FR2937984A1 - Building machine i.e. power shovel, has crane formed of sealed shell that is provided with additional tank, and filling, locking and drainage valves for preventing authorization of establishment of fuel flow into junction pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine (100) has a crane (116) formed of a sealed shell provided with additional tank (122). A free end of a junction pipe (137) is provided with a filler adapter. A free end of a by-pass pipe (132) is projected into a connection pipe (130) and the junction pipe. A filling, locking and drainage valves (134, 136, 138) permit a flow of fuel between the adapter and the shell through the connection and junction pipes or fuel flow between the shell and a fuel tank (110) through the connection and by-pass pipes, or prevents authorization of establishment of the fuel flow into the junction pipe. An independent claim is also included for a method for filling of a sealed shell of a building machine.

Description

The present invention relates to a construction machine comprising an additional fuel tank, and a method of filling the additional tank of such a construction machine. A state-of-the-art mechanical excavator consists of a tracked or pneumatic undercarriage, surmounted by a turret with a continuous rotation of 360 °. This turret carries the engine, the fuel tank, the hydraulic components (pumps, motors, cylinders), the driving position and the equipment (boom, balance and bucket). The fuel tank allows a continuous use of the excavator for a certain time. After that, it is necessary to refill the fuel tank. The excavator is no longer operational, which results in a waste of time in the construction sites. In addition, filling the tank requires the arrival of a tanker truck that releases pollutants, especially CO2.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction machine comprising an additional fuel tank which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art and which in particular allows greater autonomy of the construction machine, thus limiting the number of the tanker truck. For this purpose, is proposed a construction machine comprising: - a fuel tank in which a bypass pipe, - an arrow consisting of a sealed box into which a filling pipe, consisting of a connecting pipe and a connecting pipe connected to each other, the free end of the connecting pipe comprising a filling connector and the connecting pipe opening into the sealed chamber, the free end of the bypass pipe opening into the filling pipe, and - a valve system for allowing a flow of fuel between the filling connection and the watertight box through the filling pipe or a flow of fuel between the watertight box and the tank through the connection pipe and the bypass pipe, or to permit the establishment of no fuel flow in the connecting pipe. Advantageously, the valve system has: - a filling valve on the connection pipe; - a locking valve on the connection pipe; and - a drain valve on the bypass pipe.

Advantageously, the construction machine comprises a purge valve between said filling valve and the filling connection. Advantageously, the upper part of the box comprises a vent. Advantageously, the vent opens into an overflow pipe which joins the tank to open. Advantageously, the overflow pipe is provided with an overflow valve. The invention also proposes a method of filling a waterproof box of a construction machine, said construction machine comprising: a fuel tank provided with a plug and into which a branch pipe opens, and a arrow formed at least in part of said watertight case into which a filling pipe, consisting of a connecting pipe and a connection pipe connected to one another, opens, the free end of the connecting pipe 15 comprising a filling connector and the connecting pipe opening into the watertight case, the free end of the bypass pipe opening into the filling pipe, and - a valve system for allowing a flow of fuel between the filling connection and the sealing chamber through the filling pipe or a fuel flow between the watertight chamber and the tank through the connecting pipe and the bypass pipe, or the establishment of no fuel flow in the connecting pipe, the filling method comprising: - a coupling step of the filling connection with the filling connection of a fuel supplier, - a step of setting in place of the valve system so as to allow only the establishment of a flow of fuel between the filling connector and the watertight box through the filling pipe, - a step of admitting fuel into the box up to its filling, - a step of setting up the valve system so as to prevent any flow in the connecting pipe, and - a step of uncoupling the filling connection of the free end of the filling pipe.

Advantageously, when a vent disposed in the upper part of the box opens into an overflow pipe which is provided with an overflow valve and which reaches the tank to open, the filling process comprises, before the stage of admission of a step of opening the overflow valve and a step of opening the tank cap, and, after the fueling step, a step of closing the overflow valve and a step of closing the tank cap. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the single attached drawing which represents a mechanical shovel according to the invention. Fig. unique shows a construction machine 100, in particular a mechanical shovel 100 which comprises: - a support frame 102 which is mounted here on the tracks 104, - a turret 106 surmounting the carrier frame 102, - a motor 108, - a reservoir of fuel 110 comprising a cap 112 and which is mounted on the turret 106, - a driving station 114, - an arrow 116 mounted on the turret 106, - a rocker 118 mounted at the free end of the boom 116, and - a bucket 120 mounted at the free end of the balance. The reservoir 110 constitutes the conventional reservoir and is filled with fuel and is filled by removing the cap 112 from the reservoir 110.

The arrow 116 is a rigid and hollow structural element which consists of one or more watertight boxes. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the arrow 116 consists of a main box 122 which extends from the base of the arrow 116 to an inner wall 126, and a secondary box 124 which extends from the inner wall 126 to the free end of the arrow 116.

The inner wall 126 is here substantially disposed in the middle of the arrow 116. In order to increase the autonomy of the mechanical shovel 100, the main box 122 is arranged as an additional reservoir for storing fuel. This arrangement limits the modifications to be made to the structure of the excavator.

In the case where the additional tank 122 consists of a plurality of boxes, passage openings are formed in the partition walls between these boxes. To fill the waterproof case 122, a filling pipe 130, 137 opens into the box 122. The free end of the filling pipe 130, 137 is intended to be connected with a filling connector of a fuel supplier. The filling pipe 130, 137 here consists of a connecting pipe 137 and a connecting pipe 130 connected to each other. The free end of the connecting pipe 137 comprises the filling connection and the connecting pipe 130 opens into the waterproof case 122. To allow the flow of the fuel stored in the seal chamber 122 to the tank 110, a branch pipe 132 opens into the tank 110 and the free end of the bypass pipe 132 opens into the filler pipe 130, 137 at a connecting zone.

In other words, the connecting pipe 137 is an extension of the connecting pipe 130 and extends from the connection zone between the bypass pipe 132 and the connecting pipe 130. A valve system 134, 136 and 138 is provided to allow fuel flow to be established between the filler fitting and the watertight case 122 through the filler pipe 130, 137 or the establishment of a fuel flow between the watertight vessel 122 and the tank 110 through the connection pipe 130 and the bypass pipe 132, or to allow the establishment of no fuel flow in the connecting pipe 137. The establishment of a fuel flow between the filling connection and the watertight box 122 in the filling pipe 130, 137 makes it possible to fill the watertight box 122. The establishment of a flow of fuel between the watertight chamber 122 and the tank 110 through the connecting pipe 130 and the bypass pipe 132 allow fuel to be transferred from the watertight box 122 to the tank 110. The establishment of no fuel flow in the connecting pipe 137 makes it possible to prevent the emptying of the caisson In the embodiment shown in FIG. once, a wall of the waterproof housing 122 is pierced with an inlet in which is fixed the connecting pipe 130. When filling the box 122 with fuel, it is poured into the connecting pipe 137 and s flows through the connecting pipe 130 to the watertight housing 122. For this purpose, the free end of the filling pipe 137 includes an interface intended to allow coupling with the filling fitting of the fuel supplier and thus to avoid the leaks. The filling connection is present for example on a pipe of a tanker truck of the fuel supplier. To allow the flow of all the fuel by gravity between the waterproof case 122 and the tank 110, it is advisable that the intake port is disposed at the base of the arrow 116 and therefore the base of the waterproof case 122 and that this intake port is disposed above the orifice through which the bypass pipe 132 opens into the tank 110. In order to facilitate the filling of the waterproof case 122, a vent 128 is made in the vicinity of the wall internal 126, that is to say at the upper part of the waterproof case 122.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. The single valve system comprises: - a fill valve 134 on the connecting pipe 137, - a locking valve 136 on the connection pipe 130, and - a drain valve 138 on the bypass pipe 132.

Thus, when the fill valve 134 and the lock valve 136 are open, the fuel can flow from the filler connector to the seal box 122 through the connecting pipe 137 and the connecting pipe 130. fill valve 134 is closed, lock valve 136 and drain valve 138 are open, fuel can flow from seal box 122 to tank 110 through connecting pipe 130 and bypass pipe 132 In order to purge the portion of the connecting pipe 137 upstream of the filling valve 134, a purge valve 144 is provided between said filling valve 134 and the filling connection. Thus, it is easy to recover the fuel, for example in a bucket, thus avoiding any pollution. To facilitate access to the valves, they are arranged at the man's height on the turret 106 and preferably behind a removable protective panel. The method of filling the waterproof case 122 comprises: a step of coupling the free end of the filling pipe 130, 137, that is to say of the filling connection with the filling connection of a supplier of fuel, - a step of setting up the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to allow only the establishment of a flow of fuel between the filling connection and the seal box 122 through the filling pipe 130, 137, - a step of admitting fuel into the box 122 until it is filled, - a step of installing the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to prevent any flow of fuel into the connecting pipe 137 and a step of uncoupling the filling connection from the free end of the filling pipe 137. The step of installing the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to allow only the establishment of a flow of car between the filling connector and the seal box 122 through the filling pipe 130, 137 comprises: - a step of closing the drain valve 138, - a step of opening the filling valve 134, and a step of opening the locking valve 136. The step of setting up the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to prevent any flow of fuel in the connection pipe 137 comprises at least one step In order to avoid any transfer of fuel from the watertight container 122 to the tank, it is preferable that the drain valve 138 be closed, as well as the locking valve 136. To avoid the overflow of the box 122 sealed by the vent 128 or to allow the filling of the tank 110, the vent 128 opens into an overflow pipe 140 which joins the tank 110 and opens therein. Thus, during the filling of the waterproof case 122, the fuel overflowing through the vent 128 is brought directly back into the tank 110. The overflow pipe 140 is provided with an overflow valve 142. In this embodiment of the invention, the filling process comprises before the fuel admission step, a step of opening the overflow valve 142 and a step of opening the cap 112 of the tank 110 to allow the evacuation of air from the The filling method also comprises, after the fuel admission step, a step of closing the overflow valve 142 and a step of closing the stopper 112 of the reservoir 110.

The method of transferring the fuel from the watertight container 122 to the tank 110 comprises: - a step of opening the cap 112 of the tank 110, - a step of setting up the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to allow only the establishment of a flow of fuel between the watertight chamber 122 and the tank 110 through the connecting pipe 130 and the branch pipe 132, - a step of flowing the fuel from the watertight box 122 into the tank 110 until said tank 110 is filled, a step of setting up the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to prevent any flow of fuel into the connection pipe 130 and / or the bypass pipe 132, and - A step of closing the cap 112 of the tank 110. The step of setting up the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to allow only the establishment of a flow of fuel between the box 20 sealed e 122 and the tank 110 through the connecting pipe 130 and the bypass pipe 132 comprises, the filling valve 134 being closed: - a step of opening the locking valve 136, and - a step of opening of the drain valve 138, the step of placing the valve system 134, 136 and 138 so as to prevent any flow of fuel into the connecting pipe 130 and / or the bypass pipe 132 comprises, the filling 134 being closed: - a step of closing the filling valve 136, and / or - a step of closing the drain valve 138. When the overflow pipe 140 is present, the fuel transfer process comprises before the fuel flow step, a step of opening the overflow valve 142, and after the fuel flow step, a step of closing the overflow valve 142.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described and shown, but it is capable of many variants accessible to those skilled in the art. For example, the invention has been more particularly described in the case of a shovel, but it applies in the same way to all construction machines comprising an arrow made from at least one box.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS1) Construction machine (100) comprising: - a fuel tank (110) into which a branch pipe (132) opens, - an arrow (116) consisting of a watertight box (122) in which a pipe of filling (130, 137), consisting of a connection pipe (137) and a connection pipe (130) connected to each other, the free end of the connecting pipe (137) comprising a connection and the connecting pipe (130) opening into the watertight case (122), the free end of the bypass pipe (132) opening into the filling pipe (130, 137), and - a valve system (134). , 136, 138) for allowing a flow of fuel between the filler fitting and the watertight box (122) through the filler pipe (130, 137) or a flow of fuel between the watertight box (122) and the tank (110) through the connecting pipe (130) and bypass pipe (132), or to make sure there is no fuel flow in the connecting pipe (137). 2) Construction machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve system has: - a filling valve (134) on the connecting pipe (137); - a locking valve (136) on the connecting pipe (130); and - a drain valve (138) on the branch pipe (132). 3) Construction machine (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a purge valve (144) between said filling valve (134) and the filler. 4) Construction machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper part of the box (122) comprises a vent (128). 5) Construction machine (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the vent (128) opens into an overflow pipe (140) which joins the reservoir (110) 30 to open there. 6) Construction machine (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the overflow pipe (140) is provided with an overflow valve (142). 7) A method of filling a watertight box (122) of a construction machine (100), said construction machine (100) comprising: - a fuel tank (110) provided with a plug (112) and in which opens a bypass pipe (132), and - an arrow (116) formed at least in part of said watertight chamber (122) into which a filling pipe (130, 137), consisting of a connecting pipe (137), opens. ) and a connecting pipe (130) connected to each other, the free end of the connecting pipe (137) comprising a filling connection and the connecting pipe (130) opening into the watertight housing (130). 122), the free end of the branch pipe (132) opening into the filler pipe (130, 137), and - a valve system (134, 136, 138) for allowing a flow of fuel between the coupling filling and the watertight case (122) through the filler pipe (130, 137) or a fuel flow between the caisso n sealed (122) and the tank (110) through the connection pipe (130) and bypass pipe (132), or to allow the establishment of no fuel flow in the connecting pipe (137). ), the filling method comprising: - a step of coupling the filling connection with the filling connection of a fuel supplier, - a step of installing the valve system (134, 136, 138) so as to allowing only the establishment of a fuel flow between the filler and the watertight box (122) through the filler pipe (130, 137), - a step of admitting fuel into the box (122) until it is filled, - a step of installing the valve system (134, 136, 138) so as to prevent any flow in the connection pipe (137), and - a step of disconnecting the filling fitting from the free end of the filling pipe (137). 8) A method of filling according to claim 7, characterized in that when a vent (128) disposed in the upper part of the box (122) opens into an overflow pipe (140) which is provided with an overflow valve (142) and which joins the tank (110) to open therein, the filling method comprises, before the fuel admission step, a step of opening the overflow valve (142) and a step of opening the cap ( 112) of the tank (110), and after the fuel admission step, a step of closing the overflow valve (142) and a step of closing the cap (112) of the tank (110).