FR2696412A1 - Service pontoon. - Google Patents

Abstract

The self-propelled service pontoon comprises a mobile unit (18) provided with an articulated arm (20) equipped with a cutting tool (22). The mobile assembly (18) is adapted to move on two guide rails (14, 16) extending along a longitudinal edge (13) of the pontoon (10). During the cutting operation, the pontoon (10) is anchored to the bottom (60) of a body of water (54) using vertical lifting anchor piles (32, 40). The service pontoon is used for mowing or clearing the banks of rivers or other bodies of water.

Description

SERVICE PONTOON

  The present invention relates to a service pontoon intended to be used in particular in the context of the maintenance of the banks of tracks or water bodies. Such pontoons equipped with a cutting tool can be used in particular for mowing and / or the clearing of the banks, towpaths and other places difficult to access from the ground, either because of their steep nature or due to lack of access for a large brushcutter machine

quite significant.

  In general, working on land from a floating machine presents difficulties, among which the precise positioning of the tool during work proves to be particularly delicate. For example, when mowing a towpath, the method of moving the tool directly from the movement on the water of the float is

  too imprecise to give satisfactory results.

  In fact, precise and repetitive dynamic positioning of a tool directly from a mobile pontoon proves to be impossible or very difficult to

enforce.

  The object of the invention is to propose a service pontoon well suited to the work of a mobile tool requiring in

  permanently precise positioning of the tool.

  More specifically, the invention provides a service pontoon comprising a plate provided with a guide track extending longitudinally with respect to the pontoon, a movable tool holder movable on said plate along said guide path and at least an anchoring pile with vertical lifting De

  preferably the number of piles is chosen equal to two.

  So once the pontoon is on the ground along a portion or a section of bank to work (in this case mowing, clearing or cutting), the anchor piles are lowered to take support on the bottom of the body of water and obtain a fixed and permanent static positioning of the pontoon The mobile equipment is then moved precisely relative to the pontoon (therefore relative to the bank) to carry out the mowing operation, brush cutting or cutting of the bank section proper using a cutting tool After the mowing or brush cutting operation, the piles are raised and the pontoon is moved to the next section for

  restart the cycle of operations described above.

  Advantageously, the pontoon is of the self-propelled type comprising an adjustable rear thruster and a directional front thruster. Such propulsion equipment facilitates maneuvers of approaching the pontoon relative to the bank, either along the latter (for

  pass from one section to another) or laterally.

  Still with the aim of facilitating and speeding up the operation of the pontoon, each anchoring pile comprises a movable cylindrical tube provided with a hydraulic cylinder

  internal in axial position relative to the tube.

  Advantageously, the actuator has a body suspended from the end of a bracket secured to the plate and a rod secured to the tube, the movable tube being mounted in a vertical position in a guide well crossing the pontoon. It should be noted that such an arrangement pile with internal cylinder also allows to have a support and a thrust well in the axis of the pile To increase, if necessary, the effective depth of the pile, the cylinder used is of the telescopic type Advantageously the stem is secured to said plate removably by means of a sole plate, said sole plate comprising a guide opening for the tube so that the assembly constituted by the pile associated with its stem is movable in a unitary manner to facilitate interchangeability or allow to equip different wells provided on the pontoon. According to a preferred embodiment of the pontoon according to the invention, the guideway consists of two longitudinal rails mounted on the plate in a lateral position near the anchor piles, the mobile assembly being movable on the rails by the intermediate of a moving carriage

  longitudinal provided with drive means.

  By placing the anchor piles around and parallel to the guideway, the effects of the reaction transmitted to the pontoon by the moving equipment are reduced, the lateral range of which can reach ten meters, these effects being undesirable in terms of keeping the pontoon in

static position.

  Advantageously, the mobile assembly comprises, in addition to the carriage, a frame on which is mounted an articulated tool-carrying arm, a sliding mechanism extending perpendicular to the guide rails ensuring the connection between the carriage and the frame, the mechanism comprising means for actuating the frame in lateral displacement relative to the plate By this assembly, it is thus possible to increase the range

useful cutting tool.

  According to a particular arrangement, the rails have dihedral sliding surfaces on which slide complementary sliding surfaces associated with the carriage with longitudinal displacement. Such an arrangement prevents the risks of tilting of the mobile assembly out of the rails. An analog anti-tilting arrangement. is also

  provided at the sliding mechanism.

  The service pontoon according to the invention is used effectively for mowing or clearing of banks (in particular banks protected by riprap), banks, towpaths or the like accessible from a plan or a railway track. 'water; for this purpose, the mobile tool holder assembly carries a cutting tool such as a mowing or brush cutter roller. The pontoon is also used for cutting brushwood pushing through bank protection pavers (for example through alveoli of flow blockers) and / or the cutting of

shrubs on the banks.

  The invention also relates to a method of using a service pontoon of the type comprising a plate provided with a guide track extending longitudinally relative to the pontoon, a movable tool-holder assembly movable on said plate along said guide track and at least one anchoring stake for the maintenance of the banks of a body of water using for example a cutting tool, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following operating cycle: dynamic positioning of the pontoon along the bank; anchoring the pontoon by lowering the vertical piles; placing the cutting tool in the working position; mowing and / or brush cutting and / or cutting a section of the bank by successive passes of the cutting tool by longitudinal movement of the moving element along the guide track, the cutting tool normally being offset laterally on each pass; retraction of the cutting tool; raising of the anchor piles; displacement of the pontoon and resumption of the cycle of operations. Thanks to this method of using the service pontoon according to the invention, it is possible to perform efficiently (both in terms of speed and quality of work) maintenance of the banks of a water body otherwise hardly accessible to

from the ground.

  Other features and advantages of this

  invention will appear on reading the description

  which follows and which refers to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a view of the front of the service pontoon according to the invention during maintenance work, more precisely clearing a bank; Figure 2 is a schematic top view showing the installation on the bridge (or platform)

  of the service pontoon of the various equipment of this one

  this; Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of the anchor pile illustrated in Figure 1 in the low position; Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of the anchor pile of Figure 3 illustrated in the high position; Figure 5 is an enlarged view along section A-A of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic, partial and enlarged side view of the movable assembly illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a partial schematic view and enlarged along section B-B of the movable assembly illustrated in Figure 6, with partial section on the right showing details of the mounting of the carriage

  the moving part on the guide rails.

  If we consider Figures 1 and 2, the service pontoon according to the invention described here by way of nonlimiting example, comprises a shell 10 with a flat bottom, the bridge 12 substantially horizontal and generally rectangular in shape defines a platform carrying various pontoon equipment The bridge (or platform) 12 is provided with a guide track extending longitudinally relative to the pontoon and consisting of two rails 14, 16 in lateral position relative to the platform (the rail 14 being placed in the immediate vicinity of the plating 13 of the pontoon) On the guide track is mounted a mobile tool holder 18 having an articulated arm 20, itself carrying a cutting tool 22, in this case a brush cutter tool it will appear more clearly in the remainder of the description, the articulated arm 20 (of which only the foot fitting 24 is illustrated in FIG. 2) is pivotally mounted relative to the vertical on a fastener 26 disposed along the paro i lateral rear 28 of the

  control cabin 30 of the moving part 18.

  The service pontoon is equipped with two anchoring piles with vertical lift, a front pile 32 and a rear pile 34, each mounted in a guide well 36, 38 crossing the pontoon near the front edges 17 and rear 19 of that -ci In the working configuration of the pontoon illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the two piles 32, 34 are arranged parallel to the guide track near the rail 16, at the front 17 and at the rear 19 of the pontoon 10 This configuration is well suited to cutting work with a lateral reach

  significant of the articulated arm (of the order of 10 meters).

  Each anchor stake, for example the front stake 32 only visible in FIG. 1, essentially consists of a movable metallic cylindrical tube and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 44 for maneuvering the tube and is associated with a bracket 42 detachably fixed to the plate 12 Depending on the effective anchoring depth desired for the pile, the jack can be a single rod or a telescopic type better

  suitable for great depths.

  Thus, the assembly formed by the pile and its stem is removable and capable of being moved in a unitary manner by a collapsible telescopic crane 46 (not illustrated in FIG. 2), the base 48 of which is slidably mounted on slides 50 arranged at the front of the pontoon on the port or external side 15 as opposed to the starboard or internal side 13 directly opposite the bank 52 to be maintained from the water body 54 (It is understood that the term water body covers without no limitation as much still water bodies such as basins, lakes or canals, as running water bodies such as rivers

or the like).

  Thus, to carry out the cutting, mowing, brush-cutting or trimming operation of the shrubs 53 of the bank 52, the pontoon must be positioned statically or fixed relative thereto, which is achieved by intermediate of the two anchor piles 32 and 34, the ends of which, each provided with a point 58) are planted in the

bottom 60 of the water.

  Under certain conditions of use of the pontoon presented below, the pile 32 (once in the high position) is capable of being moved into another configuration, in particular the pile 32 is removed from the well 36 using the crane 46 then placed in the well 56 arranged as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 near the port side plating 15 of the pontoon slightly aft of the slides 50, in a lateral position opposite to that

guide rails 14 and 16.

  The pontoon according to the invention described here is of the self-propelled type and comprises on the rear an adjustable hydraulic thruster 62 and on the front a directional hydraulic bow thruster 64 also liftable and disposed in a vertical notch 66 formed in the front 17 of the pontoon A hydraulic power unit with thermal engine 68 is located at the rear of the pontoon and provides hydraulic power to the two propellers 62 and 64, the crane 46, the jacks of the piles 32 and 34 and optional equipment A station maneuvering cabin 70 is also arranged behind the pontoon above the hydraulic unit 68 Finally, the pontoon has equipment (not illustrated in the figures) allowing the recovery of floating debris, such as brushcutting debris, more particularly a floating recovery and lifting belt and waste bins The removable carpet which can be moved using the crane 46 has three anchor points 72 on the pontoon at the starboard bow of the pontoon. By way of nonlimiting example, the dimensions of the pontoon illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are approximately 18 m for the length, 6 m for the width and 0.40 m for the draft, the piles equipped with telescopic cylinders offering the possibility of anchoring

  about 5.5 m deep in the water.

  Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate in detail an anchor stake (for example stake 32) shown in the low end position in Figure 3 and in

  high end position in Figure 4.

  One of the essential elements of the pile 32, the cylindrical movable tube 40 is hollow, split in the upper part by a longitudinal notch 74 and closed at the end of the foot by the tip 58 made of a cross of thick sheets Just above the tip 58 is provided a waterproof lightening compartment 80 The internal cavity 82 of the hollow tube 40 communicates with the outside (air or water) by the open upper end 76 of the tube 40, the notch 74 and a plurality of openings 84 through the tube 40 Inside the cavity 82 is disposed in an axial position (along the common axis XX 'to the tube 40 and to the well 36): the telescopic hydraulic cylinder 44 whose body 86 is suspended via a ball at the end of the horizontal beam 88 of the bracket 42 and whose double telescopic rod 90, 91 is secured at its end

  free to tube 40 by a diametrical transverse axis 92.

  As mentioned above, the tube 40 is slidably mounted in a vertical guide well 36 crossing the pontoon 10 The tube 40 is also guided in an opening 93 formed in a sole 94 integral with the tubular mast 96 of the stem 42 On the wall outer of the tube 40 is welded an anti-rotation guide rod cooperating with a vertical groove 102 produced in the opening 93 and in the wall of the well 36 The sole 94 (shown in detail in the figure) is detachably fixed by the 'intermediate of six bolts 97 on the deck 12 of the pontoon, in this case on a base 98 welded to the deck 12 (during the displacement of the pile 32 and its stem 42, the sole keeps the tube 40 in position relative to

gallows 42).

  The double-acting cylinder 44 is of the telescopic type with two rods 90 and 91 (it should be noted that the cylinder 44 shown in FIG. 5 in its axial position relative to the tube 40 is illustrated diagrammatically in this figure). indicative, the cylinder stroke is of the order of 4 meters allowing it to be anchored at a maximum water depth of the order of .5 meters To ensure good anchoring of the pile, the cylinder 44 is capable of providing a thrust force maximum of the order of 5 tonnes (approximately 50,000 N) When the pile is raised, the force supplied is of the order of 1.2 tonnes (approximately 12,000 N) The operation of the anchor piles 32 and 34 is controlled from the maneuvering or piloting station 70, the hydraulic power being supplied by the hydraulic power unit there 68 In addition, the hydraulic pile control circuit includes a set of hydraulic valves which allow the control of the descent of the pile and locking in position of the pile As an indication, the descent speed of the piles 32 and 34 is chosen to be around 1.7 m / min and the ascent speed of

around 4 m / min.

  The mobile assembly 18 illustrated in FIG. 1 of the service pontoon according to the invention is now described in more detail with particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. If we consider FIGS. 6 and 7, the mobile assembly 18 comprises a longitudinal displacement carriage 104 slidably mounted on the rails 14 and 16 secured by crosspieces 106 to the deck 12 of the pontoon The rails 14 and 16, which have a hollow square section, are arranged relative to the pontoon with vertical and horizontal diagonals so that they have two sliding surfaces 108, 110 and 112, 114 in dihedral (in this case with an angle of 900) cooperating with complementary sliding surfaces, in this case pads of low coefficient material of friction such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) suitably fixed to slides (or skid boxes) secured to the carriage 104 Only the slides 120 are visible in FIGS. 6 and 7, 122, 124, the slider 122 carrying the pads 116 and 118 being shown in partial section in FIG. 7 As illustrated in FIG. 6, each longitudinal rail cooperates with two sliders, the sliders 120 and 124 for the rail 14 This surface arrangement dihedral slip is intended to prevent the tilting of the moving part when the arm

articulated 20 is deployed.

  On the carriage 104 is disposed a frame 126 supporting a hydraulic unit 128 driven by a heat engine 130 and the control cabin 30 of the moving element 18 in the raised position. Along the rear side wall 28 are provided on the frame 126 hooking lugs 132, 134 of the articulated arm 20 to which is fixed the attachment piece 26 carrying a vertical axis 136 on which the foot fitting 24 of the articulated arm pivots (the pivot angle of the fitting 24, therefore of the articulated arm, relative to the frame 126 is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder not shown) The frame 126 carries a hydraulic tank

  also acting as a counterweight.

  In general, the articulated arm 20 and the cutting tool 22 are of known types commonly used in land use (for example coupled to a tractor) and will not be described in detail below. Figure 1, the arm 20 has three articulated elements 138, 140 and 142 whose relative positions are controlled by three hydraulic cylinders 144, 146 and 148 to obtain a maximum lateral range of the order of 10 meters The cutting tool, also known in the art, the rotor type is orientable by a jack 150, the cutting width being of the order of 1.20 meters. The rotor 22 is equipped with articulated flails arranged in several alignments according to the generatrices of the rotor. The flails are interchangeable and of various models (with blades or knives) according to the envisaged work, mowing or brushcutting-cutting. The lower part of the frame 126 has two rails 152 and 154 similar to the rails 14 and 16 of the track.

  guide but arranged perpendicular to them.

  The rails 152 and 154 slide on skid boxes, at the rate of two boxes per rail, fixed to the carriage 104 and similar to those constituted by the slides 120 and 122 (only the boxes 156, 158, 160 are visible in Figures 6 and 7) As before, such an assembly eliminates the risks of

  tilting (in this case lateral) of the frame 126.

  Finally, a hydraulic cylinder 162 suitably mounted between a double leg 164 secured to the frame 126 and a double leg 166 secured to the carriage 104 controls the lateral displacements of the frame 126 on the sliding mechanism thus formed. Consider Figures 1 and 7, it can be noted that the frame (cylinder 162 retracted) is in the position of maximum lateral offset (of the order of 0.6 meters relative to the plate 12), the extension of the cylinder 162 causing the "retraction" of the frame 126 by a movement to the right of FIG. 7 The mechanism for lateral displacement of the frame has a double interest, that of gaining scope for mowing or cutting and that of allowing the complete assembly of the mobile assembly to be interior of the pontoon, especially for passage in

  narrow tracks, for example in locks.

  The translation of the movable assembly 18 along the longitudinal rails 14 and 16 is ensured by a pinion-rack type device. The rack 168 fixed on the crosspieces 106 parallel to the rails 14 and 16 of the longitudinal guide track is produced by bolts 170 crossing the wings of a beam 172 of the UPN type Split elastic pins mounted on the bolts 170 act as chain rollers The pinion 174, of the chain pinion type, is mounted on the carriage and is rotated by a slow-moving hydraulic piston engine 176, a brake system of the disc brake type being integrated into the engine 176 The moving assembly 18 is capable of moving at slow speed up to a maximum speed of 0.5 m / s (i.e. 25 rpm for the hydraulic motor 176) to ensure rapid return of the moving element, the cutting tool 22 being really effective only in one direction of movement of the moving element 18 in the oc rear recurrence 19

forward of pontoon 17.

  The hydraulic group 128 of the mobile assembly 18 is produced by a triple-body hydraulic pump: a first body consisting of a piston pump with variable displacement to drive the hydraulic motor 176 of the carriage 104; a second body consisting of a fixed displacement gear pump for driving the rotor of the cutting tool 22, the drive being reversible thanks to a controlled distributor; a third body consisting of a fixed displacement gear pump for controlling the cylinders of the articulated arm (in particular the cylinders 144, 146, 148), the cylinder 150 of the cutting tool and the offset cylinder

lateral 162.

  In the control cabin 30 are gathered all the command and control members of the mobile assembly, in particular of the engine assembly 130, of the hydraulic unit 128, of the longitudinal movement of the carriage 104, of the offset of the frame 126, of manipulation of the articulated arm 20 and movements and

  the rotor drive of the cutting tool 22.

  The moving part 18 is thus made completely autonomous with respect to the other pontoon maneuvering commands, gathered in the maneuvering and piloting cabin 70 (commands of the hydraulic unit 68, of the hydraulic thrusters 62 and 64 and of the pile jacks

44).

  The pontoon according to the invention which has just been described was designed to be put into service by a reduced crew, an operator and an assistant. Its normal operating mode is as follows: Once at work, pontoon 10 is dynamically positioned along the bank 52 to be maintained, the maneuver being facilitated by the thrusters

hydraulic steerable 62 and 64.

  The anchoring of the pontoon 10 is then carried out by the descent of the anchoring piles until a solid anchoring is obtained on the bottom 60 using the thrust of the telescopic jacks (the pontoon being capable of slightly planing out) This operation as the previous one is ordered from the

maneuvering and piloting 70.

  The operator then rejoins the control cabin 30 of the moving element and proceeds with the installation of the cutting tool 22 with the lateral offset of the frame 126, the displacement in the rear position of the moving element 18 nearby of the pile 34, the deployment of the articulated arm 20 and the orientation of the rotor of the tool 22. The operator then proceeds to the maintenance operation of the bank by mowing or mulching or cutting the shrubs by driving the rotor and progressive advance of all the moving equipment 18 along the rails 14 and 16, the carriage 104 being driven by the hydraulic motor 176 over a total stroke of approximately 15 meters (indicative stroke given

for exemple).

  After a rapid return of the carriage 104 to the rear position, the operator proceeds to a new cutting pass after having normally shifted the rotor laterally by the useful cutting width (i.e. 1.2 meters in this case) Without leaving the invention, in particular for the pruning of shrubs (see Figure 1), the new cutting pass can occur without lateral offset but rather with increasingly low pruning heights So therefore by successive passes a section of bank of a length of about 15 meters is cleaned (mowed, brush cut or trimmed) to a lateral depth (or width) in

  depending on the maximum reach of the articulated arm 20.

  As can be seen, the cleaning is carried out under the best conditions of efficiency with permanent and precise control of the position of the cutting tool thanks to the static positioning of the pontoon 10 obtained using the anchor piles, the arrangement of the piles 32 and 34 in the vicinity and parallel to the guide track 14, 16 ensuring a good balance when anchoring the pontoon and being recommended in the event of significant lateral deployment of the articulated arm (working range greater than 5 meters) . At the end of the cutting operation of the bank section accessible to the tool, the operator folds back the articulated arm 20 then returns to the cockpit 70. The operator then proceeds to raise the anchor piles and then displacement of the service pontoon along the bank of the length of the cleaned section (approximately 15 meters) to then resume the cycle

of operations described above.

  At the end of the cutting operation, it may be necessary to recover the floating waste. To this end, the front pile 32 once reassembled is removed from the well 36 and placed in the well 56 using the telescopic crane 46 (a attachment point 87 being provided for this purpose on the horizontal part 88 of the bracket 42 to the right of the axis of the tube 40) We then proceed to the installation of the float recovery mat (not shown), the waste thus salvaged being directed to a bucket placed provisionally on the guide rails at the exit of the mat It should be noted that the deck 12 of the pontoon has sufficient space between the cabin 70 and the crane 46-48 (see Figure 2) to accommodate the recovery mat and some skips

waste awaiting use.

  It should be noted that for areas where the lateral deployment of the articulated arm remains low (working range between 2 and 5 meters) the front pile 32 is placed in the external front well 56 on the port side, which allows to leave permanently the carpet

  recuperator in working position.

  Similarly, depending on the nature of the shore, it is possible to carry out a partial provisional grounding of the pontoon at the starboard or internal side 13 (the wall and the bottom of the hull of the pontoon 10 having been locally reinforced for this purpose) and perfect the static positioning of the pontoon 10 by anchoring the pile 32 disposed in

  external lateral position in the well 56 on the port side.

  Of course, the invention is not limited by the type of tool used, or by the model of guide rails or by the type of lifting anchor pile (in particular at the level of its lifting control) here described in by way of nonlimiting example In particular, the cutting tool can be changed or modified for mowing aquatic weeds or replaced by a broom roller for sweeping paths on the bank or

docks.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:   1 service pontoon characterized in that it comprises a plate (12) provided with a guide track (14, 16) extending longitudinally relative to the pontoon (10), a mobile assembly (18) movable tool holder on said plate (12) along said guide track (14, 16) and at least one anchoring stake (32, 34) vertical lift.   2 Service pontoon according to claim 1 of self-propelled type, characterized in that it comprises a steerable rear thruster (62) and a thruster directional front (64).   3 Service pontoon according to one of claims 1   and 2, characterized in that each anchor pile (32, 34) comprises a movable cylindrical tube (40) provided with an internal hydraulic cylinder 44 in the axial position by relative to the tube (40).   4 Service pontoon according to claim 3, characterized in that the jack (44) has a body (86) suspended from the end of a bracket (42) secured to said plate (12) and a rod (90, 91) secured to the movable tube (40), the movable tube (40) being mounted in a vertical position in a well   guide (36, 38) passing through the pontoon (10).   5 Service pontoon according to claim 4, characterized in that the bracket (42) is secured to said plate (12) removably by means of a sole plate (94), said sole plate (94) comprising a guide opening (93) for the tube (40).   6 Service pontoon according to one of claims 4   and 5, characterized in that the assembly constituted by the pile 32 and the associated stem (42) is displaceable in a unitary manner to facilitate interchangeability or to allow to equip different wells (36, 38, 56) provided on the pontoon (10).   7 Service pontoon according to one of claims 3 to   6, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (44) is of the telescopic type.   8 Service pontoon according to one of claims   above, characterized in that the guide track consists of two longitudinal rails (14, 16) mounted on the plate (12) in the lateral position, the mobile assembly (18) tool holder being movable on the rails (14, 16) by means of a carriage (104) for longitudinal displacement provided with means training (168, 174, 176).   9 Service pontoon according to claim 8 characterized in that the anchor piles (32, 34), two in number, are arranged in the vicinity of the guideway (14, 16) parallel to it, at the 'before   (17) and at the rear (19) of the pontoon (10).   Service pontoon according to claim 8, characterized in that an anchoring pile is mounted in a well (56) disposed on the plate (12) in position   side opposite to that of the guide rails (14, 16).   11 Service pontoon according to one of claims 8   to 10, characterized in that the mobile assembly (18) comprises, in addition to the carriage (104), a frame (126) on which is mounted an articulated arm (20) tool holder, a sliding mechanism (152, 154 , 156, 158, 160) extending perpendicular to the guide rails and ensuring a permanent connection between the carriage (104) and the frame (126), the mechanism comprising actuation means (162) of the frame (126) in displacement   lateral with respect to the plate (12).   12 Service pontoon according to one of claims 8   to 11, characterized in that the rails (14, 16)   have dihedral sliding surfaces (108-   , 112-114) on which slide complementary sliding surfaces (116-118) associated with the carriage (104) with longitudinal movement to prevent   the tilting of the mobile assembly (18).   13 Service pontoon according to one of claims   previous, characterized in that the movable tool holder (18) carries a cutting tool (22), by   example of mowing, brush cutting or pruning.   14 Service pontoon according to claim 13, characterized in that the frame (126) carries a control station (30) and an engine (130) / hydraulic unit (128) assembly for driving the cutting tool (22) and control the movements of the articulated arm (20), the lateral movements of the frame (126) and the movements   of the mobile equipment (18).   15 Method of using the service pontoon according to   one of claims 13 and 14 for the maintenance of   banks of a body of water, characterized in that it comprises the following cycle of operations: dynamic positioning of the pontoon (10) along the bank (52); anchoring the pontoon (10) by lowering the vertical piles (32, 34); placing the cutting tool (22) in the working position; mowing and / or brush cutting and / or cutting a section of the bank (52) by successive passes of the cutting tool by longitudinal movement of the movable assembly (18) along the guide track (14, 16 ), the cutting tool being normally offset laterally with each pass; retraction of the cutting tool (22); raising the anchor piles (32, 34); displacement of the pontoon (10) and resumption of the cycle of operations.