EP0619416B1 - Procédé d'excavation de blocs de pierre et dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé - Google Patents

Procédé d'excavation de blocs de pierre et dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0619416B1
EP0619416B1 EP94105189A EP94105189A EP0619416B1 EP 0619416 B1 EP0619416 B1 EP 0619416B1 EP 94105189 A EP94105189 A EP 94105189A EP 94105189 A EP94105189 A EP 94105189A EP 0619416 B1 EP0619416 B1 EP 0619416B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
expansion device
tube
fluid pressure
pressure expansion
threaded
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94105189A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0619416A1 (fr
Inventor
Alberto Franzoni
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leonardo SRL
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Leonardo SRL
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C37/00—Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading
    • E21C37/06—Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by making use of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure in a borehole
    • E21C37/10—Devices with expanding elastic casings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device used in an apparatus for excavating stone blocks during the mining of marble or granite or during excavation or surface-stripping works.
  • the block is cut from the bed with the aid of a wire or rather an annularly arranged steel cable which conveys the abrasive material (in the case of the most traditional cutting method involving water and sand) or to which the abrasive material is permanently fixed (in the case of the most recent method involving diamond-based abrasive materials in the form of small grains or beads threaded onto the wire and fixed to the latter).
  • a wire or rather an annularly arranged steel cable which conveys the abrasive material (in the case of the most traditional cutting method involving water and sand) or to which the abrasive material is permanently fixed (in the case of the most recent method involving diamond-based abrasive materials in the form of small grains or beads threaded onto the wire and fixed to the latter).
  • the wire and sand cutting method has been more or less abandoned on account of the slowness of the cutting operation and the need to provide a fairly long section of wire which allows the latter to cool properly and have a longer service life.
  • the cutting method which uses a diamond-coated wire has several drawbacks. Firstly, from a technical point of view, it requires the availability of a certain amount of free space in front of and on the sides of the vein to be cut so as to allow displacement of the wire operating machine which must move backwards as the cutting operation proceeds; it is therefore not possible to use this method in all those excavation situations where this space cannot be easily provided.
  • said method is particularly dangerous should the wire break, not so much because of the "whiplash" effect of the broken ends of the wire, whose radius of action can be predicted and limited, but more on account of the beads which come free in the breakage zone and are flung out at high speed, in some cases over a considerable distance, with the risk of causing injury and even death.
  • said method requires a considerable outlay and repeated expenditure on account of the rapid wear of the beads made of diamond-based material.
  • a series of parallel bores must be formed, at a distance of about 30 cm from one another using cutting or drilling bits, in the region of the block planes forming an integral part of the vein; these bores are then filled with explosive which, when it explodes, causes parting of the block.
  • This technique in fact requires an apparatus which is much more compact and has a lower cost compared to the excavation technique using a diamond-coated wire and obviously can also be used in all those less favourable conditions where there is not enough space to install the wire machine.
  • this technique also has obvious drawbacks.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide a fluid pressure expansion device, this being obtained by abandoning the traditional excavation techniques which employ a wire or explosive and by using instead, in order to effect parting of the block from the vein, the suitably controlled energy of a fluid under pressure.
  • a fluid pressure expansion device is known for example from US-A-1,630,470.
  • the present device is simple and has a low installation and operating cost and which is suitable for easy implemention in conditions of maximum safety for the operators concerned.
  • the fluid pressure expansion device advantageously consists of a tube which is resistant to high pressure, is extendable in the radial direction and is substantially rigid in the axial direction.
  • this tube is made of plastic material with a high modulus of elasticity, provided at its opposite ends with metal sealing unions which are connected to one another by a metal rod housed inside said tube.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vein B from which a block M is being excavated.
  • the excavation apparatus comprises a first step during use which - in exactly the same way as in the excavation technique which use explosive - the dimensions of the block to be extracted and hence the exact location of the parting plane of the block from the vein are determined, and then, using suitable cutting tools, several substantially parallel bores are made in said planes.
  • the bores are suitably made with milling cutters, so that they are perfectly cylindrical.
  • the distance between one bore and another varies according to the material to be extracted and may fluctuate between a minimum of 30 cm and a maximum of 60 cm, should it be desired to obtain a substantially flat plane for parting of the block. Beyond the figure indicated of about 60 cm, parting of the block still occurs, but with more irregular surfaces and hence greater surplus material.
  • a fluid pressure expansion device E is inserted into each of the bores thus made.
  • the device E must be able to withstand very high pressures (preferably of up to 1000 bar), have a good radial expandability (from 10 to 30 mm), a high coefficient of elasticity, i.e. a very small non-recoverable residual deformation, and finally a good resistance to axial deformation.
  • the maximum external diameter of the expansion device must be a few millimetres less than that of the bores so that it can be easily inserted into the latter without problems of friction.
  • the diameter of the expansion device will be between about 20 and about 50 mm and that of the bores between about 25 and about 55 mm.
  • a liquid or gas may be used equally well as the working fluid. From the point of view of safety, in the event of accidental breakage of the device or in any case leaks, and also from the point of view of compression costs, it is obviously preferable to use a liquid. Of the possible liquids, water is the most suitable, both because it is readily available and has a negligible cost and in particular because, in the event of breakages and other accidental spillages of liquid, it will not cause any damage to the stone materials being worked, in contrast to what would happen if traditional hydraulic oils were used. Should the excavation method be performed at external temperatures of less than 0°C, it is possible to add to the water constituting the working liquid suitable commercially available anti-freeze agents, provided that they are not oil-based and colourless.
  • the expansion devices E inserted into the respective bores which determine the parting planes of the block M are connected, by one or more high-pressure supply lines L, to a high-pressure source P in turn connected to a tank S containing the working liquid.
  • connection of the line L to the expansion devices E and to the pressure source P is performed in accordance with the standard practices adopted in the hydraulic sector.
  • the connections between the devices E and the line L will preferably be of the rapid snap-engagement type, while gate valves are envisaged for isolating the various branches of the line L or also the individual devices E, so as to facilitate the identification and elimination of any leaks.
  • it will be indispensable to provide the line L with a main pressure gauge T for high pressures, as well as, where required, secondary pressure gauges situated at the inlet of the individual branches or the individual expansion devices E in order to control better the distribution and maintenance of the pressure inside them.
  • Suitable bleeding devices shall be provided so that filling of the plant can be performed with evacuation of the air contained inside it.
  • the pressure source P is made to operate initially at a low pressure in order to transfer working liquid from the tank S to the line L and fill the expansion devices E.
  • the pressure source P is brought up to operating pressure and the pressure is increased until it causes parting of the block M from the vein B, which occurs at a pressure varying from between 100 and 500 bar depending on the type of material, the distance of the bores and the size of the expansion devices.
  • the pressure source P used during this step of the technique is preferably a pneumatically operated pump for high pressure liquids.
  • a pneumatically operated pump for high pressure liquids With this type of pump, in fact, there is no need to have inside the mine (where a compressed-air supply is normally always available) an electric power point as well.
  • An example of such a pump is that manufactured by ENERPAC and marketed under the trade name MAXIMATOR. It is obvious, however, that other types of pumps for high pressure liquids could be used, achieving the same results.
  • the pressure source P continues to transmit liquid at a medium pressure (30-70 bar) to the expansion devices which, expanding radially, cause displacement of the block by an amount of between 10 and 30 mm sufficient to allow the block to be gripped by conventional handling systems for further processing.
  • This final step involving displacement of the block is preferably performed using the devices located in only one of the block parting planes, after eliminating from the circuit and then extracting the remaining devices from the respective bores, so as to cause displacement of the block in a single desired direction and so as not to damage the expansion devices - in particular those which are in the support plane of the block M - as a result of displacement of the latter.
  • the key element for the successful functioning of the technique for excavating blocks of stone material according to the present invention is the fluid pressure expansion device which must be provided with very special features both on account of the type of functions which it has to perform and the extremely high pressures under which it must operate in order to perform said functions.
  • said expansion device E comprises a tubular element 1 of elastically yielding material designed to withstand the extremely high pressures at which the excavation apparatus of the present invention operates and the abrasive action which occurs, during the excavation operation, between the internal surface of the bores formed in the stone material and the external surface of the tubular element 1.
  • the tubular element 1 must have moreover a high coefficient of elasticity and a residual deformation which is as small as possible so as to reassume substantially the original configuration at the end of each excavation operation.
  • tubular elements of this type used as springs for moulds, are commercially available, such as, for example, those marketed under the trade name ADIPOL by A.E.M. of Modena.
  • the external diameter of the tubular element 1 is preferably between about 20 and about 50 mm, with an internal diameter correspondingly varying between about 8 and about 20 mm.
  • the tubular element 1 has housed inside it a solid steel tie-rod 2 with an external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular element 1, so as to form with the latter a cavity which constitutes an internal chamber of the expansion device for housing the working fluid.
  • the two ends of the tie-rod 2 are threaded and also have longitudinal grooves 2a cut in its surface so as to allow the working fluid to pass through, as described in more detail below.
  • Two steel sleeves 3 are fitted and then screwed onto the opposite ends of the tubular element 1 and, for this purpose, have a threaded internal surface 3a with a wide pitch and large thread, which is designed to engage with and fit tightly onto the external surface of the tubular element 1.
  • the sleeves 3 also have a second threaded internal surface 3b with a diameter which is smaller than that of the preceding one, but which is distinctly greater than the diameter of the tie-rod 2.
  • the tie-rod is fixed and at the same time the tubular element 1 is tightened with respect to the sleeves 3 so as to form a sealed connection by means of a pair of male/female unions 4M and 4F, both provided with an axial through-bore, which are respectively mounted at either end of the tubular element 1.
  • the male/female unions 4M and 4F each have an elongated end 5 directed towards the tubular element 1; said end 5 is formed by a conical external surface and a cylindrical internal surface provided with a thread 5a designed to engage with the corresponding threaded end of the tie-rod 2.
  • the unions 4M and 4F are also provided, at the base of the elongated end 5, with an external thread 4b designed to engage with the thread 3b of the sleeves 3, said thread 4b having a pitch identical to that of the thread 5a described above.
  • the expansion device E ensures perfect hydraulic sealing of a working fluid which is injected under pressure inside the cavities of the unions 4M or 4F.
  • the conical shape of the elongated ends 5 of the said unions in fact causes the ends of the tubular element 1 to be pressed against the surface 3a of the sleeves 3, resulting in secure hydraulic sealing of the fluid which, after being injected inside the unions 4, penetrates, via the groove 2a, into the cavity existing between the tubular element 1 and the tie-rod 2.
  • the sealing action is also further guaranteed, on the inner side of the tubular element 1, by gaskets 7.
  • the expansion device E described hitherto may be constructed so as to have any length desired.
  • it is preferably constructed in relatively short sections, of modular length, for example 50, 100, 150 or 200 cm, which may be varyingly assembled at the time of use, with the aid simply of a pair of spanners, so as to form the expansion device with exactly the length required.
  • both the sleeves 3 and the unions 4 are provided externally with four orthogonal planes 9 suitable for gripping with conventional mechanical workshop spanners.
  • FIG. 5 shows in greater detail a section of the line L supplying a plurality of expansion devices E.
  • Said line is closed at one end by a stopper Q, preferably provided with a bleeding device, and is connected at the other end to the pressure source S.
  • the individual devices are linked to the line L by means of high-pressure pipes 10 which are connected to the line L preferably via unions of the rapid snap-engagement type and are advantageously provided with a gate valve and pressure measuring devices.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
  • Devices For Post-Treatments, Processing, Supply, Discharge, And Other Processes (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique (E) utilisé dans un appareil servant à l'excavation d'un bloc (M) depuis une veine de matériau pierreux, adapté pour être introduit dans des trous réalisés le long de plans de stratification souhaités dudit bloc, ledit dispositif consistant en un tube (1) constitué d'un matériau plastique à haut module d'élasticité, dont les extrémités opposées sont munies d'éléments d'étanchéité en métal, qui sont alésés dans la direction axiale et raccordés l'un à l'autre par une tige métallique (2) logée à l'intérieur du tube (1), de façon à former entre eux une chambre intérieure destinée à loger un fluide de travail,
       caractérisé en ce que
       chaque manchon (3) est vissé sur une extrémité dudit tube (1), et chaque manchon (3) comprend en outre un raccord qui est lui-même vissé dans ledit manchon (3b, 4b) et ladite tige (2), ledit raccord comprenant respectivement un raccord de type mâle (4M) à l'une des extrémités du tube et un raccord de type femelle (4F) à l'autre extrémité du tube, et chaque raccord présentant une extrémité en forme de long cône (5), qui est adaptée pour pénétrer à l'intérieur de l'extrémité du tube (1) de façon à pousser le tube (1) contre la paroi intérieure du manchon (3) correspondant.
  2. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit manchon (3) possède une première surface intérieure filetée (3a) ayant un grand filetage à pas large, qui est conçue pour entrer en prise en ajustement serré avec la surface extérieure dudit tube (1).
  3. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon les revendications 1 et 2, dans lequel ledit manchon (3) possède une deuxième surface intérieure filetée (3b), pouvant entrer en prise avec une surface extérieure filetée correspondante (4b) de l'un desdits raccords (4M, 4F).
  4. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ladite deuxième surface intérieure filetée (3b) a un diamètre plus petit que celui de ladite première surface intérieure filetée (3a) et plus grand que le diamètre extérieur de ladite tige (2).
  5. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon les revendications 1 et 3, dans lequel ledit raccord mâle (4M) et ledit raccord femelle (4F) ont une extrémité de forme allongée (5), dirigée vers ledit tube (1), ladite extrémité (5) comprenant une section cylindrique, supportant ladite surface extérieure filetée (4b), et une section conique, supportant une surface intérieure cylindrique filetée (5a), pouvant entrer en prise avec un extrémité filetée correspondante de ladite tige (2).
  6. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ladite surface extérieure filetée (4b) desdits raccords (4M, 4F) a un pas identique à celui de ladite surface intérieure cylindrique filetée (5a) de l'extrémité de forme allongée (5) de ces mêmes raccords (4M, 4F).
  7. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon les revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel chacun desdits raccords (4M, 4F) possède un épaulement (6) pouvant assurer une étanchéité vis-à-vis de son manchon (3) correspondant, grâce à une garniture d'étanchéité (7) intercalée.
  8. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon les revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel ledit matériau plastique est un matériau à base de résine polyuréthanne.
  9. Dispositif d'expansion à pression hydraulique selon les revendications 1 à 8, pouvant être assemblé en un ou deux dispositifs analogues par le fait de visser le raccord mâle/femelle de dispositifs contigus, avec l'arrangement disposé entre des garnitures d'étanchéité, pour former un dispositif d'expansion de plus grande longueur.
EP94105189A 1993-04-06 1994-03-31 Procédé d'excavation de blocs de pierre et dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé Expired - Lifetime EP0619416B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT93MI000683A IT1264784B1 (it) 1993-04-06 1993-04-06 Procedimento per la escavazione di blocchi lapidei ed apparecchiatura per attuare tale procedimento
ITMI930683 1993-04-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0619416A1 EP0619416A1 (fr) 1994-10-12
EP0619416B1 true EP0619416B1 (fr) 1998-05-27

Family

ID=11365671

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94105189A Expired - Lifetime EP0619416B1 (fr) 1993-04-06 1994-03-31 Procédé d'excavation de blocs de pierre et dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0619416B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE166697T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69410522D1 (fr)
IT (1) IT1264784B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBS20070142A1 (it) * 2007-09-28 2009-03-29 Graziano Perteghella Dispositivo per spaccare blocchi di pietra, apparato e relativo metodo
IT1391826B1 (it) * 2008-09-08 2012-01-27 Eurovinil Spa Metodo e dispositivo per ribaltare in cava blocchi lapidei
WO2014191930A2 (fr) * 2013-05-29 2014-12-04 Tureks Anonim Sirketi Procédé permettant de retirer en une seule pièce un matériau extrait des mines

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1630470A (en) * 1922-08-24 1927-05-31 Clifford Corp Apparatus for breaking down ore bodies
JPS59118989A (ja) * 1982-12-13 1984-07-09 鹿島建設株式会社 岩体の静的破砕工法
SE444837B (sv) * 1984-10-18 1986-05-12 Derman Ab K G Anordning for sprengning av stenblock, berg, betong och liknande
JPH0213597Y2 (fr) * 1984-10-23 1990-04-13
FR2671376A1 (fr) * 1991-01-07 1992-07-10 Brole Jean Procede et dispositif hydraulique pour l'eclatement de la pierre ou de materiaux analogues.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI930683A0 (it) 1993-04-06
ITMI930683A1 (it) 1994-10-06
ATE166697T1 (de) 1998-06-15
IT1264784B1 (it) 1996-10-10
DE69410522D1 (de) 1998-07-02
EP0619416A1 (fr) 1994-10-12

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