GB2041429A

GB2041429A - A method of and device for excavating earth

Info

Publication number: GB2041429A
Application number: GB8001949A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CORRE J LE; HARTENSTEIN M
Current assignee: CORRE J LE; HARTENSTEIN M
Priority date: 1979-01-23
Filing date: 1980-01-21
Publication date: 1980-09-10
Also published as: HU181011B; GB2041430A; IT8009318A0; FR2447425A1; ES487762A0; ES8100396A1; IT1133554B; CH634889A5; FR2447425B3; DE2952693A1; NL8000257A; BE873663A

Abstract

There is disclosed the excavation of earth for laying pipelines, cables, and the like, in which a suction device carried on a vehicle 1, and including a high capacity suction turbine. A flexible hose 4 and a storage tank 2 interposed between the turbine and the hose 4, is used to remove earth from an excavation by suction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of and device for excavating earth THIS INVENTION relates toa method of excavating trenches for laying pipelines and cables in urban zones, whereby working conditions can be alleviated and nuisance reduced and also relates to an excavation device for performing the method.

At the present time the sub-soil in all urban districts is cluttered with distribution networks for various services: water, gas, electricity, telephone, distance distribution and sewers.

These main services use town and country road systems to provide supplies for frontagers.

The ever-increasing demand, increased quaiity of life and comfort, maintenance of services, new installations and the renewal of decrepit installations are some of the reasons why the trenches have to be opened.

This work has three negative aspects: The technique by which the trench is made, the nuisance to the environment, and the slow rate at which the work is carried out.

As regards the technique applied, apart from a trench made mechanically, and this is applicable only in a very small zone of the sub-soil (in country districts or along roads outside towns and motorways) and where the equipment usedcutting machines, trenching machines, and mechanical shovels-is well known and completely perfected, the problems with trenches in urban zones are numerous and very different, because the subsoils are highly cluttered by the various distribution services, the roads are often narrow and traffic conditions difficult.

Up to the present time it is not possible technically mechanically to produce a trench in an urban zone under these conditions without causing considerable damage to existing conduits, connections, cables etc. in the subsoil. The roads are sometimes so narrow in town centres that a mechanical shovel cven a small onedoes not have the room for manoeuvre required for operation. The work therefore has to be carried out manually with the only tools used being drills and breakers or pick hammers, spades, pickness and shovels, with considerable physical force applied continuously.

With regard to nuisance to the environment, this is due to the slow rate at which the work progresses, roads and pavements being cluttered by the spoil, and the risk of accident which such spoil causes to pedestrians and drivers.

Following upon a breakdown or fault on a distribution network, the road often has to be opened rapidly to locate the place for repair.

The technique applied for opening the road and pavement is always the same: The surfacing and any sub-foundation is broken up with a pick hammer or drill and breaker, the rest of the work being generally carried out to a depth of 1.5 metres by hand, and it takes several hours, if not all day, for a team of navvies to carry out the work, frequently under difficult and arduous conditions as a result of the nature of the sub-soil and weather.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved excavation method by the aforementioned disadvantages can be reduced, or even eliminated.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of excavation for laying pipelines and cables in urban zones, the method comprising (a) powerful suction of earth over the width of the required trench and over its entire depth and (b) storage of the spoil as the material is sucked in.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an excavation device for performing the above method, the device comprising means of sucking in and storing earth and other materials.

Preferably said means for sucking in and storing earth and other materials is adapted to be mounted on a conventional self-propelled cab-chassis.

The suction means preferably comprises a very high capacity suction turbine associated with a flexible suction tube.

A storage tank is preferably provided between the turbine and the flexible suction tube and is preferably coupled to said turbine at the front while the said suction tube is fixed to the outside of the rear part of the storage tank.

The rear part of the storage tank may be adapted to be raised hydraulically, and the storage tank assembly may be adapted to swing or pivot to allow easy discharge of the stored materials.

Preferably the top inner part of the storage tank is provided with air filters to retain dust and impurities before the air passes through and is discharged from the turbine.

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, and which shows the rear of a vehicle provided with an excavating device for performing a method according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, an earth storage tank 2 is mounted on a conventional selfpropelled cab chassis 1 and comprises a steel tank reinforced to withstand the negative pressure produced by the turbine (not shown) which is housed beneath the front part of said tank, and the inlet of which is coupled to this part of the tank.

The rear part of the tank 2 is adapted to be lifted by a hydraulic system 5 and has the flexible suction means 4 fixed on the outside of the swing flap 3 of the tank.

The tank assembly can swing or pivot so as to enable the stored material to be readily discharged, and its top inner part is provided with air filters to retain dust and impurities before the air passes through the turbine and is discharged.

The turbine will be designed to give an adequate suction speed for the work in question. It can be driven either by an auxiliary motor or engine or by the vehicle engine via a coupling.

The flexible suction means 4 comprises a flexible suction tube of a maximum diameter of 300 mm. It is disposed on the movable hydraulic arm 5 to allow accurate positioning of the tube end or suction head 6. This hydraulic arm moves horizontally and vertically.

The suction means enables material to be sucked in up to a depth of 1.80 metres, and this is fully in keeping with the conditions under which cables and pipelines are laid.

The whole of the flexible and hydraulic system folds at the rear of the vehicle in order to limit its size and allow the equipment to be moved in traffic like any other vehicle.

All the hydraulic systems are controlled from a movable control box of greatly reduced weight and size so that the operator can carry out operations under optimum visibility and supervisory conditions.

To make the equipment self-contained, the vehicle is provided with a compressor which will supply any drills and breakers required to break the surface material.

Operation is simple: The apparatus operates like a vacuum cleaner. The turbine of suitable power produces a very strong air current through the storage tank and the suction pipe, which sucks in all the material near the end of the pipe, exact location of which is made possible by means of the hydraulic system.

The earth and materials are sucked in into the interior of the tank where they are deposited. The air is then filtered through the tank and discharged at the top thereof. Since the tank is of the opening and swing type, discharge of the stored materials is effected simply by tipping.

The apparatus described makes it no longer necessary for excavation to be carried out manually. All that is required is some simple assistance from one of the operators. The soil simply has to be loosened to allow it to be sucked up under good conditions. Loosening is simply carried out with a spade and, usually, without the workmen even having to go down into the trench. Under the most difficult conditions, it may be necessary to use a pick or a drill and breaker but in every case such use will be limited to breaking the materials without the labourer having to handle and discharge them.

The increased performance provided by the power of the equipment will eliminate any need for additional labour in emergency conditions or difficult ground. In unfavourable meteorological situations the labourer will no longer have to work in muddy trenches, but will be a machine operator controlling the equipment from the surface. In the event of a water main fracture, the sludge will be discharged by suction from the top of the trench and not by a shovel from the bottom of the hole. In hot weather, the operators can work in more pleasant conditions since no appreciable physical force is required.

Claims

1. A method of excavation for laying pipeline and cables in urban zones, the method comprising (a) powerful suction of earth over the width of the required trench and over its entire depth and (b) storage of the spoil as the material is sucked in.

2. An excavation device for performing the method according to claim 1, in which the device comprising a means of sucking in and storing earth and other materials.

3. An excavation device according to claim 2, in which the suction means comprises a very high capacity suction turbine associated with a flexible suction tube.

4. An excavation device according to claim 3 in which a storage tank is provided between the turbine and the flexible suction tube and is coupled to said turbine at the front while the said suction tube is fixed to the outside of the rear part of the storage tank.

5. An excavation device according to claim 4 in which the rear part of the storage tank is adapted to be raised hydraulically.

6. An excavation device according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the storage tank assembly is adapted to swing or pivot to allow easy discharge of the stored materials.

7. An excavation device according to claim 5 or 6 in which the top inner part of the storage tank is provided with air filters to retain dust and impurities before the air passes through and is discharged from the turbine.

8. An excavation device according to any of claims 4 to 7 in which the suction pipe is actuable by a hydraulic arm allowing exact positioning of its end or suction head.

9. An excavation device according to any of claims 2 to 8, in which a movable box is provided incorporating controls whereby operation of the device may be controlled.

10. An excavation device according to any of claims 2 to 9, in which it is associated with drills and breakers or pick hammers fed by a compressor and intended to break the surface materials.

11. An excavation device mounted on a vehicle and intended for performing the method according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

1 2. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.