NL2029464B1

NL2029464B1 - Trench digging device

Info

Publication number: NL2029464B1
Application number: NL2029464A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Lambertus Van Merksteijn Jacobus
Original assignee: Vm Holding B V
Priority date: 2021-10-19
Filing date: 2021-10-19
Publication date: 2023-05-16

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for digging trenches, where the device is moveable in an operation direction over a substrate, the device being provided with a trencher comprising a rotatable wheel, the rotatable wheel being arranged vertically and parallel to the operation direction, and rotatable about a first axis which is transversally oriented with respect to the operation direction, to dig a substantially vertical trench in the substrate by rotating the wheel and at least partly pressing it in the substrate while the device moves or is being moved in the operation direction, and a rotatable drill head, which while in use is arranged at least partly below the ground level, to drill a tunnel adjacent to the trench dug by the trencher. The invention also relates to a method for storing carbon, captured from carbon dioxide, into the ground in the form of organic material.

Description

TRENCH DIGGING DEVICE

The invention relates to a device for digging trenches.

Devices for digging trenches as such are known, and are commercially available for instance under the trade name ZIBO from Zinger Mechanisatie B.V. in Borger, the Netherlands.

The known trench diggers may be moved bv e.g. a tractor in an operation direction. In order to dig a trench, a rotating wheel may be used. The rotating wheel is inserted into the ground as the device is moved in the operation direction, so that the wheel cuts a trench in the ground.

The known trench diggers are used to provide relatively narrow drainage channels in farmland. Water drains relatively easily from the channels. As such, the drainage channels are cut relatively narrow.

As such, the existing trench diggers are unsuitable for cutting trenches in which a relatively large amount of material may be stored.

The invention aims to provide a device for digging trenches, in which material may be stored subsurface.

The aim is achieved by a device for digging trenches, where the device is moveable in an operation direction over a substrate, wherein the device is provided with a trencher comprising a rotatable wheel, wherein the rotatable wheel is arranged substantially vertically and substantially parallel to the operation direction, and is rotatable about a first axis which is substantially transversally oriented with respect to the operation direction, to dig a substantially vertical trench in the substrate by rotating the wheel and at least partly pressing it in the substrate while the device moves or is being moved in the operation direction; and at least one rotatable drill head, which at least while in use is arranged at least partly below the ground level, to drill a tunnel adjacent to the trench dug by the trencher.

By providing the device with a rotatable drill head below ground level, a tunnel can be dug. The tunnel may be connected to the trench, so as to be accessible from the surface.

Accordingly, a relatively large, longitudinal cavity can be created subsurface, which is suitable for storing a relatively large amount of material.

It should be noted that the subsurface storage space created as such may be relatively large, while the amount of open surface may remain relatively small. This may be advantageous to preserve e.g. flora growing on the surface. Moreover, keeping the surface intact for a relatively large portion may increase efficiency of the digging process, as the surface-level substrate may not necessarily need to be removed when subsurface storage is desired.

In order to arrange the at least one rotatable drill head at the suitable height. it may be arranged a position corresponding to the lower half of the rotatable wheel of the trencher.

It is noted that it is principally possible to use the trench digging device with any substrate, although it is envisioned to use the device for digging trenches with tunnels in the earth, for instance in soil.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the at least one rotatable drill head is rotatable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is arranged at an angle of between 0° and 90° with respect to the first axis, preferably at an angle of between 10° and 60°, more preferably between 30° and 45°.

By placing the second axis at an angle with respect to the first, material removed by the at least one drill head may be thrown towards the rotating wheel of the trencher. Accordingly, the trencher may be used to remove the material from the substrate, for instance by moving it up. As such. The material may be removed from the ground relatively efficiently, for instance without the use of conveyors etc.

In particular the second axis of the at least one drill head is set up substantially horizontally. Bv arranging the second axis horizontally, the drill head(s) may be used for cutting substantially horizontal tunnels relatively efficiently.

In another embodiment of the trench digging device, there are two drill heads attached to both sides of the trencher.

By providing two drill heads, a relatively large amount of storage space may be created with the use of a single trencher.

The two drill heads may be driven in opposite directions, for driving the drilled substrate towards the trencher. When driving the drill heads in opposite directions at similar speeds the device may be dynamically balanced at least to some extent.

The drill heads may be arranged in mirrored positions and orientations with respect to the wheel of the trencher.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the wheel of the trencher is configured to rotate in such a way, that as seen in the operation direction, the front part of the wheel moves upward when the wheel rotates.

By rotating in such a manner, substrate mixture removed to form the tunnel and/or the trench is moved over the wheel towards the back, for instance to reapply it in the trench or tunnel if desired. Moreover, the reactionary forces on the wheel caused by contact of the rotating wheel with the substrate when the device moves in the operation direction, may urge the device downwards, thereby keeping the device and/or its tractor on the ground. Accordingly, traction on the surface is enhanced or ensured

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the at least one drill head is configured to rotate in such a way that, as seen in the operation direction, that a front part of the at least one drill head moves downward when the drill head(s) rotate(s).

Said direction of rotation may be used to throw material from the tunnel towards the trencher, for being moved away by the trencher. Additionally or alternatively, a resulting force of the drill head(s) may counteract that of the trencher at least partly.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the at least one drill head is provided with blades for throwing drilled material.

Accordingly, material removed to form the tunnel may be moved by the blades, so that no further measures are needed to move the material out of the tunnel. In particular, the blades may be configured to throw the material towards the trencher, so that the trencher may be used to move the material further.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, it further comprises a casing for each drill head, where the casing is designed to allow the throwing of material towards the trencher, preferably exclusively in said direction.

Using a casing the material may be guided away from the drill head towards a particular direction, such as towards the trencher.

In another embodiment of the trench digging device, it is pivotable about a pivot axis, which allows it to be put in the ground or retrieved out of the ground. Accordingly. digging action can be engaged and disengaged selectively. As a result, the drilling and trenching can start when desired. Moreover, the device may be moved relatively easily with the trencher and drill heads above ground.

The trench digging device may comprise a frame, to which the trencher and the at least one drill head may be mounted. The trencher and the at least one drill head may be pivotable with respect to the frame, for allowing the trencher and drill head(s) to be inserted into and removed from the substrate.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the device is further provided with a return device to return machined and/or drilled material out of the ground, behind the trencher and the at least one drill head as seen in the operation direction.

Depositing said material behind the trencher and/or drill head avoids having to run over the dug material. Moreover, the material may be used to reseal the trench and/or tunnel.

In an embodiment of the trench digging device, the device is further provided with means to supply bulk material via the trench, dug by the trencher, into the tunnel, dug by the at least one drill head.

Accordingly, the stores material in the tunnel.

In order to maximize use of the device may be used as a storage device, which creates storage space in the form of at least the tunnel as it available volume, the device may comprise means to compact the material with which the tunnel and/or trench is at least partly filled. The compacting means may comprise a screw press.

The trenches and tunnels that can be created by the device described in the preceding paragraphs can be used to store carbon captured from carbon dioxide in the form of organic material. By adding the at least one drill head to the trencher, at least one tunnel is created, which makes this method for storing carbon under the ground more convenient instead of the possibility to store carbon only in a trench.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to a method for storing carbon dioxide, in the ground in the form of organic material, the method comprising digging a tunnel reachable via a trench, for example with the aid of a device according to any of the preceding claims; and at least partly filling the tunnel and/or trench with organic material.

The method steps described above may be performed while moving the device in the operation direction.

The storing method may also comprise the step of compacting the organic material which is positioned inside the trench and/or tunnel as well as returning material removed from the trench and/or tunnel, such as soil.

When organic material is placed inside the trench and/or tunnel it can be covered by material originally removed to create the trench and/or tunnel.

The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically of a side view of a device for digging trenches in use;

Figure 2 shows schematically a cross section of a trench and two tunnels dug by the device of figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows schematically a top view of a device for digging trenches.

Figure 1 shows a device 1 for digging trenches 2. The device 1 is movable in an operation direction D across a ground surface G. The device 1 includes trencher which comprises a rotatable wheel 3, which rotates in a first direction Ry, the axis of which 1s horizontal. As the device 1 moves in the operation direction D. the wheel 3 digs a trench 2 in the ground G. Behind the wheel 3 are two drill heads 4 disposed laterally on each side of the wheel 4. The drill heads 3 dig tunnels 5 which communicate with the trench 2, and provide a relatively large amount of storage space, for instance for organic material. The device 1 is provided with a frame 6 to which the respective components have been mounted. The frame 6 also has a wheel 7 for moving the device across the ground G. The frame 6 is provided with a coupling 8 for coupling to ¢.g. a tractor (not shown). Of course the device may also be self-propelled. The aft part 10 of the frame 6 is pivotable about the axis 9 of the wheel 7, so that the wheel 3 and the drill heads 4 may be moved into and out of the around G as desired.

Figure 2 a cross section of the trench 2 and the tunnels 4 dug by the device 1. The tunnels 4 connect to the trench 2, so that material may be put in them from the surface.

Figure 3 shows a top view of a device 1 for digging trenches. The device 1 is the same as that of figure 1, although constructional details have been left out. Further, the rotational directions 5 Ro of the drill heads 4 have been shown, the axes of which are horizontal. The top of the drill heads 4 move forward and to the center, i.e. towards the wheel 3 of the trencher, so that material removed by the drill heads is thrown towards the trencher. Figure 3 further shows some optional components, such as compacting means 11 in the form of a compression screw 11, and transport means 12. The transport means 12 comprise herein, as an example, a casing for catching and guiding material backwards, as seen in the operation direction. As can be seen in figure 3, the drill heads 4 are disposed at an angle a with respect to the operation direction D, angle o. in this case being approximately 37.5 degrees.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments and examples, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. In fact, the invention is also described by the following claims.

Claims

Conclusions

CLAIMS 1. Device for digging trenches, the device being movable in a processing direction over a substrate, the device being provided with:

a. a trencher comprising a rotatable wheel, the rotatable wheel being disposed substantially vertically and parallel to the direction of work, and rotatable about a first axis oriented substantially transverse to the direction of work, about a substantially vertical trench dig into the substrate by rotating the wheel and pushing it at least partially into the substrate while the device moves or is moved in the processing direction; and B. at least one rotatable chuck. which, at least in use, is arranged at least partly below the ground surface, to dig a tunnel next to the trench dug by the trencher.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rotatable drilling head is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being arranged at an angle of between 0° and 90° with the first axis, preferably an angle of between 10 ° and 60°, more preferably between 30° and 45° degrees.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second shaft is arranged substantially horizontally.

4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising two such drilling heads which are attached to opposite sides of the trencher.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel of the trencher is adapted to rotate such that the front part of the wheel. viewed in the machining direction, moves upwards as the wheel rotates.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one drill head is adapted to rotate such that a front part of the at least one drill head, viewed in the machining direction, moves downward when the drill head rotates.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one drilling head is provided with blades for throwing drilled material.

Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a housing for each drill bit, the housing configured to permit the throwing of material towards the trencher, preferably in that direction only.

A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is pivotable about an axis, allowing the device to be inserted into or removed from the ground.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a return device for returning worked and/or drilled material from the ground, behind the trencher and the at least one drilling head as viewed in the working direction.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for feeding bulk material via the trench dug by the trencher into the tunnel dug by the at least one drill bit.

12. Device according to the preceding claim, further provided with means for compressing the material with which the tunnel and/or the trench is at least partially filled.

A device according to the preceding claim. wherein the means for compacting comprises a screw press.

A method of storing carbon captured from carbon dioxide in the soil in the form of an organic material, comprising:

a. digging a tunnel that can be reached by means of a trench, for instance with the aid of a device according to any one of the preceding claims; and B. at least partially filling the tunnel and/or the trench with organic material.

A method according to the preceding claim, wherein step a) comprises moving the device in the processing direction.

A method according to any one of the preceding method claims, further comprising: compressing the added organic material in the tunnel and/or trench.

17. A method according to any one of the preceding method claims, further comprising: returning material, such as earth, removed from the trench and/or tunnel.

A method according to claims 16 and 17, wherein the organic material is covered with the material removed from the trench and/or tunnel.