IT202100013955A1 - MOBILE TRUSS FOR SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the Industrial Invention entitled:

MOBILE TRUSS FOR SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT

DESCRIPTION

Technical field of application

The invention is aimed at the sector of installation and repair of technological systems in the electrical, electronic, telephone and communications sector.

In particular, the invention relates to a mobile trellis for supporting technological equipment, preferably for supporting medium voltage cables, high voltage cables, optical fibers, etc.?

Pre-existing technique

In the continuation of the description it will be done? specifically reference to a mobile trellis for the support of high voltage cables but ? clear that the same trellis mobile potr? be used to support the pi? various technological equipment and instruments.

A reliable energy supply ? top priority? for any public service. Overhead lines, made up of high-voltage cables supported by pylons, can be exposed to natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, floods and landslides, and in the worst areas? cold even when the cables freeze. The pylons are also exposed to the risk of collision by heavy vehicles.

Does the inconvenience of a power outage involve, in addition to inconvenience for the end user, also financial damage for electricity distributors and producers? who may face substantial compensation claims.

It is therefore essential to be able to restore the electricity supply as quickly as possible. as quickly as possible after any outage, whether planned for maintenance or due to a breakdown.

Currently in an emergency, for the replacement of high voltage pylons ? necessary to wait very long times for their construction and installation on site, with qualified personnel.

The pylons are built in the factory in modular monoblocks, and subsequently assembled on site; it should be specified that the installation sites are not always easy to reach.

The modular monoblocks are transported to the site with exceptional transport, unloaded and installed with special cranes or helicopters, or in the case of larger structures? light aluminum with hydraulic winches. Installation and assembly are carried out by qualified personnel competent for work at high altitudes.

All these operations involve risks to personnel and rather long installation and connection times, thus involving an extension of the power line outage times.

Civil works interventions are also necessary for the construction of a base for fixing the pylon which involve additional times and costs.

In summary, the limits and disadvantages of traditional interventions to replace the pylons to support high voltage cables are: - site preparation costs, for civil works and the relative overbuilding of the site;

- transport costs and times for the arrival of the monoblocks which will form the pylon on site (several transports are needed to transport all the material);

- costs for the rental of equipment and machinery suitable for the assembly of the trestle;

- need? assembly by crane or use of helicopter on site; - long installation and assembly times;

- greater risks for work at height for personnel;

- costs for the failure to immediately restore the line after the interruption, whether it is planned for maintenance, due to a breakdown or for an emergency replacement due to the collapse of the pylon;

- financial damage for users, distributors and electricity producers.

Presentation of the invention

The invention aims to overcome these limits.

Purpose of the invention? create a mobile truss to support technological equipment that can be easily installed, without the use of special machinery and specialized manpower, which limits interruptions to electrical supplies and drastically reduces downtime of the plants.

One of the main purposes of the mobile truss object of the present invention ? for example that of quickly restoring the electricity service in areas subject to blackouts due to the collapse of an existing pylon due to natural disasters, collision with heavy vehicles and/or any other reason, keeping the electricity grid operational.

The objects of the invention are achieved with a mobile truss for supporting technological equipment characterized in that it comprises:

- a vehicle adapted to be towed comprising a loading platform; - a support column for said technological equipment comprising a first end? and a second end?;

- hinged constraint means of the first end? of said column to said loading surface, adapted to allow said column to vary its position between a horizontal position and a vertical position;

- first motor means able to move first transmission means operatively connected to said column to determine its rotation between the horizontal position and the vertical position;

- first and second means for locking said column in horizontal and vertical position.

Further characteristics of this movable trestle are set forth in the dependent claims.

The solution which is the object of the invention has numerous advantages: - does the mobile trestle arrive on site already? assembled and complete with all the arrangements necessary for its commissioning;

- in a possible construction variant, a motorized (or manual) telescopic system of the support column allows its extension in height up to the necessary height;

- does it require a restricted support and work area and no civil works, therefore ? an ideal system for installations on difficult terrain;

- no cranes or helicopters and heavy equipment or tools are needed for the assembly of the truss;

- Not ? highly qualified personnel required for assembly and installation operations;

- all the collateral equipment necessary for putting the trellis into operation is housed on the vehicle together with the trellis where ? stored and easily transportable;

- installation costs are reduced as it is a "traveling" mobile truss, completely pre-assembled directly on a vehicle, be it a trailer or a semi-trailer;

- the risks for personnel are reduced thanks to the limitation of work at height: the positioning of the technological equipment on top of the pylon (for example the insulators), and the connection of the existing cables, is carried out when the pylon itself is ? anchor at eye level in horizontal position on the vehicle;

- for applications involving electricity supply lines, the mobile trellis ensures rapid restoration of the energy supply.

The mobile towers according to the invention provide the ideal solution in various emergency situations, such as for example:

- in case of failure of an existing pylon without possibility? rapid replacement of the same;

- during the complete or partial renovation or maintenance of an existing trellis where ? necessary to put it out of service for a period of time;

- in the event of natural disasters or unforeseeable events such as flood, fire, earthquake, freezing of the transmission line, etc?; - in situations of extreme urgency, for rapid assembly and start-up, where the tower must be installed and put into operation in a few hours;

- in case of tests and trials, for example for the primary distribution of energy in an isolated area to avoid premature investments or build oversized plants;

- as a stand-alone solution where the truss has to be installed in severe climatic conditions and remote regions.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other advantages will be more evident in the following, which describes a modality preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, and with the help of the figures where:

Figs. 1 and 2 show, respectively in side view and in plan view from above, a movable truss for supporting technological equipment according to a first variant of the invention, in transport configuration;

Fig. 3 shows, in side view, the mobile trestle of Fig. 1 in working configuration;

Figs. 4-8 show, respectively in an axonometric view, in a side view in three different working configurations, and in a detailed front view, a mobile trestle without a vehicle according to a further possible variant of the invention;

Figs. 9-11 show, respectively in side, front and top views, a mobile trestle without a vehicle according to a further possible variant of the invention, particularly in the transport configuration;

Fig. 12 shows, in an isometric view without a particular covering casing, the mobile trestle of Fig. 9 in working configuration, in particular during a phase of preparation of the trestle itself;

Figs. 13-15 represent, in an axonometric view, individual components of the mobile truss of Fig.9.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Referring to Figures 1-3 ? illustrated is a mobile truss 1 for supporting technological equipment A, in particular for supporting high voltage cables C, comprising:

- a vehicle 2, in particular a semi-trailer on wheels, of the type adapted to be towed by a tractor, and comprising a loading surface 3; - a support column 4 for said technological equipment A, in particular for insulators I on which the high voltage cables C will be connected.

Said column 4 comprises a first end? 4' by which ? fixed on the loading surface 3 of said vehicle 2, and a second end? 4'' to which said technological equipment A is directly fixed.

Said mobile truss 1 comprises hinged constraint means of the first end? 4' of said column 4 to said loading surface 3, able to allow said column 4 to vary its position between a horizontal position (Fig. 1), in which it is typically in the transport phase during the movement of the mobile lattice 1 towards the installation site, and a vertical working position (Fig.3).

Said movable truss 1 comprises first motor means able to move first transmission means operatively connected to said column 4 to determine, with said hinged constraint means, its rotation between the horizontal position and the vertical position. As safety devices, said mobile truss 1 comprises first and second means for locking said column 4 in horizontal and vertical position, operative both during the transport phase of the truss 1 and during its working phase.

Said mobile truss 1 further comprises a container 16 for depositing the accessories and materials necessary for putting the mobile truss 1 into operation when in situ. Said container 16 also houses on the loading surface 3 of the vehicle 2.

Said vehicle 2 comprises extensible stabilizing feet 17 for resting on the ground or on suitable platforms 18 to allow stability? of the entire mobile truss 1.

In the variant of Figures 1-3, said column 4 comprises a single upright 14 of the truss beam type.

Figures 4-8 illustrate a mobile trestle 1 according to a possible embodiment variation. For simplicity? representative Figures 4-8 do not show the semi-trailer vehicle 2 but only a reference plane that simulates the loading plane 3.

Column 4 illustrated ? telescopic type and includes a plurality? of uprights 14 with reticular beam, positioned one inside the other, where the upright 14 with greater cross section constitutes the first end? 4' of the column 4 connected to said loading surface 3 by means of said hinged constraint means, while the upright 14 with a smaller cross section constitutes the second end? 4'' of column 4 to which the technological equipment A will be fixed.

Said column 4 comprises second motor means suitable for moving second transmission means operatively connected to said plurality of of uprights 14 to determine the extension of said column 4 when already? stands upright.

Said first and second motor means can be automated or manual; in any case, trellis 1 ? equipped with a long crank handle unit 20 to be used to manually maneuver said first and second motor means to incline said column 4 and extend it, to be used for example in case of emergency or some malfunction of said motor means.

Said means for hinged connection of said column 4 to said loading surface 3 comprise a support structure 5, comprising a base 21, a first 6' and a second 6'' shoulder, each provided with a hinge 7', 7' ' adapted to connect said first 6' and second 6'' shoulder to said first end? 4' of said column 4.

Said first drive means comprise an electric generator 23, located on board the vehicle 2 and normally arranged on said loading surface 3 (visible for example in Fig. 3) and an electrical system. Alternatively, said first motor means could be of the hydraulic type and comprise a hydraulic circuit.

Said first transmission means comprise two inclination actuators 9', 9'' operatively connected between said loading surface 3 and said column 4, at the sides of the reticular beam upright 14 with a larger cross section.

Each tilt actuator 9', 9'' comprises a cylinder 19 fixed to the base 21 of said support structure 5 (or directly to said loading surface 3) and a rod 29 fixed to said column 4, in particular to one of said hips 22.

The extension of said inclination actuators 9', 9'', commanded by said electric generator 23, causes the rotation of said column 4 and its rise in vertical position.

In the variant of Figures 4-8, said second motor means comprise a winch 25 and said second transmission means comprise ropes 26. Alternatively, said second motor means could be of the electric type and said second transmission means could comprise at least one actuator.

Figures 9-12 illustrate a mobile trestle 1 according to a possible embodiment which differs from the one described above in that said column 4 comprises a plurality of of tubular uprights 24 (and not with reticular beam) and for the different configuration of said means of hinged connection of the column 4 to the vehicle 2. Also in this case, for simplicity? representative, Figures 9-12 do not show the semi-trailer but only a reference plane which acts as its loading plane 3.

Said hinged constraint means comprise a housing cradle 8 for said first end? 4' of said column 4, and a first 7' and a second 7'' hinge able to connect said cradle 8 to said first 6' and second 6'' shoulder.

Said cradle 8 comprises a locking collar 27 for the first end? 4' of said column 4, in particular for its tubular upright 24 more? external.

Said first transmission means comprise a single tilt actuator 9 placed in axis with respect to said support structure 5, where the cylinder 19 is? fixed to the base 21 of said support structure 5 and the stem 29 fixed to said cradle 8 in its lower portion (Fig.

Still with particular reference to Figure 12 and to the detail of Figure 13, the pairs of holes 10a, 10b, provided on the shoulders 6', 6'' of the support structure 5, belonging to the first locking means and suitable for being selectively engaged by the movable pins 12a, 12b arranged on the sides of the cradle 8 to ensure that the column 4 is kept in position, whether horizontally or vertically.

Said support structure 5 comprises along its base 21 channels 28 suitable for housing the forks of a forklift useful in a preparatory phase of the mobile trestle 1, during the installation of the column 4 already in the assembled on the loading platform 3 of vehicle 2. From Figure 14, the following are visible:

- a first 33' and a second 33'' hole, provided on the sides of the cradle 8, for positioning a first 7' and a second 7'' connecting hinge of the column 4 with the shoulders 6', 6'' of the support structure 5,

- the movable pins 12a, 12b necessary for locking said column 4 in position.

Figure 15 illustrates said second locking means in position of said column 4 used to secure and support the second end? 4'' of said column 4 when ? in horizontal position in truss transport configuration 1.

Said second locking means comprise a tie 15 stably associated with said loading surface 3, made up of two C-shaped arms 30', 30''. Said arms are hinged together at one end, to allow the opening of the tie 15 and the insertion of the column 4, and lockable with hook means 31 at the end? opposite to successful entry.

In all the variants illustrated, said mobile truss 1 comprises a control box comprising at least:

- an UP/DOWN switch with waterproof boot which allows the operator to command said first and second motor means to rotate the column, between a horizontal position (0?) and a vertical position (90?), and to extend or retract it when vertical;

- an OVERRIDE switch with waterproof boot that ? used with the UP/DOWN switch to override any errors returned from the control box in order to allow for emergency extension and retraction of the column in? manual using the crank handle assembly;

- a display screen equipped with an eight-digit, infrared-protected alphanumeric display, with green LED, to show column status, column cycle count and error codes;

- an emergency stop button which, when pressed, stops all movement of the column and tilt actuators.

Said mobile trellis 1 ? also equipped with a manual remote control with which the operator can? interact with said control box and command all the functionalities? of the trellis.

As mentioned above, the invention ? been specifically described and illustrated with reference to mobile support towers for high voltage overhead lines, but the same solution can? be applied, always achieving the same advantages, in different fields, such as:

- a pylon for use in the electricity transmission field;

- a truss for use in the aerospace and telecommunications fields, as a support for large antennas; - a mast for use in the military field for radar support;

- a truss for use in the civil field, to support lighting fixtures, for civil protection and non-governmental agencies.

Claims (12)

1) Mobile truss (1) for supporting technological equipment (A) characterized in that it includes: - a vehicle (2) adapted to be towed comprising a loading surface (3); - a support column (4) for said technological equipment (A) comprising a first end? (4') and a second end? (4''); - hinged constraint means of the first end? (4') of said column (4) to said loading surface (3), able to allow said column (4) to vary its position between a horizontal position and a vertical position; - first motor means able to move first transmission means operatively connected to said column (4) to determine its rotation between the horizontal position and the vertical position; - first and second means for locking said column (4) in horizontal and vertical position. 2) Mobile truss (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said column (4) comprises at least one lattice beam upright (14) and/or at least one tubular upright (24). 3) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said column (4) comprises a plurality of uprights (14, 24) telescopically connected to each other and comprises second motor means able to move second transmission means operatively connected to said plurality? of uprights (14, 24) to determine the extension or withdrawal of said column (4). 4) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means of hinged connection of said column (4) to said loading surface (3) comprise a support structure (5), comprising a first (6 ') and a second (6'') shoulder, and at least one hinge (7', 7'') capable of connecting said first (6') and second (6'') shoulder to said first end? (4') of said column (4). 5) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said hinged constraint means comprise a housing cradle (8) for said first end? (4') of said column (4), and said at least one hinge (7', 7'') ? adapted to connect said cradle (8) to said first (6') and second (6'') shoulder. 6) Mobile trellis (1) according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said first and second motor means are automated or manual. 7) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first transmission means comprise at least one tilt actuator (9, 9', 9'') operatively connected between said loading surface (3) and said column (4). 8) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one tilt actuator (9, 9', 9'') comprises a cylinder (19) fixed at least indirectly to said loading surface (3) and a stem (29) fixed at least indirectly to said column (4). 8) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said second transmission means comprise at least one extension actuator and/or cables (26). 10) Mobile truss (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first means for blocking said column (4) in position comprise two pairs of holes (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b), where the holes (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b) of each pair are provided on a shoulder (6', 6'') with said support structure (5) in different positions, and a pair of opposite movable pins (12a, 12b), provided at least indirectly on said column (4), able to selectively engage one of said pairs of holes (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b) when said column (4) is in horizontal or vertical position. 11) Mobile truss (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said first means for blocking said column (4) in position comprise at least one actuator (13) able to act on said mobile pins (12a, 12b). 12) Mobile trellis (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said second means for blocking said column (4) in position comprise a tie (15) stably associated with said loading surface (3) and capable of holding position called the second end? (4'') of said column (4) when said column (4) is in horizontal position.