FR2576336A1 - Device for simultaneously spreading chippings and binder for the repair of roads - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for simultaneously spreading chippings and binder. This device comprises a perforated pipe for delivering binder 17 installed transversely with respect to the road C, and a series of juxtaposed flaps 8 also installed transversely and located at the lower part of the rear partition 4a of the tipper 4 which contains the chippings g; the perforated pipe 17 feeds a series of nozzles 16 for spraying the binder 1; control means are provided which make it possible to selectively control the opening of only some of the flaps 8 and the activation of only some of the spraying nozzles 16.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for the simultaneous spreading of gravel and binder for the repair of pavements.

 Devices of this type are already known, generally designated by "point-in-time", which comprise a reservoir containing the binder and a tilting skip, both carried by a truck platform.

 This type of device is used to plug holes (potholes) or other irregularities in the roadway. To this end, the operator in charge of repairing the roadway spreads gravel taken from the bucket into the hole to be plugged with a shovel, and projects binder (for example hot bitumen) onto the gravel. . It is easy to understand that this kind of repair is a relatively long and tedious operation.

 The invention proposes a device which makes it possible to facilitate this type of pavement repair operation, and to improve its performance.

 To this end, the device for the simultaneous spreading of gravel and binder object of the present invention, which, like the known devices, comprises a tank containing the binder and a tilting skip containing the gravel which are both carried by a platform. mobile form, is characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a series of juxtaposed hatches arranged at the lower part of the rear bulkhead of the bucket, transversely relative to the direction of movement of the platform, each said hatches being able to occupy either a closed position in which it obstructs said partition, or an open position in which it allows the passage of gravel out of the bucket and their spreading on the roadway, on the other hand a binder distribution ramp which is also arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the platform and has a series of binder diffusion heads, means being provided which allow selectively control the opening of only some of the hatches and the commissioning of only some of the diffusion heads.

 In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the hatch control means are double-acting pneumatic cylinders, while the means for controlling the binder diffusion heads are pneumatically controlled valves.

 It is advantageous to provide a number of hatches identical to the number of diffusion heads, so that with each hatch is associated a diffusion head located in a similar position in the transverse direction, the control means being arranged in such a way that the opening of a hatch entralne simultaneously the commissioning of the associated diffusion head, and, conversely, the closing of the hatch causes the deactivation of this diffusion head.

 It is also possible to associate with each of the pairs constituted by a hatch and a diffusion head, a manual control lever, carried by a control console.

 In this case, the operator, evaluating the dimensions of the defect encountered on the road, actuates the lever (s) which correspond to the width of said defect, so as to control the spreading of gravel and binder, over a corresponding zone .

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the hatch control means and the diffusion head control means are respectively pneumatic cylinders and pneumatic valves, each of the control levers makes it possible to connect simultaneously to a source compressed air on the side of the piston of the pneumatic cylinder which causes the hatch to open as well as the pneumatic valve so as to allow the passage of the binder
The device is also advantageously equipped with a set of compacting rollers, the axes of which are arranged transversely with respect to the direction of advance of the platform, means being provided for applying said rollers against the roadway.

On the other hand1 the device advantageously comprises corridors arranged to guide the gravel, arranged at the exit of the hatches
The device preferably comprises a gangway intended to receive an operator, said gangway being articulated on the tilting skip, at the rear of the latter w the binder distribution ramp is then mounted on this gangway
In a variant intended to further improve the yield of the device, it is equipped with a series of photoelectric cells which is arranged in front of the binder distribution ramp and of the gravel spreading hatches {when moving in the direction of the mobile platform) a in this embodiment, a photoelectric cell is associated with each pair constituted by a hatch and a diffusion text and this cell is arranged to respectively command the opening or the closing of the associated hatch and the activation or deactivation of the associated broadcast text, by detection of markers previously drawn on the roadway.

 It then suffices for the operator to trace, even roughly, the outline of the hole or of the defect of the roadway which must be repaired, so that the simultaneous spreading of gravel and binder takes place automatically when the device arrives above the hole.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description and the appended drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure I is a general side view of a truck equipped with the device object of the invention, this device being in the rest position (road position)
Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale and partially cut, the device of Figure 1, in the working position (spreading position)
FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating the principle of control of the gravel spreading hatches, and of the binder diffusion heads
Figure 4 is a top view of a pothole encountered in the roadway, this view being intended to illustrate the mode of operation of the photoelectric cells capable of equipping a variant of the device.

 te truck shown in FIG. 1, and generally designated by the reference 1, comprises a mobile platform 2, on which are mounted a tank 3, a tipping skip 4, and a compressor unit 5.

 The tank 3, whose capacity is for example of 3 i, contains an emulsion, for example a bitumen in fusion, intended to serve as a binder, to constitute a raised coating; the bucket 4, articulated around a transverse axis 4b located at the rear of platform 2, contains gravel. The compressor unit 5, of known type, is intended to supply hydraulic fluid and compressed air, by means of appropriate conduits (which have not been shown in the figures for the purpose of simplification) the various hydraulic cylinders and tires, necessary for the operation of the device.

 As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tilting of the bucket 4 around its pivot axis 4b is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 18.

At the lower part of the rear partition 4a of the bucket 4 is mounted a roller 31 for driving gravel; the latter is mounted in rotation on a transverse axis 14 and is driven by a motor, not shown. Above the roller 31, there is a series of juxtaposed hatches 8, which are also each articulated on a transverse axis 8a The tilting of the hatches 8 around their axis aa is oemnandé by pneumatic cylinders 9 fixed to a console 10 secured to the partition 4a
At the outlet of the hatches 8 is disposed a flap 11
inclined backwards and downwards, and provided with longitudinal partitions 12 arranged vertically ;; the flap 11 opens onto an inclined counter flap 13 which is carried by a gangway 6. The latter is articulated around a transverse axis, which is for example
(but not necessarily) coincident with the axis 14 of the roller 31. A hydraulic cylinder 7 which connects the partition 4a to the gangway 6, makes it possible to control the position of the latter. Gateway 6 is equipped with a console
19 provided with control handles 20 and a steering wheel 21.

This bridge is intended to receive an operator, who can steer the truck, by means of a relay device which is for example that known under the name of
"orbitrol system". The general design of the gravel spreading systems, and the articulation and control of the gangway on the spreading bucket, are advantageously of the same type as those which are the subject of French patent application No. 82 09885 ( Publication
No. 2,528,085); that's why the detail operation
These systems will not be repeated here in detail; if necessary, reference should be made to the aforementioned patent application.

 At the rear lower part of the gangway 6 is fixed a binder distribution ramp 17, arranged transversely. This ramp, which is supplied by an appropriate pipe, from the tank 3, via the compressor unit 5, carries a series of diffusion heads 16 which are directed downward, that is to say towards the floor C. The number of diffusion heads 16 is the same as the number of doors 8 t this number is for example equal to ten. The width of the ramp 17 is substantially equal to the width of the flap 11.

 The opening of each of the heads 16 is controlled by a pneumatic valve 15, which can be a slide valve of the conventional type, for example.

 In a variant, the rear part of the gangway 6 is also equipped with a series of photoelectric cells 22, turned downwards, supported by a fixing member 23. These cells are also in the same number as that of the diffusion heads 16 and hatches 8; their spacing corresponds to that of the heads 16.

 In front of the gravel spreading flaps 11 and 13, under the mobile platform 2, a compacting means is mounted; this comprises a roller or a set of rollers24, mounted idly on a transverse axis 24at and carried by an articulated lever 26; the latter is itself mounted on a support 25 integral with the platform 2 a hydraulic cylinder 27 allows the roller 24 to be applied elastically against the roadway C, for the compacting operation.

 FIG. 3 schematically represents, in a transverse vertical plane: the control console and its levers, the series of gravel spreading hatches, and their control jacks, the series of binder diffusion heads, and their control valves , and shows the pneumatic control mode, of the hatches and diffusion heads, from the control console.

 In this figure, the juxtaposed hatches 8 have been designated by the references 80, 81, 82 ... 89 t the double-acting pneumatic cylinders, for controlling the opening of the hatches, 9, have been designated respectively by the references 90, 91, 92 ... 99.

 The diffusion heads 16 have been designated by the references 160, 161, 162 ... 169; the pneumatic control valves of these heads, 15, have been designated respectively by the references 150, 151, 152 ... 159.

 The individual control levers 20 for the hatches and the diffusion heads have been designated by the references 200, 201, 202c. 209.

 Each lever controls the pneumatic cylinder (and the hatch actuated by it) which includes the same number of units, as well as the pneumatic valve (and the diffusion head actuated by cell which includes the same number of units; this is how for example, the lever 206 controls the hatch 86 (by means of the jack 96) and the diffusion head 166 (by the intermediate stop of the valve 156). The control console 19 also includes a lever general control 210 which is arranged to simultaneously control all of the doors 8 and all of the diffusion heads 1é.

 In FIG. 3, for the sake of simplification, only the compressed air distribution pipes are shown starting from the first two levers 200 and 201 and connecting these respectively to the jack 90 and to the valve 150 and to the cylinder 91 and at valve 151.

We will now describe how we use this device, for road repairs
In the transport position, shown; in Figure 1, the gangway 6 is in the raised position (by contraction of the hydraulic cylinder 7) and the compacting roller (or the set of rollers) 24 is also in the retracted position (by contraction hydraulic cylinder 27).

 When the truck has arrived in the defective roadway zone, the hydraulic cylinder 7 is actuated so as to tilt the gangway 6 so that its lower part is substantially horizontal (parallel to the roadway C). The operator then climbs onto the bridge, and takes control of the truck, by commissioning the orbitrol system.

 The operator then steers the truck, with the flywheel 21, in the direction of the arrow G (FIG. 2), that is to say towards the rear. it then acts, by an appropriate control means on the hydraulic cylinder 18, so as to tilt the bucket 4, in a position which favors the pouring of the gravel (g) contained therein.

A suitable servo system (not shown) makes it possible to enslave the degree of extension of the hydraulic cylinder 7 to that of the hydraulic cylinder 18, so that the gangway 6 constantly keeps substantially the same position.

 When the operator sees a hole T or another irregularity in the roadway, which must be repaired, he evaluates the dimensions of this hole, and in particular its width. When the bridge, which we recall, moves backwards in the direction of the arrow G, arrives near the hole T, the operator actuates the levers 20 corresponding to the location and the width of this hole. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the operator actuated the levers 201, 202, 203 and 204.

 The source of compressed air, designated by AC in FIG. 3 supplied by the compressor unit 5) is put in communication, when the levers 20 are not actuated, with the upper part of the double-acting cylinder 9, so that the piston of the jack maintains the hatch 8. in the closed position; on the other hand, the valve 15 is in positive closed, and the binder L which is brought into the distribution ramp 17 by this same powertrain 5, does not pass into the diffusion head 16.

 On the contrary, when the lever 20 is lowered, the compressed air source AC is placed in communication with the lower part of the jack 9 (while its upper part is put at atmospheric pressure), which causes the displacement upwards. of the piston and the opening of the hatch 8 t at the same time, the arrival of compressed air in the valve 15 causes the opening of the latter, and allows the passage of the binder in the diffusion head 16, and its spreading on the roadway.

 In the example shown in the figures, the levers 201, 202, 203 and 204 having been lowered, the hatches 81, 82, 83, 84 are open, and the diffusion heads 161, 162, 163, 164 are in service; the other hatches are closed, and the other diffusion heads are out of service.

 Consequently, the heads 16 diffuse in the hole T a layer of binder (1); each of the diffusion heads 161, 162, 163 and 164, diffuses a jet of binder substantially situated in a vertical plane transverse to the direction of movement of the platform 2; each of the jets has, seen from the side, a flared shape, so as to cover the jet of the neighboring diffusion head, in order to improve the homogeneity of the diffusion.

 The gravel is poured out of the bucket 4 by means of the rotary roller 31 which rotates in the direction represented by the arrow F in FIG. 2 escaping through the open hatches 81, 82, 83 and 84, the gravel (g ) flow down on the flap 11, in the corridors delimited by the partitions 12, then fall on the counter flap 13 before spreading regularly on the floor; the path that the gravel must travel to leave the bucket 4 and reach the carriageway C is determined in such a way that the time of this journey corresponds substantially to the time taken by the edge of the flap 13 to come opposite the edge from hole T, from the moment of opening the hatches.

 Thus, the bottom of the hole T is successively covered with binder and gravel. When the entire hole has been crossed by the device, the operator raises the levers 201j 202, 203, 204, which he had lowered, so as to control both the closing of the valves 151, 152, 153 and 154 and closing the hatches 81, 82 83 and 84. Next, the set of rollers 24, which is urged strongly against the roadway C by the jack 27, compacts the gravel and their binder.

In a variant, the operating principle of which is illustrated in FIG. 4, the manual actuation of the levers 20 is replaced by an automatic actuation, from the photoelectric cells 22. The number of cells is equal to that of the levers, and each cell is capable of controlling the opening and closing of the doors 8 and of the valves 15, in a similar manner to the levers 20. The photoelectric cells have been shown diagrammatically and designated by the references 220, 221, 222 ... 229. A pothole T (hatched) has been represented in top view. An operator traced around the hole
T, in white paint, a line which roughly corresponds to the outline of the hole. This line is designated by the reference R. The arrow G indicates the direction of movement of the mobile platform (and of the cells 22 carried by it). The lines a, b, c, d, e, f, and g correspond to different positions of the series of cells 22, during their movement on the roadway.

 Since the roadway is generally relatively dark in color and uniform at level a, the set of cells 220 to 229 produces a determined control signal, which corresponds to the closing of the doors 8 and of the valves 15. At level b, cells 222, 223 and 224 are opposite the white paint, and will produce a different signal which will command the opening of the associated doors 82, 83 and 84, as well as the commissioning of the diffusion heads 162, 163 and 164 associated. At level c, cell 225 is excited in its turn and commands the opening of the corresponding hatch 85, as well as of the corresponding valve 165 t at level d, cell 226 detects the mark R and is in turn excited, causing the hatch 86 and valve 166 to open; at level e, the photoelectric cells 222 and 223 are again excited which this time causes the doors 82, 83 and associated valves 162, 163 to close, finally at level f these are cells 224, 225; 226 which will be excited for the second time, causing in turn the closing of the hatches 34, es, 86 and of the valves 164, 165, 166, at level g, the lten emble of the hatches and of the valves is again in the closed position.

 We see that thanks to the variant mistletoe comes from another described, the work of the operator is very simplified; the latter must only detect on the road the irregularities which must be repaired, and draw around them a mark with paint; arriving above the irregularity thus identified, the device for spreading gravel and binder which is the subject of the invention operates fully automatically.

 it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment which has been described simply by way of example; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants. Thus, for example, each pneumatic cylinder could command the opening of several hatches (for example two hatches); instead of articulated hatches, sliding hatches could be provided.

Furthermore, the binder distribution ramp could be placed at the rear of the gravel distribution system (relative to the direction of movement G of the device). Instead of controlling the hatches and the dispensing heads pneumatically, it is obvious that one could design a control by different channels.

for example electrically. In this case, the pneumatic cylinders would be replaced by electromagnets, while the control valves for the diffusion heads would be solenoid valves.

Claims (10)

 1. Device for the simultaneous spreading of gravel and binder for the repair of roadways, in which a tank (3) containing the binder and a tilting skip (4) containing the gravel are both carried by a mobile platform (2 ), characterized in that it comprises, on the one hand, a series of juxtaposed hatches (8) disposed at the lower part of the rear partition (4a) of the bucket (4), transversely relative to the direction of movement of the platform, each of said hatches (8) being able to occupy either a closed position in which it obstructs said partition (4a) or an open position in which it authorizes the passage of the gravel out of the bucket (4) and their spreading over the roadway, on the other hand, a binder distribution ramp (17) which is also arranged transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the platform (2) and has a series of binder diffusion heads (16) , means being provided which allow e selectively controlling the opening of only some of the hatches (8) and the commissioning of only some of the diffusion heads (16).  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hatch control means (8) are double-acting pneumatic cylinders (9).  3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for controlling the binder diffusion heads (16) are pneumatically controlled valves (15).  4. Device according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the number of hatches (8) is identical to that of the diffusion heads (16) and that with each hatch is associated a diffusion head located in a similar position in the transverse direction, the control means being arranged in such a way that the opening of a hatch (8) simultaneously causes the associated diffusion head (16) to be put into service, and, conversely, the closing the hatch leads to the deactivation of this diffusion head.  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is equipped with a desk (19) provided with manual control levers (20) and that a handle (20) is associated with each of the pairs formed by a hatch (8) and an associated diffusion head (16).  6. Device according to claims 2, 3 and 5 taken in combination, characterized in that each lever (20) allows to simultaneously connect to a source of compressed air (AC) the side of the piston of the pneumatic cylinder (9) which causes the opening of the hatch (8) and the pneumatic valve (15) so as to allow the passage of the binder.  7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is equipped with a set of compacting rollers (24) whose axes are arranged transversely to the direction of advance of the platform. form (2), means (27) being provided for applying said rollers (24) against the road.  8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises corridors (12) for guiding the gravel arranged at the outlet of the hatches (8).  9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a gangway (6) articulated on the bucket (4) and intended to receive an operator, on which is mounted the distribution ramp (17) of binder.  10. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is equipped with a series of photoelectric cells (22} arranged in front of the binder distribution ramp (17) and the gravel spreading hatches (8) , with respect to the direction (G) of movement of the mobile platform, a cell (22) being associated with each pair constituted by a hatch (8) and a diffusion head (16) and being arranged to respectively control the opening or closing the associated hatch (8) and putting the associated diffusion head (16) into service or out of service, by detecting marks previously drawn on the road.