FR3106825A1 - Concrete pump with a concreting pole equipped with an electric manifold and an electric manifold for such a mast - Google Patents

Abstract

Concrete pump with concreting mast equipped with an electric collector and electric collector for such a mast Concrete pump (1) comprising a frame (2a) equipped with a hopper (5) intended to receive the concrete and a concreting mast (6) articulated and rotatably mounted at an angle of 360° on a turret, said concreting mast carrying at least one pipe (6a) intended to convey the concrete between the hopper (5) and a place of delivery of the concrete and an electronic device (22, 26) positioned on the mast (6), characterized in that the concreting mast (6) is provided, at its base (30), with an electrical collector (31) rotating component of two hemi-crowns (31-1, 31-2) assembled to each other around said base (30) and fixed thereto, the hemi-crowns (31-1, 31-2) being provided, on their outer faces, with at least one longitudinal electrical track (34), the electrical track(s) (34) of a hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2) being arranged in continuity with the tracks (34) of the other hemi-crown (31-1, 31-2), so that electrical contactors (42-1, 42-2) external to the hemi-crowns (31-1, 31-2) follow the tracks ( 34) when the mast (6) is rotating, the electric track(s) (34) of the semi-crowns (31-1, 31-2) being connected to electric cables for the conduction of electricity and/or an electrical signal to the electronic device (22, 26) positioned on the mast (6). Abstract Figure: Figure 2

Description

Concrete pump with concreting mast equipped with an electrical manifold and electrical manifold for such a mast

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a concrete pump comprising a chassis equipped with a hopper intended to receive the concrete and an articulated concreting mast, said concreting mast being rotatably mounted at an angle of 360° continuously on a turret and carrying at least one pipe intended to convey the concrete between the hopper and a place of delivery of the concrete. It also relates to an electrical collector intended to equip such a rotary concreting mast.

Prior art

In the field of public works, concrete pumps are known, which are intended to deliver concrete to a place of delivery of the concrete. The concrete pump comprises a chassis equipped with a hopper for receiving the concrete produced by a concrete mixer and a concrete pumping machine which is intended to convey the concrete from the hopper to the place of delivery of the concrete. The pumping machine comprises a channel provided with pipes and a hose inside which the concrete circulates and pumping means to propel the concrete inside the pipes and the hose.

The concrete delivery location is likely to be far from a possible stabilization location for the concrete pump. Also, the concrete pump comprises an articulated concreting mast carrying the pipes and the hose which is able to be deployed between the concrete pump and the place of delivery of the concrete. The articulated mast is rotatably mounted on a turret of said pump. In the deployed position, its length is currently several tens of meters. For example, reference may be made to document EP3556718 which describes a concrete pump of the aforementioned type.

The patent application in France filed on 04/11/2019 under number FR1912331, which is not published on the date of filing of this patent application, describes concrete pumps equipped with means of detecting dangers, these means comprising for example sensors arranged on the concreting masts. These sensors are electronic devices whose operation is electrical, and which must be supplied with electricity. In addition, these devices communicate with the outside world by means of electronic signals, which can moreover be carried by electric current, and it is likewise necessary to ensure the communication of these signals to said devices or from said devices.

For the power supply of the electronic devices placed on the concreting mast, we imagined separating the concreting mast from the drive system in continuous rotation at 360° of this mast, dismantling this rotation system per se , and installing a collector classic electric, which consists of a one-piece ring. However, the aforementioned manipulations require special equipment, which requires the immobilization of the concrete pump for a long time, and which are expensive. In addition, if any breakdown of the electrical collector, for example an operating problem or breakage, occurs, everything would then have to be disassembled to replace it and this would cause the machine to be immobilized for several days or even several weeks.

In view of the foregoing, a problem that the object of the invention proposes to solve is to produce a concrete pump comprising a frame equipped with a hopper intended to receive the concrete and an articulated concreting mast mounted rotatably at an angle of 360° on a turret, said concreting mast carrying at least one pipe intended to convey the concrete between the hopper and a place of delivery of the concrete and an electronic device positioned on the said mast, in which concrete pump, an electric collector makes it possible to supply said electronic device with electricity and/or to communicate with said device by means of signals transmitted by means of cables, the electric collector being installed in a simple manner in the pump, at the level of the mast , without particular requirements as to the dismantling of this mast or of the system allowing its continuous 360° rotation, said electric collector being able moreover to be repaired, modified or changed in an easy manner once mounted, without requiring the concrete pump to be immobilized for a long time.

The solution of the invention to this problem has as its first object a concrete pump comprising a chassis equipped with a hopper intended to receive the concrete and an articulated concreting mast and rotatably mounted at an angle of 360° on a turret, said concreting mast carrying at least one pipe intended to convey the concrete between the hopper and a place of delivery of the concrete and an electronic device positioned on the mast, characterized in that the concreting mast is provided, at its base, of a rotary electrical collector consisting of two hemi-rings assembled to one another around said base and fixed thereto, the hemi-rings being provided, on their external faces, with at at least one longitudinal electrical track, the electrical track(s) of one hemi-ring being arranged in continuity with the track(s) of the other hemi-ring, so that electrical contactors external to the hemi-rings follow the tracks when the mast is rotating, the electric track(s) of the hemi-rings being connected to electric cables for conduction of electricity and/or of an electric signal to the electronic device positioned on the mast.

Advantageously, - the base of the concreting mast is substantially cylindrical of revolution with a diameter D substantially equal to the double radius of the semicircle formed by the interior of the hemi-rings; - the diameter D is between 150 mm and 350 mm, the width L of a half-crown is between 50 mm and 250 mm and the height h of a half-crown is between 50 mm and 250 mm; - the hemi-rings comprise a lower part provided with longitudinal tracks and an upper part forming a protective cap for said lower part; - the upper part of a hemi-ring includes a notch provided with a through hole for the assembly of the hemi-ring at the base of the concreting mast by means of an assembly element; - the lower part of a hemi-crown comprises, at its base, a foot, said foot engaging in a groove in the base of the concreting mast, said groove and said foot being provided with through holes for fixing the hemi-crown at the base of the concreting mast by means of an assembly element; - the electric tracks are tracks that run through the entire outer semi-circle of the hemi-rings, each track being contained in a groove of the hemi-ring; - the half-rings have at their interface, grooves for the introduction of electric cables, each cable being electrically connected to an electric track; and - each electrical contactor comprises two pads, each pad being positioned sliding on an electrical track, the height of the pads being lower than the height of the track on which they are positioned.

The solution of the invention also has, as a second object, an electric manifold for the concreting mast of a concrete pump as defined above.

Brief description of figures

The invention will be better understood on reading the non-limiting description which follows, written with regard to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically, and in side view, a concrete pump according to the invention in which the concreting mast is deployed, in the position of use;

- Figure 2 shows, schematically, and in side view, a manifold mounted on a base of a concreting mast of a concrete pump according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows, schematically, a view of the inside of a hemi-crown of a collector intended to be fixed to a concreting mast of a concrete pump according to the invention;

- Figure 4 illustrates the positioning of electrical contactors on tracks of an electrical collector a hemi-ring of a collector intended to be fixed to a concreting mast of a concrete pump according to the invention; And

- Figure 5 shows, schematically, the electrical contactors intended to be positioned on the tracks of an electrical collector a hemi-ring of a collector intended to be fixed to a concreting mast of a concrete pump according to the 'invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention relates to a concrete pump as well as an electric manifold for the concreting mast of such a pump. The concrete pumps according to the invention can be self-supporting or static. An example of a ride-on concrete pump according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. Such a concrete pump 1 comprises a first frame 2a which is, according to the example illustrated, carried by a second frame 2b of a vehicle. The first frame 2a of the concrete pump 1 is commonly referred to as a subframe and can be attached to the second frame 2b of the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a cabin 4 and means of motorization to allow its movement. The concrete pump 1 is equipped with wheels 3 to allow it to roll, or with caterpillars. The first frame 2a is equipped with a hopper 5 intended to receive the concrete coming from a concrete mixer for example. The hopper 5 is in particular fixed to the rear of the first frame 2a.

The first frame 2a is equipped with a plurality of feet 13 which are movable between a folded position and an extended position. In the folded position, a first end 14 of each foot 13 is connected to the frame 1 while a second end 15 of the same foot 13 is free. In the deployed position, the first end 14 of each foot 13 is connected to the frame 2 while the second end 15 of the same foot 13 rests on the surface of the ground 11. Preferably, the feet 13 are telescopic to be easily modified between the position deployed and the stowed position and vice versa.

In addition, the first frame 2a is equipped with concrete pumping means 16 to convey the concrete from the hopper 5 to the place of delivery of the concrete.

Finally, the first frame 2a is equipped with a concreting mast 6 which carries a pipe 6a. The pipe 6a is in particular formed of an assembly of pipes inside which the concrete is able to circulate from the hopper 5 to a place of delivery of the concrete located on a construction site. To facilitate delivery of the concrete to the place of delivery, one end of the pipe 6a is equipped with a hose 6b. The concreting mast 6 is preferably articulated and comprises for this purpose a plurality of sections 7 joined two by two, by their respective ends, by means of joints 8. Also, the concreting mast 6 is movable between a storage position, in which the mast is folded, and a position of use, as shown in Figure 1, in which the mast 6 is deployed. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the number of sections 7 that the mast 6 comprises is equal to three but this number is likely to be arbitrary.

The concreting mast 6 has a proximal end, a base 9 of which is connected to a turret 10 secured to the first frame 2a. It is rotatably mounted at an angle of 360° on the turret 10 around an axis of rotation A1 substantially orthogonal to the surface of the ground 11 on which the concrete pump 1 rests. The rotation of the concreting mast 6 is continuous. When the mast 6 is deployed, a distal end 12 of the mast 6, opposite the proximal end 9, is able to reach the relatively distant concrete delivery location.

Furthermore, the concreting mast 6 is equipped with one or more electronic devices 22, 26 which require a power supply and/or which require communication with the outside world by means of signals sent/transmitted by wire. These are, in a first example, detection devices 22 which detect an inclination of the mast 6 with respect to the vertical. These devices 22 are advantageously arranged at each section 7 of the mast 6. In a second example, these are devices 26 for detecting electric lines within a proximity radius in order to prevent the mast 6 from being present at the inside a zone where an electric arc generated by the power lines is likely to damage the concrete pump 1. In a third example, these are transmission devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting data according to known protocols, for example of the WiFi type.

As shown in Figure 2, the concreting mast 6 comprises a base 30 rotatably mounted on the turret 10. This base 30 is metallic. It is tubular, and therefore hollow, so as to allow passage of the conduit 6a in particular. The base 30 is substantially cylindrical of revolution, of diameter D.

The concreting mast 6 is provided, at its base 30, with an electric collector 31. This electric collector 31 consists of two half- or half-rings 31-1, 31-2. These hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 are fixed to this base 30 so that the internal part of said hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 comes into contact with the outer surface of the base 30. When they are assembled at the base 30, the hemi-rings 31-1, 31-2 completely encircle the base 30. The diameter D of the base 30 is substantially equal to the double radius of the semi-circle formed by the interior of the hemi-rings. In one example, the diameter D of the base 30 is between 150 mm and 350 mm, the width L of the hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 is between 50 mm and 250 mm and the height h of a hemi - crown is included in 50 mm and 250 mm.

The hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 are formed from plastic. They are molded and their weight is in particular between 1 kg and 3 kg. They are thus easily transportable, and can also be installed by a single man.

Still with reference to FIG. 2, the hemi-rings 31-1, 31-2, constituting the electrical collector 31, comprise a lower part 32 and an upper part 33.

The lower part 32 of the hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 comprises one or more electrical tracks 34. There are two of them for the hemi-crowns presented in FIG. 2. They are made of a conductive material, for example of metal, in particular brass or copper. These tracks 34 are substantially orthogonal to the axis A1. They are therefore substantially horizontal. They cover the entire outer semi-circle of hemi-rings 31-1, 31-2. The tracks 34 are arranged at the bottom of grooves 35 formed on the surface of the half-rings 31-1, 31-2. Furthermore, the lower part 32 of the hemi-rings 31-1, 31-2 comprises, at its base, a foot 38. This foot 38 engages in a groove 39 of the base 30 of the concreting mast 6. As well as this appears in Figure 3, the foot 38 is provided with through holes 40 for fixing the hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 to the base of the concreting mast 6 by means of an assembly element not shown on the figures, for example a threaded axle.

The upper part 33 of the hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 forms a protective cap for the lower part 32. This upper part 33 therefore has a width L greater than the width of the lower part 32. It protects the lower part 32 concrete fallout and bad weather. The upper part 33 of each hemi-crown 31-1, 31-2 comprises a notch 36 with a through hole referenced 37-1 in FIG. 3, for the assembly of the hemi-crown 31-1, 31- 2 at the base 30 of the concreting mast 6 by means of an assembly element not shown in the figures, for example a threaded pin.

The inner surface of the hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 may have an irregularity 31-3. This surface irregularity 31-3 a corresponds to surface irregularities of the base 30.

The half-crowns 31-1, 31-2 may also have reliefs at their ends which are in correspondence, to facilitate their positioning one to the other, when they are assembled to the base 30.

As shown in Figure 4, the hemi-rings have at their interface, grooves 41 for the introduction of electrical cables not shown in the figures. These cables are electrically connected to the electric tracks 34. The hemi-crowns 31-1, 31-2 are symmetrical. Thus, when they are assembled around the base 30, the grooves 41 form pipes in which the cables are housed.

Figure 4 shows two electrical contactors 42-1, 42-2. These contactors 42-1, 42-2 are held by a vertical axis 43. They are positioned in sliding contact along the tracks 34 of a hemi-ring 31-1, 31-2. As shown in Figure 5, each electrical contactor 42-1, 42-2 electrical comprises two pads 44, each pad being positioned sliding on an electrical track, the height of the pads being lower than the height of the track on which they are positioned. In practice, when the pump 1 is in operation, its entire structure undergoes vibrations. These vibrations are transmitted to the electrical contactors 42-1, 42-2, to the concreting mast 6, to its base 30 and to the electrical collector 31. The pads 44 must remain in electrical contact with the tracks 34 despite the existence of these vibrations strong. The fact that the width of the tracks 34 is greater than the height of the pads 44 allows a certain clearance of the pads 44 at the level of the tracks 34. In the absence of such clearances, the electrical contactors and/or the tracks could be damaged. The pads 44 are two in number per contactor 42-1, 42-2. Thus, if one of the pads 44 were to no longer be in contact with a track 34 for example because of the aforementioned vibrations, or else, at the level of the contact interface between the hemi-rings 31-1, 31-2, then the other shoe of the same contactor is and the electrical contact is always made, ensuring continuity in the electrical supply of the electronic devices arranged on the mast and/or the transmission of the signals. The pads 44 of each electrical contactor 42-1, 42-2 are mounted at the end of arm 45. The arms 45 of each contactor are constructed so that the pads 44 are in contact with the tracks 34. In other words , the arms 45 apply a force for applying the pads 44 to the bottom of the grooves in which the tracks 34 are located. Again, this force keeps the pads 44 in contact with the tracks 34 notwithstanding the vibrations caused by the operation of pump 1.

Claims (10)

Concrete pump (1) comprising a frame (2a) fitted with a hopper (5) intended to receive the concrete and a concreting mast (6) articulated and rotatably mounted at an angle of 360° on a turret, said concreting being carrying at least one pipe (6a) intended to convey the concrete between the hopper (5) and a place of delivery of the concrete and an electronic device (22, 26) positioned on the mast (6), characterized in that the concreting mast (6) is provided, at its base (30), with a rotating electrical collector (31) consisting of two hemi-rings (31-1, 31-2) assembled one at a time the other around said base (30) and fixed thereto, the semi-crowns (31-1, 31-2) being provided, on their outer faces, with at least one longitudinal electrical track (34), the electrical track or tracks (34) of one hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2) being arranged in continuity with the track or tracks (34) of the other hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2 ), so that electrical contactors (42-1, 42-2) external to the hemi-rings (31-1, 31-2) follow the tracks (34) when the mast (6) is rotating, the electrical tracks (34) of the hemi-rings (31-1, 31-2) being connected to electrical cables for conduction of electricity and/or of an electrical signal to the electronic device (22, 26) positioned on the mast (6). Concrete pump (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the base (30) of the concreting mast (6) is substantially cylindrical of revolution with a diameter (D) substantially equal to the double radius of the semicircle formed by the interior of the half-crowns (31-1, 31-2). Concrete pump (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the diameter (D) is between 150 mm and 350 mm, in that the width (L) of a hemi-crown (31 -1, 31-2) is included in 50 mm and 250 mm and the height (h) of a hemi-crown (31-1, 31-2) is included in 50 mm and 250 mm. Concrete pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hemi-rings (31-1, 31-2) comprise a lower part (32) provided with longitudinal tracks (34) and an upper part (33 ) forming a protective cap for said lower part (32). Concrete pump (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the upper part (33) of a hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2) comprises a notch (37) provided with a through hole (37 -1) for the assembly of the hemi-crown (31-1, 31-2) at the base of the concreting mast (6) by means of an assembly element. Concrete pump (1) according to one of Claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (32) of a hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2) comprises, at its base, a foot (38) , said foot (38) engaging in a groove (39) of the base (30) of the concreting mast (6), said groove (39) and said foot (38) being provided with through holes (40) for the fixing of the hemi-crown (31-1, 31-2) to the base (30) of the concreting mast (6) by means of an assembly element. Concrete pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric tracks (34) are tracks (34) which run through the entirety of the outer semi-circle of the semi-rings (31-1, 31 -2), each track (34) being contained in a groove of the hemi-ring (31-1, 31-2). Concrete pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the half-rings (31-1, 31-2) comprise at their interface grooves (41) for the introduction of electric cables, each cable being electrically connected to an electrical track (34). Concrete pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electrical contactor (42-1, 42-2) comprises two pads (44), each pad (44) being positioned sliding on an electrical track ( 34), the height of the pads (44) being lower than the height of the track (34) on which they are positioned. Electric collector (31) of the concreting mast (6) of the concrete pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims.