EP1846619A1

EP1846619A1 - Ramming device to be assigned to a rock breaker

Info

Publication number: EP1846619A1
Application number: EP06709255A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Sylvain Comarmond
Original assignee: Montabert SAS
Current assignee: Montabert SAS
Priority date: 2005-02-10
Filing date: 2006-02-06
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: BRPI0606889A2; US7413028B2; ZA200705905B; AU2006212167A1; WO2006084980A1; US20070295520A1; KR20070106505A; JP2008530402A; CA2596820A1; FR2881764B1; FR2881764A1; IL184437A0; CN100570062C; CN101107399A; NO20074541L

Abstract

The ramming device (7) comprises a ramming element (9) to be assigned to the end (3) of a rock breaker. The inventive device receives the shocks generated by the rock breaker and transmits them to fragments to be compacted. The ramming device also has a frame (8) comprising: positioning means (15, 16, 17, 18) for positioning relative to the rock-breaker so that the axis (11) of the frame (8) is coincident with the axis (2) of the rock breaker; joining means that enable the temporary and removable fixing of the frame to the end of the rock breaker; axially translational guiding means (10) for guiding the ramming element relative to the frame; means for blocking the rotation of the ramming element about the axis of the frame, and; means (25) for limiting the amplitude of this translation.

Description

Grooming apparatus to be associated with a breaker

The present invention relates to a grooming apparatus intended to be associated with a breaker mounted on the arm of a machine such as a digger. Breakers, for example hydraulic breakers, are used for the destruction of coatings or layers of hard ground, as well as for the bursting of blocks of rock or concrete, during earthworks or demolition.

Trenching and trenching operations generally require, in addition to a breaker, other equipment to clear or compact the fragments obtained.

Specific compaction machines can be used, such as vibrating plate or rammer, but they are expensive and bulky on a construction site. This is why more flexible solutions have been envisaged, consisting in mounting on the breaker a ramming member whose upper part forms an arm designed to allow the fixing to the breaker and whose lower part is in the form a grooming plate.

In a first known embodiment, the arm and the plate of the tamping member are formed in one piece. The contact between the plate and the fragments to be compact causes twisting and bending forces, in particular because the plate bears on a non-regular surface, and can rest, in the vicinity of its edges, on protruding fragments. These forces are transmitted to the arm, which leads to the occurrence of significant stresses in the junction area between the plate and the arm and can cause the breakage of the tamping member at this junction zone. In addition, significant efforts are applied on the breaker, which alters the longevity of the whole.

In addition, the tamping member is mounted on the breaker in place of the tool. Thus, the tool must be disassembled beforehand, which involves delicate manipulations and a waste of time, the machine then being immobilized.

In a second known embodiment, the tamping member is formed from two separate parts, the arm and the plate, secured to one another by a conical assembly. The forces due to compaction are transmitted to the arm by the conical connection zone between the two parts. Here again, there is a weakening of this area, accentuated by the fact that the ramming member is formed of two assembled parts. In the more or less long term, the grooming member may be broken. In addition, the disadvantage of the necessary disassembly of the tool is not solved by this second known embodiment. The invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks.

A first object of the invention is to provide a tamping apparatus which has a better mechanical strength and therefore a longer life, and which limits the importance of the forces applied to the breaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a grooming device that can be mounted directly on the tool, without requiring the prior disassembly of the latter.

To this end, the invention relates to a tamping apparatus comprising a ramming member intended to be associated with the end of a rockbreaker mounted on the arm of a machine and can be equipped with a tool, the grooming apparatus being adapted to receive the shocks generated by the rock breaker and to transmit them to the fragments to be compacted.

The tamping apparatus more particularly characterized in that it further comprises a frame having an axis and comprising: positioning means for the correct positioning of the frame relative to the breaker, so that the axis of the chassis is substantially coincident with the axis of the breaker; fastening means for temporarily and removably fixing the frame at the end of the breaker; means of guiding in translation substantially axially of the tamping member relative to the frame, means for blocking the rotation of the tamping member around the axis of the frame, and means for limiting the amplitude of said translation.

Thus, the frame acts as a reinforcement by taking up the forces exerted on the tamping member during compaction, whether it is torsion or bending forces. As a result, on the one hand, the compacting member is subjected to lower stresses, which increases its service life, in particular by preserving the most fragile areas that can be broken first. On the other hand, by the presence of the frame, the forces exerted on the breaker are also reduced. According to one possible embodiment, the tamping member comprises a tamping plate from which protrudes substantially perpendicularly a central arm, and the guide means in the frame comprise a substantially axial tubular body open at both ends, wherein the arm is adapted to be engaged by a first end. The cooperation between the arm of the tamping member and the body of the frame thus ensures, at least in part, the guiding and the recovery of the forces due to compaction.

The tubular body has for example a non-circular inner section of complementary shape of the outer section of the arm, so as to allow the transmission of torsional forces. For example, the arm could be cylindrical of revolution but provided with a flat part. The means for limiting the amplitude of the translational movement of the tamping member comprise, for example, a chain or cable whose first end is fixed to the frame and a second end of which is fixed to the ramming member, or a keying system.

The tamping member may comprise a wall whose shape is complementary to that of a portion of a tool equipping the breaker, said wall forming an abutment surface of the tool for transmitting to the ramming member shocks generated by the breaker, via the tool.

According to a first embodiment, the arm of the tamping member comprises an axial orifice in which the tool is intended to be at least partially engaged. The tool then performs a role of upright, serving as a means of complementary positioning, reinforcement and support. The stability of the device is increased. In addition, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to disassemble the tool from the end of the breaker to set up the tamping apparatus. The abutment surface may then be formed by a funnel-shaped wall forming an end of insertion of the orifice, said wall being intended to cooperate with a flange of the tool.

Alternatively, the abutment surface is formed by the bottom of the orifice, intended to cooperate with the free end of the tool. According to a second embodiment, the abutment surface is formed by the free end of the arm of the tamping member, said free end being substantially transverse and flat and intended to cooperate with the substantially transverse and flat free end of the arm. 'tool.

Finally, according to a third embodiment, the abutment surface is formed by the free end of the arm of the tamping member, said free end having substantially the shape of a spherical cap and being intended to cooperate with the free end of the tool in the form of complementary spherical cap.

In this case, the arm may have an axially curved shape, so that the tamping member is rotatable relative to the frame about at least one transverse axis, with a limited amplitude. Thus, the arm can "oscillate" inside the frame, and the tamping plate can automatically move in a trench if guided by the edges of this trench.

The tamping apparatus may further comprise an intermediate wear part whose mechanical impact strength is greater than that of the tamping member, said intermediate piece being intended to receive the shocks generated by the breaker and to the transmit downstream to the groomer. The intermediate part can be easily replaced, and the service life of the tamping member is increased. According to one possible embodiment, the damage plate has an elongated rectangular shape whose opposite small sides are raised in the direction of the arm.

The invention also relates to a machine comprising a breaker equipped with a tamping apparatus as previously described. For a good understanding, the invention is again described below with reference to the accompanying figures showing, by way of non-limiting examples, several possible embodiments of the grooming apparatus.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tamping apparatus according to the invention and a breaker provided with a tool, seen in disassembled position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the tamping apparatus being assembled to the breaker;

Figure 3 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the tamping apparatus and the breaker, when assembled;

Figure 4 is a partial view similar to Figure 3 showing a variant of the first embodiment;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating a second embodiment; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating a third embodiment.

A hydraulic breaker, partially shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a body 1 of substantially circular section of axis 2, and has an end 3 to which is connected a tool 4, such as a pick or chisel. In known manner, the breaker generates shocks, axially, which are transmitted to the tool 4. The end 3 of the body 1 is further provided with a collar 5 having an ovoid section and thus having a portion 6 making protrusion of the body 1. A tamping apparatus 7 is provided to be fixed to the end 3 of the breaker when it is desired to compact the fragments obtained by action of the breaker and its tool 4. The tamping apparatus 7 comprises on the one hand a frame 8 and on the other hand a damper 9.

The frame 8 comprises a hollow tubular body 10, of axis 11, open at its first and second axial ends 12, 13, and non-circular inner section. In the embodiment shown, the body 10 comprises four perpendicular side walls and thus has a rectangular section.

A base 14, provided with a central opening 15 of section greater than the maximum diameter of the tool 4, is fixed transversely to the second end 13 of the body 10, so that the opening 15 is substantially coaxial with the body 10.

At the end of simplification, the following description will be performed in the position where the body 10 of the frame 8 is vertical, the base 14 being horizontal and above the body 10, this position corresponding substantially to the position of use.

A substantially annular border 16 projects from the base 14 vertically upwards, around and away from the opening 15, and defines a housing 17 whose shape and the axial and transverse dimensions are adapted to those of the flange 5. Of the fingers 18 are provided at regular intervals, and each have an inclined surface converging towards the opening 15.

In this way, the frame 8 can be secured to the end 2 of the body 1 of the breaker, temporarily and removably. For this, the frame 8 is approached from the body 1, provided or not with the tool 3, the flange 5 is guided by the fingers 18 and then engaged in the housing 17 and supported against the bottom of the latter, the complementarity of the forms ensuring the correct positioning of the frame 8. Once the collar 5 in place, its upper face is located in the same plane as the upper face of the border 16. The whole is then locked in this position by any suitable device, not shown, such as a latch, hooks formed on the fingers 18, or a system of vertical tabs placed opposite each other and provided with eyelets in which can be engaged a holding bar blocking the flange in position in the housing 17.

Finally, a lug 19 protruding perpendicularly from a side wall of the body 10 to the outside, and fixed to the underside of the base 16 reinforces the structure of the frame 8. Another lug 19 identical is arranged symmetrically on the opposite side face of the body 10.

The tamping member 9 comprises on the one hand a substantially rectangular tamping plate 20, one side of which forms a sole plate 21 intended to be pressed against the fragments to be compacted. The plate 20 comprises two opposite end portions 22, 23 raised in the opposite direction of the sole 21.

The tamping member 9 further comprises a central arm 24 projecting perpendicular to the plate 20 from the face opposite to the sole 21, the arm 24 and the plate 20 being made in one piece. The arm 24 is intended to be introduced axially into the body 10 of the frame 8 and to cooperate with the inner face of the body 10. For this purpose, the shape and the dimensions of the arm 24 are adapted to those of the body 10. Here, the arm 10 has a rectangular outer section complementary to the inner section of the body 10, so that the tamping apparatus 7 can slide along the axis 11 in the body 10 but be locked in rotation about the axis 11.

The amplitude of the axial translation of the arm 24 in the body 10 is limited by chains 25 disposed outside the body 10. The first end of each chain is fixed to the body 10, via a bolt cooperating with a tab, and the second end of each of the chains is fixed via a bolt to one of the reinforcing ribs 26 provided between the plate 20 and the arm 24. The length of each chain 25 is greater than the distance between the attachment points of its ends. when the arm is engaged to the maximum in the body 10. However, the length of each chain 25 is small enough to allow only a small amplitude of axial translation of the arm 24, and in particular to prevent the arm 24 from being disengaged from the body 10.

The operation of the compaction apparatus 7 mounted on the breaker is as follows: the shocks generated by the breaker (produced by the hammer striking piston on the upper face of the tool 4) are transmitted the tool to the tamping member 9, and in particular to the plate 20, which allows to compact the fragments located under the sole 21.

Several embodiments of the tamping apparatus are now described, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In a first embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), the arm 24 is of a height slightly greater than the height of the body. 10 and comprises a cylindrical axial orifice 27 of diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tool 4. The orifice 27 has an upper end whose side wall 28 is flared in a funnel. The installation of the tamping apparatus 7 on the breaker is as follows. The tamping member 9 is firstly mounted in the frame 8, by engagement of the arm 24 in the body 10 by the first end 12, and then fixing the chains 25. The tamping member 7 thus formed is then mounted on the breaker, without disassembly of the tool 4. The tool is engaged in the orifice 27, by the upper end thereof, and the frame 8 is close to the body 1 of the breaker to that the flange 5 is placed in the housing 17 as previously described, the axes 2 and 11 then being substantially merged. At the end of assembly, that is to say in the use position, the flared wall 28 forms a stop surface intended to cooperate with a flange 29 of the tool 4 for the transmission of shocks generated by the breaker. if the free end of the tool 4 is not in contact with the bottom 30 of the orifice 27.

The shocks generated by the breaker generate a significant wear of the upper end of the arm 24 in contact with the tool 4. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, it can be expected to interpose between the upper end of the arm 24 and the flange 29 of the tool 4 an intermediate wear part 31, having a flared wall 28 'identical to the flared wall 28 of the arm 24 of Figure 3. In this case, the arm 24 can be made of cast steel, while the intermediate piece 31 is made of hardened steel, more resistant. The fixation between them of these two parts is not necessary, insofar as they are automatically in contact when the breaker generates shocks.

In a second embodiment (FIG. 5), the arm 24 is solid and of height less than the height of the body 10, and the tamping apparatus 7 further comprises a tool 32 intended to be mounted on the breaker, instead of tool 4 specific to the breaker. The tool 32 comprises an upper cylindrical portion 33 intended to be fixed to the body 1 of the breaker and a lower cylindrical portion 34 having a larger diameter, greater than the diameter of the opening 15 of the base 14 but less than the internal dimensions of the body 10.

For the installation of this tamping apparatus 7, it is necessary beforehand to disassemble the tool 4. The tamping apparatus 7 is constituted as follows: firstly, the tool 32 is engaged axially in the body 10 by the first end 12, until the upper part protrudes from the frame 8, then the arm 24 is in turn engaged in the body 10 and held in position by the fixing of the chains 25. L ' together is then mounted on the breaker, the upper portion 33 of the tool 32 and the frame 8 are both attached to the body 1. It should be noted that the lower portion 34 of the tool 32 abuts against the lower face 35 of the base 14, in the vicinity of the opening 15, the tool 32 can not be removed from the body 10 by the second end 13. This configuration is interesting since it facilitates the establishment of the grooming apparatus 7, the tool 32 remaining linked to the grooming apparatus 7 when s mounting and dismounting. An arrangement in which the tool 32 does not abut against the underside 35 of the base 14 is also conceivable, although it is less convenient because requiring other connecting means.

The free end 36 of the arm 24, transverse and flat, forms an abutment surface with the free end 37 of the lower portion 34 of the tool 32, also transverse and flat, allowing the transmission of shocks for the damage. This abutment surface being located inside the body 10, there is a very good guidance and a very good recovery efforts during compaction. An intermediate wear part may also be provided.

In a third embodiment (FIG. 6), the tamping apparatus 7 again comprises a tool 32 intended to be mounted on the rock breaker, in place of the tool 4 specific to the breaker. The tool 32 presents a similar shape to that shown in Figure 5, except for the free end 37 of the lower portion 34, which in this third embodiment is shaped concave spherical cap.

The arm 24 is solid and of height less than the height of the body 10. It has a side wall 38 convexly axially and a free end 36 having the shape of a convex spherical cap complementary to the shape of the free end 37 of the lower part 34 of the tool 32, and forming abutment surface for the transmission of shocks for the damage with, possibly, interposition of a wear part. The body 10 may comprise a lower portion of enlarged diameter to receive the arm 24 curved. Finally, the damage plate 20 is narrow and elongated, like a ski.

The assembly is carried out in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 5. Once assembled, the tamping member 9 can oscillate slightly with respect to the frame 8 because of the convex shape of the arm 24 and the cap forms of the free ends 36, 37. Thanks to this movement of ball of limited amplitude, the plate 20 can be guided by the edges of a trench during the movement of the machine equipped with the breaker, and orient properly, alone, in this trench. This structure is particularly useful in the case of narrow trenches (of width of the order of 15 cm for example), typically used for the passage of optical fibers. Indeed, no existing grooming apparatus can penetrate the trench, it is common to see a subsidence of the surface of such trenches, unless using expensive filling materials that do not require compaction. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but that it encompasses all variants.

Claims

1. Grooming apparatus comprising a ramming member (9) intended to be associated with the end (3) of a rock breaker mounted on the arm of a machine and capable of being equipped with a tool (4, 32 ), the tamping apparatus (7) being intended to receive the shocks generated by the breaker and to transmit them to the fragments to be compacted, characterized in that it further comprises a frame (8) having an axis (11). ) and comprising: positioning means (15, 16, 17, 18) allowing the correct positioning of the frame (8) relative to the breaker, so that the axis (11) of the frame (8) is substantially coincidental with the axis (2) of the breaker; fastening means for temporarily and removably fixing the frame (8) to the end (3) of the breaker; - Guiding means (10) in translation substantially axially of the tamping member (9) relative to the frame (8), means for blocking the rotation of the tamping member (9) about the axis (11) of the frame (8), and means (27) for limiting the amplitude of said translation.

2. A tamping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the tamping member (9) comprises a tamping plate (20) from which protrudes substantially perpendicularly a central arm (24), and in that the means of guiding arranged in the frame (8) comprise a tubular body (10) substantially axial open at both ends (12, 13), wherein the arm (24) is adapted to be engaged by a first end (12).

3. tamping apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubular body (10) has a non-circular inner section of complementary shape of the outer section of the arm (24).

4. Grooming apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for limiting the amplitude of the translational movement of the tamping member (9) comprise a chain (25) or a cable of which a first end is fixed to the frame (8) and a second end is fixed to the tamping member (9), or a keying system.

Groomer according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ramming member (9) comprises a wall (28, 30, 36). whose shape is complementary to that of a portion (29, 37) of a tool (4, 32) fitted to the breaker, said wall forming an abutment surface of the tool for transmission to the ramming member (9) shocks generated by the breaker via the tool (4, 32).

6. A tamping machine according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the arm (24) of the tamping member (9) comprises an axial orifice (27) in which the tool (4) is intended to be at least partially engaged.

Grooming apparatus according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the abutment surface is formed by a funnel-shaped wall (28) forming the insertion end of the orifice (27), said wall (28) being intended to cooperate with a flange (29) of the tool (4).

8. A tamping apparatus according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the abutment surface is formed by the bottom (30) of the orifice, intended to cooperate with the free end of the tool (4).

9. A tamping machine according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the abutment surface is formed by the free end (36) of the arm (24) of the tamping member (9), said free end (36). ) is substantially transverse and flat and intended to cooperate with the free end (37) substantially transverse and plane of the tool (32).

Grooming apparatus according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the abutment surface is formed by the free end (36) of the arm (24) of the ramming member (9), said free end (36). ) having substantially the shape of a spherical cap and being intended to cooperate with the free end (37) of the tool (32) in the form of complementary spherical cap.

Grooming apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the arm (24) has an axially curved shape (38), so that the ram (9) is rotatable relative to the frame (8). around at least one transverse axis, with limited amplitude.

12. Grooming apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate wear part (31) whose mechanical impact resistance is greater than that of the ramming member (9). said intermediate piece (31) being intended to receive the shocks generated by the breaker and to transmit them downstream to the ramming member (9).

13. A tamping machine according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the tamping plate (20) has an elongated rectangular shape whose opposite small sides (22, 23) are raised in the direction of the arm (24). ).

14. Machine comprising a breaker equipped with a tamping apparatus (7) according to one of the preceding claims.