EP3911801B1 - Vibroflotation for compacting soil - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vibrator arrangement for improving subsoil, comprising a sluice with a silo tube and with a sluice drive for moving the sluice, the sluice being designed to receive a bulk material and to guide it into the silo tube, a feed container to feed the bulk material to the sluice, wherein a feed container drive is provided to move the feed container between a waiting position and a docking position on the lock. The invention further relates to a method for taking over bulk material from a feed container into a lock with a silo tube in a vibrator device, the lock being moved by a lock drive, the feed container being filled with the bulk material and the feed container being moved between a waiting position by a feed container drive and a landing position on the lock is moved.

Vibrator arrangements are used in subsoil improvement processes that differ in terms of their mode of operation and load transfer. With the vibratory pressure process, for example, coarse-grained soils are compacted into themselves, while the vibro-tamping process produces load-bearing columns made of gravel or crushed stone in mixed and fine-grained, non-compactable soils. Furthermore, pile-like foundation elements can be produced, through which relatively high loads can be transferred if a permanent, stable connection with tamping columns is not guaranteed.

The publication EP 2 241 677 A1 discloses an apparatus for supplying inert materials to vibrating soil compaction systems on a compaction apparatus having a tower or arm for supporting a drill battery. The drill battery Inert material is fed in from a lock. The funnel-shaped feed device is moved between a first lower height near the ground and a second height at which the lock is located. The feeder is provided with an opening outlet flap to transfer the inert material from the feeder to the lock. The outlet flap is opened by mechanical means on the device and the lock.

For example, in the vibrating tamping process, work is carried out in alternating steps. The gravel or gravel that comes out during the vibrator stroke is compacted when pressed and pushed laterally into the ground. The coarse-grained addition material emerges from the vibrator tip with compressed air support. The system is supplied with compressed air, which supports the transport of the bulk material within the system. A disadvantage of the prior art system is that the feeder can only be docked to the lock when the lock is not in an up or down movement. If there is a collision between the lock and the feed device, this can lead to a cable break, which causes the feed device to crash. In addition, the entire system must be vented before the lock can be opened. This leads to significant downtime. The process can only be continued once the bulk material has been transferred into the lock and the working air pressure has been reached again after the lock has been closed.

One object of the invention is to propose a vibrator arrangement and a method for improving the subsoil, which make it possible to reduce downtime.

The task is solved by the subjects of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments and advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

A vibrator arrangement according to the invention for improving the subsoil has a sluice with a silo tube and with a sluice drive for moving the sluice, the sluice being designed to receive a bulk material and to guide it into the silo tube. Furthermore, a feed container is provided to supply the bulk material to the lock, a feed container drive being provided in order to move the feed container between a waiting position and a position on a stop formed on the lock.

The lock and the feed container are, for example, each guided on a leader or via a rope on a boom. The lock drive is independent of the feed container drive. Corresponding guides and drives of the lock and the feed container are known to those skilled in the art, as are vibrators for generating a vibration of the vibrator arrangement, which is preferably designed with such a vibrator as a deep vibrator or as a top-mounted vibrator.

According to the invention, a control of the feed container drive is designed to reduce a force of the feed container drive in the direction of the stop from a first value to a second value in the application position, the second value having a smaller amount than a force of the lock drive.

An advantage of the vibrator arrangement according to the invention is that the first value of the force of the feed container drive is suitable for moving the feed container from the waiting position into the contact position at the stop formed on the lock, while the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value moves the feed container with it the lock is coupled in that the feed container is held in the contact position at the stop by the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value. This coupling of the feed container with the lock is particularly advantageous regardless of a movement of the lock, since the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value has a smaller amount than a force of the lock drive.

For the purposes of the invention, the force of the lock drive is to be understood as a driving force of the lock drive which acts on the lock. Other forces acting on the lock do not count towards the force of the lock drive. For the purposes of the invention, the force of the feed container drive is to be understood as a driving force of the feed container drive which acts on the feed container. Other forces acting on the feed container do not count towards the force of the feed container drive. Other forces can include, for example, the driving force of each other drive or weight forces acting on the feed container or silo.

During operation of the vibrator arrangement, for example in the vibratory tamping process, the lock with the silo tube is lifted out of a borehole against the direction of gravity during the vibrator stroke and is retracted into the borehole in the direction of gravity when pressed. The vibrator arrangement according to the invention advantageously allows the coupling described above both during the vibrator stroke and during the retraction of the lock. This shortens the downtime of the vibrator arrangement because the lock does not have to be stopped for the coupling process.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control of the feed container drive is further designed to maintain the force of the feed container drive acting in the direction of the stop after reaching the application position while bulk material is being transferred from the feed container into the lock. The bulk material is therefore advantageously taken over during the vibrator stroke or during the retraction of the vibrator arrangement.

During the vibrator stroke, the force of the sluice drive moves the sluice upwards, counter to the direction of gravity. The force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value is also directed upwards and in this case is sufficient to move the feed container upwards, at least at the speed of the lock, so that the lock and the feed container remain coupled. The movement of the feed container is preferably braked by the lock, so that part of the force of the feed container drive acts on the lock via the stop.

During retraction, the force of the lock drive moves the lock downwards, in the direction of gravity. The force of the feed container drive, reduced to the second value, continues to be directed upwards, counter to the force of the lock drive. Since this is smaller in magnitude than the force of the lock drive, the feed container is pushed downwards through the lock.

The takeover process can also take place during a transition from lifting the lock to retracting the lock or vice versa. The direction of force of the force of the lock drive is reversed, with the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value again having a lower amount than the force of the lock drive after reversing the direction of force of the force of the lock drive. The person skilled in the art recognizes that in the transition phase the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value will temporarily be greater in magnitude than the force of the lock drive, as a result of which the coupling of the feed container to the lock is not released.

Preferably, the control of the feed container drive is further designed to move the feed container out of the position after the transfer of bulk material has been completed. The coupling is thus advantageously released again and the feed container returns to the waiting position by means of the feed container drive until bulk material is to be taken into the lock again.

The waiting position in the sense of the invention is a position of the feed container which is arranged away from the lock. In particular, the waiting position is arranged so that the lock does not reach this position during regular operation, so that the movement of the lock is not hindered by the feed container located in the waiting position. The waiting position is not necessarily an unchangeable position. The waiting position is preferably mobile. For example, the waiting position is defined at a fixed distance from the lock, so that the waiting position also moves when the lock moves. The waiting position is preferably the position in which the feed container is filled with the bulk material. The landing position in the sense of the invention is defined by the stop on the lock and therefore moves with the lock.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that at least two different sensors are connected to the control for determining a position of the feed container relative to the lock. In particular, a sensor is provided to detect an approach of the feed container to the application position, for example to reduce a travel speed of the feed container. Another sensor is designed to detect when the contact position has been reached and to send a corresponding signal to the controller.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the feed container drive has a hydraulic motor, a bypass being provided parallel to the hydraulic motor, the bypass having a bypass valve to open and close the bypass. In particular, the force of the feed container drive is advantageously reduced from the first value to the second value when the bypass is open. For this purpose, the bypass has, for example, an adjustable pressure relief valve.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the lock has a closable outlet, the outlet being opened in order to direct the bulk material from the lock into the silo tube. Furthermore, the lock preferably has a closable inlet, the inlet being opened to take over the bulk material from the feed container. The embodiment is particularly advantageous because the silo tube is preferably pressurized. The two closable openings of the lock, the inlet and the outlet, allow the bulk material to be transferred from the feed container into the lock without the pressure-ventilated silo tube having to be vented. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the lock is supplied with compressed air independently of the silo tube. If the lock is vented to take over the bulk material, while the silo tube separated from the lock by the closed outlet remains pressurized, there is advantageously the possibility of pressurizing the lock after the takeover has been completed with the inlet and outlet closed in order to equalize the pressure between the Lock and the silo pipe before the outlet is opened.

When retracting the vibrator arrangement into the ground, depending on the ground conditions, it can either be advantageous to initially retract the silo tube without bulk material, or else to fill it completely or partially with bulk material. The right decision, usually based on experience, allows, for example, to avoid blockages in the ground or to make it easier to lower the vibrator arrangement. The empty silo tube is preferably supplied with compressed air with the outlet closed. The lock preferably remains unpressurized, particularly preferably with the inlet open. If bulk material is then supplied, time is advantageously saved because the feed container can transfer the bulk material to the lock with the inlet already open without delay. In addition, filling the lock with compressed air and venting are saved. This is made possible by the outlet that separates the lock from the silo tube.

Before completely extending the vibrator arrangement from the ground, it is advantageous to vent the lock and the silo pipe via two valves without opening the inlet or the outlet of the lock. This in particular avoids a blowout of compressed air in the last section, before the vibrator assembly is moved out of the ground, which would pose a risk of injury from flying stones. Furthermore, the lock and the silo tube can be opened and filled more quickly.

A further subject of the invention relates to a method for transferring bulk material from a feed container into a lock with a silo tube in a vibrator arrangement, the vibrator arrangement preferably corresponding to the previously described vibrator arrangement according to the invention. All features of the vibrator arrangement can be transferred to the process and vice versa.

In the method according to the invention, the lock is moved by a lock drive, the feed container is filled with the bulk material and the feed container is moved by a feed container drive between a waiting position and a contact position at a stop formed on the lock. In the application position, a force of the feed container drive in the direction of the stop is reduced from a first value to a second value, the second value having a smaller amount than a driving force of the lock drive.

An advantage of the method is that the first value of the force of the feed container drive is suitable for moving the feed container from the waiting position into the contact position at the stop formed on the lock, while the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value moves the feed container with the Lock couples in that the feed container is held in the contact position at the stop by the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value. This coupling of the feed container with the lock is particularly advantageously carried out independently of a movement of the lock, since the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value has a smaller amount than a force of the lock drive.

Preferably, the feed container is held in the landing position by the force reduced to the second value when the lock is moved. In particular, the feed container is held in the application position when the lock is moved in a first direction towards the waiting position by moving the feed container together with the lock in the first direction, a driving force of the lock drive acting on the feed container via the stop and overcomes the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value. In particular, the feed container is held in the landing position when the lock is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the feed container following the stop in the second direction by the force of the feed container drive reduced to the second value.

It is preferably provided that at least part of the bulk material is transferred from the feed container into the lock while the feed container is held in the application position. Particularly preferably, after reaching the application position, a closable outlet between the pressurized silo tube and the lock is closed, with the lock then being vented separately via a valve before a closable inlet of the lock is opened. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the bulk material is transferred from the feed container into the lock through the inlet, the feed container being moved synchronously with the lock during the transfer process. After accepting the bulk material, the inlet is preferably first closed and then the outlet is opened. Particularly preferably, the lock is supplied with compressed air independently of the silo tube while the inlet and the outlet are closed in order to create a pressure equalization between the lock and the silo tube before the outlet is opened.

After accepting the bulk material, the feed container is preferably moved to the waiting position. The feed container preferably remains in the waiting position until the lock is to be filled again with bulk material. The feed container is particularly preferably filled with the bulk material in the waiting position.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The explanations relate to the vibrator arrangement according to the invention as well as to the method according to the invention. The statements are merely examples and do not limit the general idea of the invention.

• Figur 1 eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Rüttleranordnung mit einem Zuführbehälter in einer Anlegeposition an einer Schleuse in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung;
• Figur 2 die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 mit einem geöffneten Einlass der Schleuse in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung;
• Figur 3 die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 nach einer Übernahme von Schüttmaterial in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung;
• Figur 4 die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 mit dem Zuführbehälter in einer Warteposition in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung;
• Figur 5 die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 mit einem geöffneten Auslass der Schleuse in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung;
• Figur 6 ein Detail der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 in einer schematischen Schnittdarstellung ohne die Schleuse;
• Figur 7 eine Steuerung des Zuführbehälterantriebs der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 in einer schematischen Darstellung.

Show it

• Figure 1 an embodiment of a vibrator arrangement according to the invention with a feed container in a position on a lock in a schematic sectional view;
• Figure 2 the embodiment according to Figure 1 with an opened inlet of the lock in a schematic sectional view;
• Figure 3 the embodiment according to Figure 1 after taking over bulk material in a schematic sectional view;
• Figure 4 the embodiment according to Figure 1 with the feed container in a waiting position in a schematic sectional view;
• Figure 5 the embodiment according to Figure 1 with an opened outlet of the lock in a schematic sectional view;
• Figure 6 a detail of the embodiment according to Figure 1 in a schematic sectional view without the lock;
• Figure 7 a control of the feed container drive according to the embodiment figure 1 in a schematic representation.

In the Figures 1 to 5 an embodiment of a vibrator arrangement according to the invention with a feed container 1 and a lock 2 is shown in a schematic sectional view in different positions or in different work steps. The illustrations explain how bulk material 3 is transferred from the feed container 1 into the lock 2 in the vibrator arrangement according to the invention or according to the method according to the invention.

The lock 2 has a lock drive 4 with which the lock 2 is moved. From the lock drive 4 is in the Figure 1 a guide carriage 41 of the lock 2 is shown, which is guided in a known manner on a leader, not shown. The lock drive 4 transmits a driving force to the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2, which is connected to the guide carriage 41 via a suspension 42. The feed container is moved by a feed container drive 5 between a waiting position, as in the Figures 4 and 5 shown, and a landing position, as in the Figures 1 to 3 shown, moved. In the application position, the feed container 1 is located on a stop 6 formed on the lock 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the stop 6 is formed on the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2. When the landing position is reached, a force of the feed container drive 5 in the direction of the stop 6 is reduced from a first value to a second value, the second value having a smaller amount than a driving force of the lock drive 4. With reference to Figure 7 A control 8 of the feed container drive 5 will be explained in more detail at a later point in time. From the feed container drive 5 is in the Figure 1 a guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 is shown, which is also guided in a known manner on the leader, not shown. The feed container drive 5 transmits a driving force to the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1, which is connected to the guide carriage 51 via a suspension 52. In the following description of the Figures 1 to 6 The guide carriage 41 is also referred to as the lock drive 4 and the guide carriage 52 is also referred to as the feed container drive 5, since the respective drive forces are transmitted to the corresponding guide carriage 41, 51.

The lock 2 has a closable outlet 10 and a likewise closable inlet 11, in which Figure 1 both the outlet 10 and the inlet 11 are closed. The outlet 10 is formed as a conical closure at a lower end of the lock 2, to which an upper end of the silo tube 7 is flanged, so that the outlet 10 can release and close an opening between the lock 2 and the silo tube 7. For this purpose, a seat for the conical closure 10 is formed at the opening, which is usually provided with a rubber seal in order to ensure a largely gas-tight closure, even if small amounts of bulk material remain between the closure 10 and the seal. The closure 10, as well as its seat, can be cleaned with supplied cleaning liquid via a nozzle 26, also known as a cleaning piece 26, in the silo tube 7. An actuating linkage 12 is connected to the outlet 10, which is preferably operated hydraulically. The silo tube 7 is preferably pressurized to support the escape of coarse-grained bulk material at a lower end, not shown, of the silo tube 7 by means of compressed air. The closable outlet 10 advantageously makes it possible to open the inlet 11 of the lock in the closed position without venting the silo tube 7.

With reference to the Figure 2 The inlet 11 will be explained in more detail below. The inlet 11 is designed as a pivotable flap in an upper region of a wall of the lock 2, which is in the landing position according to Figure 1 is aligned with respect to an outlet opening 14 of the feed container 1 so that the transfer of the bulk material 3 from the feed container 1 into the lock 2 is made possible. The inlet 11 is pivotable for opening and closing by means of a pivoting mechanism 15, preferably by hydraulic actuation. In the Figure 2 the inlet 11 is shown open, with the outlet opening 14 of the feed container 1 still closed. Since the outlet 10 of the lock 2 is closed, the silo tube 7 remains pressurized while the lock 2 is ready to receive the bulk material 3. The lock 2 according to the invention forms an additional storage container with a double opening mechanism, consisting of the inlet 11 and the outlet 10. The lock 2 thus forms a pressure vessel which, on the one hand, can accommodate the bulk material 3 and, on the other hand, can be ventilated and vented separately.

The Figure 3 shows the vibrator arrangement according to the invention chronologically according to the in Figure 2 situation shown. The feed container 1 is still in the contact position on the stop 6 formed on the lock 2, due to the force of the feed container drive 5, which works against the stop 6. The outlet opening 14 of the feed container 1 is now open, the bulk material 3 has been transferred from the feed container 1 via a pouring chute 16 through the opened outlet opening 14 and the opened inlet 11 to the lock 2. The outlet 10 of the lock 1 is still closed, so that the pressure ventilation of the silo tube 7 is maintained.

The Figure 4 shows the vibrator arrangement according to the invention chronologically according to the in Figure 3 situation shown. After the bulk material 3 has been transferred from the feed container 1 to the lock 2, the feed container 1 has left the position at the stop 6. The feed container drive 5 has moved the feed container 1 into a waiting position. The waiting position is characterized in that the feed container 1 is arranged away from the lock 2, here along the leader, not shown, at a distance below the lock 2. The lock 2 can be moved independently of the feed container 1 as long as it is in the waiting position is arranged. The feed container 1 can, for example, be filled again with bulk material in the waiting position. At lock 2, inlet 11 is closed again. The outlet 10 is intended to direct the bulk material 3 from the lock 2 into the silo tube 7. However, the outlet 10 is still closed. The lock 2 can now preferably be pressurized separately before the outlet 10 is opened in order to adapt the pressure conditions of the lock 2 to the silo tube 7 again.

The Figure 5 shows the vibrator arrangement according to the invention chronologically according to the in Figure 4 situation shown. The outlet 10 was opened so that the bulk material 3 passed from the lock 2 into the silo tube 7. The feed container 1 remains unchanged in its waiting position. Subsequently, the outlet 10 is closed again in order to enable separate ventilation of the lock 2 for a subsequent takeover of bulk material. The feed container 1, which is again or continues to be filled with bulk material 3, moves back into the application position if necessary Figure 1 . The based on the Figures 1 to 5 The process shown is repeated several times and thus advantageously allows the vibrator arrangement according to the invention to work continuously.

Based on Figure 6 a detail of the feed container 1 is explained. The ones in the Figures 1 to 5 Suspension 52 of the feed container 1, which is not completely visible, connects it to the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1. Of the lock 2, only its guide carriage 41 with the stop 6 is shown, with the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 moving against the stop 6. The contact position is then reached, in which the force of the feed container drive 5, reduced to the second value, holds the feed container 1. A sensor 9 is provided as a proximity sensor 9 in order to detect an approach of the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 to the guide carriage 41 or the stop 6 of the lock 2. Furthermore, in the Figure 6 the force ratios of the driving forces are shown, which act between the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 and the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2 and are transmitted via the stop 6. In the application position, the force of the feed container drive 5 is reduced in the direction of the stop 6 from the first force value F1 to the second force value F2, which is why the first force value F1 is represented by a broken arrow and the second force value F2 by an arrow with a full line. The force F1 of the feed container drive 5 acts on the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 and is transmitted via the stop to the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2. The force FS of the lock drive 4 acts on the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2 and is directed opposite to the force F1 of the feed container drive 5. The vibrator arrangement is retracted into the ground because the force FS of the lock drive 4 has a greater magnitude than the reduced force F1 of the feed container drive 5. The resulting force FR is correspondingly represented by an arrow on the stop 6. The feed container 1 and the lock 2 are coupled by the acting forces and are moved together.

The controller 8 of the feed container drive 5 set up for this purpose is described below with reference to Figure 7 explained in more detail. The shaker arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to hold the feed container 1 in the position on the lock 2 while the lock 2 moves. The realization of this synchronization between feed container 1 and lock 2, which was previously referred to Figures 1 to 5 described transfer of the bulk material 3 allowed while the vibrator arrangement continues to work continuously, advantageously avoiding downtimes. The synchronization between feed container 1 and lock 2 is necessary because during the transfer of bulk material, the pouring chute 16 enters the lock 2 through the open inlet 11 (cf. Figure 3 ), so that the bulk material 3 can be transferred safely. Otherwise, the dump chute 16 could be damaged and the bulk material 3 could fall onto a construction site below, which could result in property damage and/or personal injury. The control 8 of the feed container drive 5 enables the synchronous movement between the feed container 1 and the lock 2 to be maintained at the working speed of the vibrator arrangement during a pulling and compacting process, i.e. an up and down movement of the vibrator arrangement. The feed container drive 5 and the lock drive 4 each have, for example, a separate hydraulic winch, with only the hydraulic winch 53 of the feed container drive 5 in the Figure 7 is shown.

For coupling between the feed container 1 and the lock 2, the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 is first moved from the waiting position Figure 5 moved in the direction of the stop 6 on the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2. This is preferably done initially in a rapid movement until the proximity sensor 9 (cf. Figure 6 ) signals the controller 8 to move the guide carriage 51 in a slow motion against the stop 6.

The method according to the invention subsequently provides that in the application position a force of the feed container drive 5 in the direction of the stop 6 is reduced from a first value to a second value, the second value having a smaller amount than a driving force of the lock drive 4, which in the exemplary embodiment by the controller 8 according to Figure 7 is implemented. The guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 remains in accordance with the transfer procedure described above Figures 1 to 3 actively controlled upwards via a proportional valve 17. The proportional valve 17 is accordingly shown in a switching position for a movement of the feed container 1 upwards, in the direction of the stop 6. A hydraulic motor 55 of the feed container drive 5 is supplied with oil via the actively controlled proportional valve 17 through a hydraulic line 21. A return flow of the oil on a low-pressure side of the hydraulic motor 55 takes place via the hydraulic line 22. A flow direction of the oil in the one shown The switching position of the proportional valve 17 is shown by directional arrows of the hydraulic lines 21, 22. Switching the proportional valve 17 would cause a downward movement of the feed container 1, for example from the application position to the waiting position, which is not shown here. A double arrow P represents the opposite directions of movement upwards and downwards.

The hydraulic motor 55 of the feed container drive 5 is connected via a shaft to a winch 53, through which a rope 54 connected to the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1 moves the feed container 1 up or down. A bypass 23 is provided in parallel with the hydraulic motor 55, the bypass having a bypass valve 19 to open and close the bypass 23. An adjustable pressure relief valve 20 is also arranged in the bypass 23, so that when the bypass 23 is open, the force of the feed container drive 5 is reduced from the first value to the second value defined by the pressure relief valve 20.

After reaching the landing position, the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2 determines the movement of the guide carriage 51 of the feed container 1, while it continues to press upwards against the stop 6 on the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2. Reaching the contact position is detected by a further sensor 18, here a pressure sensor 18, whereby the bypass valve 19 opens the bypass 23. The bypass valve is designed as a 2/2-way valve 19 in the exemplary embodiment. Via the pressure relief valve 20, which is set to a fixed pressure value, a contact pressure is maintained to generate the force of the feed container drive 5 reduced to the second value. The force reduced to the second value is generated under the contact pressure by the hydraulic motor 55 and transmitted via the winch 53 to the pull rope 54 connected to the guide carriage 51. A torque arrow labeled M represents a torque of the feed container drive 5.

In the event of an upward movement of the lock 2 with the feed container 1 in the landing position, for example when the vibrator arrangement is pulled, the feed container 1 follows the lock 2 as a result of the pressure relief valve 20 defined Contact pressure corresponds to the working speed of the lock 2. The hydraulic motor 55 of the feed container drive 5 continues to be supplied with oil via the actively controlled proportional valve 17 through the hydraulic line 21. A flow direction of the oil during the upward movement of the lock 2 corresponds to the flow direction described above and is additionally shown by a first arrow P1. However, due to the opened bypass 23, the pressure on the hydraulic motor 55 is reduced to the contact pressure in order to generate the force of the feed container drive 5 reduced to the second value. The contact pressure is set by means of the pressure relief valve 20 in particular at least so high that the force of the feed container drive 5 generated by the hydraulic motor 55 and reduced to the second value compensates for a weight of the masses of the feed container 1 and the bulk material 3, and also generates the required driving force so that the feed container 1 follows the lock 2 without delay. The direction of the weight force is shown by an arrow labeled G.

In the event of a downward movement of the lock 2 with the feed container 1 in the contact position, for example when retracting, during shock and shaking movements, the guide carriage 41 of the lock 2 presses with greater force against the guide carriage of the feed container 1. The hydraulic motor 55 of the feed container drive 5 is therefore moved against its actual direction of rotation due to the force acting via the winch 53. Since the hydraulic pressure via the proportional valve 17 is greater than the contact pressure defined by the pressure relief valve 20, the oil flows via the opened bypass 23, i.e. via the opened bypass valve 19, the pressure relief valve 20 and a check valve 24 to the low-pressure side of the hydraulic motor 55, which this sucks in to avoid cavitation. A flow direction of the oil through the hydraulic motor 55 and the bypass 23 during the downward movement of the lock 2 is shown by a second arrow P2.

After completion of the bulk material transfer procedure, the proportional valve 17 is switched (not shown), whereby the direction of force of the feed container drive 5 is reversed and the feed container 1 leaves the position. The pressure sensor 18 is relieved and closes the bypass valve 19 of the bypass 23. The feed container 1 moves from the landing position to the waiting position until the next loading process, which is done by switching the proportional valve 17 again to the in Figure 7 shown position is initiated. The mass of the feed container 1 pulling in the weight direction G is lowered in a controlled manner by a lowering brake holding valve 25. A safety valve 26, designed here as a pressure relief valve, prevents the wire rope 54 from being overloaded.

Reference symbol list

1

feed container

2

sluice

3

bulk material

4

Lock drive

41

Guide carriage of the lock

42

Suspension of the lock

5

Feed container drive

51

Guide carriage of the feed container

52

Suspension of the feed container

53

Feed hopper drive winch

54

Rope, wire rope, feed hopper drive pull rope

55

Hydraulic motor of the feed container drive

6

attack

7

Silo pipe

8th

Feed container drive control

9

Sensor, proximity sensor

10

Outlet, cone closure

11

Inlet, flap

12

Operating linkage

14

Exit opening

15

Swivel mechanism

16

pouring chute

17

Proportional valve

18

Sensor, pressure sensor

19

Bypass valve

20

Pressure relief valve

21

Hydraulic line

22

Hydraulic line

23

bypass

24

check valve

25

Lowering brake step valve

26

Cleaning piece, nozzle

P

Double arrow

P1

First arrow, first flow direction

P2

Second arrow, second flow direction

M

Torque arrow

G

Direction of weight force

F1

Power arrow, first power value of the feed container drive

F2

Power arrow, second power value of the feed container drive

FS

Power arrow, power value of the lock drive

FR

Resulting power

Claims (15)

1. Vibrator assembly for ground improvement, comprising

   a lock (2) with a silo pipe (7) and with a lock drive (4) for moving the lock, the lock being designed to receive a bulk material (3) and to guide it into the silo pipe,

   a feed hopper (1) for feeding the bulk material (3) to the lock, wherein a feed hopper drive (5) is provided for moving the feed hopper between a waiting position and a docking position at a stop (6) arranged on the lock (2),

   characterized in that

   a control (8) of the feed hopper drive (5) is designed to reduce a force of the feed hopper drive in the direction towards the stop (6) from a first value to a second value in the docking position, wherein the second value has a smaller absolute value than a force of the lock drive (4), i.e. that drive force which acts on the lock.
2. Vibrator assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the control (8) of the feed hopper drive (5) is further arranged to maintain the force of the feed hopper drive acting in the direction towards the stop (6) after the docking position has been reached during a pick-up of bulk material (3) from the feed hopper (1) into the lock (2).
3. Vibrator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least two different sensors (9, 18) for determining a position of the feed hopper (1) relative to the lock (2) are connected to the control (8).
4. Vibrator assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one of the sensors (18) emits a signal as soon as the feed hopper (1) reaches the docking position.
5. Vibrator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feed hopper drive (5) comprises a hydraulic motor (55), a bypass (23) being provided in parallel with the hydraulic motor, the bypass comprising a bypass valve (19) to open and close the bypass.
6. Vibrator assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the force of the feed hopper drive (5) is reduced from the first value to the second value when the bypass (23) is open.
7. Vibrator assembly according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the bypass (23) has an adjustable pressure relief valve (20).
8. Vibrator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (2) comprises a closable outlet (10), the outlet being opened to direct the bulk material (3) from the lock into the silo pipe (7).
9. Vibrator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (2) comprises a closable inlet (11), said inlet being opened for taking over the bulk material (3) from the feed hopper (1).
10. Method for transferring bulk material (3) from a feed hopper (1) into a lock (2) with a silo pipe (7) in a vibrator assembly,

    wherein the lock is moved by a lock drive (4),

    wherein the feed hopper is filled with the bulk material,

    wherein the feed hopper is moved by a feed hopper drive (5) between a waiting position and a docking position on a stop (6) arranged on the lock (2),

    characterised in that

    in the docking position, a force of the feed hopper drive (5) in the direction towards the stop is reduced from a first value to a second value, the second value having a smaller absolute value than a force of the lock drive (4), i.e. that drive force which acts on the lock.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the feed hopper (1) is held in the docking position by the force reduced to the second value when the lock (2) is moved.
12. Method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterised in that at least part of the bulk material (3) is transferred from the feed hopper (1) into the lock (2) while the feed hopper is held in the feed position.
13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the feed hopper (1) is held in the contacting position when the lock (2) is moved in a first direction towards the waiting position by moving the feed hopper (1) together with the lock (2) in the first direction, wherein a drive force of the lock drive (4) acts on the feed hopper via the stop (6) and overcomes the force of the feed hopper drive (5) reduced to the second value.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the feed hopper (1) is held in the docking position when the lock (2) is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the feed hopper following the stop (6) in the second direction by the force of the feed hopper drive (5) reduced to the second value.
15. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterised in that, after reaching the docking position, a closable outlet (10) between the pressure-ventilated silo pipe (7) and the lock (2) is closed, the lock being separately vented before a closable inlet (11) of the lock is opened.

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