EP0528719A1 - Spray nozzle moved by a predetermined path on a support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical actuation device (1) for opening or closing a valve of at least one spray nozzle (2, 2A) moving along a predetermined path with respect to a support (4), the said valve comprising a control member (5, 21) which can move between two positions, an opening one and a closing one, the said device (1) comprising means (7A, 7B, 13A, 13B; 23, 24) intended for mechanically stressing the said control member (5, 21) in order to make it pass from one of its opening or closing positions to the other. <??>The valve is of the slide type, the control member (5, 21) being mounted in a sliding manner with respect to the nozzle (2, 2A) in order to be moved in translation between its two opening and closing positions, the stressing means (7A, 7B, 13A, 13B; 23, 24) comprising at least one guiding incline (13A, 13B; 23, 24) provided, in the region of the opening or closing zone, with a break (15A, 15B; 25, 26) by means of which the control member (5, 21) is intended to pass from one of its positions to the other. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanical actuation device for opening or closing a valve controlling an ejection nozzle moving along a predetermined path on a support.

More particularly, this actuation device finds application on road construction machines, such as pavers, for example of the type which have been described by the applicant in its French patent application FR-90.06306 of May 21, 1990 entitled "Device for spreading a fluid material or the like, in particular an emulsion for attaching bituminous mixes on the surface of a road and pavement construction machine, in particular of the paver type, comprising such a device". The pavers described in this application are provided with an assembly making it possible to spread a bonding emulsion for bituminous mixes, simultaneously with the deposition of said bituminous mixes on the road surface. This spreading assembly mainly comprises, on a mobile machine forming a paver, at least one spreading ramp provided with ejection nozzles and animated to carry out spreading over the entire width of the road, with a movement transverse back and forth with respect to the direction of movement of the mobile finisher.

It has proved necessary, in particular for adjusting the spreading width, to have a device enabling the opening or closing of said nozzles to be controlled when they pass at a particular point on its trajectory relative to the chassis of the mobile machine. This point, for example, can correspond to one of the limits of the spreading width.

A classic solution to this problem would have been the use of servo valves. The realization of the spreading assembly would nevertheless have been all the more expensive and complex.

The present invention for its part provides a device actuation in opening or closing of a control valve of an ejection nozzle, which is exclusively mechanical.

The present invention therefore relates to a mechanical actuation device for opening or closing a valve of at least one ejection nozzle animated by a movement along a predetermined path relative to a support, said valve comprising a movable control member between two positions, one open, the other closed, said device comprising means intended to mechanically urge said control member to move it from one of its open or closed positions to the other,

Preferably, the valve is of the slide type, the control member being slidably mounted relative to the nozzle to be moved in translation between its two open and closed positions, the biasing means comprising at least one guide ramp provided, at the level of the opening or closing zone, with a recess by which the control member is intended to pass from one of its positions to the other.

According to a preferred embodiment, this device comprises two guide ramps arranged one opposite the other, and on which the control member or intermediate operating means are intended to bear for, in the direction of displacement of the nozzle, passing said control member from one of its positions to the other.

Advantageously, this device comprises at least one roller pivotally mounted on the control member or the intermediate operating means, and by which said control member or said operating means are supported on one of said guide ramps.

Preferably, the maneuvering means comprise two levers coming to bear, each respectively on one of the ends of the control member and pivotally articulated on axes fixed relative to the nozzle, said levers being intended to be pivotally biased by said guide ramps at the passage of the nozzle in the opening or closing zone of the valve, and to move by pressing on the control member said control member of one of its open or close positions to each other.

Advantageously, the levers are also articulated to each other by a rod intended to ensure the coordination of their pivoting.

According to the invention, this device comprises a guide assembly, in which the nozzle and said device slide at an opening or closing area of the valve of said nozzle, said guide assembly comprising a guide groove, in which slides a protrusion of the nozzle, as well as guide ramps on which said levers are intended to bear.

Preferably, the control member is a cylindrical distributor sliding in the body of the nozzle, said distributor being provided with an opening for the passage of fluid and comprising means for preventing said opening from rotating, when the distributor is stressed in displacement.

Advantageously, the control member is a flat slide forming a drawer cover.

The subject of the invention is also a spreading assembly comprising, on a mobile vehicle, a spreading ramp provided with nozzles and driven back and forth transversely relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle, and at least one nozzle of said ramp is associated for the actuation of its valve with an actuating device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the area of the width of said vehicle, at which said device actuates the opening or closing of the valve is adjustable.

• la Figure 1 est une représentation schématique en vue de dessus d'un dispositif d'actionnement mécanique conforme à un premier mode de réalisation possible de l'invention ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de la Figure 1 et d'un dispositif de guidage, dans lequel ledit dispositif d'actionnement mécanique coulisse ;
• la Figure 3 est une représentation schématique de dessus d'un dispositif d'actionnement conforme à un autre mode de réalisation possible pour l'invention.

The following description of several modes of possible realization for the invention is purely illustrative and not limiting. It must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation from above of a mechanical actuating device according to a first possible embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 and a guide device, wherein said mechanical actuator slides;
• Figure 3 is a schematic representation from above of an actuating device according to another possible embodiment for the invention.

The mechanical actuation device shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2 has been referenced as a whole by 1. It is intended to ensure the opening and closing of the valve of one of the ejection nozzles 2 of a spreading ramp 3 mounted on a mobile machine 4 (in order not to overload the Figures, the ramp 3 has been shown there only in phantom). A plurality of such nozzles 2 is distributed regularly over the entire length of the spreading boom 3. This boom 3 moves back and forth on said mobile machine 4, transverse to the direction of movement of the latter. this.

This spreading ramp 3 is for example intended for spreading bituminous binder on the surface of a road. It has a structure similar to that which has been described in the aforementioned patent application FR-90.06306.

The valve of nozzle 2 is of the spool type. It comprises a dispensing element 5 crossed by a dispensing orifice 5a and able to be moved relative to a discharge orifice 6 of the nozzle 2 between two positions: one in which it blocks the passage of fluid towards the orifice evacuation 6, the other in which it lets the fluid pass.

Sliding from one position to another from distributor 5 is controlled by two levers 7A and 7B bearing at their ends on each one of the ends of distributor 5. Each of these levers 7A and 7B is pivotally articulated on an axis 8A, 8B, respectively on one or the other of the sides of the body of the nozzle 2. At their ends opposite to the distributor 5, the levers 7A and 7B are articulated respectively on each of the ends of a rod 9 intended to coordinate their pivoting movements. The axes of articulation of the levers 7A and 7B on this coordination rod 9 have been referenced in the Figures by 9A and 9B. They are parallel to axes 8A and 8B.

In the area of the trajectory of the nozzle 2, where the opening or closing of the valve of the said nozzle 2 must be controlled, there is disposed a guide assembly 10. This assembly 10 is intended to guide the nozzle 2 on a small displacement length thereof. To this end, the nozzle 2 is provided (see FIG. 2) over its median length with a protuberance 11 in the form of a longitudinal post, intended to engage in a groove 12 in the guide assembly 10. The assembly of guide 10 also comprises two lateral guide rails 13A and 13B on which, when the nozzle 2 is engaged in said guide assembly 10, the levers 7A and 7b come to bear respectively. At its level of contact with the ramp 13A or 13B, each lever 7A or 7B is provided with a roller 14A or 14B. The ramps 13A and 13B have parallel profiles and are shaped with a recess 15A, 15B corresponding to the movement to be transmitted to the distributor 5 to make it pass from its open position to its closed position. The faces of the levers 7A and 7B, intended to be facing the ramps 13A and 13B, are shaped with inclined faces 16A and 16B, by which said levers flare from their ends towards their middle part, at the level of which are mounted the rollers 14A and 14B. The guide protrusion 11 also has, towards each of its ends, such inclined sides. The set of these inclined faces is intended to facilitate the engagement of the nozzle 2 and of the actuation device 1, with which it is provided in the guide assembly 10.

Over a portion of its length, at its end by which it is in contact with the lever 14B, extends on the distributor 5 a groove 17, in which is engaged the end 18 forming a guide pin of a screw 19 mounted on the body of the nozzle 2. The function of this groove 17 and the end 18 of the screw is to prevent the distributor 5 from rotating on itself, when the levers 7A and 7B urge it.

The operation of such an actuation device is as follows. During spreading, the spreading ramp 3 is driven back and forth (illustrated by a double arrow in Figure 1), transversely relative to the vehicle 4 on which it is mounted. When passing through such a nozzle 2, in the guide assembly 10, the nozzles must, depending on their direction of movement, either stop spreading or start spreading.

When the nozzle 2 and the actuating device 1 slide in the guide assembly 10, the levers 7A and 7B, in contact with the guide ramps 13A and 13B by their rollers 14A and 14B, will be pivoted on their axes 8A, 8B at their passage at the level of the recesses 15A and 15B. The coordination of their movement will be ensured by the rod 9. This pivoting movement will cause, as has been illustrated by a double arrow in Figure 1, the distributor 5 from one of its positions to the other.

Another possible variant of the invention has been shown in Figure 3. The valve of the nozzle 2A associated with this device is of the type comprising a member with a drawer cover 21, which is a flat slide capable of being moved relative to said nozzle 2A linearly between two positions, one in which it blocks the passage of fluid towards the nozzle 2A (representation in dashed lines in Figure 3), the other in which it lets the fluid pass (representation in solid lines in Figure 3). This flat slider 21 is for this purpose provided with an orifice 22 which coincides, when said slider 21 is in its position where it allows the fluid to pass, with the orifice 20 for discharging the nozzle 2A.

At each end of the slide 21, rollers 27 and 28 are mounted in pivoting along axes perpendicular to the plane of said slide 21. This slide 21 is also associated with ramps 23 and 24 extending over a portion of the width of movement of the spreading ramp R on which the nozzle 2A is mounted and, for example, over the whole of this width of movement.

These two ramps 23 and 24 are arranged on either side of said spreading ramp R and the slides of the nozzles 2A with which this ramp R is associated. The spacing between these two ramps 23 and 24 is chosen so that the rollers 27 and 28 slide respectively on one and the other of said ramps 23 and 24.

These two ramps 23 and 24 are of identical shape, they are arranged exactly opposite one another. They comprise in their part corresponding to the zone of the trajectory of the nozzle 2A, where it is desired to cause the valve 2A to pass from its open position to its closed position and vice versa, a recess referenced respectively by 25 and 26 on which, according to that the nozzle moves in the direction F2 or in the direction F3, the roller, respectively 27 or 28, comes to bear to translate the slide 21, respectively in the direction F7 or in the direction F8.

The reference signs, inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims, have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the latter, and in no way limit their scope.

Claims (10)

Device (1) for mechanical actuation when opening or closing a valve of at least one ejection nozzle (2, 2A) driven by a movement along a predetermined path relative to a support (4), said valve comprising a control member (5, 21) movable between two positions, one of opening, the other of closing, said device (1) comprising means (7A, 7B, 13A, 13B; 23, 24) intended to mechanically urge said control member (5, 21) to move it from one of its open or closed positions to the other,
characterized in that the valve is of the slide type, the control member (5, 21) being slidably mounted relative to the nozzle (2, 2A) to be moved in translation between its two open and closed positions , the biasing means (7A, 7B, 13A, 13B; 23, 24) comprising at least one guide ramp (13A, 13B; 23, 24) provided, at the level of the opening or closing zone, with a recess (15A, 15B; 25, 26) by which the control member (5, 21) is intended to pass from one of its positions to the other. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two guide ramps (13A, 13B; 23, 24) arranged one opposite the other, and on which the control member (21) or intermediate operating means (7A, 7B) are intended to bear for, in the direction of displacement of the nozzle (2, 2A), passing said control member (5, 21) from one of its positions to the other. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one roller (14A, 14B; 27, 28) pivotally mounted on the control member (21) or the intermediate operating means (7A, 7B), and by which said control member (21) or said operating means (7A, 7B) are supported on one of said guide ramps (13A, 13B; 23, 24). Device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the operating means comprise two levers (7A, 7B) coming to bear, each on one of the ends of the control member (5) and articulated in pivoting on axes (8A, 8B) fixed relative to the nozzle (2), said levers (7A, 7B) being intended to be pivotally biased by said guide ramps (13A, 13B) when the nozzle (2) passes ) in the opening or closing area of the valve, and to move, by pressing on the control member (5), said control member from one of its open or closed positions to the other . Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the levers (7A, 7B) are also articulated to one another by a rod (9) intended to ensure the coordination of their pivotings. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a guide assembly (10), in which the nozzle (2) and said device (1) slide at an opening or closing the valve of said nozzle (2), said guide assembly (10) having a guide groove (12), in which slides a protuberance (11) of the nozzle (2), as well as guide ramps (13A , 13B) on which said levers (7A, 7B) are intended to bear. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control member (5) is a cylindrical distributor sliding in the body of the nozzle (2), said distributor (5) being provided with an opening (5a ) for the passage of fluid and comprising means (17, 18) to prevent said opening from rotating, when the distributor (5) is biased in displacement. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control member (21) is a flat slide forming a drawer cover. Spreading assembly comprising on a mobile vehicle (4) a spreading ramp (3, R) provided with nozzles (2, 2A) and driven back and forth transversely relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle (4), characterized in that at least one nozzle (2, 2A) of said ramp (3, R) is associated for the actuation of its valve with an actuation device (1) according to one any of the preceding claims. Spreading assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the zone of the width of said vehicle (4), at the level of which said device actuates the opening or closing of the valve is adjustable.

Images