Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C3/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith and intended primarily for transmitting lifting forces to loose materials; Grabs
  • B66C3/02—Bucket grabs
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D17/00—Excavations; Bordering of excavations; Making embankments
  • E02D17/13—Foundation slots or slits; Implements for making these slots or slits
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
  • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
  • E02F3/18—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging wheels turning round an axis, e.g. bucket-type wheels
  • E02F3/22—Component parts
  • E02F3/26—Safety or control devices
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
  • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
  • E02F3/46—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes ; Drives or control devices therefor
  • E02F3/47—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes ; Drives or control devices therefor with grab buckets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
  • E02F5/02—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes for digging trenches or ditches
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2275—Hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
  • E21B4/18—Anchoring or feeding in the borehole
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
  • E21B7/001—Drilling a non circular hole

Definitions

• the present invention relates to excavating equipment particularly to such equipment for use in excavating a relatively deep hole of substan ⁇ tially rectangular cross-section shape for use in the formation of support piles or the like or in the excavation of elongated trenches or ditches for use in the preparation of foundation elements or for the construction of diaphragm walls.
• excavating equipment comprising a rigid support structure; surface clamping means - j -
• the excavation means comprises a pair of clamshell buckets reciprocally pivotable about substantially parallel pivotal axes towards and away from each other under the influence of the power means.
• the surface clamping means comprises a pair of substantially planar pressure plates located substantially normally to the pivotable axes of the clamshell buckets. If desired, a further pair of substantially planar pressure plates located substantially parallel to the pivotable axes are provided.
• the invention also envisages the provision of compact, mobile structures capable alternatively of operating in confined places or in the vicinity of existing structures such as walls or the like or in open spaces.
• These compact structures are provided with means whereby preparatory bores or recesses can be formed by the excavating means themselves with the pressure plates being pressed against the walls of these preparatory recesses as excavation proper begins.
• a first rigid support structure comprising: surface clamping means articulately mounted on said first structure; power means coupled to said surface clamping means for displacing said clamping means against rigid supporting surfaces; a second rigid support structure articulated to said first structure; rotary milling cutters mounted on said second structure; power means coupled to said rotary milling cutters for operating same, forces generated during operation of said excavation means being countered by a counter-reaction generated by displacement of said clamping means against said supporting surfaces.
• FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a clamshell type excavating apparatus according to the present invention with the front pressure member removed and with the buckets in their open position;
• Fig. 2 is a cross-section along line ii-ii in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 shows the excavating apparatus suspended within a partially dug excavation with the buckets in their closed position;
• Fig. 4 illustrates how the present invention may be used for plating walls of an excavation
• Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of another embodiment of the excavating apparatus shown within a bore;
• Fig. 6 is another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 7 is another embodiment according to the invention in which the excavating means is a soil milling cutter
• Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a structure suitable for suspending the excavating apparatus shown in a first suspending position;
• Fig. 9 is a partial cutout view of another embodiment as in Fig. 8.
• Fig. 10 is a structure of Fig. 8 in a second suspending position;
• Fig. 11 shows how the present invention may be attached to a conventional tow truck;
• Fig. 12 illustrates how the invention may be mounted on a drill truck
• Fig. 13 is a front view of a further embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 14 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 13;
• Fig. 15 is a cross-section along line xv-xv in Fig. 14;
• Fig. 16 is a cross-section illustrating how lateral brackets may be produced in diaphragm walls, employing the present invention;
• Fig. 17 illustrates how the present invention is used for casting strengthened load bearing elements
• Fig. 18 is a cross-section of a strengthened bearing element prepared according to the embodiment of Fig. 17.
• a clamshell type excavating equipment consists of rigid support structure 1 to which are pivotly articulated two clamshell buckets 2 or shovels about pivotal axes 3.
• Each of the buckets is also pivotly linked at 4 to piston rods 6 of hydraulic cylinders 7 which pistons are themselves pivotly linked at their opposed end 8 to the structure 1.
• a hydraulic control unit 9 is connected via fluid pressure supply line 10 to a power source (not shown) and has a first pair of conduits 11 connected to one end of the cylinders 7 and a second pair of conduits 12 connected to an opposite end of the cylinders.
• the arrangement is such that upon directing pressurized fluid through conduit 12 and out of conduits 11, the piston rods 6 retract into the cylinders 7, whereby, the buckets 2 move into their opened position as shown in Fig. 1 and upon directing pressurized liquid through conduits 11 and out of conduit 12, the piston rods 6 extend out of the cylinder 7 and the buckets 2 move to their closed position as illustrated in Fig. 3.
• Two pairs of cylinders 15 are mounted on respective ends of the support structure 1 with their longitudinal axes parallel with the axes 3 of the buckets 2 and are connected via conduits 16 to the hydraulic control unit 9.
• Each cylinder 15 has two axially opposed cylinder rods 17 (see Fig. 2) to which are connected vertical pressure plates 18 (both seen in Fig.
• the support structure 1 further has at its top end a hoisting ring 19 for connecting a hoisting cable 20.
• the equipment For excavation, the equipment is brought to the site where it is required and where an initial shallow hole has been prepared by known means. Such a preparatory hole should be deep enough so as to accommo ⁇ date the pressure plates 18 of the excavating equipment. Then, the equipment is lowered into the preparatory hole by any suitable hoisting means and with the buckets 2 in their open position, and hydraulic pressure is applied from an external power source (not shown) through supply line 10 and conduits 16 and to pistons 15, whereby, the pistons expand resulting in the pressure plates 18 clamping against the walls of the preparatory hole thereby forcing the equipment in position.
• an external power source not shown
• Hydraulic pressure is applied through conduits 11 to the cylinders 7 resulting in the buckets 2 pivoting together at the same time digging into and gathering up excavated soil.
• the pistons 15 are contracted releasing the pressure plates and the excavation equipment is hoisted by the cable 20 and the excavated soil is removed by suitable known means.
• the equipment is again lowered deeper into the excavation to perform another sequence of excavating as described above.
• a preparatory correspondingly elongated shallow trench is prepared and excavation proceeds gradually in a direction parallel to the planes of the pressure plates.
• pairs of separated holes can be excavated and subsequently the bounding region between the excavated holes is excavated.
• the elongated trench can be of any required shape.
• a concrete plating board 22 or other suitable material can be attached by readily detachable catches 23 to one of the pressure plates 18 and the excavating equipment is lowered to the correct depth and the pressure plate 18 with the attached plating board 22 is extended so the latter is pressed until it becomes flush with the wall of the excavation, covering the cavity and straightening the wall of the excavation. This enables a diaphragm wall of uniform thickness to be cast without the formation of excessive concrete bulges in such cavities.
• the equipment may be used not only for compacting and plating the walls of an excavation as already explained, but also for improving stabilization of the walls by pressing a metal net or stabilizing granular materials such as gravel, into the walls.
• Fig. 5 is a schematical top view of an apparatus according to the present invention which comprises two pairs of opposed pressure plates 18 and 25, respectively located in planes perpendicular to each other.
• the first pair 18 (bearing the same reference numeral as in Fig. 2) lies in a plane parallel with the plane of swinging of the buckets 2 and the second pair 25 is disposed perpendicular to the first pair.
• This arrangement is for use in excavating holes of a width not exceeding the maximum span of the buckets 2 and the maximum expansion of the pistons of the side pressure members 25.
• an excava ⁇ tion is obtained in which all the walls are compacted.
• FIG. 6 is a modified form of the present invention in which those elements which are similar to those of the embodiment of Fig. 1 are designated with similar reference numerals.
• the rigid support structure 1 accommodates an electric motor 27 connected to an hydraulic motor 28, a pressure fluid reservoir 29 and an electric control unit 31 adapted to receive signals from the operator either by an electric cable 32 or by transmitted signals, whereby electric signals are yielded by the control unit and transferred to the electric motor 27, by means of an electric cable 33.
• the advantage of this embodiment is that less energy is lost throughout the long hydraulic lines 10 of the previous embodiment of Fig. 1 and where the commands are transmitted to the electric control unit 31, the need for a collecting pulley is obviated.
• Fig. 7 of the drawings shows how the present invention may be applied to excavating equipment employing soil milling cutter also known as a hydromill, useful for excavating in hard soil or in rocky sites.
• soil milling cutter also known as a hydromill
• similar elements are marked with the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 3.
• the excavating is performed by two soil milling cutters 34 rotatably mounted on a second rigid structure 35 vertically disposed bellow the first rigid structure 1 and connected thereto by two vertical pistons 36.
• Each of the pistons is connected at a top end 37 to the first rigid structure and at a bottom end 38 to the second rigid structure 35 and is provided with a hydraulic conduit 39 for vertically expanding or contracting the pistons 36, thereby vertically displacing the second rigid structure with respect to the first rigid structure.
• the milling cutters are driven by hydraulic motors (not seen) in opposed directions, the motors receiving fluid pressure via conduits 39a.
• the apparatus further comprises, as in the previous embodiments, pressure plates 18 (one of which is shown removed for the sake of clarity) which can be expanded or contracted by means of hydraulically operated pistons 15.
• a hydraulic control unit 9 provided with pressure inlet conduit 10 and outputs 16, 39 and 39a is provided for controlling the expansion- contraction of the pistons 15 and 36 and the operation of the mill cutters 34 by their respective motors.
• the excavated soil is removed from the dig by flushing means (not shown) as known by those skilled in the art.
• An excavating procedure is performed as already explained, by first digging a preparatory hole deep enough to accommodate the pressure plates and then by gradually lowering the mill cutters by expanding the cylinders 36, thus deepening the dig while clamping the pressure plates against the walls of the dig.
• a mobile constructions 40 for use in alternative modes of excavation as will hereinafter be explained and which effectively cope with the preparation of the initial hole or trench.
• the construction is used when it is required to excavate adjacent a vertical existing structure such as a wall.
• the excavating equipment generally designated 41, is mounted on a rigid boxlike structure 40a and is suspended by cable 20' from a first pulley 42 and over a second pulley 46.
• a hydraulic supply line 10' runs parallel with the cable 20' and rolls over pulleys 42' and 46' respectively.
• the cable 20' and the supply line 10' are picked up by winch 47 and pickup spool 48, respectively.
• the power required for the winch and for pressurizing liquid through the supply line is obtained from any power source of any known type integral with, or separate from the mobile construction and not shown in the figures.
• This mode of excavation is carried out by locating the construc ⁇ tion 40 with the excavating equipment 41 adjacent the vertical structure (not shown) and over a preparatory hole dug beforehand (not shown) and then, proceeding as already explained, with the pressure plates 18 clamping against the walls of the excavation.
• brackets 52 there is mounted on an external wall 51 of the boxlike rigid structure 40a two laterally slidable brackets 52 with an expanding pressure member 53 therebetween, adapted for expanding or contracting the brackets 52 within a suitable slot 54 in the pressure plate 18" facing the construction, which together with the brackets 52 forms a dovetail arrangement.
• the excavating apparatus 41 is accommodated within the framework of a boxlike rigid structure 40a and is suspended from a pulley 55 with the hydraulic supply line 10' running parallel to the cable 20' and rolled by a winch and a spool respectively, by means of any suitable power source as already explained.
• the excavating apparatus 41 is lowered to the ground's surface and the pressure plates 18 are expanded to clamp between the inner walls 57 and 58 of the construction, whereby, a counter-reaction is obtained, enabling the excavating apparatus to penetrate into the ground, and in this way effecting the preparatory hole.
• the power source may be integral with the mobile structure 40, or be a separate stationary power source. Alterna ⁇ tively, power from any heavy machinery such as tractors or cranes may be obtained.
• the construction may also be provided with a soil collecting means as known in the art but not described and not seen in the drawings. Furthermore, for digging ditches, the construction may be wheeled over rails located along the route of the ditch (not shown).
• the small dimensions of the construction enable it to be operated also in confined places such as basements, caves or tunnels, or places with poor accessibility which may require transferring the equipment by helicopter.
• Figs. 11 and 12 it is shown how the excavating apparatus 41' may be attached to a tow truck 60 or to a drilling truck 61 respectively, making use of their integral winch 62 and hydraulic system, by adding, if required, a pulley 63 for collecting the hydraulic supply line 10".
• Figs. 13 to 15 are a further modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in which those elements which are similar to those of the embodiment of Fig. 1 are designated with the same reference numerals.
• expansion and contraction of the pressure members 18a and 18b is obtained by two pneumatic inflatable-deflatable air cushions 66 disposed between the pressure members 18a and 18b which pressure members are biased towards one another by a plurality of belleville springs 67 mounted on guide rods 68 and bearing at one end against a shoulder 69 of the rods and at the other end, against the pressure members (see Fig. 15).
• the air cushions 66 are inflated by a pneumatic pressure line (not shown) overcoming the biasing effect of the belleville springs 67.
• the air cushions 66 are deflated and the bevelled springs 67 bias the pressure members into their contracted positions.
• the equipment further comprises a mechanism consisting of two crossed links 70 and 71 (as seen in Fig. 14) pivotly linked to one another at their centers 72.
• the first link 70 is linked at its top end 73 to bracket 74 of pressure member 18a and at its bottom end 75 to brackets 76 of pressure member 18b.
• the second link 71 is linked at a top end 77 to bracket 78 of pressure member 18b and at its bottom end 79 to bracket 80 of pressure member 18a.
• This arrangement ensures that the pressure members 18a and 18b remain constantly parallel with one another and that their axial displacement is identical. Digging according to this embodiment is carried out in the same manner as already explained regarding the previous embodiments.
• the present invention may also be used for constructing lateral brackets integral with a load bearing element or a diaphragm wall, useful for example for supporting ready made ceiling or floor elements.
• two hollow boxlike elements 81 have their walls 82 releasably attached by fasteners 83 to the respective pressure members 18.
• the walls 82 are radially detachable from their respective boxes 81 by means such as solenoids 84, although prior to detaching, the walls 82 are rigid with the boxlike elements 81.
• the arrangement is such that after excavating a wide enough hole, the apparatus with the boxes 81 attached thereto (as in Fig. 16) is lowered to the required depth, and then, the expansion means are expanded until the pressure members 18 encounter the inner walls of the excavation. At this stage, the boxlike elements 81 continue their penetration into the earth until they are detached from their walls 82 by activating the detaching members 84. Then, the pressure members 18 are contracted and the apparatus is lifted from the excavation, leaving in place the open boxes 81, thus forming niches in the ground which upon casting with cement, will form the lateral brackets 85 which may be employed for supporting ready made ceilings or floors.
• Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate how the invention may be used for preparing load bearing elements of a reinforced structure.
• the pressure plates 18 are connected to a first pair of pistons 87 (only one seen) and a second pair of pistons 88 below said first pair 87.
• the arrangement is such that the stroke of said second pair of pistons 88 is greater than that of said first pair of pistons 87, whereby, when the pressure plates 18 are pressed against the walls of the excavation, the walls have a trapezoid-like cross-section which, after casting with cement significantly strengthens the load bearing element 89, as illustrated in Fig.18.
• the excavating equipment has always been employed in effecting substantially vertical excavations, the invention is equally applicable for use in substan ⁇ tially horizontal excavation such as for example, tunneling.
• additional power coupling must be provided for excavating equipment seeing that in this case gravity is not effective in assisting the actual excavation.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Paleontology (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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Citations (6)

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• 1993
  • 1993-02-22 IL IL10482093A patent/IL104820A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1994
  • 1994-02-22 EP EP94909704A patent/EP0725757A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-02-22 RU RU95118871A patent/RU2124609C1/ru active
  • 1994-02-22 CA CA002155312A patent/CA2155312A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-22 WO PCT/US1994/001777 patent/WO1994019272A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-02-22 PL PL94310128A patent/PL176583B1/pl unknown

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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