EP1297222A1

EP1297222A1 - Configurable construction machine

Info

Publication number: EP1297222A1
Application number: EP01936533A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Denton
Original assignee: Metalliance SA
Current assignee: Metalliance SA
Priority date: 2000-05-15
Filing date: 2001-05-15
Publication date: 2003-04-02
Also published as: FR2808763A1; AU2001262419A1; FR2808763B1; WO2001088273A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a construction machine (10) comprising: at least three assemblies (11, 12, 14) having mobile contact with the ground to enable the machine to move over the ground; at least a tool (16) on board the machine to perform an operation on the ground; the three mobile contact assemblies being arranged so as to form an L-shape when the machine is operating, two first mobile contact assemblies (11, 12) being integral with a longitudinal frame assembly (13) of the machine while the third mobile contact assembly (14) is integral with a transverse element (15) linked to the longitudinal frame assembly (13) and extending substantially transverse to said longitudinal frame assembly. The invention is characterised in that articulation means (17) are provided between the longitudinal frame assembly (13) and the transverse element (15), so as to enable relative movement between the transverse element and the longitudinal frame assembly so that the transverse element (15) shifts from one side to the other of the longitudinal frame assembly (13). The invention also concerns the use of such a machine for forming a juxtaposed structure along a direction substantially perpendicular to an existing structure.

Description

CONFIGURABLE PUBLIC WORKS MACHINE

The present invention relates generally to mobile public works machines on a site.

More specifically, the invention relates to a machine of the type comprising at least three sets of movable contact with the ground, each contact set being able to consist of a wheel or a set of wheels, or of a track for example.

Such machines are widespread in the field of road works. They carry a tool for carrying out, along the path described by the machine in the field, an operation such as: "the constitution of concrete slabs or edges (case where the on-board tool is a sliding formwork mold supplied with concrete),

• the leveling of a strip of land (case where the tool is a milling cutter or a blade),

• the digging of a trench, etc ... To carry out such operations, it is often necessary to carry out a fine adjustment of the attitude of the machine in two perpendicular directions (adjustment according to the directions of pitch and roll) , in order to precisely fix the orientation of the tool relative to the ground.

An advantageous configuration for making such adjustments consists in providing three contact sets between the machine and the ground, two contact sets being aligned along the longitudinal axis of the machine corresponding to its direction of advance, for example being made integral with the 'a longitudinal frame, while the third contact assembly is spaced from this longitudinal axis (for example by being made integral with a transverse frame fixed to the longitudinal frame).

This configuration makes it possible to adjust the roll angle in a particularly simple manner, by simply adjusting the height of the machine platform relative to the contact assembly which is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the machine (for example by a system of jacks placed between the platform and said contact assembly). And it is also advantageous to further provide that the contact assembly spaced from the longitudinal axis of the machine is located opposite one of the two other contact assemblies, in the transverse direction of the machine. Thus, it is also possible to carry out a simple adjustment of the pitch angle of the machine, by adjusting only the height corresponding to the contact assembly which is located on the longitudinal axis of the machine, and which is not in look of the contact assembly located outside this axis.

Machines are thus known which make it possible to carry out operations such as the continuous casting of concrete profiles. This type of machine is supported by three crawler trains which constitute the three sets of contact with the ground, the three crawler trains forming a

"L".

However, a limitation of this known type of machine, in which the tool is carried by a main chassis connecting the two crawler trains aligned on the longitudinal axis, is that they do not make it possible to carry out work under good conditions. two sides of the machine.

Indeed, the tool is fixed on one side of the main chassis and, for many applications, one of the two sides of the chassis is clearly better suited to the conduct of operations (for questions of mass distribution in the case of tools heavy, accessibility of the tool, visibility offered to the operator of the machine ...).

For example, for certain applications, it is desirable to place the on-board tool outside the "L" of the tracks. This is the case of operations such as the continuous manufacture of curbs, gutter channels, low road walls, retaining walls, and more generally of works to be carried out by the road.

However, even if for a given application one of the two sides of the machine is better suited to receive the on-board tool, it is sometimes necessary to make the machine work in a configuration where it carries the on-board tool on the side opposite to the side application favorite (for reasons of constraints of circulation on the ground, topography ...).

Thus, the machines, if they have a preferred side, can sometimes be adapted to receive the on-board tool on the side not corresponding to the preferred side.

But in such a configuration the operation of the machine is not optimal, from the point of view of the questions mentioned above of distribution of the masses in the case of heavy tools, accessibility of the tool, visibility offered to the driver. of the machine, etc. This is a drawback.

The main object of the present invention is to eliminate this drawback.

In order to achieve this aim, the invention proposes a public works machine comprising:

• at least three sets of mobile contact with the ground to allow the machine to move on a ground,

• at least one tool on board the machine to carry out an operation in the field, the three mobile contact assemblies being arranged so as to form an “L” when the machine is in operation, the first two mobile contact assemblies being integral with a longitudinal chassis assembly of the machine while the third movable contact assembly is integral with a transverse element which is connected to the longitudinal chassis assembly and which extends substantially transversely to said longitudinal chassis assembly, characterized in that 'There are provided means of articulation between the longitudinal chassis assembly and the transverse element, so as to allow relative movement between the transverse element and the longitudinal chassis assembly so that the transverse element passes from side to side of the longitudinal chassis assembly.

Preferred but non-limiting aspects of the machine according to the invention are the following: . during said relative movement the transverse element is fixed on the ground, the ensble of longitudinal chassis being movable relative to the ground. . during said relative movement, the longitudinal chassis assembly is fixed on the ground, the transverse element being movable relative to the ground,. the articulation means allow movement according to a single degree of freedom between the transverse element and the longitudinal chassis assembly,. the articulation means allow pivoting about a vertical axis,. the number of mobile contact assemblies is limited to three,. the moving contact assemblies are crawler trains. . means are provided for stabilizing the part of the machine remaining fixed relative to the ground during the relative movement between the transverse element and the longitudinal chassis assembly,. the stabilization means are telescopic parts of ladders, • the on-board tool is a sliding formwork mold,. the on-board tool is mounted to slide longitudinally on the longitudinal chassis assembly,. the longitudinal sliding allows the tool to move backwards to a position where the rear end of the tool is moved back at least to a position in which a part of the tool is facing the rear end of the machine.

The invention also relates to the use of a machine according to one of the above aspects, to constitute a structure joined in a direction substantially perpendicular to an existing structure.

Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will appear better on the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the appended drawings in which: . FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a machine according to the invention,. FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the same machine,. FIG. 3 is a top view of the same machine,

. Figures 4a to 4c are three top views illustrating three configurations of the machine according to the invention. FIGS. 5a to 5c are three schematic representations of the machine according to the invention in top view, illustrating the stages of the constitution of a structure 30 backed by an existing structure 20.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a machine generally designated by the reference 10, intended to produce concrete profiles such as slabs, curbs or walls, continuously in the field. To this end, the machine 10 is provided with crawler trains allowing it to be mobile in the field.

In FIG. 1 are thus represented a first track train 11 located at the front of the machine (on the left of the figure), and a second track train 12, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the machine behind the track train 11.

The tracks 11 and 12 are both mounted on a longitudinal chassis 13.

The crawler train 12 is fixedly mounted on the chassis 13 by means of a plate 120 fixed on the underside of the chassis 13, while the crawler train 11 is pivotally mounted around a vertical axis 110 on a plate 111, which is itself mounted on the front of the chassis 13 by means of an adjustable parallelogram 112 formed by two parallel articulated arms 1120 and 1121.

More specifically, a first rear end 11201 of the arm 1120 is mounted on the front of the longitudinal frame 13 pivoting about a horizontal transverse axis (perpendicular to the plane of Figure 1), so that the arm 1120 can move relative to the frame 13 only by a rotation about this horizontal transverse axis.

And the front end 11202 of the arm 1120 is pivotally mounted around an axis of the same horizontal transverse direction on the plate 111.

The arm 1121 is mounted in the same way on the longitudinal frame 13 and on the plate 11, in order to form the parallelogram 112 which moreover comprises a device for adjusting the orientation of the arms 1120 and 1121, constituted here by a jack 1122. Thanks to this jack, it is possible to adjust the height of the front of the chassis 13 relative to the plate 111 and therefore to the track train 11. In this way, the pitch is adjusted in orientation chassis 13.

And it is specified that the parallelogram 112 can be replaced by any means of controlled adjustment of the height of the machine relative to the track train 11, such as a column with vertical sliding for example.

The machine 10 also comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, a third crawler train 14 which is mounted without the possibility of rotation under a transverse frame 15, said transverse frame itself being made integral with the longitudinal frame 13 in the manner specific to a embodiment of the invention which will be described later in this text.

It will be noted that in FIG. 2, the third crawler train 14 is shown in two different positions, this train being mounted at the end of the rod 151 of a jack 150, the body of said jack being fixed on the transverse frame 15 and coaxial with this chassis.

Thus, in the left part of FIG. 2, the crawler train 14 is shown in a first position in solid lines corresponding to a retracted configuration of the actuator 150, and in a second configuration in dotted lines corresponding to a deployed configuration of the rod of the jack, so as to separate the position of the track train 14 from the longitudinal frame 13. As will be seen, this arrangement makes it possible to adjust the transverse balancing of the machine, as a function of the position of the on-board tool and / or of the configuration of the machine.

In this figure 2 also appears better the tool which is carried by the machine, this tool being here constituted by a sliding formwork mold 16 fixed on the frame 13 by means 160 of which we will detail the structure and the function later in this text.

By "sliding" is meant here that the concrete which is deposited by the tool on the ground slides relative to the formwork mold 16 inside thereof, said mold itself being movable relative to the ground for extrude structures such as low walls, curbs, or any other profile.

Although the sliding formwork mold corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is specified that according to the invention the tool on board the machine 10 may be different from a formwork mold; it can be any type of tool intended for carrying out operations in the field, such as the tools mentioned in the introduction to this text.

The machine 10 comprises three crawler tracks 11, 12 and 14 which constitute an “L”, the transverse chassis 15 being perpendicular to the longitudinal chassis 13. This “L” configuration appears more particularly in the top view of FIG. 3.

More specifically, the number of crawler trains is limited to three, the train 14 being associated with means for adjusting the height relative to the transverse chassis 15, in order to adjust the roll angle of the machine. As mentioned, the crawler train 14 also has a fixed orientation relative to the chassis 15.

According to an essential aspect of the invention, the transverse frame 15 is not fixedly mounted on the longitudinal frame 13, but on the contrary by means of a plate 17 capable of pivoting about a vertical axis A by relative to the longitudinal frame and to which the transverse frame 15 is fixed. Means are also provided (not referenced in the figure) for locking the angular position of the plate 17 and therefore of the transverse frame 15, relative to the longitudinal frame 13 in a position where these two elements form an angle of 90 °, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

This configuration, in which the tool is also fixed to the side of the longitudinal chassis 13 which is outside the "L" formed by the longitudinal chassis 13 and the transverse chassis 15, is the normal working configuration of the machine. The articulated mounting of the transverse frame 15 on the longitudinal frame 13 is an essential arrangement of the invention. This arrangement allows as will be explained in more detail to pass the transverse frame 15 from one side to the other of the longitudinal frame 13, and makes the machine "symmetrizable". This allows the machine 10 to pass from one configuration to

Direct "L" represented in FIGS. 3 and 4a and corresponding to a preferred working configuration, to an inverted "L" configuration as represented in FIG. 4c which corresponds to a configuration which is preferably implemented for the transport of the tool 16, but which can also be used for the use of the tool in particular circumstances (production of a channel between tracks for example).

In a manner known per se, the machine 10 is also equipped with a heat engine M which drives the tracks through a hydraulic or other transmission, and a gangway P to allow an operator to take a position on the machine.

Referring now to Figures 4a to 4c, the machine 10 is shown in three configurations which will be discussed below.

FIG. 4a corresponds to the preferred working configuration of the machine, identical to the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 3. In this configuration, the locking means associated with the pivoting plate 17 hold the transverse frame 15 in a fixed position relative to the longitudinal frame 13, so as to form a direct "L".

In this preferred working configuration, the formwork mold 16 is protruding on the side of the machine and can be used for the production of works located at the edge of the carriageway, the machine 10 moving in the direction F.

FIG. 4b represents the machine in an intermediate configuration in which the angular position of the transverse chassis 15 relative to the longitudinal chassis 13 has been unlocked, and this angular position is modified to bring the machine into the transport configuration shown in FIG. 4c. This orientation configuration is represented by the arrow F '.

To switch from the preferred working configuration to the transport configuration (and vice versa), one can:. either immobilize the transverse chassis 15 on the ground by blocking the two tracks of tracks 12 and 14, and activate the track 11 after having made it rotate 90 ° relative to the axis of the longitudinal chassis 13. In this case, the crawler train 12 is fixedly mounted not directly on the longitudinal chassis 13, but on the transverse chassis 15. It is this solution which is illustrated in FIG. 4b,. either immobilize the longitudinal chassis 13 by blocking the crawler tracks 11 and 12 (the train 12 then being fixedly mounted directly on the longitudinal chassis 13), and activate the crawler train 14.

In all cases, it is necessary to stabilize the chassis element which remains fixed during this configuration change (transverse chassis 15 in the first case, longitudinal chassis 13 in the second case).

The machine 10 is thus provided with lateral stabilizers on the chassis element which remains fixed during such a maneuver. These stabilizers can be in a preferred embodiment of the invention of the telescopic amounts of ladders associated with the chassis element to be stabilized during the change of configuration.

Such telescopic uprights are retracted when the machine is moving or is not in use, and are deployed down to the ground to fulfill their stabilization function.

The mode of articulation of the transverse frame 15 on the longitudinal frame 13 described with reference to the appended figures is not limiting; it is possible according to the invention to provide any other type of articulation between these two elements to allow passage between the configurations of Figures 4a and 4c (pivoting of any axis or other). It is also possible to provide an articulation with more than one degree of freedom (ball joint type connection for example).

It will be noted that the possibility of removing the crawler train 14 from the chassis 13 by means of the jack 150 will advantageously be implemented when the configuration of the machine is changed in the case where the transverse chassis 15 is the chassis element which remains fixed. during this maneuver. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the stability of the assembly.

When the machine is in operation and a sliding formwork is being produced, these two tracks of tracks 12 and 14 are fixed relative to the machine, in particular they cannot pivot relative to it.

In fact, when the machine is in operation, only the crawler train 11 can pivot around the vertical axis 110; it is thus possible to control the orientation of this crawler train to steer the machine and execute a concrete profile along a desired path.

It will be noted in the drawings, which represent a particular embodiment of the invention in which the on-board tool is a formwork mold, that the position of this mold 16 relative to the longitudinal frame 13 is chosen so that the end rear 161 of this mold is aligned with the centers of the two track trains 12 and 14.

This desired position of the mold along the longitudinal axis of the machine ensures that when the machine progresses according to a non-rectilinear trajectory, lateral movements of the rear 161 of the mold

16 are reduced to the maximum.

This desired position thus ensures the quality of the sliding formwork operation, the rear 161 of the mold corresponding to the place of deposit of the concrete on the ground. This avoids the shifting of the rear of the mold relative to the ground when the machine moves along a curve.

But it is understood that if this position of the mold is well suited to the continuous production of concrete works of variable length (the mold 16 is also supplied with concrete by a tank 162, itself supplied by external means), it requires when starting the realization of a new work to position the rear 161 of the mold opposite the place on the ground where one wishes to start the work (low wall, border, ...).

This therefore requires placing behind this part of the ground the parts of the machine which are, on the machine, behind the end 161 of the mold.

This constraint represents a drawback in the case where it is difficult, if not impossible, to thus bring part of the machine onto the ground behind the place on the ground where it is desired to start the work, for example when we want to add a new structure perpendicularly to an existing structure.

According to a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the means 160 for attaching the tool 16 to the longitudinal frame 13 are themselves mounted to slide longitudinally on this frame 13. This makes it possible to slide the mold 16 longitudinally towards the rear of the machine, to a position where the rear 161 of the mold is located at the same level as the rear end of the machine (that is to say the rear of the track train 12) according to the longitudinal direction. This possibility is illustrated in Figures 5a to 5c. In this variant of the invention, it is thus possible when the machine is in its preferred working configuration (chassis 13 and beam

15 forming a direct "L", as in FIG. 4a),: . to immobilize the machine on the ground so that its rear end is positioned opposite a place on the ground where it is desired to start a structure. In the example of FIGS. 5a to 5c, this place on the ground is defined by an existing wall 20,. to slide the mold 16 towards the rear of the frame 13 to bring the rear 161 of the mold opposite this desired location on the ground, as shown in FIG. 5a,. and making a portion of work 30 by sliding the mold on the fixed frame forward, to its normal working position, as shown in FIG. 5b.

We can thus overcome the drawback mentioned above related to the positioning of a part of the machine on the ground, and produce the first portion of a structure 30 attached to a structure 20.

And the structure 30 can thus have any orientation with respect to the existing structure 20, in particular a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular orientation.

In this case, once the mold 16 has been returned to its normal working position, the position of the mold relative to the machine is locked and the machine resumes its progress in the field to continue the realization of the work 30 ( FIG. 5c), by moving in the direction F. And it is specified that it is possible to adapt the stroke which the tool 16 can describe on the longitudinal frame 13 to bring this tool not only opposite the rear end of the machine, but also behind this end of the machine. This can be advantageous in the case where it is desired to start the work in a place on the ground which is difficult to access by machine (non-passable ground, etc.).

Claims

Public works machine (10) comprising:

. at least three sets (11, 12, 14) of mobile contact with the ground to allow the machine to move on a ground,

. at least one tool (16) on board the machine for carrying out an operation in the field, the three sets of movable contact being arranged so as to form an "L" when the machine is in operation, two first sets (11, 12) contact assembly being integral with a longitudinal chassis assembly (13) of the machine while the third assembly (14) with movable contact is integral with a transverse element (15) which is connected to the longitudinal chassis assembly ( 13) and which extends substantially transversely to said longitudinal chassis assembly, characterized in that hinge means (17) are provided between the longitudinal chassis assembly (13) and the transverse element (15), so as to allow relative movement between the cross member and the longitudinal frame assembly so that the cross member (15) passes from side to side of the longitudinal frame assembly (13).

Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that during said relative movement the transverse element (15) is fixed on the ground, the longitudinal chassis assembly (13) being movable relative to the ground.

Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that during said relative movement the longitudinal chassis assembly (13) is fixed on the ground, the transverse element (15) being movable relative to the ground.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation means (17) allow movement according to a single degree of freedom between the transverse element and the longitudinal chassis assembly. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation means (17) allow pivoting around a vertical axis.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of mobile contact assemblies is limited to three.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable contact assemblies are tracks of tracks.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for stabilizing the part of the machine remaining fixed relative to the ground during the relative movement between the transverse element and the longitudinal chassis assembly.

Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the stabilization means are telescopic parts of ladders.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the on-board tool (16) is a sliding formwork mold.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the on-board tool is mounted for longitudinal sliding on the longitudinal chassis assembly (13).

Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the longitudinal sliding allows the tool (16) to be moved backwards to a position where the rear end (161) of the tool is moved back at least up to to a position in which a part of the tool is facing the rear end of the machine. Use of a machine according to claim 11 or 12 to constitute a structure (30) joined in a direction substantially perpendicular to an existing structure (20).