EP3142803B1 - Surface treatment device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a surface treatment device, particularly suitable for the treatment of surfaces such as a floor, a ceiling, a wall or a column for example, covered with a coating comprising one or more toxic products such as asbestos, lead (Pb), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for example, present in many products with many applications such as floor and ceiling coverings, wall coverings (paint, insulation, etc ...), road surfaces, bituminous adhesives, vapor barriers, waterproofing materials, the walls of treatment plants, the walls of water towers, or the like.

PRIOR ART

Asbestos has been known for over two thousand years and has long been used in many materials and products, due to its acoustic, thermal, heat and fire resistance, chemical inertness, its mechanical resistance and its rot-proofness. However, the physicochemical characteristics of asbestos, associated with an ability to split into microscopic split fibers to reach the pulmonary alveoli, and even migrate to the pleura, make the important inhalation of asbestos fibers dangerous. The regulation states that a worker must not inhale more than 0.1 fibers per cm ³ over an hour. The pathologies, mainly lung cancers, can be declared until more than fifty years after the first exposures to asbestos fibers. The adverse effects on human health have therefore led to a control and a gradual reduction of its use, followed by a complete ban since ¹ January 1997, by Decree No. 96-1133 of 24 December 1996 on the ban on asbestos, taken under the Labor Code and the Consumer Code.

At present, asbestos removal operations take place in several constraining stages because they must respect safety standards for both the worker and the environment. The worker must indeed be provided with a combination and a respiratory system so as not to inhale friable asbestos dust, extremely toxic. His work is performed in a confined area with access to the confined area by an airlock, divided into several compartments including two showers. This confined area has an air pressure lower than that of the outside air so that in the event of a leak, it is the outside air that enters the confined area, and not the other way around. This confined area is made by means of two polyane films which protect the surfaces not to be dismantled. An air renewal system must also be provided.

However, it is common that the combination and / or the respiratory system become inoperative during the construction site, because of a tear in the suit or a malfunction of the respiratory system for example so that it is common for workers breathe more than 0.1 fibers per cm ³ over an hour exposing oneself to deadly diseases. Moreover, despite all the precautions taken during the confinement, said confinement requiring a lot of time for its implementation as well as mandatory verifications which considerably increase the cost of asbestos removal sites, asbestos fibers can escape from the zone. containment putting the endangerment of people outside the site who are likely to breathe, without knowing it, asbestos fibers.

Asbestos removed from its support can undergo a treatment to make it inert, that is to say modify it to make it nontoxic to humans. This treatment may consist of a vitrification, as described in the patents FR 2,853,846 or FR 2 690 093 , the asbestos waste being incorporated in a particular oven to achieve very high temperatures. The waste may be previously packaged, for example by pre-bagging, as described in the patent FR 2,746,037 .

However, it is during the removal of asbestos from its support that the risks of inhalation are the most important. In this respect, it is usual to use scrapers and / or sanders to remove asbestos from its support, which produces a large amount of asbestos dust that can disperse in the ambient air. Common methods of removing asbestos require stringent safety conditions without detoxifying the product.

Many alternative solutions have been found to allow the removal of waste in one step while making it inert. This is the case of the patent US 4,693,755 discloses a process for removing asbestos from its support following the application of a cellulosic polymer-based composition that penetrates and dries asbestos dust to render it inert.

However, this type of process is no longer implemented given the chemical risk it incurs to workers and the environment.

We also know the patent FR 2,875,720 which describes a process of asbestos removal using cold. Following the injection of liquid nitrogen at a temperature between -40 ° C and -196 ° C, asbestos freezes in its support and can be removed safely.

In addition to the high cost of liquid nitrogen, this type of process requires an additional treatment step of asbestos fibers that strike the cost of building sites.

We also know the document FR 2,815,276 which describes a surface asbestos removal device comprising an apparatus for projecting a high-pressure liquid jet, said pressure being between 1000 and 2000 bar, at a distance of approximately one meter from the surface to be treated, means for pumping separate to suck the moisture-laden residues resulting from the degradation of the coating fallen on the ground, a filtration system consisting of a filter press and possibly a second filtration system.

All these methods and devices implementing these methods have the disadvantage, besides being expensive, to produce a quantity of asbestos dust too high so that the risk for workers and the environment remains too high. In addition, Decree No. 2012-639 requires that, as of 1 July 2015, the average asbestos fiber concentration over eight working hours should not exceed ten fibers per liter. As a result, it is a division of the previously authorized rate by ten and placing the limit at 100 fibers per liter. Three categories of classification are then put in place. At the "first level", the dust is lower than the occupational exposure limit value, VLP. At the "second level" the value is greater than or equal to the VLP and less than 60 times the VLP. Finally, at the "third level" the value is greater than or equal to 60 times the VLP and less than 250 times the VLP. Thus, this reduction in the occupational exposure limit value (VLP) will have the immediate consequence of increasing the cost of performing asbestos removal with the asbestos removal processes of the prior art.

In addition, in buildings, there are other products that may pose a risk to health and must be removed safely to preserve the health of workers during the deconstruction in particular. This is particularly the case for lead, which is likely to cause lead poisoning, and which is present in many surface coatings, such as old paints, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which are chemicals similar to dioxin and which are found in expansion joints and in some coatings, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are persistent organic pollutants and are present in products made from bitumen such as road surfacing, bituminous adhesives, vapor barriers, sealing materials, the walls of treatment plants, the walls of water towers, etc ..., and radioactive products that are found in particular on cooling towers, reactor enclosures or similar nuclear center.

There is therefore a need for a device for the treatment of surfaces comprising one or more toxic products providing a withdrawal of said products safely for workers and the environment.

The document WO 2010/140952 proposes to meet this need by providing a device for treating a flat and / or curved surface, according to the preamble of claim 1, of the type comprising at least one surface treatment tool mounted on a secondary carriage able to move along a rail between two trolleys called primary. The two primary carriages are engaged with parallel tubular rails, and are able to move thereon to move the rail carrying the tool and perform the surface treatment. For this purpose, each primary carriage comprises two jaws enclosing the section of one of the tubular rails and can be moved relative to each other, away or in proximity, via a jack system . For the displacement as such of a primary carriage on the tubular rail, a first jaw is released, away from the second jaw, and then tightened. Successively the second jaw is released, close to the first, then tightened. The rail carrying the tool therefore moves on the tubular rails.

In this way, this solution proposes a surface treatment device, particularly suitable for the treatment of surfaces covered with a coating comprising one or more toxic products.

However, this solution has some disadvantages inherent to its structure. Indeed, the surface treatment device of the document WO 2010/140952 is not suitable for treating oblique surfaces, for example under a staircase. Indeed, the movement of the surface treatment tool is only horizontally, orthogonal to the tubular rails on which the device moves.

Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the movement of the rail carrying the tool is slow and jerky and presents risks of slipping, in particular during the surface treatment which projects high pressure water especially from wetting the tubular rails. Thus, this solution does not allow rapid removal of said products safely for workers and the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to overcome these disadvantages by providing a surface treatment device, particularly suitable for the treatment of any type of surfaces such as a floor, a ceiling, a wall or a column by for example, covered with a coating comprising one or more toxic products, simple and inexpensive design, and also allowing rapid removal of said products on inaccessible surfaces, such as surfaces under stairs for example.

Another object of the invention is to provide a surface treatment device for rapid removal of products safely for workers and the environment.

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a surface treatment device according to claim 1 has been developed, such as a planar and / or curved surface according to the state of the art in that it comprises at least one surface treatment tool mounted on a secondary motorized carriage adapted to move along a rail between two primary carriages movable on tubes, such as straight or curved tubes, preferably parallel and of circular section.

It is understandable that a worker can manipulate the device remotely avoiding inhalation of any toxic products. The device is particularly suitable for treating flat surfaces when the two tubes on which are mounted the two primary carriages are straight, and able to treat curved surfaces when said tubes are curved.

According to the invention, the primary carriages are mounted on the rail, on the one hand, pivotally about an axis orthogonal to said rail and, on the other hand, slidably along said rail.

In this way, each primary carriage can pivot relative to the rail carrying the tool and move along the rail carrying the tool. In other words, the carriages can move independently of one another on the tubes. It follows that the rail carrying the tool can be arranged obliquely, in particular to allow a fast and effective treatment of difficult to access surfaces, such as surfaces under stairs for example. In addition, the tubes on which the primary carriages move may not be parallel, since said primary carriages have the ability to move toward or away from one another by sliding along the rail.

According to a particular embodiment, each carriage comprises a shoe pivotally mounted relative to the axis integral with said carriage and extending in a longitudinal slide formed in the rail.

According to another characteristic of the invention, independently of the fact that the primary carriages are pivotally mounted relative to the rail and movable along it to treat oblique surfaces, the primary carriages are motorized and comprise drive means able to bear on the tubes, and to roll along said tubes to move said primary carriages.

Thus, the primary carriages roll on the tubes by means of drive means bearing on said tubes so that the movement is fast and the risk of slippage are reduced. The drive means are always in contact and in abutment with the surface of the tubes.

According to a particular embodiment, said drive means comprise a track, such as a flexible rubber or elastomer track, extending between two sprockets. In this way, the contact surface between the drive means and the tubes is increased and the risks of sliding are reduced. The safety of use is optimal.

Furthermore, the drive means comprise at least one pad held in abutment against an inner wall of the caterpillar by a spring in order to tension the crawler.

In addition, each track has a flat inner wall and an outer wall of concave cross section to fit the diameter of the tube.

The radius of curvature of the outer wall of concave cross section of the track is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the tube.

Furthermore, at least one of the sprockets is driven by a motor, said motor preferably consisting of a hydraulic motor.

According to a particular embodiment, each primary carriage consists of at least two boxes, preferably having a handle, extending parallel and connected by spacing means, one of the boxes being hinged to the rail, and each box comprising driving means of which at least one is motorized.

Preferably, said tool consists of a hydrodécapage head, for example consisting of a substantially cylindrical casing in which extends a rotary nozzle provided with holes, said nozzle being fed with water under high pressure by means of a flexible pipe so as to form jets at the exit of the holes.

Advantageously, the lower edge of the casing comprises a brush ensuring sealing when the hydrodécapage head is pressed against the surface to be treated.

Furthermore, said hydrodécapage head comprises suction lines connected to a suction source and opening into the housing.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective arrière d'un chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective avant du chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée du chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention suivant l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une vue arrière du chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté du chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus en transparence du chariot primaire motorisé du dispositif de traitement de surface conforme à l'invention
• la figure 8 est une vue schématique illustrant le dispositif de traitement de surface disposé en oblique pour le traitement de surfaces difficiles d'accès, telles que sous un escalier par exemple.

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of several variant embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, of the surface treatment device according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of the surface treatment device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention,
• the figure 3 is a front perspective view of the motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention,
• the figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention according to the invention,
• the figure 5 is a rear view of the motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention,
• the figure 6 is a side view of the motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention,
• the figure 7 is a top view in transparency of the motorized primary trolley of the surface treatment device according to the invention
• the figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating the oblique surface treatment device for the treatment of difficult to access surfaces, such as under a staircase for example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the sake of clarity, in the remainder of the description, the same elements have been designated by the same references in the various figures. In addition, the different views are not necessarily drawn to scale. In addition, the device according to the invention is particularly intended for asbestos removal; However, it is obvious that the device according to the invention can find many applications in the surface treatment with toxic products without departing from the scope of the invention. In a nonlimiting manner, said toxic products may consist in particular of lead (Pb), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are present in many products having many applications such as floor coverings and ceilings, wall coverings (paint, insulation, etc.), road surfaces, bituminous adhesives, vapor barriers, waterproofing materials, walls of wastewater treatment plants, walls of castles water, etc ...

With reference to the figure 1 , the device for treating a surface according to the invention consists of a tool (1) mounted on a carriage (2) said secondary, motorized, and able to move along a rail (3) between two so-called primary carriages (4), motorized, connected to said rail (3) and engaged with two tubes (22).

The tubes (22) preferably extend in parallel and may be straight or curved to fit the surface to be treated. The section of the tubes (22) is preferably circular.

The secondary carriage (2) carries a hydraulic motor (5) comprising driving means, such as a roller or the like, cooperating with the rail (3) to allow the movement of said secondary carriage (2) along the rail (3). In this particular embodiment, said rail (3) consists of a profile tube of hexagonal cross section; However, it is obvious that the rail (3) may have any shape without departing from the scope of the invention.

Preferably, said tool (1) consists of a hydrodécapage head. Said hydrodécapage head consists of a casing (6) substantially cylindrical in which extends a rotary nozzle provided with holes. The nozzle is fed with water under high pressure by means of a flexible pipe connected to a high pressure group, not shown on the figure 1 , so as to form jets at the outlet of said holes. Advantageously, the lower edge of the casing (6) comprises a brush (7) sealing when the hydrodécapage head is pressed against the surface to be treated. Furthermore, said hydrodecaping head comprises suction lines connected to a suction source, not shown on the drawing. figure 1 , and opening into the housing (6).

Said high-pressure group feeding the hydrodecapage head delivers a pressure of between 600 and 3000 bars with a water flow rate of between 4 and 28 l / min. Said high-pressure group may consist of a high-pressure group marketed by RIVARD under the reference AQUAJET.

It is obvious that the high pressure group may consist of any high pressure group well known to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, said hydrodécapage head may, for example, consist of a hydrodécapage head marketed by the company HAMMELMANN under the reference AQUABLAST-PLUS for example.

It is obvious that the number of holes and their orientation will depend in particular on the pressure provided by the high-pressure group and the nature of the surface to be treated, and the skilled person will have no difficulty in determining the number of holes and their orientations. In addition, it is obvious that the tool (1) may consist in any hydrodecapage head or any other tool such as a sander, a planer or similar well known to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 'invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 each primary carriage (4) comprises a shoe (7) hinged about an axis (8) integral with said primary carriage (4). The shoe (7) extends in a slide (9) of the rail (3) so as to allow the sliding of the primary carriage (4) along the rail (3). Furthermore, each primary carriage (4) can pivot relative to the rail (3) carrying the tool, in particular around the axis (8). With reference to Figures 2 and 3 , the shoe (7) and the shaft (8) are mounted on the primary carriage (4) with sliding capacity along a rod (23) integral with the primary carriage (4), and oriented parallel to the tubes (22). ). In this way, the primary carriage (4) is movable relative to the rail (3), for example in a plane transverse to said rail (3), along this rod (23).

From the foregoing, since the primary carriages (4) are pivotally mounted with respect to the rail (3), and movable therealong, said primary carriages (4) can move independently of one another. other on the tubes (22) and position themselves at different heights. It follows, and with reference to the figure 8 , that the rail (3) carrying the tool can be arranged obliquely, in particular to treat hard-to-reach surfaces, such as surfaces under stairs for example.

Moreover, with reference to Figures 2 to 7 each primary carriage (4) consists of two parallelepipedic boxes (10) open on one of their sides, extending parallel to each other and connected by spacer means (11). . One of the boxes (10) carries the shoe (7) slidable in the slide (9) of the rail (3), and each box (10) comprises drive means, at least one is motorized as it will be detailed later.

The spacing means (11) consist, for example, in threaded rods (12) whose first end is articulated to one of the walls of the first box (10) and whose other end is provided with a wheel (13) able to bear on a stirrup (14) integral with the second box (10). Said drive means consist of a track (15) extending between two sprockets (16), consisting, for example, in toothed cylindrical parts, and are mounted free to rotate between the front and rear walls of said housing ( 10). Moreover, said training means comprise, with reference to the figures 4 and 7 at least one shoe (17) mounted on a spring (18) to tension the track (15). Preferably, each track (15) consists of a flexible rubber or elastomer track and has a flat inner wall and an outer wall of concave cross section having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the tube (22). Furthermore, one of the sprockets (16) is rotated by a motor (19), preferably hydraulic, integral with the housing (10).

Incidentally, each box (10) has a handle (20) to facilitate the spacing of the boxes (10) for maintenance in particular.

Furthermore, the side walls of each box (10) comprise a hemi-circular notch (21) to allow the passage of the tube (22) which extends between the two tracks (15) of the two boxes (10) forming the primary carriage (4). Said tracks (15) bear on said tube (22), and the pressure of said tracks (15) on said tube (22) is adjusted by actuating the spacing means (11). The displacement of the tracks (15) on the tubes (22) is fast and secure. The fact that the tracks (15) are always in contact with the tubes (22) and that the spacing means (11) make it possible to adjust the pressure of said tracks (15) on the tubes (22) makes it possible to ensure a displacement continuous, fast and secure device according to the invention on the tubes (22), including removing the risk of slippage.

It will be noted that the hydraulic motors (5, 19) will preferably be fed by the high-pressure group supplying the hydrodecaping head constituting the tool (1) or by a second high pressure group, said engines (5, 19) can be controlled remotely by any suitable means well known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, it is understood that a worker can manipulate the device remotely avoiding any inhalation of toxic products when the tool is in operation.

The device allows rapid removal of said products safely for workers and the environment.

Finally, it is obvious that the examples which have just been given are only particular illustrations and in no way limiting as to the field of application of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A surface treating device, said device comprising at least one surface treatment tool (1) mounted on a secondary motorized carriage (2) capable of moving along a rail (3) between two primary carriages (4) that can move along tubes (22), characterized in that the primary carriages (4) are mounted on the rail (3) on the one hand, in such a way as to rotate around an axle (8) that is orthogonal to said rail (3) and, on the other hand, in such a way as to slide along said rail (3).
2. The surface treating device according to claim 1, characterized in that each primary carriage (4) contains a roller (7) mounted pivotally in relation to the axle (8) integral with said primary carriage (4) and extending within a longitudinal guide (9) formed with the rail (3).
3. The surface treating device according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the primary carriages (4) are motorized and comprise drive means (15, 16) capable of resting on the tubes (22), and rolling along said tubes (22) in order to move said primary carriages (4).
4. The surface treating device according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive means consist of a track (15) extending between two sprockets (16).
5. The surface treating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means contain at least one roller (17) held against an inner wall of the track (15) by a spring (18) in order to tension the track (15).
6. The surface treating device according to either of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that each track (15) has a flat inner wall and an outer wall with a concave cross-section in order to accommodate the diameter of the tube (22).
7. The surface treating device according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the sprockets (16) is driven in rotation by a motor (19).
8. The surface treating device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each primary carriage (4) consists of at least two boxes (10) extending in parallel to one another and connected by spacer means (11), one of the boxes (10) being hinged onto the rail (3) and each box (10) containing drive means (15, 16), at least one of which is motorized.
9. The surface treating device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said tool (1) consists of a hydroblasting head.
10. The surface treating device according to claim 9, characterized in that the hydroblasting head comprises a cylindrical housing (6) within which extends a rotating nozzle with holes, said nozzle being fed with water under high pressure by means of a flexible pipe so as to form jets at the outlet of the holes.
11. The surface treating device according to claim 10, characterized in that the lower edge of the housing (6) comprises a brush (7) that ensures a seal when the hydroblasting head is pressed against the surface to be treated.
12. The surface treating device according to either of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said hydroblasting head contains suction pipes connected to a suction source and leading into the housing (6).

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