and that in the context of the invention different variants are possible. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section through a first embodiment of a slicer according to the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a conical point in the form of a twist. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section through a second embodiment of a slicer according to the invention Figure 4 is a cross section of a third embodiment of a slicer according to the invention.

In the drawing, the same reference is assigned to the same or similar elements.

In a first embodiment of a slicer according to the invention the slicer 10 comprises a support 1 having for example a V-shaped or convex profile and, at the end of which is mounted a base 2. The support and the base can be fixed to a frame (not shown in the figure). The base 2 is provided a tip 3 having a flared base and being mounted on an end of the base. Preferably the tip 3 has a conical shape, but it goes without saying that it can have other geometric shapes, for example triangular or hexagonal. The point is oriented in the direction of progression and can be removably mounted on the base, which allows different points to be used depending on the dimensions of the trench to be dug or depending on the composition of the soil, and easily replace the tip when it is worn. A bearing 9 prevents the earth from entering the mechanism which drives the tip.

The tip 3 is connected to first means for imposing on this tip a movement helping the progression of the slicer in the ground. In the example illustrated in Figure 1 these first means are formed by a transmission axis connected to a first bevel gear 5 which is itself connected to another transmission axis 6 leading to a second bevel gear 7 which in turn is connected to a transmission axis 8 which is arranged to be coupled to a machine pulling the trencher, for example a tractor. When the transmission axis 8 is rotated by means of a PTO of a tractor, this axis of

Transmission 8 will drive the transmission axes 6 and rotate. The rotation of the transmission axis will in turn drive the conical tip 3 in rotation. The rotational movement of the conical point will cause a release of the earth which will help the progression of the slicer in the ground.

The rotational movement of the conical tip can also be assisted by a percussion movement. To this end an eccentric (not shown in the figure) is for example mounted on the transmission axis. Percussion is particularly advantageous when the trencher is used to dig in rocky ground, where it will break the stones in its path in the ground. The percussion movement can also be driven by compressed air or by hydraulic means which allow greater percussion force to be applied. Instead of driving the tip in a rotary motion, it is also possible to drive the tip in an alternating motion. The tip then preferably has a hexagonal shape, or another geometric shape which goes hand in hand with the reciprocating movement. This can also be done from the transmission axis which would not then be directly connected to the conical tip but would result in a device arranged to convert the rotary movement of the axis into an alternative movement. The tip would then be connected to this device. To better be able to cut in the ground, the point is preferably provided with ridges 11, which are arranged on the contour of the point as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In another variant of a slicer- according to the invention, the conical tip is provided with a spin or is in the form of a screw. The spin or the screw also makes it possible to improve the progression in the ground by cutting in the ground and by improving the release of the cut earth.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross section of a second embodiment of a slicer according to the invention. In this embodiment the slicer is provided with a blade disposed downstream of the support 1, and oriented in the direction of progression of the slicer. The blade is preferably in two parts 12 and 13 connected to each other by a joint 1, but it goes without saying that the blade can also have more than two parts. The lower part 12 of the blade, which is oblique to the upper part 13, is attached to the base 2 by a fixed point

15 housed in the base and located not far from the other end of the tip 3. The upper part 13 of the blade is connected to the member

16 which is itself connected to the transmission axis 8. The member 16 is a lateral transmission driven by the transmission axis

8 and which imposes on the blade an alternating movement in the direction of the arrows 17 and 18. To this end, the member 16 is for example equipped with a bevel gear which transmits the rotational movement of the axis 8 towards another axis (not shown in fig. 3) provided with a wheel with an eccentric 19 to which an arm of the blade is attached. The rotational movement of the eccentric 19 will cause the upper part 13 of the blade in a vertical movement (arrows 17-18) and slightly horizontal. This movement . vertical will, by means of the articulation 14, drive the lower part 12 of the blade in a rotational movement around the fixed point 15. This movement back and forth approximately perpendicular to the direction of the opening to form in the ground causes a saw movement in the ground thus cutting the ground and helping the progression of the slicer in the ground. In another embodiment of a slicer according to the invention, the movement of the blade is carried out using a cam driven by the transmission axis 8. The cam then pushes on the plate of a spring which is mounted between the cam and the blade. Pushing the cam will lower the blade, while relaxing the spring will raise the blade.

In order to improve this saw movement, the blade is preferably provided with asperities 22 placed on the front part of the blade, and preferably arranged so as to raise the earth in which the blade cuts. This movement of the blade can also be a vibration movement instead of a back and forth movement. To this end, the blade 13 is then connected to an electric, pneumatic, mechanical or hydraulic vibrating member placed on the support 1 or on the chassis of the slicer. Instead of being in two parts, the blade can also be in a single part which would then be attached in the base, for example using an eyelet, or would slide in a profile, for example at the tail end. 'swallow attached to the support.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the slicer is provided with two blades 20, 21 arranged in the shape of a V and downstream of the column 1. Just like blade 12, 13 of the slicer illustrated in FIG. 3, these two blades can be in two parts connected by a joint. The two blades are connected to a member 22, which, like the member 16 of the slicer illustrated in FIG. 3, drives the blades in a back-and-forth movement. However, the member 22 is arranged to move the two blades asynchronously to each other, that is to say that when one of the blades is driven in an upward movement, the other is driven in a downward movement. This is for example carried out using two eccentrics 23, 24, each disposed at one end of the same axis driven by the axis 8. The lower end of the blades is then housed in an eyelet 25 in which it can slide. The V-shaped arrangement of the blades makes it possible to drill more easily into the ground, as well as to better clear the earth when digging a trench.

As explained in the description of the slicer illustrated in Figure 3, it is also possible to drag the two blades arranged in a V shape in a vibration movement or in a reciprocating movement. The two blades can also be provided with asperities, preferably oriented so as to raise the earth.

Aside from driving the various elements of the slicer according to the invention using a transmission axis, itself driven by a tractor or other equipment, it is also possible to equip the slicer with means of hydraulic or pneumatic drive to drive the various elements.

The two blades of the trencher illustrated in FIG. 4 can, if necessary, also consist of the same blade having a profile in snowplow.

Claims

1. Slicer intended to dig an opening in the ground and comprising a rigid support and a plinth arranged. at the end of the support, characterized in that the base is provided with a point having a flared base and being connected to first means arranged to animate, independently of a traction force exerted on the slicer, this point according to a movement helping to progress the slicer through the ground.

2. Slicer according to claim 1, characterized in that the point is a conical point in the form of a spin and in that said first means are arranged to animate the point according to a rotary movement.

3. Slicer according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that said first means are arranged to animate the tip in an alternating movement.

4. Slicer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first means are also arranged to add a percussion movement to said movement helping the progression. -5- Slicer according to one of claims

1 to 4, characterized in that the slicer is provided with at least one blade disposed downstream of the support and oriented in the direction of progression of the tra ^" chcher.

6. Slicer according to claim 5, characterized in that the blade or blades are arranged in a V shape.

7. Slicer according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each blade comprises at least two parts connected to each other by a hinge, one of said parts being oblique to the other. °>. Slicer according to one of claims

5 to 7, characterized in that the slicer comprises second means arranged to animate, independently of a traction force exerted on the slicer, each blade according to a movement helping the progression of the slicer in the ground. - 8 -

9. Slicer according to claim 6, caracté¬ ized in that the second means are arranged to animate each blade in a back-and-forth movement. roughly perpendicular to the direction of progression.

10. Slicer according to one of claims

5 to 9, characterized in that each blade is provided with roughness.

11. Point for use in a slicer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the point is arranged to be mounted on the base of the slicer.

12. Blade for use in a slicer according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the blade is arranged to be mounted downstream of the support of the slicer.