MXPA98000421A - Machine to make grooves in the su - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine for making grooves in the ground. According to the invention, the machine comprises: - a support base (8) through which a segment of a disk (4) can pass, the support base prevents the evacuation of the material from the grooves towards the outside; pressing the support base and the disc against the ground, and the disc (4) is mounted in free rotary movement, so that a footprint or impression corresponding to the ranu

Description

MACHINE FOR MAKING GROOVES IN THE SOIL Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine for making grooves in the ground.

Background of the Invention Although not exclusively, the machine according to the invention is particularly suitable for making grooves in relatively soft, compressible materials, such as the coating of roads consisting generally of asphalt (based on tar and bituminous substances) or of an analogous material, for depositing there, for example, elongated objects such as fiber optic and / or electric cables. For example, documents FR-A-2 425 502 and DE-A-30 22 317 disclose machines that carry a cutting disc subjected to rotary tension and carried by a mobile frame. When the frame moves, the rotating cutting disc attacks the ground and progressively performs a cutting line at the desired depth. Ref.26684 Such machines provide frequently mediocre results, in terms of the realization of the cutting line. In fact, during the cutting operation, the material (asphalt coating) is evacuated on the surface of the floor, respectively on one side and the other on the rotating disk, thus leaving deposits of materials on both sides of the disk, which requires Immediately an operation of recovery of the deposits, always annoying and expensive. In addition, by the very nature of the cut material, the edges of the cut line are often irregular and raised or torn, so that a cut line of mediocre quality is obtained. On the other hand, the cutting disc has teeth on its periphery that deteriorate with use, which leads to replacing the cutting disc relatively frequently. The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks. For this purpose, the machine for making grooves in the ground, said machine carrying a rotating disk connected or attached to the mobile frame, is remarkable: - because it comprises: - a support base capable of being applied against the ground, said base is placed orthogonally to the plane of said disc and is provided with a longitudinal space through which a segment of said disc can pass to realize the groove, the lateral edges of said longitudinal space are close to the lateral faces of said disc. disc and the base of support prevents the evacuation of materials from the grooves towards the outside; - prehensile means supported on said frame and applying with pressure the support base and the disc against the ground; and because the disk is mounted in free rotation, the rotary drive of said disk is ensured by the contact thereof with the ground because the mobile frame moves, so that it is made on the ground, without lifting of material, a mark or footprint corresponding to said slot. Thus, since the support base of the machine is applied on the ground (asphalt coating) and tightly adhered to the rotating disk, the covering material is prevented from being evacuated towards the outside and is forced to compress towards the bottom and towards the side walls of the line created by the action of the peripheral segment of the disk, making it leave the base and in contact with the ground. In addition, the disc does not work like a conventional cutting disc that drags an evacuation of the material towards the outside, but as a disc that penetrates the material to force it to compress without expelling it externally thanks to the base of support, so that it is obtained slot. The rotating disc constitutes a model that allows to make, after its passage, a "footprint or impression" on the ground, corresponding to said groove, which is not like that to speak properly of a cutting line. One such slot can have a width of a few millimeters and a depth of a few centimeters. Consequently, the machine according to the invention does not produce external deposits and allows to obtain a perfectly clean slot, in which optical cables can be deposited for example. Preferably, said disc has a continuous peripheral edge, devoid of teeth, which contributes to guarantee an excellent longevity or durability to the disc. Advantageously, at least one vibrator is associated with said disk, so that the penetration action of the latter on the ground is aided. In addition, said longitudinal space is preferably provided in the center of said support base.

According to a first embodiment, said support base can be constituted by a skate or shoe adapted to be applied on the ground, and having a groove corresponding to said longitudinal space for the passage of the rotating disc. According to a second exemplary embodiment, the support base can be constituted by two twin caterpillars apt to be applied on the ground, and spaced parallel to each other at a distance corresponding to said longitudinal space for the passage of the rotating disc. When, as is the case for the machine of DE-A-30 22 317, the machine of the invention is moved by hand by an operator, said means of application of the support base and the disk against the ground can be provided by the operator himself. However, in the case of a motorized machine, it is advantageous that said application means are drive devices, such as hydraulic jacks. The frame can carry a fixed part and a mobile part, articulated to each other, the mobile part is connected to the support base, and the disk is mounted on a shaft or axis of free rotation carried by the bearings that are associated with a support connected to the mobile part. In this case, the means of application comprise at least one of said actuating members that connect said fixed and movable parts of the frame and that allow the moving part to occupy positions lowered and raised for which the base and the disc are applied against the ground or away from it, respectively. According to other features, the machine comprises: means for adjusting the depth of the groove made by the rotating disc, by the relative displacement of the support base with respect to a support carrying the disc; and means for adjusting the force of penetration of said disk into the ground, with respect to the support base. The figures of the attached drawing are to understand well how the invention can be realized. On these figures, the identical references designate similar elements. Figure 1 represents a vehicle equipped with a machine according to the invention. Figure 2 is a partially exploded plan view of the machine illustrated on figure 1, in the course of making a groove. Figure 3 is a view of the drawing of the machine illustrated on figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates, in enlarged cross-section, the action of the disc in the coating to obtain the groove, according to the present invention. Figure 5 represents the vehicle of figure 1 equipped with a machine according to a variant embodiment. Figures 6 and 7 are respectively top and top views of the machine illustrated on Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The vehicle 1 shown on FIG. 1 is equipped with a machine 2 which allows the realization, on the floor S, of a "slot L." In this example, the machine 2 is fixedly mounted in front of the frame A of the vehicle, but it could be equipped in the rear of the armchair as shown by the representation with mixed strokes.To facilitate the guidance of the motor vehicle 1 and, thus, allow a rigorous realization of the slot L, a help device 3 for the control of the desired trajectory is engaged in front of the frame IA, said device 3 carries a pivoting wheel 3A at its free end.

The machine 2 comprises a disk 4 connected to the frame 5 of the machine, which is fixed to the chassis AIA of the vehicle. According to the invention, the machine 2 is provided with a support base 6 which is applied against the ground S, such as the asphalt coating of a road. This base 6 is orthogonally equipped to the plane of the disk, generally vertical. It is provided with a longitudinal space 7, which is parallel to the plane of the disc, so that a segment SD of the latter is brought out under the base to allow the groove L to be made and whose lateral edges delimiting said space are advantageously located in proximity to the side faces 4A of the disk. In the embodiment illustrated on figures 2 to 4, the support base 6 is formed in the shoe 8 (or shoe) provided with a longitudinal slit, median 9, which serves the function of the aforementioned longitudinal space 7. It is observed, on figures 2 and 3, that the SD segment of the disc 4 passes through slit 9 to exit under the skate of a height corresponding to the depth P of the slot. It is particularly emphasized, on FIG. 4, that the lateral edges 8A that delimit the slit 9 are substantially to the flower or on the surface of the lateral faces 4A of the disk, in such a way that such arrangement prevents the rise of the debris caused by the realization of the groove, forcing the material to be compressed. On the other hand, the disc 4 is associated, immobile, to a shaft or shaft 10 mounted in free rotation around its axis and housed by its ends in bearings 11. The latter are connected to a support 12 which thus carries the assembly disk-tree or axis. The peripheral edge 4B of the disc is also devoid of teeth. The rotating drive of the disc is effected by its contact with the ground. To facilitate the penetration of the disk into the ground, a vibrator 13 of the hydraulic type for example, is provided on the support 12. It is mounted on two shafts or rods 14 mounted perpendicularly on the skate and connected thereto, said shafts or rods they are located respectively forward and backward of the skate, in the plane of the disc that frames the latter. With respect to the frame 5 of the machine, it is composed of a part 5A that is fixed forward of the vehicle, and of a mobile part 5B, articulated to the fixed part 5A. In particular, the fixed part 5A is presented in the form of a U between the vanes or wings from which two parallel, lateral arms 5C of the moving part are mounted around an articulation axis 15 parallel to the shaft or shaft 10 that bears the disc. In the opposite part of its connection or connection to the fixed part, the side arms 5C are connected to the respective fittings 8B of the skate around an articulation axis 16, parallel to the articulation axis 15. At least one cross member 5D is connected in fixed form to two arms to provide rigidity to the moving part 5B of the frame. In order to pressurize the shoe 8 and the disc 4 _ against the ground, actuating means such as hydraulic jacks 17 are provided. These actuating elements are equipped on the one hand and the frame 5 respectively and are connected to each other. on one side to the fixed part 5A of the frame by two axes 18 and, on the other side, to the side arms 5C of the mobile part 5B, by the axes 19. As shown in figure 2, the mobile part 5B of the chassis it occupies a depressed position corresponding to the outputs of the shafts or rods of the hydraulic jacks, in such a way that the skate and the disc are firmly applied on the covering to be cut. The raised position of the movable part of the frame, next to the entrance of the shafts or rods of the hydraulic jacks, is partially illustrated with mixed strokes on FIG. 2. On the other hand, the machine is also equipped with means for adjusting the force of penetration of the disk 4 into the ground and means 21 to adjust the depth of the slot L to be obtained. In this embodiment, these means are provided at the level of the shafts or rods 14 on which the support 12 of the disk 4 is mounted. Also, a threaded bush 22 is equipped or adapted between each shaft or rod and a corresponding internal passageway. 12A of the support, in such a way that an action on these two bushes 22 that produces a traction, causes a relative displacement between the skate 8 and the support 12 and, thus, a variable projection of the segment of the SD disc according to the depth P desired by the slot. A screw 23 is also provided in the upper free end of each shaft or rod 14 and the elastic elements 24, such as the elastic washers of the "Belleville" type, are placed around the screw, especially between the graduation bushing of the depth 22 and the screw 23. This screw 23 allows to more or less compress the elastic washers 24 and, thus, act on the force of penetration of the disc in the coating with respect to the shoe in contact therewith. The operation of the machine 2, mounted forward or backward of the vehicle chassis, is as follows. The machine 2 occupies the position indicated on figures 1 and 2, for which the skate 8 and the disc 4 are pressed against the cover R under the action of the hydraulic jacks 17, connected on the other hand to the pressure accumulators not shown and that allow effective support of the skate on the R coating of the soil. The graduations relative to the desired depth for the groove and the penetration force of the disc in the ground are further carried out. Following the advance of the vehicle 1, guided by the aid device 3, the disc 4 is subjected to rotational traction by its contact (rubbing) with the ground at the level of its segment SD that is made to come out under the skate 8, producing a groove L. The actuation of the vibrator 13 thus actively participates in the coupling of the SD segment of the disk in the ground. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the material constituting the roadway coating, such as the asphalt, is forced to be compressed by the action of the side faces 4A and the peripheral edge 4B of the disk, and by the presence of the lateral edges 8A of the slit, close to the faces 4A, and which prevents the material from being evacuated (ie discharged or expelled) towards the outside. Thus, it is compressed (tightened) progressively towards the bottom FD and towards the lateral faces FL of the slot L little by little and to the extent of the advance of the vehicle 1. It is then obtained, at the rear of the machine afterwards. from the passage of the disk, a perfectly clean slot L, without external deposits to recover and ready for the placement of elongated objects, such as optical cables. The section of the slot L then corresponds substantially to the section of the active segment SD of the disk that penetrates the coating. In addition, due to the nature of the material, the cutting disc practically does not wear out or use. In a variant embodiment of the machine, illustrated on FIGS. 6 and 7, the support base 6 is defined from two coupled caterpillars 26, placed parallel to each other and on one side and the other respectively of said disk 4. distance D, which separates the inner edges in front 26A of the lower hydraulic jacks 26B of the two caterpillars 26, corresponds to the aforementioned longitudinal space 7, allowing the free passage of the disc between the caterpillars. This distance D is relatively close to the thickness of the disk, so that the material during the excavation can not be evacuated to the outside, as in the case of the slide 8 with the opening 9. The frame 5 of the machine 2 is analogous to that described above, with the exception that the free ends of the arm 5C carry the ends of the shaft or shaft 10 of said disk 4. The frames or frames 27 on which the tracks 26 circulate, are fixed to the plates 12B of the support carrying the shaft or shaft 10 and the disc 4, by the screw 28. The supports can be grooved or relatively articulated on the frames or frames 27 to allow the graduation of the depth of the groove to be made . The vehicle 1 illustrated on FIG. 5 is equipped with the machine 2 with the caterpillars 26 described above, which are fixed, for example, under the chassis IA of the vehicle between the two axles. By way of example, the groove made can be 25 mm deep by 10 mm wide. On the other hand, the vehicle 1 represented on FIGS. 1 and 5 can be equipped with a tower around which the cable that is to be placed is wrapped and allowing, after the realization of the slot, the placement of the cable in it. In this case, a sand hopper and a pitch boiler may be mounted associated with the vehicle to cover the slot after the cable is laid. Thus, the slot, the placement of the cables and the covering of the slot can be obtained from the same vehicle. Upstream of the machine 2, a rotating brush can be mounted under the chassis of the vehicle, allowing the coating to be cleaned as much as possible before the machine passes.

It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (12)

1. A machine for making grooves in the ground, the machine carries a rotating disk (4) connected to a mobile frame (5), characterized in that it comprises: a support base (6) capable of being applied against the ground, the base is placed orthogonally with respect to the plane of the disk and is provided with a longitudinal space (7) through which a segment of said disk (4) can pass to realize the slot, the lateral edges of the longitudinal space (7) are close to. the lateral faces (4A) of the disc and the support base (6) prevent the material from being moved out of the grooves to the outside; - means (17) supporting rests on the frame (5) and applying with pressure the support base (6) and the disk against the ground; and in that the disk (4) is mounted with a free rotary movement, the rotary drive of the disk (4) is ensured by the contact thereof with the ground when the mobile frame (5) moves, so that it is carried out in the floor, without lifting material, a mark or footprint corresponding to the groove.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the disk (4) has a continuous peripheral edge (4B), devoid of teeth.

3. The machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one vibrator (13) is associated with the disk (4).

4. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinal space (7) is provided substantially in the middle of the support base (6).

5. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support base (6) is constituted by at least one skate (8), suitable for being applied on the ground and having an opening (9) corresponding to the longitudinal space (7) for the passage of the rotating disk (4).

6. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support base (6) is constituted by two coupled caterpillars (26), apt to be applied on the ground and spaced parallel to each other at a distance corresponding to the longitudinal space (7) for the passage of the rotating disc (4).

7. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means for applying the support base (6) and the disk against the ground are driving elements, such as the hydraulic jacks (17).

8. The machine according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the frame (5) is composed of a fixed part (5A) and a mobile part (5B), articulated with each other, said mobile part is connected to the base of support (6), and in that the disc (4) is mounted on a shaft or shaft (10) that rotates freely, carried by bearings that are associated with a support (12), fixed to the moving part (5B).

9. The machine according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the application means comprise at least one of said actuating members (17) that connect the fixed (5A) and mobile (5B) parts of the frame, and that allow the the moving part (5B) occupy the folded and raised positions by means of which the base (6) and the disc (4) are applied against the ground or away from it, respectively.

10. The machine according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises means (21) to adjust the depth of the groove made by the rotating disk, for relative movement of the support base with respect to a support who carries the disc.

11. The machine according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means (20) for adjusting the penetration force of the disk in the ground, with respect to the support base.

12. A method for realizing, on the ground, a groove capable of receiving a cable or similar object, characterized in that it consists of: - making a groove in the ground, without the lifting of the material, thanks to the action of a disk mounted in rotary movement free and whose rotary traction is ensured by its mobile contact under pressure with the ground; and - place the cable in the slot.