EP1819629A2

EP1819629A2 - Device for picking up, laying and installing pipes to provide underground ducts

Info

Publication number: EP1819629A2
Application number: EP05801284A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claudia Corazza
Original assignee: CORAZZA Srl
Current assignee: CORAZZA Srl
Priority date: 2004-11-04
Filing date: 2005-10-28
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Also published as: WO2006048411A3; WO2006048411A2; AU2005300543A1

Abstract

A device for picking up, laying and installing pipes to provide underground ducts, comprising a supporting structure (11) provided with means for fixing to the working arm (12) of a work vehicle and with a prong (14) to be inserted within the pipe to be picked up.

Description

DEVICE FOR PICKING UP, LAYING AND INSTALLING PIPES TO PROVIDE UNDERGROUND DUCTS Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for picking up, laying and installing pipes to provide underground ducts. Background Art

In particular, the device can constitute an accessory of the work vehicle to be used for the excavation, for example of the type of a wheeled or tracked excavator, which allows to pick up, lift and place in position pipes of any kind, cross-section and size.

Currently, construction companies provide underground ducts, after performing the excavation by means of an excavator provided with a bucket which is suitable for the width of said excavation, in the following manners: a) Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a worker who, on the ground and by means of cables, chains, belts with or without hooks, manually attaches the pipe to a harness, said pipe being usually arranged either on the transport truck or in the vicinity of the excavation, and then engages it with the work vehicle; b) Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a worker who, on the ground, manually engages the pipe with the work vehicle by means of a clamp; c) Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a worker who, on the ground, manually engages the pipe, by inserting the lifting chain with an iron rod, as a support within said pipe. The operations of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are extremely dangerous and are further prohibited by regulations in the field, since they necessarily require the presence of a worker on the ground both during the engagement of the pipe and during transport, in order to maintain the axial and longitudinal balance of the engaged pipe, and also during the installation of said pipe within the excavation. Currently applicable regulations covering building site safety and safety in the use of excavators in fact prescribe that there must be no workers within the operating range of the machine. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a device which, applied to a work vehicle, allows said vehicle, without interruptions, to pick up directly from said transport truck or from the storage location each pipe to provide underground ducts, move it and convey it to installation by male- female coupling directly of the excavation of the duct being provided. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device which is particularly flexible from the operating standpoint and therefore can be adapted to the most disparate types of pipe currently used for underground ducts, which can vary in terms of type, size, cross-section and weight in relation to the characteristics of different capacity of commercially available excavators.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is capable of handling and installing pipes below other existing pipes arranged at right angles to the excavation line without requiring intermediate steps for handling said pipe. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows a reduction of installation times of underground ducts with respect to what is known.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which makes it easier for workers to perform the operations linked to the installation of underground ducts .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which no longer requires the presence of workers on the ground, currently used for harness fitting and for assisting the handling of the pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be manufactured with conventional equipment and systems. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for picking up, laying and installing pipes for providing underground ducts, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure provided with means for fixing to the working arm of a work vehicle and with a prong to be inserted within the pipe to be picked up.

Advantageously, such prong protrudes as the free end of an oscillating L-shaped element, which is pivoted by means of its opposite end to the supporting structure. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of four embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 to 3 are views of conventional devices;

Figure 4 is a side view of a device according to the invention, in a first embodiment, applied to the working arm of a work vehicle by means of a quick coupling;

Figure 5 is an exploded side view of the two main components of the device according to the invention;

Figure 6 is an exploded view, taken at right angles to Figure 5, of the device according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a top view of the device according to the invention; Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the device according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a partially sectional top view of a device according to the invention;

Figures 10 to 16 illustrate the sequence of the operating steps for using the device according to the invention; Figure 17 is a side view of a device according to the invention in a second embodiment;

Figure 18 is a front view of a device according to the invention in its second embodiment of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a side view, taken along the sectional line XIX-XIX of Figure 20, of a device according to the invention in a third embodiment;

Figure 20 is a front view of a device according to the invention in the third embodiment of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a side view of a device according to the invention in a different configuration of the third embodiment; Figure 22 is a front view of a device according to the invention in a different configuration of the third embodiment of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a side view of a device according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

Figure 24 is a front view of a device according to the invention in the fourth embodiment of Figure 23 ;

Figure 25 is a side view, taken along the sectional line XXV-XXV of Figure 26, of a device according to the invention, in a different configuration of the fourth embodiment;

Figure 26 is a front view of a device according to the invention in the different configuration of the fourth embodiment of Figure 25. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to Figures 4 to 16 described above, a device for picking up, laying and installing pipes to provide underground ducts is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a metallic supporting structure 11 provided with means for fixing to the working arm

12 of a work vehicle (not shown completely for the sake of simplicity), such as a per se known quick coupling 13, and a likewise metallic prong 14, to be inserted within a pipe to be picked up (designated by the reference numeral

15 in Figures 10-15). As an alternative to the quick coupling, it is also possible to use a center bearing (not shown), which by virtue of the possibility to rotate also allows to work with the device according to the invention turned at a certain angle or even at right angles with respect to the working arm 12.

In particular, the prong 14 protrudes as the free end of an oscillating L-shaped element 16, which is pivoted by means of its opposite end 17 to the supporting structure 11.

The supporting structure 11 comprises a plate 18 provided with holes 19 for direct fixing to the working arm 12 or to the quick coupling 13 (as shown in Figure 4). The plate 18 welded in an upper region is preferably preset for fixing a per se known accessory, identified in the field by the term "saddle", which is designated by the reference numeral 13a in the figures and is preset for the quick coupling 13 or for fixed couplings to the arm 12, for example of an excavator. This further allows to use the same device 10 with different models of excavator simply by changing the saddle accessory 13a and choosing the one dedicated to the specific machine.

Two metal plate elements, designated respectively by the numerals 20 and 21, are welded to the plate 18 on two mutually opposite sides which protrude from it at right angles and have a profile which substantially forms a right angle.

The elements 20 and 21 are joined so as to form a box-like element, which protrudes on the outer part of their corner profiles by way of contoured metal plate elements, designated by the reference numerals 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 in the figures.

Additional contoured reinforcement elements 28 and 29 are welded on respective ends of the structure 11.

In the respective central corner regions, the elements 20 and 21 are crossed by corresponding coaxial holes 30 and 31, in which a through pivot 32 for the pivoting of the prong 14 is inserted. The pivot 32 is provided with a wider head 33, a cylindrical body 34 suitable to enter with minimal play the holes 30 and 31, and a threaded end 35 for a hexagonal locking nut 36 with a washer 36a.

A protective cap 37 can be provided as a protection of the nut 35. The element 16 with a prong 14, which as mentioned has an L-shaped contour, has a tubular element 38 welded at right angles to the pivoting end 17; said element protrudes for such a length as to be inserted between the elements 20 and 21 and has such an inside diameter that it can be crossed with minimal play by the pivot 33. The coupling is stiffened by mutually opposite triangular gusset plates 39 welded between the prong 14 and the tubular element 35.

Such tubular element is provided with a radial hole 40 for a greasing point 41.

Advantageously, the element 16 with the prong 14 is conceived so that it can be interchangeable with another one of another shape and kind depending on the kind and size of the pipe to be handled.

Conveniently, the element 16 with the prong 14 is free to oscillate between the points of contact with the elements 28 and 29.

In the upper part, the supporting structure 11 is provided with two elongated tabs of the elements 20 and 21, respectively 42 and 43, to which plates, respectively 44 and 45, are butt- welded and protrude substantially within the dimensions of the elements 20 and 21.

Sheet-metal stiffening gusset plates 46 and 47 are welded between the tabs 42 and 43 and the respective plates 44 and 45. These last plates, as shown in Figure 18, constitute rotation retainers, for resting on the ground, of the supporting structure l ie, and therefore are used as supporting feet of the device when the device 11 is not being used.

As regards operation, the device 10, actuated by the work vehicle, is moved with the arm 12 so as to insert the free end of the prong 14 within the pipe 15 to be picked up, conveniently from the female side 48 (which is wider), as shown in Figure 12.

The pipe 15, upon lifting, is supported by gravity by the structure 11, against the lower part of which it rests with the female side 48.

This further allows two considerable advantages: - assurance of safety, since accidental disengagement of the pipe is prevented

- the possibility to work with a prong whose dimensions are considerably smaller than the length of the pipe, with a consequent decrease in the space required for its extraction at the end of the operation.

After picking up the pipe 15, the machine operator can easily, in compliance with all applicable safety standards, handle it and transport it to the excavation 49 provided earlier, for example by means of the same machine coupled to a suitable bucket, arranging it and inserting it in the female part of the previous pipe 15 already installed, all this with great ease (Figures 11-15).

At this point, extraction of the prong 14 from the pipe 15 is facilitated by the folding of the prong 14 toward the upper part of the structure 11 (Figure 14); the prong is in fact free to move by oscillating until it makes contact with the upper part of the structure 11.

This allows to extract the device 10 from the excavation 49 in an extremely small working space without the need to perform any movement of the work vehicle (Figure 15).

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is designated by the reference numeral 110 in said figures.

In the device 110, the supporting structure 111 has, on the same side from which the prong 114 protrudes, an abutment portion, formed by the reinforcement element 128, for preventing the extraction of the pipe being handled, which is suitable to receive in abutment the inlet of the pipe lifted by the prong.

The supporting structure 111 is constituted by an upper plate 118 for connection to the arm of the work vehicle, to which two shoulders made of metal plate, are welded on two mutually opposite sides which protrude from said vehicle at right angles, said shoulders being formed by two contoured elements 120 and 121 whose profile substantially forms a right angle.

The shoulders are connected by reinforcement cross-members 122, 123 and 124 and by additional shaped metal plate elements, designated in Figure 17 by the reference numerals 125 and 126, so as to form a box-like element, which protrudes on the outer part of their angular profiles.

The reinforcement and abutment element 128 is constituted by an additional transverse metal plate element, which is contoured so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is fixed between the ends of the contoured elements 120 and 121 which form the shoulders of the structure 111, the contoured elements 120 and 121 being elongated in the direction of the extension of the prong 114.

The upper ends of the contoured elements 120 and 121, of which the end 121a is visible in Figure 17, also act as an abutment for the pipe being handled. The abutment portion, constituted by the upper ends 121a of the contoured elements 120 and 121 and by the reinforcement element 128, is therefore extremely simple to manufacture and very cheap with respect to known means for locking the pipes to the prong.

The prong 114 is rigidly coupled to the supporting structure 111 by virtue of means for varying the position of the prong 114 with respect to the structure 111.

The prong 114, in a manner similar to what has been shown in the first embodiment of the invention, is formed by the free end of an L-shaped element, the opposite end of which, substantially perpendicular to the prong 114, forms a portion 150 for connection to the means for varying the position of the prong 114 with respect to the structure 111.

The means for varying the position of the prong 114 allow to set up in an optimum manner the device 110 depending on the length, diameter and weight of the pipe to be handled. In this second embodiment of the invention, the means for varying the position of the prong 114 are formed by a pivot for the oscillation of the L- shaped element.

Such L-shaped element is provided, at its connecting portion 150, with a tubular element 138 for rotating rigidly with the connecting portion 150.

The tubular element 138 is suitable to accommodate a removable pin 152, the ends of which are made to rotate within corresponding coaxial holes 151 which are open on the shoulders 120 and 121 of the structure 111.

Each one of the shoulders has a plurality of holes 151, which are coaxial to a corresponding hole which is open on the opposite shoulder.

The tubular element 138 can be rigidly coupled, by virtue of the pin 152, to a pair of holes 151 selectively among the plurality of pairs of facing holes 151 which are available.

The advantages of oscillation are thus combined with the advantages which can arise from the possibility to move the oscillation axis closer or further away with respect to the abutment portion formed by the reinforcement element 128.

In a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral 210 in Figures 19 to 22, the means for varying the position of the prong 214 are constituted by an actuator 255, which is rigidly coupled to the structure 211 in an upper region and to the connecting portion 250 of the prong 214 in a lower region.

The structure 211 has lateral guides 253 for the upward and downward translational motion of the prong 214. The connecting portion 250 is provided with corresponding lateral sliders 254, which are suitable to slide in the guides 253.

Each of the lateral guides 253 is constituted by a contoured metal plate element, which is welded to the structure.

Each of the lateral sliders 254 is provided by a bar, which is welded laterally to the connecting portion 250.

By actuating the actuator 255, which is functionally connected to the hydraulic lines of the machine, the prong is moved vertically, making it assume the most appropriate distance from the abutment portion 228.

In a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral 310 in Figures 23 to 26, the means for varying the position of the prong 314 are provided by an articulated quadrilateral.

In the fourth embodiment described here by way of non-limiting example, the articulated quadrilateral is composed of two pairs of rockers, an upper pair 356 and a lower pair 357.

Each pair 356 and 357 is pivoted at one end to the structure 311 and at the other end to the connecting portion 350 of the prong 314.

The quadrilateral is moved upward and downward by means of an actuator 355, which is rigidly coupled by means of one of its ends to the structure 311 and by means of its opposite end to the pivot 358 of the upper pair of rockers 356.

As an alternative, the actuator can be pivoted to the connecting portion 350 of the prong 314 or to the pivot 359 of the lower pair 357 of rockers. The fourth embodiment of the invention just described allows the prong 314 not only to move vertically toward and away from the abutment portion 328 but also to move horizontally.

In practice it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. In particular, attention is drawn to the simplicity of use of the anchoring and transport device according to the invention, which however, despite its simplicity, achieves and meets fully the handling requirements in compliance with maximum safety.

Moreover, with the association of a quick-coupling system, a considerable time saving is achieved in the execution of work, since there is no need for the intervention of a second worker on the ground and also because it allows to position the pipe even in the presence of existing pipes above and at right angles with respect to the duct line without the need to move the pipe inside the excavation of Figure 15 in multiple steps. Moreover, the present invention provides, by way of the means for varying the position of the prong, a device which is particularly flexible from the operating standpoint and therefore can be adapted to the most disparate types of pipe currently used for underground ducts, which can vary in terms of material, size, cross-section and weight according to the characteristics of different capacity of commercially available excavators.

Moreover, it should be noted that the device according to the invention can be adapted to the most disparate types of work vehicle and in particular to tracked or wheeled excavators.

The device according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

The technical details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The construction materials and the dimensions may be any according to the requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Applications No. PD2004A000273 and No. PD2005A000022 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A device for picking up, laying and installing pipes for providing underground ducts, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure (11) provided with means for fixing to the working arm (12) of a work vehicle (13) and with a prong (14) to be inserted within the pipe (15) to be picked up.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said prong (14) protrudes as the free end of an oscillating L-shaped element (16), which is pivoted by means of its opposite end (17) to said supporting structure (11).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for fixing to the working arm of a work vehicle comprise a plate (18) provided with fixing holes (19).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said plate (18) with holes (19) is preset for fixing a per se known accessory (13a), which is identified in the field by the term "saddle" and supports the provisions for a quick coupling (13), also per se known, or for fixed couplings to said arm (12).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting structure (11) comprises said metallic plate (18), to which two metal plate elements (20, 21) are welded on two mutually opposite sides which lie at right angles thereto, said elements having a profile which substantially forms a right angle, said elements (20, 21) being connected so as to form a box-like element, which protrudes on the outer part of their angular profiles by way of shaped metal plate elements (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), additional reinforcement elements (28, 29) being welded on respective ends of said supporting structure (11).

6. The device according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that in the respective central corner regions said elements having a contoured angular profile (20, 21) are crossed by corresponding coaxial holes (30, 31), in which a through pivot (32) for the pivoting of said prong (14) is inserted.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said pivot (32) has a wider head (33), a cylindrical body (34) which is suitable to enter with minimal play the holes (30, 31), and a threaded end (35) for a hexagonal locking nut (36) with a washer (36a).

8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said element (16) having an L-shaped contour with a prong (14) has a tubular element (38) which is welded thereto at right angles at the pivoting end (17) and has such a length that it is inserted between said elements having an angular contoured profile (20, 21) and has such an inside diameter that it can be crossed with minimal play by the pin (33), the coupling being stiffened by triangular gusset plates (39) which are mutually opposite and are welded between said prong (14) and said tubular element (38).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said element (16) having an L-shaped contour with a prong (14) is provided with a radial hole (40) for a greasing point (41).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said element (16) having an L-shaped contour with a prong (14) is free to oscillate between the points of contact with said additional contoured reinforcement elements (28, 29), which are welded on respective ends of said supporting structure (11).

11. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the upper part said supporting structure (11) has two elongated tabs (42, 43) of said elements (20, 21), to which plates (44, 45) are butt-welded, said plates protruding substantially within the dimensions of said elements (20, 21).

12. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said prong (114, 214, 314) is rigidly coupled to said supporting structure (111, 211, 311) by way of means for varying the position of the prong (114, 214, 314) with respect to said structure (111, 211, 311).

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that said prong (114, 214, 314) is formed by the free end of an L-shaped element, the opposite end of which, substantially perpendicular to said prong (114, 214, 314), forms a portion (150, 250, 350) for connection to said means for varying the position of the prong (114, 214, 314) with respect to the structure (111, 211, 311).

14. The device according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said means for varying the position of the prong (114) are formed by a pivot for the oscillation of said L-shaped element, which comprises, at said connecting portion (150), a tubular rotation element (138), which is rigidly coupled to said connecting portion (150) and is suitable to accommodate a removable pin (152), the ends of which are arranged so as to turn within corresponding coaxial holes (151), which are open on the shoulders of the structure (111), said shoulders being formed by contoured elements made of metal plate (120, 121), each one of said shoulders (120, 121) having a plurality of holes (151), which are coaxial to a corresponding hole which is open on the opposite shoulder, said tubular element (138) being rigidly associable, by way of said pin (152), with a pair of holes (151) selectively among the plurality of pairs of facing holes (151) that are available.

15. The device according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said means for varying the position of the prong (214) are constituted by at least one actuator (255), which is rigidly coupled in an upper region to the structure (211) and in a lower region to the connecting portion (250) of the prong (214), said structure (211) being provided with lateral guides (253) for the upward and downward translational motion of the prong (214), the connecting portion (250) of said prong being provided with corresponding lateral sliders (254), which are suitable to slide within said guides (253).

16. The device according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that said means for varying the position of the prong (314) are formed by an articulated quadrilateral, which is composed of two pairs of rockers (356, 357), each of which is pivoted at one end to the structure (311) and at the other end to the connecting portion (350) of the prong (314), said quadrilateral being moved upward and downward by means of an actuator (355), which is rigidly coupled by means of one of its ends to the structure (311) and by means of its opposite end to selectively one of the pivots (358, 359) of said pairs of rockers (356, 357) or as an alternative to the connecting portion (350) of the prong (314).