EP3059349B1 - Clamp for vibrator with transverse jaws and vibrator provided with such a clamp - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates, in general, to driving machines for driving and extracting shaped objects in the ground by vibration, including tubes or piles.

Gear of this type are generally known as vibrators. The document EP2597204A1 discloses such anteriority. Vibrators are vibrating equipment, comprising one or more pairs of eccentric weights, known as flyweights, rotating at high speed and in opposite directions, so that the horizontal components of the vibrations cancel each other out so as to obtain resulting unidirectional vertical vibration.

The vibrators are generally provided with one or more clamps which clamp on the peripheral surface of the tube to be driven, transmitting all the forces by friction. Also, the sizing of the clamp and its clamping force must be sufficient to prevent slippage.

This method of tightening is made difficult when the generatrix of the tube is not straight.

Thus, the current clamps are not well suited for gripping tubes that have an end flange.

This is particularly the case in the field of offshore foundations for the installation of offshore wind turbines.

Indeed, for this type of application, the wind turbine masts are formed of tubes which are assembled by means of end collars. The presence of this collar prevents the use of traditional clamps. In addition, the clamps do not have an opening sufficient to properly maintain the collar. Finally, the limited height of the collar would impose unacceptable constraints for the adaptation of a traditional clamp.

In addition, the current clamps have jaws with deep grooves to prevent slipping. These grooves penetrate slightly into the tube to ensure a good grip. In the case of pipes for the foundation of offshore wind turbines, the paint made before installation must not be damaged to guarantee the life of the wind turbine and the damage can not be repaired satisfactorily at sea.

The object of the invention is therefore to overcome these disadvantages.

The invention thus proposes a vibrator clamp intended for driving flanged tubes into the ground, comprising a gripper body comprising at least two jaws for gripping the tube and one or more actuating jaws for the jaws.

The jaws are oriented to engage the flange and transverse to a general direction of driving force transmission through the gripper.

The orientation of the jaws makes it possible to obtain an open contact on a flat surface of the tube for a direct application of the forces to be transmitted to the flanged tube, this transmission of forces not depending on the frictional forces between the flanged tube and the flanges. jaws of the clamp.

In addition, when the clamp is positioned around the tube, at least one jaw is positioned in abutment under the flange of the tube, which makes it possible to secure the tube to prevent any fall of the tube even if the actuating cylinder of the jaws does not tighten.

Advantageously, the clamp comprises a profiled support on which the clamp body is movably mounted to laterally position the clamp relative to the collar, the clamp body being movable under the action of a positioning jack.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the clamp further comprises a jack for securing the clamp to the support.

Advantageously, the gripping cylinder and the securing cylinder are simultaneously acting cylinders.

In one embodiment, the support has a T-shaped profile.

In one embodiment, the clamp comprises a fixed jaw and a movable jaw under the action of a gripping cylinder.

According to a second aspect, the subject of the invention is also a vibrator intended for driving flanged tubes into the ground, comprising a vibrating casing internally comprising a set of pairs of eccentric flyweights driven in rotation under the action of motor means. , this vibrator comprising at least one clamp as defined above.

• la figure 1 est une vue générale en perspective d'une pince selon l'invention ;
• les figures 2 et 3 montrent la pince de la figure 1, respectivement en position ouverte et en position de travail, permettant de transmettre une vibration à un tube ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe de la pince de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 5 illustre un exemple d'utilisation d'une pince conforme à l'invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a general perspective view of a clamp according to the invention;
• the figures 2 and 3 show the clip of the figure 1 , respectively in the open position and in the working position, for transmitting a vibration to a tube;
• the figure 4 is a sectional view of the forceps of the figure 1 ; and
• the figure 5 illustrates an example of use of a clamp according to the invention.

We will first refer to Figures 1 to 3 which show an exemplary embodiment of a clamp for vibrator, according to the invention, designated by the general reference numeral 1.

Such a clamp is intended to constitute an element of a clamping system intended to grip a flanged tube to be driven directly on the flange itself.

The clamp comprises a clamp body 2 and a support 3 profiled, here in T. The support 3 is provided with a set of fastening means 4, screw type, to ensure the attachment of the assembly on the vibrating housing. a vibrator so that the vibrations emitted during operation of the vibrator are transmitted to the clamp body 2.

In the remainder of the description, it will be considered that the longitudinal direction of the clamp body 2, which extends from the connection to the support 3 to the opposite end of the body, along the vertical axis Y, corresponds to the resulting direction of vibration and the transverse direction of the clamp body 2, which extends along the axis X, corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the axis of the vibrations transmitted.

In addition, the clip shown on the Figures 1 to 3 is shown in a vertical position of use, the end of the clamp body located on the side of the support 3 being the high side, the opposite end being the bottom side.

As can be seen, the clamp body 2 has a lateral opening 5 configured to receive the collar of a push-in tube. It comprises two jaws 6 and 7 of which one, namely the lower jaw, is fixed and the other is movable.

Furthermore, the clamp body 2 is movably mounted on the profiled support 3 under the action of a hydraulic positioning cylinder 8.

This jack 8 is activated to move the clamp laterally and position the jaws 6 and 7 on either side of the collar of the tube.

We will also refer to the figure 4 .

The movable jaw 7 is fixed on the rod of a hydraulic cylinder 9. This jaw 7 is thus movable between an open position, visible on the figure 2 , chosen in such a way that there is sufficient clearance for setting the clamp on the tube and the collar and a working position, visible on the figure 3 .

A second hydraulic jack 10 makes it possible to press the clamp against the support 3 by exerting sufficient force to secure the clamp and the support by eliminating any play in order to effectively transmit the vibrations applied by the vibrator to the support 3.

Note the possibility that the hydraulic cylinders 9 and 10 are simultaneous action and comprise a common working chamber so as to ensure the clamping of the clamp and its attachment against the support simultaneously.

It will advantageously position a stop ring 11 forming a stop by pressing against the clamp body so as to limit the upward movement of the gripping cylinder which otherwise would be likely to block the gripper in position secured to the support.

Similarly, a second stop plate 12 fixed to the clamp body, ensures the maintenance of the jack 10 for securing.

Finally referring to the figure 5 it can be seen that the forceps which has just been described finds a particularly advantageous application for forming a clamping system comprising a set of grippers, here eight in number, in engagement with the flange C of a tube T, these grippers being used to transmit driving vibrations provided by vibrators (not shown).

Finally, note that advantageously, the jaws used to grip the flange can be flat, that is to say without deep groove to prevent damage to the flange.

As it is conceivable, by tightening the collar by exerting a vertical clamping force, maintaining the tube is no longer carried out by friction, but by a frank contact in abutment. Even in the event of failure of the clamping system of the clamp, the tube can not fall from the clamps since they abut under the collar.

Such clamps can thus advantageously be used for handling the tubes with the vibrator.

Claims (7)

1. Clamp for a vibrator intended to drive tubes (T) having a flange (C) into the ground, comprising a clamp body (2) comprising at least two jaws (6, 7) for gripping the tube and one or more cylinders for actuating the jaws, characterized in that, in the working position, the jaws are oriented so as to come into engagement with the flange and transversely with respect to a general direction of driving force transmission through the clamp.
2. Clamp according to Claim 1, comprising a mount (3) in the form of a section on which the clamp body (2) is mounted so as to be movable in order to position the clamp laterally with respect to the flange, and wherein the clamp body is movable under the action of a positioning cylinder (8).
3. Clamp according to Claim 2, also comprising a cylinder (10) for securing the clamp to the mount.
4. Clamp according to Claim 3, wherein the gripping cylinder and the securing cylinder are simultaneous-action cylinders.
5. Clamp according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the mount is in the form of a T section.
6. Clamp according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising a fixed jaw (6) and a movable jaw (7) that is movable under the action of a gripping cylinder (9).
7. Vibrator intended to drive flanged tubes into the ground, comprising a vibrating casing that comprises, on the inside, a set of pairs of eccentric flyweights that are driven in rotation under the action of motor means, characterized in that it comprises at least one clamp according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

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