JP2002322610A - Vehicle for road work, traction device and road work method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle for road work capable of towing and moving a working means with the space between the working means and the working surface such as a road surface kept constant, a traction device capable of keeping constant the space between the working means to be towed and the working surface, and a road work method enabling the vehicle for road work to move and do work with the space between the working surface and the working means kept constant. SOLUTION: In this underground radar vehicle 10, an arm 50 is turned by oil pressure of a hydraulic cylinder 32 to ground a wheel 26 of a frame 16. Even after the grounding state of the wheel 26, the arm 50 is turned by a designated amount so that the frame 16 is pressed downward by a pneumatic spring body 60, whereby the wheel 26 is pressed to the road surface 28. Thus, the wheel 26 can be prevented from being sprung so that the space between the road surface 28 and the frame 16 can be kept constant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a road work vehicle for performing a cavity inspection or the like in the ground under a road, and a tow vehicle in such a road work vehicle or the like, which is actually inspected. The present invention relates to a towing device for connecting a towed vehicle equipped with a working means for performing the above-mentioned work, and further to a work method such as inspection on a road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, without destroying a road (ie,
As a non-destructive cavity inspection device for inspecting cavities in the ground, electromagnetic waves (radar waves) are radiated from the road (ground) to the road surface, and the presence or absence of cavities and the There is an underground radar device for inspecting a position or the like.

A towed vehicle equipped with such an underground radar device or a towed vehicle provided with wheels on the radar wave generation source of the underground radar device and the reflected wave receiving device itself is used as a towed vehicle (automobile). Underground radar vehicles have been developed that continuously or intermittently inspect the cavities while running on the road by connecting and towing the towed vehicle with a towed vehicle. An example is disclosed in JP-A-4-159145. Have been. Hereinafter, the underground radar vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-159145 will be briefly described.

The underground radar vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-159145 has a vehicle (towing vehicle) which is provided at both ends of the vehicle along the vehicle width direction and at the center of the front end of the vehicle along the front-rear direction. Each is provided with an antenna case (towed vehicle) to which casters (wheels) are attached.

In this antenna case, two pairs of brackets are provided along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and two pairs of brackets are provided along the vehicle width direction. The tip is rotatably supported.
The base ends of these rods are rotatably supported on a bracket integrally provided in a rear axle case that houses the axle of the rear wheel of the vehicle so as to be rotatable in the vehicle width direction. , An antenna case, and a rear axle case constitute a parallel four-bar link mechanism.

[0006] One end of a wire rope is locked to the antenna case. The other end of the wire rope is connected to a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the vehicle, and the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder raises the wire rope so that the antenna case can be separated from the road.

That is, in the underground radar vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-159145, when inspection is not performed, the wire rope is pulled up by hydraulic pressure to keep the antenna case away from the road. In the case of performing an inspection or the like, the hydraulic pressure is released, the antenna case is lowered by the weight of the antenna case, and the vehicle moves while the antenna case is in contact with the ground, so that the antenna case follows.

[0008]

In this underground radar vehicle, the distance between the antenna receiving surface of the antenna case and the road surface is made substantially constant by connecting the antenna case to the rear axle case via a rod. Although it can be done, the caster itself attached to the antenna case bounces on the uneven road surface, and the entire antenna case moves toward and away from the road surface, so the distance between the antenna surface of the antenna case and the road surface is reduced. Difficult to keep constant.

Further, even if a spring is provided between the rear axle case or the antenna case and the rod, or a shock absorber is provided on a caster of the antenna case, the underground radar vehicle may be provided. In the configuration (1), since the antenna case is grounded by its own weight, it is not possible to effectively prevent or limit the movement of the antenna case toward or away from the road surface due to the caster bouncing or the like.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a road work vehicle capable of towing and moving a work means while maintaining a constant level between a work means for performing cavity inspection and the like and a work surface such as a road surface. An object of the present invention is to provide a traction device capable of maintaining a constant distance between a means and a work surface, and a road operation method capable of performing work while moving between a work surface and a work means while maintaining a constant value.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road work vehicle, comprising: a work means for performing a predetermined work in a state of being in contact with a road surface; a tow vehicle movable by towing the work means;
The work unit is attached to the towing vehicle, moves up and down with respect to the road surface by the driving force of a driving unit to move the working unit toward and away from the road surface, and the grounding state at a predetermined position in the vertical direction. Lifting means for applying a pressing force to the road surface side to the means, and transmitting the pressing force from the lifting means to the working means interposed between the lifting means and the working means, at least The work means includes a buffer means for absorbing a change in the pressing force and keeping the pressure at a substantially constant size in the ground contact state.

According to the road working vehicle having the above structure, the working means is connected to the towing vehicle via the buffer means and the elevating means, and the working means is towed by the towing vehicle moving in a state of being in contact with the road surface. As a result, predetermined work is performed by the work means while the work means moves on the road.

[0013] In the on-road working vehicle, the elevating means, which receives the driving force from the driving means, moves up and down, whereby the working means moves up and down to approach and separate from the road surface. Therefore,
When the working means is not used, the working means is lifted and separated from the road surface, whereby the towing state of the working means is substantially released. For this reason, the running performance of the towing vehicle can be improved as compared with the case where the working means is towed.

On the other hand, when the working means is lifted away from the road surface, a driving force from the driving means is applied to the elevating means, and when the elevating means is lowered by the driving force, the working means are both lowered to contact the ground, and When the lifting / lowering means descends to a predetermined position in the direction, the lifting / lowering means applies a pressing force to the working means via the buffer means, and the working means is pressed against the road surface by the pressing force. For this reason, even if the working means moves in a direction away from the road surface due to unevenness on the road, the distance between the working means and the road surface is basically always kept constant because the pressing means is pressed down by the lifting means. Dripping.

Further, the working means presses the elevating means due to irregularities on the road, and the pressing reaction force overlaps the pressing force from the elevating means. As a result, the working means is applied from the elevating means to the working means. When the pressing force (ie, the sum of the normal pressing force and the pressing reaction force) increases, the difference between the previous normal pressing force and the previous normal pressing force is absorbed by the buffering means interposed between the lifting / lowering means and the working means.

On the other hand, when the working means tries to move away from the elevating means due to unevenness on the road or the like, whereby the pressing force from the elevating means on the working means is likely to decrease, the normal The difference from the pressing force is compensated by the buffer means. As described above, in the road working vehicle, not only does the lifting / lowering means apply the pressing force to the working means, but when the pressing force increases / decreases, the difference of the increase / decrease is absorbed by the buffer means. As a result, the work means is always pressed against the road surface on the road with a substantially constant force, so that the running performance of the towing vehicle and the work means is not hindered, and the work on the road can be performed smoothly and reliably. it can.

The "working means" in the present invention refers to a device for performing various works on a road, for example, a radar device for performing a cavity inspection in a road (underground). In particular, there are a radar wave generation source and a reflected wave receiving device), a road cleaning brush and a fountain device.

The term "on the road" as used in the present invention is not limited to a so-called road, but refers to a portion where the above-mentioned towing vehicle moves. That is, if the tow vehicle is a so-called automobile, “on the road” refers to a so-called road, but if the tow vehicle is a railway vehicle or the like, “on the road” means that the track of a railway or the like or these tracks are It refers to the installation surface or the like on which it is installed (of course, the same applies to a configuration in which a vehicle pulls a work means on a road surface on which a railway track is installed).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road working vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein a base end is rotatable by a driving force of the driving means in a direction in which a front end comes into contact with or separates from a road surface on the road. The lifting means includes an arm mechanically connected to a body of the towing vehicle.

According to the road working vehicle having the above structure, the working means is connected to the distal end side of the arm constituting the elevating means via the buffer means, and when the driving force of the driving means is applied to the arm, The arm pivots around a base end connected to the vehicle body of the towing vehicle, whereby the distal end side of the arm moves toward and away from the road surface.

Therefore, when the arm rotates in the direction away from the road surface, the pressing force applied to the working means via the buffering means decreases, and further, when the arm rotates in the direction away from the working means, Moves away from the road. For this reason,
In the case where the work by the working means is not performed, for example, by separating the working means from the road surface, the towing vehicle substantially does not perform towing of the working means, so that the towing vehicle runs alone when moving, The running performance and the like can be improved.

On the other hand, when the arm is rotated in a direction approaching the road surface in a state where the work means is separated from the road, the work means approaches the road surface and comes into contact with the road surface. If the arm is simply rotated further in the direction of approaching the road surface while the operating means is in contact with the road surface, a load corresponding to the amount of rotation of the arm, that is, a pressing force is applied to the operating means via the buffering means. .

That is, in the road working vehicle, the lifting and lowering of the working means and the application and release of the pressing force can be performed only by the rotation of the arm only by the rotation of the arm.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road working vehicle according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the variable capacity vehicle is provided between the elevating means and the working means and is filled with gas. An air spring main body having a main air chamber, and a supply means for supplying the gas to the main air chamber when a gas pressure in the air chamber is less than a predetermined value, and a sub air chamber connected to the main air chamber. And a regulating valve connected to the main air chamber and discharging the gas in the main air chamber to the outside when the gas pressure in the main air chamber exceeds a predetermined value. Features.

In the road working vehicle having the above-described structure, basically, the pressing force from the lifting / lowering means is first applied to the air spring body constituting the buffer means. The main body of the air spring has a variable volume main air chamber. The pressing force acts to reduce the volume of the main air chamber, and the internal pressure (gas pressure) in the main air chamber with the reduction of the volume of the main air chamber. Rises. The gas pressure in the main air chamber acts as a pressing force on the working means, and the working force is pressed against the road (road surface) by the pressing force.

Here, the working means tries to press the elevating means via the buffer means due to irregularities on the road, etc., and the corresponding pressing reaction force overlaps the pressing force from the elevating means, so that the elevating means is moved from the elevating means. When the pressing force becomes excessive, the regulating valve is opened to release the gas in the main air chamber, and the internal pressure of the main air chamber is maintained at a predetermined level.

On the other hand, when the working means tends to move away from the elevating means due to irregularities on the road or the like, whereby the pressing force of the elevating means on the working means decreases, the supply to the main air chamber is reduced. Gas is supplied from the auxiliary air chamber of the means, and the internal pressure of the main air chamber is maintained at a predetermined level.

In this way, in the road working vehicle, the internal pressure of the main air chamber of the air spring main body is maintained at a predetermined magnitude (predetermined value), so that the pressing force of the working means against the road surface is kept constant.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the road working vehicle according to any one of the first to third aspects, a substantially center of the working means in a direction along a vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle is provided. As a boundary, the buffer means which operates independently on both sides thereof is provided.

In the road working vehicle having the above-described structure, buffer means are provided on both sides of the center of the working means along the vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle, and these buffer means operate independently. Then, the increase and decrease of the pressing force from the connecting means are absorbed by each.

That is, for example, there is unevenness on the road only on one of the left and right sides of the working means, or the traveling tow vehicle changes the course in one of the left and right directions, thereby reducing the centrifugal force. If the left and right sides of the working means are displaced differently with respect to the elevating means, such as when they act on the working means, the left and right buffer means independently operate according to this displacement to increase or decrease the pressing force. Each absorb. Therefore, a constant pressing force is always applied to the entire working means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road working vehicle according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the vehicle is interposed between the elevating means and the working means, and the buffer means is a specific one. It is characterized in that a supporting means is provided for mechanically supporting the working means in a state where the reduction of the magnitude pressing force is compensated.

In the road working vehicle having the above-described structure, when a reduction in the pressing force of a specific magnitude is compensated for by the buffer means as the elevating means rises, the supporting means interposed between the working means and the elevating means. The working means is mechanically supported.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent or reduce an excessive load on the buffer means.

The support means may be provided separately from the buffer means, or the buffer means may have a function of the support means by adding the function of the support means to the buffer means. Further, a function similar to the buffer means may be added to the support means to hold the buffer means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road work vehicle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the vehicle is interposed between the lifting / lowering means and the work means, and at least the work means is provided. In the above-mentioned grounding state, a limiting means is provided for limiting a displacement of the working means with respect to the elevating means along a direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction of the towing vehicle.

In the road working vehicle having the above structure, the restricting means is interposed between the lifting means and the working means, and at least when the working means is in contact with the ground, a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the towing vehicle, for example, When the working unit attempts to displace with respect to the elevating unit in a direction along the vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle (left-right direction of the working unit), the displacement of the working unit is limited by the limiting unit. Thereby, the displacement direction of the working means can basically be restricted to the elevating direction, and the pressing force from the elevating means can be applied to the working means with a predetermined magnitude.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a working means for performing a predetermined work in a state where the work surface is grounded is mechanically connected to the moving means, and the working means is moved together with the moving means in the grounded state. A towing device, which is attached to a predetermined portion of the towing means, moves up and down with respect to the work surface by a driving force of a drive means to move the work means toward and away from the work surface, and Elevating means for applying a pressing force to the work surface side to the working means in the grounded state at a predetermined position in the elevating direction, and interposed between the elevating means and the working means, And a buffering means for transmitting the pressing force to the working means, and absorbing a change in the pressing force at least when the working means is in the ground contact state and keeping the working force at a substantially constant level.

In the traction device having the above structure, the working means is connected to the moving means via the buffer means and the elevating means constituting the traction apparatus, and the moving means moves while the working means is in contact with the work surface. The predetermined work is performed by the work means while moving on the work surface together with the movement means.

Further, in the present towing apparatus, the elevating means which receives the driving force from the driving means moves up and down, whereby the working means moves up and down and comes into contact with and separates from the work surface. Therefore, when the working means is not used, the working means is lifted and separated from the work surface, whereby the towing state of the working means is substantially released. Therefore, it is possible to improve the moving performance of the moving means as compared with the case where the working means is towed.

On the other hand, when the working means is lifted away from the work surface, a driving force from the driving means is applied to the elevating means, and when the elevating means is lowered by the driving force, the working means is lowered together to contact the ground, and When the elevating means descends to a predetermined position in the elevating direction, the elevating means applies a pressing force to the working means via the buffer means, and the working means is pressed against the working surface by the pressing force. For this reason, even if the working means attempts to move away from the work surface due to irregularities on the work surface,
Since it is held down by the pressing force from the lifting / lowering means, basically, the distance between the working means and the working surface is always kept constant.

Further, the working means presses the elevating means due to irregularities on the work surface, and the pressing reaction force overlaps the pressing force from the elevating means. As a result, the elevating means moves from the elevating means to the working means. When the applied pressing force (that is, the sum of the normal pressing force and the pressing reaction force) increases, the difference between the previous normal pressing force and the previous normal pressing force is absorbed by the buffer means interposed between the lifting / lowering means and the working means. You.

On the other hand, on the contrary, when the working means tries to move in the direction away from the lifting / lowering means due to unevenness on the working surface and the like, whereby the pressing force from the lifting / lowering means to the working means tends to decrease. The difference from the normal pressing force is compensated for by the buffer means. As described above, in the present towing apparatus, not only the lifting / lowering means applies the pressing force to the working means, but also when the pressing force increases / decreases, the difference of the increase / decrease is absorbed by the buffer means. Thereby, the working means is always pressed against the working surface on the working surface with a substantially constant force, so that the moving means and the moving performance of the working means are not disturbed, and the work on the working surface is smooth and It can be performed reliably.

The "work means" in the present invention refers to a device for performing various works on a work surface, and as an example, a road (underground) when the work surface is a road. (Particularly, a radar wave generation source and a reflected wave receiving device) for performing cavity inspection, and a cleaning brush and a fountain device.

Further, the elevating means in the present invention may be configured to include the arm of the above-described invention of claim 2, and further, the cushioning means of the present invention may be provided with the air of the invention of claim 3 of the present invention. You may comprise including a spring main body, a supply means, and an adjustment valve. Further, as in the invention according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a buffer means which operates independently on both sides of the working means in the direction along the width direction of the traction means may be provided. Good. Further, the present invention may be provided with the supporting means and the restricting means of each of the inventions described in claims 5 and 6 described above. When the configuration of each of the inventions described in claims 2 to 6 is applied to the present invention, the towing vehicle referred to in the inventions of claims 2 to 6 is used as a moving means in the present invention. It is supplemented that it is replaced and the road surface or the road is replaced with the work surface or the work surface.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road working method for performing a predetermined work while towing the working means grounded to a road surface by a towing vehicle and moving the working means in the ground contact state. The work means is connected to the towing vehicle so as to be able to ascend and descend with respect to the road surface by force, and the work means is pressed with a predetermined magnitude based on the driving force in a descending direction while the work means is in contact with the ground. Is pressed against the road surface, and a predetermined operation is performed by the operation means while absorbing the increase and decrease in the pressing force to keep the pressing force at a substantially constant magnitude.

According to the road operation method having the above-described configuration, the work means in the ground contact state is towed by the towing vehicle, and the predetermined work is performed by the operation means while the work means moves together with the tow vehicle.

Here, the working means is capable of ascending and descending with respect to the road surface by the driving force, and a pressing force of a predetermined magnitude based on the driving force is applied to the working means in the ground contact state. The working means is pressed against the road surface by the pressure. Thereby, even if the working means moves in a direction away from the road surface due to unevenness on the road or the like, the working means is pressed down by the pressing force, so that basically the distance between the working means and the road surface is always kept constant. It is.

Furthermore, even if the pressing force fluctuates due to the fluctuation of the road surface, etc., the increase and decrease of the pressing force are absorbed and are always kept at a substantially constant magnitude. As a result, even when the road surface fluctuates, the working means is always pressed against the road surface with a substantially constant force.
For this reason, work on the road can be performed smoothly and reliably.

The "working means" in the present invention means a device for performing various works on a road, and as an example, a radar device (for underground) inspecting a cavity in a road (underground). In particular, there are a radar wave generation source and a reflected wave receiving device), a road cleaning brush and a fountain device. Further, "on the road" in the present invention is not limited to only a so-called road, but refers to a portion where the above-mentioned towing vehicle moves. That is, if the tow vehicle is a so-called automobile, “on the road” refers to a so-called road, but if the tow vehicle is a railway vehicle or the like, “on the road” means that the track of a railway or the like or these tracks are It refers to the installation surface or the like on which it is installed (of course, the same applies to a configuration in which a vehicle pulls a work means on a road surface on which a railway track is installed).

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the road working method according to the eighth aspect, the base end portion is connected to the towing vehicle such that the front end side can rotate in a direction in which the front end comes into contact with or separates from the road surface by the driving force. An arm connected to the distal end side and connected to the working means, the working means being grounded, and
The pressing force is applied from the arm to the working means by lowering the distal end side of the arm to a predetermined position.

According to the road working method having the above-described structure, the arm, to which the working means is connected at the tip end, is rotated by the driving force and the tip end of the arm is moved up and down. Further, by lowering the distal end of the arm to a predetermined position in a state in which the working means is in contact with the ground, a push corresponding to the displacement amount from the position of the distal end of the arm corresponding to the position in which the working means is in contact with the ground to the predetermined position is simply performed. Pressure is applied to the working means, and the working means is pressed against the road surface by this pressing force.

Further, the work means can be separated from the road surface by rotating the arm in a direction in which the front end of the arm rises by connecting the work means to the distal end side of the arm.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the road working method according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein substantially the center of the working means in a direction along the vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle is used as a boundary, and both sides thereof are provided. And independently absorbs the increase and decrease of the pressing force.

In the road working method having the above structure, the increase and decrease of the pressing force are absorbed independently on both sides of the center of the working means along the vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle. Thereby, for example, there is unevenness on the road only on one of the left and right sides of the working means, or the centrifugal force is reduced by changing the course of the moving towing vehicle in one of the left and right directions. When a difference occurs in the pressing force between the left side and the right side of the working means, for example, when the pressing force is applied, the increase and decrease in the pressing force on both the left and right sides of the working means are absorbed in accordance with the difference. Therefore, a constant pressing force is always applied to the entire working means.

[0055]

FIG. 4 is a side view of an underground radar vehicle 10 as a road work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the underground radar vehicle 10. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "vehicle width direction"
The terms indicating directions such as “front-back direction”, “left-right direction”, and “up-down direction” are based on the towing vehicle 12 as a moving means.

As shown in these figures, the underground radar vehicle 10 includes a towing vehicle 12 and an underground radar device 14 as a working means. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the underground radar device 14 includes a frame 16.
The frame 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape in a plan view (the state shown in FIG. 3) penetrating in the vertical direction.
It is located behind.

Inside the frame 16, a radar wave generator 20 that radiates radar waves downward (ie, toward the road surface) and a receiver 22 that receives radar waves reflected in the ground are provided. And are integrally fixed to the frame 16 via fixing means (not shown).
The radar wave generator 20 and the receiver 22 are electrically connected to an apparatus main body (not shown) installed in the towing vehicle 12 shown in FIG. It is controlled by the main body of the apparatus and can analyze the reflected wave to monitor the state of the underground (the presence or absence of a cavity).

A pair of right and left brackets 24 are fixed to the front end and the rear end of the frame 16, respectively. On each of these brackets 24, wheels 26 are rotatably supported around the axis of the towing vehicle 12 with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction, and these wheels 26 are mounted on a road surface 28 (FIG. 2) as a working surface. (See FIG. 4 and FIG. 4). The frame 16 is configured to be able to roll on the road surface 28 in a state of being in contact with the ground, and the frame 16 is moved by rolling the wheels 26 on the road surface 28.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
Above the frame 16, a traction device 30 and a hydraulic cylinder 32 as driving means are arranged. The hydraulic cylinder 32 has a cylinder body 34. The cylinder body 34 is rotatably supported by a pair of left and right brackets 36 fixed to the towing vehicle 12 so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle around the axis with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. Also, the cylinder body 3
Reference numeral 4 indicates that the open end of the piston 38 is directed substantially forward, and the distal end side of the piston 38 housed inside thereof projects outside from the open end.

In the present embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 32 is a so-called "double-acting hydraulic cylinder". By applying hydraulic pressure from one side of the cylinder body 34 and releasing hydraulic pressure from the other side, The piston 38 is drawn into the cylinder main body 34, the hydraulic pressure is applied from the other side of the cylinder main body 34, and the hydraulic pressure is released from one side, whereby the piston 38 is pushed out from the cylinder main body 34.

At the tip of the piston 38, a tip of a swinging piece 40 is pivotally supported by a predetermined angle about the vehicle width direction.

A shaft 42 whose axial direction is in the vehicle width direction is integrally fixed to the base end of the rocking piece 40, and apparently the rocking piece is connected to the rocking piece 40 at its center. 40 extends outward from the base end in the vehicle width direction. This shaft 4
The two axial ends are rotatably supported by bearings 44 (only one is shown in FIG. 1). Bearing part 44
Is a pair of beams 4 integrally provided on the body of the towing vehicle 12.
6, the shaft 42 is supported by the vehicle body of the towing vehicle 12 via the bearing 44 and the beam 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, one of the bearings 44
Is provided with a pair of limit switches 48,
When the shaft 42 rotates by a predetermined angle, one of these limit switches 48 stops further pressurization or depressurization via the above-described control means for the hydraulic cylinder 32, and stops rotation of the shaft 42. I have.

The base end of an arm 50 constituting the elevating means is fixed to both ends in the axial direction of the shaft 42. The arm 50 extends substantially rearward from the base end portion to the middle portion, and has a front end bent substantially downward at the middle portion. Note that the extending direction and the bending direction of the arm 50 change at any time as the arm 50 rotates around the base end.

A bearing 52 is attached to the distal end of each arm 50, and supports the proximal end of a shaft 54 whose axial direction is the vehicle width direction. Each shaft 54
The front end side extends outward in the vehicle width direction, and the front end side is pivotally supported by a bearing 58 fixed to the mounting piece 56. The mounting piece 56 is fixed on a mount 62 of an air spring main body 60 constituting a buffer means. A base 64 is disposed below the mount 62, and a cylindrical and elastically deformable diaphragm 66 constituting a main air chamber is provided between the mount 62 and the base 64. Both open ends of the diaphragm 66 are closed by the base 64.

As shown in FIG. 6, which is a simplified schematic diagram, the inside of the air spring main body 60 (diaphragm 66) is filled with a gas such as nitrogen gas at a predetermined pressure. The air spring main body 60 is connected to a sub tank 68 that constitutes a supply unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the sub-tank 68 is integrally fixed to a pair of support portions 70 provided so as to connect the above-mentioned pair of beam portions 46, and through the support portion 70 and the beam portion 46. And is integrally fixed to the body of the towing vehicle 12. The sub-tank 68 has a basically constant volume, and is filled with a gas of the same kind as the gas in the air spring main body 60 such as nitrogen gas in a compressed state.

A leveling valve 72 as an adjusting valve is provided between the sub tank 68 and the air spring main body 60. The base end of an arm 96 described later is rotatably supported on the leveling valve 72 so as to be rotatable around the axis in the vehicle width direction.
Between the air spring body 60 and the outside, and the gas in the air spring body 60 is opened by closing the arm 96 to one side around the base end. Is released to the outside, and the arm 96 pivots around the base end to open the space between the air spring main body 60 and the sub-tank 68 to release the gas in the sub-tank 68 to the air spring main body 6.
0 is supplied.

An electromagnetic valve 74 is provided on the sub-tank 68 side of the leveling valve 72. The solenoid valve 74 is electrically connected to a control device (not shown).
Leveling valve 7 based on a control signal from a control device
Opening and closing between the sub tank 2 and the sub tank 68 is performed. The solenoid valve 74 is basically open when the wheel 26 is grounded, and only when the frame 16 is lifted by the arm 50 is the leveling valve 72 and the sub tank 68
Close between

On the other hand, the sub-tank 68 is also connected to a tank 76 for air suspension of the vehicle body, and the gas in this tank 76 is supplied to the sub-tank 68. An electromagnetic valve 78 is provided between the tank 76 and the sub tank 68. The solenoid valve 78 is electrically connected to a pressure switch 108 provided between the solenoid valve 74 and the sub tank 68. The air pressure between the electromagnetic valve 74 and the sub-tank 68 is detected, and when the air pressure during this period is less than a predetermined value, that is, when the internal pressure of the sub-tank 68 is less than a predetermined value, the electromagnetic valve 78 is opened. The gas is supplied from the tank 76 to the sub tank 68.

A regulator 110 having a pressure gauge is provided between the solenoid valve 78 and the sub-tank 68 so that the pressure is reduced when the internal pressure in the sub-tank 68 exceeds a predetermined value.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the tank 76 for the air suspension of the vehicle body is used as a gas supply source to the sub tank 68, the sub tank 68
Can be relatively small, and the cost can be reduced because the tank 76 can be shared with the vehicle body.

On the other hand, the base portion 64 is connected to the frame 1 so as to connect the front and rear walls of the frame 16 at their upper ends.
6 is integrally connected to a supporting portion 80 provided integrally with the supporting member 6. Thereby, the frame 16 is indirectly connected to the arm 5.
0.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, rods 82, 8 as restricting means are provided beside each arm 50.
4 are provided. One end of the rod 82 in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported by a support portion 86 provided integrally near the base end of the arm 50 so as to be rotatable around the vehicle width direction. Is axially supported at one end in the axial direction of the rod 84 so as to be rotatable about the vehicle width direction. The other end of the rod 84 in the axial direction is rotatably supported by the above-described support section 80 so that the rod 50 can rotate in the vehicle width direction as an axial direction. That is, the arm 50 and the frame 16
Are also mechanically linked.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
A pair of brackets 88 constituting limiting means and supporting means are provided on the front and rear sides of the air spring main body 60. The base end of the bracket 88 is rotatably supported on the support portion 80 so as to be rotatable around the axis with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. At the distal end portion, the bracket 88 is rotated around the axis with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. The distal end of the rod 90 is freely supported. The base end of each rod 90 is rotatably supported by a mounting piece on the mount 62 so as to be rotatable around its axis in the vehicle width direction.

On the side of the air spring main body 60, a bracket 92 fixed to the support portion 80 is provided. One end of a rod 94 is fixed to the bracket 92 by fastening means such as a bolt. The rod 94 is generally elongated along the vertical direction, and has an arm 9 at the other end.
6 is rotatably supported around its axis in the vehicle width direction. The base end of the arm 96 is mechanically connected to the leveling valve 72 shown in FIG. 6, and the arm 96 is positioned around the base end of the arm 96 in the vehicle width direction as one axis (when the rod 94 rises). Accompanying rotation direction)
By rotating to the side, the leveling valve 72 is opened and the gas in the air spring main body 60 can be released to the outside. By turning to the other side around the axis, the leveling valve 72 is opened and the inside of the air spring main body 60 is opened. The communication with the sub tank 68 can be established.

Further, as shown in FIG.
On the sides of the frame 1, the pair of beams 98 connect the wall portions of the frame 16 facing each other at the front and rear at their upper ends.
6 are provided integrally. These beams 98
Engagement piece 10 having through hole 100 penetrating in the vehicle width direction
2 are integrally fixed. On the other hand, a cylinder 104 fixed directly or indirectly to the vehicle body of the towing vehicle 12 is provided substantially above the locking piece 102.

As shown in FIG. 5, this cylinder 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a configuration in which the support piston 106 is slid along the vehicle width direction by hydraulic pressure or the like, and the locking piece 102 moves up by a predetermined amount together with the frame 16 so that the through hole 100 is positioned on the slide trajectory of the support piston 106. In this state, when the support piston 106 protrudes from the cylinder 104, the support piston 106 penetrates the through hole 100. In this penetrated state, the lifting and lowering of the locking piece 102 is restricted, and the lifting and lowering of the frame 16 is indirectly restricted. (That is, the cylinder 10
4. A lock mechanism for locking the vertical movement of the frame 16 with the support piston 106 and the locking piece 102 is configured).

The internal pressure of the cylinder 104 is controlled by control means (not shown). Moreover, this cylinder 1
The control means for controlling the internal pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 04 also controls the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 32 described above, and the hydraulic cylinder 32 and the cylinder 104 are appropriately linked.

Next, the inspection method (road operation method) according to the present embodiment will be described while describing the operation and effect of the present embodiment.

In the underground radar vehicle 10, when the cavity inspection is not performed, the arm 50 is raised to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In this state, the support piston 106 penetrates the through hole 100 of the locking piece 102, and the support piston 106 holds the wheel 26 of the frame 16 at a predetermined position away from the road surface.
Even if the oil pressure in the cylinder body 34 of the hydraulic cylinder 32 changes carelessly, the frame 16 does not lower.

In this state, when a control means for controlling the hydraulic cylinder 32 and the cylinder 104 is operated by operating an operation panel (not shown) or the like, hydraulic pressure is applied from one side of the cylinder body 34 into the cylinder body 34 and , The internal pressure of the cylinder 104 is reduced, the support piston 106 is drawn into the cylinder 104, and the support piston 106 penetrates the through hole 100 (that is, the frame 16
Is released.

When hydraulic pressure is applied to the cylinder body 34 from one side of the cylinder body 34, and the piston 38 is drawn into the cylinder body 34, the rocking piece 40 is pulled rearward by the piston 38. The swinging piece 40 rotates around the base end. As the swinging piece 40 rotates, the shaft 42 integrally rotates in the same direction as the swinging piece 40, and further, the arm 50 integrally rotates around the base end in the same direction as the swinging piece 40. .

The tip of the arm 50 is lowered by rotating, and the frame 16 is lowered so as to approach the road surface 28. When the arm 50 rotates by a predetermined amount, the frame 1
The sixth wheel 26 contacts the road surface 28, but in the present embodiment, the limit switch 48 does not operate even if the wheel 26 simply contacts the road surface 28. Therefore, in this state, the arm 50 continues to rotate further to lower the distal end side until the limit switch 48 operates to stop the decrease in the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic cylinder 32. As a result, the arm 50 presses the mount 62 downward via the shaft 54.

The mount 62 receiving the pressing force from the arm 50 elastically deforms the diaphragm 66 to compress the gas in the air spring main body 60. The compressed gas presses the base 64 downward by its repulsive force. The pressing force received by the base portion 64 acts to press the frame 16 downward via the support portion 80, thereby pressing the wheel 26 against the road surface 28.

In the underground radar vehicle 10, the towing vehicle 12 travels in a state where the wheels 26 are pressed against the road surface 28 by the force based on the pressing force from the arm 50. When the towing vehicle 12 travels, the frame 16 connected to the towing vehicle 12 via the towing device 30 moves following the towing vehicle 12, and in this state, the underground radar device 14 is operated, so that the road surface is While moving on the road (on the road), the presence or absence of an underground cavity is inspected.

Here, in the underground radar vehicle 10, since the wheels 26 of the frame 16 are pressed against the road surface 28 by the force based on the pressing force from the arm 50 as described above, basically the frame 16 The distance between the road and the road surface 28 does not change. In other words, during the inspection, the distance between the road surface 28 and the radar wave generator 20 and the receiver 22 basically fixed to the frame 16 can be always kept constant, so that a highly reliable inspection can be performed. .

In the underground radar vehicle 10, the air spring main body 60 is interposed between the arm 50 and the frame 16 as described above, and the spring of the air spring main body 60 based on the pressing force from the arm 50 is provided. Pressing by force. Here, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the vehicle 6 runs on the convex portion 112 on the road surface 28, the frame 16 pushes the base portion 64 up by the height D of the convex portion 112, so that the volume of the air spring main body 60 further decreases and the gas pressure inside the air spring body 60 decreases. As a result, the pressing force for pressing the wheel 26 against the road surface 28 increases.

However, in the underground radar vehicle 10,
When the support portion 80 rises by the height D of the convex portion 112 and the rod 94 rises accordingly, the rod 94 rotates the arm 96 to open the leveling valve 72, and connects the inside and the outside of the air spring main body 60. Communicate. As a result, the gas in the air spring main body 60 is released, and the gas pressure is reduced. As a result, the pressing force of the wheel 26 against the road surface 28 can be prevented from increasing more than necessary. Performance degradation can be prevented or suppressed.

On the other hand, for example, when the wheel 26 falls into the recess 114 on the road surface 28 as shown in FIG.
Since the air spring body 4 is pulled downward, the volume of the air spring main body 60 further increases and the gas pressure inside the air spring body lowers. As a result, the pressing force for pressing the wheel 26 against the road surface 28 decreases.

However, in the underground radar vehicle 10,
When the support portion 80 is lowered by the depth D of the convex portion 112 and the rod 94 is lowered accordingly, the rod 94 rotates the arm 96 to open the leveling valve 72, and the air spring main body 60, the electromagnetic valve 74 and Between the two. Here, since the solenoid valve 74 is basically open, the sub tank 6
8 and the air spring body 60 communicate with each other to
The gas inside is supplied into the air spring body 60, whereby it is supplied into the air spring body 60, and the gas pressure is increased as a whole, and as a result, the pressure contact force of the wheel 26 against the road surface 28 is reduced more than necessary. Can be prevented, and the running performance of the towing vehicle 12 and the frame 16 can be prevented from deteriorating, and the wheels 26 can be prevented from splashing.

Incidentally, the lowering of the rod 94 as described above
This may also occur when the frame 16 is lifted by the arm 50 and the ground state of the wheels 26 is released. In this case, however, a control device (not shown) closes the solenoid valve 74 to supply gas from the sub tank 68. Cut off. Thus, basically, the road surface 28 with the wheels 26 in contact with the ground is
Only the pressure reduction and the gas supply following the irregularities of the above are performed.

Further, in the underground radar vehicle 10, since the air spring main bodies 60 are provided on the left and right sides of the frame 16, respectively, one of the right and left wheels 26 is provided on the road surface 28 by the convex portion 1 on the road surface.
12 or fall into the recess 114, the air spring body 6 basically corresponds to the wheel 26 that rides on the protrusion 112 or falls into the recess 114.
At 0, the above-described internal pressure adjustment is performed. For this reason, a uniform pressing force can be applied to all the wheels 26, and in that sense, a decrease in running performance of the towing vehicle 12 and the frame 16 can be prevented or suppressed.

Further, even if a so-called roll phenomenon occurs when the towing vehicle 12 curves to the left and right and the frame 16 follows this, the same operation as described above is achieved.
The wheel 26 can always be pressed against the road surface 28 with a constant force.

On the other hand, when the inspection is completed and the hydraulic cylinder 32 is operated to raise the arm 50 and raise the frame 16, the wheels 26 separate from the road surface 28. At this time,
The weight of the frame 16 displaces the support 80 and the base 64 downward with respect to the mount 62.

However, the support portion 70 and the base portion 64
Is displaced downward with respect to the mount 62, the bracket 88 and the rod 90 rotate to change the angle between them. In this state, the rod 90 with respect to the bracket 88
When the rod 90 relatively rotates to a position where the rotation of the rod 90 is restricted, or when the rotation angle of the rod 90 with respect to the bracket 88 (that is, the angle formed between the bracket 88 and the rod 90) becomes 180 degrees, the bracket The support 70 for the mount 62 by 88 and rod 90
In addition, the downward displacement of the base 64 is limited. That is, the base portion 64 and the mount 62 are not separated from each other by a predetermined amount or more, so that unnecessary supply of gas to the air spring main body 60 can be prevented, and the life of the air spring main body 60 can be extended.

In the underground radar vehicle 10, the wheels 26
The frame 16 is connected to the arm 50 while the
When trying to displace left and right or back and forth relative to the above, such displacement is limited by the rods 82 and 84, the bracket 88 and the rod 90 described above. That is, in the underground radar vehicle 10, since the relative displacement of the frame 16 with respect to the arm 50 is basically limited only in the vertical direction, the pressing force from the arm 50 via the air spring body 60 can be effectively applied to the wheel 28 against the road surface 28. 26.

In this embodiment, the arm 50 which is turned by the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 32 is applied to the lifting / lowering means.
With the direction of movement of the hydraulic cylinder 8 as the vertical direction, one of the cylinder body 34 of the hydraulic cylinder 32 and the piston 38 is fixed to the vehicle body of the towing vehicle 12 and the other is fixed to the mount 62. May be raised and lowered.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the underground radar vehicle 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the underground radar vehicle 10, but is basically applied to the road surface 28. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which a device for performing some work on the work surface such as (i.e., a work means) is towed by moving means such as the towing vehicle 12. Examples of this include a road sweeper that pulls a vehicle equipped with a rotating brush and cleans the road, and a road fountain wheel that pulls a water tank and a vehicle equipped with a fountain to fountain the road. The invention may be applied.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention, the work means can be towed while maintaining a constant distance between the work means and a work surface such as a road surface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a road work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the road work vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the road work vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall side view of a road work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a lock mechanism for locking the working means in a raised state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a buffer means.

FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which a wheel rides on a convex portion.

FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which a wheel has fallen into a concave portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 underground radar vehicle (vehicle for road work) 12 tow vehicle 14 underground radar device (work means) 28 road surface (work surface) 30 tow device 32 hydraulic cylinder (drive means) 50 arm (elevation means) 60 air spring body ( Buffering means) 68 subtank (buffering means, supplying means) 72 leveling valve (adjusting valve, buffering means) 82 rod (restricting means) 84 rod (restricting means) 88 bracket (supporting means, restricting means) 90 rod (supporting means, restricting) means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 592238641 Towa Auto Service Co., Ltd. 2-18-13, Showa, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi (72) Inventor Shoji Tanaka 2-5-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi (72) Inventor Keisuke Hamaguchi 8-15-12 Nishi Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Geo Search Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakamura 3-, Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 13-20 Inside Techno Craft Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigenori Takashima 2-18-13 Showa Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Towa Auto Service Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Sonoda Showa 2, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture -18-13 F-term in Towa Auto Service Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2D053 AA31 AB07 5J070 AC03 AE11 AF03

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A work means for performing a predetermined work in a ground contact state on a road surface, a tow vehicle movable by towing the work means, and a tow vehicle attached to the tow vehicle and driven by a driving force of a driving means, Lifting means for raising and lowering the work means so as to contact and separate the work means with the road surface, and applying a pressing force on the road surface side to the work means in the ground contact state at a predetermined position in the lifting direction. And transmitting the pressing force from the lifting / lowering means to the working means interposed between the lifting / lowering means and the working means, and absorbing a change in the pressing force at least when the working means is in the ground contact state. And a shock-absorbing means for maintaining a substantially constant size. 2. An arm having a base end mechanically connected to a vehicle body of the towing vehicle such that a front end thereof can rotate in a direction in which the front end comes into contact with or separate from a road surface on the road by a driving force of the driving means. 2. The road work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said lifting means is constituted. 3. An air spring main body having a variable volume main air chamber provided between the elevating means and the working means and filled with gas therein, and a sub air chamber connected to the main air chamber. Supply means for supplying the gas to the main air chamber when the gas pressure in the air chamber is less than a predetermined value, and the gas pressure in the main air chamber connected to the main air chamber exceeds a predetermined value. The road work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the buffer means includes a regulating valve that releases gas in the main air chamber to the outside. 4. The buffering means which operates independently on both sides of a substantially center of the working means in a direction along a vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle. A road work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting means interposed between the lifting means and the working means, wherein the buffer means mechanically supports the working means in a state where the buffering means compensates for a decrease in pressing force of a specific magnitude. The road work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The work interposed between the elevating means and the working means, and the work on the elevating means being at least in the ground state of the working means and along a direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction of the towing vehicle. The road work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising limiting means for limiting displacement of the means. 7. A traction device for mechanically connecting a working means for performing a predetermined work in a state of touching a work surface to a moving means and moving the working means with the moving means in the state of touching the ground, Attached to a predetermined portion of the traction means, moved up and down with respect to the work surface by the driving force of the drive means to contact and separate the work means with the work surface, and at a predetermined position in the elevating direction, Elevating means for applying a pressing force to the work surface side to the working means in a grounded state; interposing the pressing force from the elevating means interposed between the elevating means and the working means, And a buffer means for absorbing a change in the pressing force and keeping the pressing force at a substantially constant level when the working means is in the ground contact state. 8. A road work method for performing a predetermined work while pulling a work means grounded to a road surface by a towing vehicle and moving the work means in the ground contact state, wherein the work means is driven by a driving force. Attaching the work means to the road surface with a pressing force of a predetermined magnitude based on the driving force in a descending direction while the work means is in contact with the ground while the work means is grounded, and,
A road operation method, wherein a predetermined operation is performed by the operation unit while absorbing the increase and decrease in the pressing force and maintaining the pressing force at a substantially constant magnitude. 9. An arm having a base end connected to the towing vehicle and a working means connected to the tip end side so as to be rotatable in a direction in which the tip side comes into contact with and separate from the road surface by the driving force. 9. The road work method according to claim 8, wherein the work means is grounded, and the pressing force is applied to the work means from the arm by lowering a tip end side of the arm to a predetermined position. . 10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the pressing means absorbs the increase and decrease of the pressing force independently on both sides of the working means in a direction along the vehicle width direction of the towing vehicle. Or the road operation method according to claim 9.