WO2005035884A1 - Dredger cuttertooth manipulator - Google Patents
Dredger cuttertooth manipulator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005035884A1 WO2005035884A1 PCT/IB2004/003443 IB2004003443W WO2005035884A1 WO 2005035884 A1 WO2005035884 A1 WO 2005035884A1 IB 2004003443 W IB2004003443 W IB 2004003443W WO 2005035884 A1 WO2005035884 A1 WO 2005035884A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tooth
- manipulator
- spigot
- robotic
- cutterhead
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 9
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 210000004247 hand Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000135 prohibitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012958 reprocessing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000000707 wrist Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
- E02F9/28—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits
- E02F9/2891—Tools for assembling or disassembling
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/88—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements acting by a sucking or forcing effect, e.g. suction dredgers
- E02F3/90—Component parts, e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps
- E02F3/92—Digging elements, e.g. suction heads
- E02F3/9212—Mechanical digging means, e.g. suction wheels, i.e. wheel with a suction inlet attached behind the wheel
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
- E02F5/006—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes adapted for working ground under water not otherwise provided for
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
- E02F9/28—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits
- E02F9/2866—Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits for rotating digging elements
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21C35/00—Details of, or accessories for, machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam, not provided for in groups E21C25/00 - E21C33/00, E21C37/00 or E21C39/00
- E21C35/18—Mining picks; Holders therefor
- E21C35/183—Mining picks; Holders therefor with inserts or layers of wear-resisting material
- E21C35/1831—Fixing methods or devices
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T408/00—Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool
- Y10T408/26—Cutting by use of rotating axially moving tool with means to condition tool
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a dredger cuttertooth manipulator.
- a dredger cutterhead is used to extract material from, for example, the seabed.
- the cutterhead is mounted at the end of a cutterladder which extends from the hull of a dredger ship.
- the cutterhead is rotated so that it drills or grinds along the seabed.
- the cutterhead is provided with arms. It has teeth mounted on leading edges of the arms. Openings between the arms form vents (or channels) for the extraction of seabed material via the cutterhead. Material from the seabed can therefore be sucked up through the openings between the arms, along the cutterladder to the dredger ship, for removal from the seabed, much like a large vacuum cleaner.
- Dredger ships are often very large. For example, some have cutterheads having a weight of about 30 tonnes (30, 000kg).
- the cutterhead may have an outer diameter of about 3.5 meters and its height or length may be about 2.3 meters.
- Six spiral arms may be provided on the cutterhead, each being edged with perhaps ten teeth. This would provide a total of sixty teeth for the cutterhead. Each tooth alone weighs perhaps 20kg.
- a system proposed in the art is to replace the entire cutterhead upon each hoisting and lowering of the cutterladder.
- each cutterhead not only weighs approximately 30 tonnes, so involves a lot of raw materials, but is also a precisely manufactured item, having close tolerance requirements for the positions for the teeth and the tooth attachment mechanisms. They therefore are expensive to produce.
- replacing the cutterhead is a time consuming and dangerous process itself.
- the heavy weight of the cutterhead requires a very substantial piece of equipment to be installed on the ship for replacing the cutterhead. The equipment, therefore, proved to be unsuccessful. An improved and more cost efficient system is therefore required.
- the present invention provides a dredger cuttertooth manipulator comprising at least one robotic tooth handler, the manipulator comprising means for: 1. removing a tooth from a dredger cutterhead; and 2. replacing the removed tooth with a new tooth.
- the tooth is fixed to the cutterhead on a spigot, a spigot pin extending through the tooth and the spigot to secure it thereon.
- the tooth can be fitted on a spigot with a spiral form, with a spigot pin being fitted at a side of the spigot and tooth, to prevent the tooth from turning off the spiral form.
- the tooth may be tack- welded or glued onto a spigot of the cutterhead.
- the cuttertooth manipulator therefore, comprises a hand for gripping the tooth and either a pin driver far extracting the spigot pin or a means for disconnecting the weld or glue between the tootht and the spigot, such as a weld cutter or glue solvent.
- the manipulator comprises two robotic tooth handlers.
- the first removes worn teeth and the second fits new teeth to replace the worn teeth.
- the hand is fitted to the first robotic tooth handler.
- a second hand for gripping a new tooth and for securing the new tooth to a spigot may also be provided.
- the securement is with a spigot pin, for example by driving a spigot pin either through the tooth and the spigot or between a flange of the tooth and the side of the spigot, perhaps in a groove therein.
- the securement may alternatively be by welding or gluing the tooth to the spigot.
- the spigot preferably comprises a spiral element for assisting in the correct alignment of the tooth on the spigot.
- the spiral element is a quarter-turn helical thread.
- the second hand is preferably provided on a second robotic tooth handler.
- the manipulator is mounted on a cutterplatform of a dredger ship.
- the two robotic tooth handlers are mounted on opposed sides of the cutterplatform, for the cutterhead to be hoisted into a position between the two robotic tooth handlers.
- the manipulator is mounted on dampers to isolate the manipulator from vibrations caused during dredging operations.
- the dampers can be clamped to prevent damping for when the manipulator is manipulating teeth.
- the or each robotic tooth handler comprises a multi-axis robotic arm having a hand for engaging or gripping a cutterhead tooth.
- the ⁇ iand is at the end of the arm.
- motors or hydraulic systems drive the various elements of the or each multi-axis robotic arm.
- a method of manipulating cutterteeth on a dredger cutterhead is also disclosed.
- a dredger cuttertooth manipulator comprising two robotic tooth handlers for removing a worn tooth from a dredger cutterhead and for replacing the removed tooth (10) with a new tooth (48).
- the manipulator is fitted to a dredger ship, the two robotic tooth handlers being mounted on opposed sides of a cutterplatform of the dredger ship for the cutterhead to be hoisted into a position between the two robotic tooth handlers.
- Figure 1 shows a dredger ship having a cutterhead engaged with a seabed
- Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a dredger cuttertooth manipulator in accordance with the present invention on a cutterplatform of the dredger ship of figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 shows a detail of the first station of the manipulator of figure 2;
- Figure 4 shows a detail of the cutterhead of the dredger ship from figure 2;
- Figure 5 shows details of the second station of the manipulator of figure 2
- Figure 6 shows in plan a manipulator in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 7 shows in elevation a manipulator in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 8 shows a spigot with three alternative teeth for mounting to the spigot;
- Figure 9 shows an alternative cutterhead;
- Figure 10 shows a man operating a spigot pin removal tool for removing a spigot pin from a tooth and spigot in accordance with a prior art method of tooth, removal
- Figure 11 shows two men about to start to remove the spigot pin of figure 10.
- FIG. 9 A worn tooth 10 provided on a spigot 12 is shown in both figures 10 and 11.
- the tooth 10 is attached to the leading edge of an arm of a cutterhead on a spigot 12 with a spigot pin 14 holding the tooth 10 in place on the spigot 12.
- a first person 16 holds a first finger of a tooth removal tool 18 against the spigot pin 14.
- a second person 20 then uses a sledgehammer 22 to drive the spigot pin 14 with the tool 18 part way out of the tooth 10 and spigot 12.
- the tool 18 is then rotated so that a second, longer, finger 15 of the tool 18 can be used to drive the spigot pin fully out of the hole.
- the two step procedure is required due to the length of the pin — a shorter finger of the tool 18 will be more easy to align with the head of the spigot pin 14 when starting to drive the pin 14 from the tooth 10 and spigot 12.
- a third person then removes the old tooth 10 and replaces it with a new tooth 48 (not shown). Then the first person 16 places a new spigot pin (or the old spigot pin 14) in the tooth ready for the second person 20 to drive it through holes in the new tooth 48 and the spigot 12 for retaining the new tooth 48 on the spigot 12.
- the dredger ship 24 comprises a cutterladder 26 having a ladder raising and lowering wires 28 which, when pulled into the ship 24 by a pulley (not shown), raises the cutterladder 26 towards a cutterplatform 32, as shown by the arrow 30.
- the raised position for the cutterladder 26 is shown in dotted lines 34 in figure 1.
- the cutterladder 26 has a cutterhead 36 at a distal end thereof. The cutterhead 36, in use, engages the seabed 38 for dredging material from the seabed 38.
- the cutterhead 36 is shown in more detail in figures 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9.
- the cutterhead 36 is generally hemispherical and comprises coiled arms extending generally radially from the apex of the hemisphere towards the outermost rim of the hemisphere. However, they are twisted (i.e. coiled) around the hemisphere to define a slight corkscrew.
- the arms are recessed or angled to provide a leading cutting edge 44 having tooth- mounting positions 46 equally spaced therealong. In the embodiment shown in figure 2 and 4, there are eight positions per leading edge 44. This provides for a total of 48 teeth. Vents or openings 42 are provided between the arms.
- one new tooth 48 is shown fitted to the Cutterhead 36.
- the tooth 48 is mounted on a spigot similar to the four spigots 12 shown also in figure 2.
- the tooth 34 and the spigots 12 are shown more clearly.
- the spigots 12 are attached to, or will be formed integrally with, the tooth mounting positions 46 provided on the cutterhead 36.
- additional teeth 50 can be provided around the outermost circumference of the cutterhead 36. With these additional teeth 50, the total number of teeth on the cutterhead is increased to 54.
- More than eight tooth-mounting positions 46 can be provided on the leading edges 44 of the arms. Further, more than six arms could be provided. Similarly, less teeth can be provided on each leading edge or fewer than six arms can be provided. For the purpose of this specific description, however, only 48 teeth 48 are provided on the cutterhead 36.
- FIG 11 a detail of a preferred connection between a tooth 1O and the spigot 12 is shown.
- the tooth 10 is shown as a worn tooth.
- the tooth 10 which has an aperture (not shown) in its base, sized to fit snugly over the spigot 12 (shown in full in figure 4), is fitted over the spigot 12 so that holes 52 (one shown) in the tooth 10 align with a hole (not shown) in the spigot 12.
- the holes 52 in the tooth 10 are provided in flanges 54 extending from the base that engage in a slot provided in the spigots 12. This helps to prevent rotation or malal ⁇ gnment of the tooth on the spigot 12 since the flanges locate in the slots.
- a spigot pin 14 is then driven through the holes to lock the tooth 10 in place on the spigot 12.
- the pin locks in the holes with an engagement fit in both the opposed holes 52 of the tooth 10 and the hole in the spigot 12.
- the engagement fit is sufficient to prevent inadvertent removal of the pin in use.
- Other methods of attachment are, however, possible, as would be readily apparent to a skilled person, or as also used in the field of dredger cutterheads.
- Figure 8 shows an alternative arrangement for the spigot 12.
- the spigot 12 itself is square in section across its axis but spiralled along its axis.
- Three different teeth 48 are also shown, with different point shapes. There is a pick point 110, a flared point 112 and a chisel point 114. These each are suitable for different rock types.
- the teeth 48 and the spigot 12 shown in Figure 8 are generally in accordance with spigots 12 and teeth 48 that can be obtained from Esco (RTM) under the trademark Heliloc (RTM), which teeth are well known in the art of dredging.
- the teeth (only one of which will be fitted to each spigot) have an aperture (not shown) at their bases 116 similarly shaped to the spigot for fitting onto and mating with the helical thread of the spigot 12.
- the flange 117 of the tooth 48 will oppose a flat 115 of the spigot 12.
- a spigot pin 14, in the form of a slip of metal, rather than a cylindrical member, will then fit tightly into the gap between the flange 117 and the flat 115 to secure the tooth 48 onto the spigot 12.
- the pin 14, therefore, in use is fitted at a side of the spigot and against the flange 117 of the tooth 48 to prevent the tooth 48 from turning off the spiral form of the spigot 12.
- the pin 14 can later be removed from the spigot and tooth arrangement by driving its bottom face (not shown). This allows the tooth 48 to be removed from the spigot 12.
- the tooth may be tack welded (or otherwise welded) to a spigot.
- the pin 14 would then not be required.
- the tooth may be glued onto a spigot. Suitable glues include high-impact epoxy, which can be pre-applied to the inside of the aperture of the tooth.
- the Exco Spherilok (RTM) system as well known in the art of dredging, is particularly suitable in this regard.
- the Esco Quadrilok (RTJVf) system also well known in the art of dredging, is also particularly useful.
- the hand or hands of the cuttertooth manipulator therefore, comprises a hand for gripping the tooth and either a pin driver for fitting/extracting the spigot pin, or a means for welding or disconnecting the weld, or a means for gluing/disconnecting the glue between the tooth and the spigot, such as a welder/weld cutter or a gluing means and glue solvent dispensing means. If the tooth, however, has glue pre-applied to the aperture, such as is the case with Esco spherilok (RTM) teeth, then the gluing means (or a glue applier) will not be required.
- a pin driver for fitting/extracting the spigot pin
- a means for welding or disconnecting the weld or a means for gluing/disconnecting the glue between the tooth and the spigot, such as a welder/weld cutter or a gluing means and glue solvent dispensing means.
- the manipulator of the invention will be described for an embodiment for replacing teeth of the type secured with a pin extending through both the tooth and the spigot.
- a skilled person will, however, readily appreciate that the hand or hands can be appropriately adapted to suit the various different types of tooth connection that exist in the art.
- a dredger cuttertooth manipulator or robotic tooth-handling device is provided.
- the manipulator comprises two stations.
- the first station, the tooth removal station 56, is shown on the left hand side of figure 2 and in figure 3.
- the second station, the new tooth fitting station 58 is shown on the right hand side of figure 2 and in figure 5.
- the cutterhead 36 during cuttertooth manipulation (i.e. during the tooth change procedure) is raised to the cutterplatform 32, as in the prior art, and as shown in the drawings.
- the cutterhead 36 although being raised to the same position on the cutterplatform 32, is now positioned between the two stations 56, 58, rather than up to personnel on the cutterplatform 32, i.e. the personnel are now replaced by the manipulator of the present invention.
- the tooth removal station 56 comprises a waste bin 60 comprising two compartments 94, 96, a safety barrier 62 and a robotic tooth handler 64.
- the waste bin 60 is positioned on the opposite side of the robotic tooth handler 54 to the cutterhead 36.
- the safety barrier 62 is positioned between the waste bin 60 and the robotic tooth handler 64 to cover power lines such as electric, hydraulic or pneumatic cabling or pipes that go to the robotic tooth handler 64.
- an array for example for receiving worn teeth, can be provided. This would enable the worn teeth to be more easily handled after removal. See the description below with regard to the second station 58, for an example of a suitable type of array.
- the robotic tooth handler 64 is a multi-axis robot with an arm and a hand for handling a 1 tooth on the cutterhead 36. Multi-axis control is provided since the various teeth on the cutterhead do not have parallel axes. Further, the axis of each tooth relative to the robotic tooth handler is variable since the cutterhead is rotatable. The robotic tooth handler 64, therefore, due to the multi-axis control, is able to manoeuvre its arm and hand to position the hand not only in the right position but also at the right orientation to grasp and manipulate the various teeth 10, one at a time.
- the robotic tooth handler 64 sits upon a table top 66.
- the table top 66 has sliding stops 68 towards each end thereof.
- the robotic tooth handler 64 can be made to slide or move on the table top 66 by pulleys, a belt or a toothrack (not shown). This allows the robotic tooth handler 64 to be moved along a line parallel to the axis of the cutterhead 38 for assisting in the positioning of the hand relative to each tooth along the leading edge 44 of an arm.
- the handler is mounted on vibration dampers that are active when the system is not in use. This protects the equipment during dredging operations; vibrations will be transmitted along the ladder to the cutterplatform from the cutterhead during dredging operations.
- the dampers prevent the manipulator from being damaged during dredging operations.
- clamps (not shown), for example driven by hydraulic cylinders, clamp down the dampers so that there can be no movement of the manipulators other than the movement required in order for manipulation of the teeth.
- a turntable 73 is provided on the base 70 of the robotic tooth handler 64. This allows the robotic tooth handler 64 to be rotated about a vertical or first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cutterhead 36 when the cutterhead 36 is in its lifted or hoisted position at the cutterplatform 32.
- the rotation is driven by a motor.
- rotation or swinging of the handler may be caused by other means well known to persons skilled in the art, such as by belts, gears or pneumatic or hydraulic means.
- the robotic tooth handler 64 comprises multiple, linearly interconnected, swingable arm sections. They are effectively joined end to end, terminating in a hand 90, much like a conventional robotic arm.
- a first arm section 72 can be rotated about an axle 74 that is mounted on a base bracket 76 of the robotic tooth handler 64.
- This first arm section 72 has at its uppermost end a further rotatable axle 78 which has an axis that is parallel to the first axle 74.
- a second arm section 80 is provided at the second axle 78. It is rotatable about a further rotatable axle 82, which axle 82 has an axis perpendicular to the first axle 74.
- the second arm section 80 is rotatable about its own axis around axle 82. This rotation is driven by a motor 84.
- the second arm section 80 has an elbow 86 and a wrist 88 to allow precise multi-axis manipulation of the hand 90.
- the hand 90 is mounted at the end of the second arm section 80.
- the hand 90 comprises a tooth grasping mechanism and a spigot pin removing mechanism, such as a hydraulic driver. It also includes a spigot pin grasping mechanism for grasping spigot pins upon removing them from the tooth and spigot assembly.
- a tooth 10 is shown grasped by the hand 90.
- the multi-axis robotic tooth handler 64 is also shown to be swinging towards the waste bin 60, as shown by arrow S>2.
- the tooth 10 is dropped into a first compartment of 94 of the waste bin 60.
- the arm continues to swing and the spigot pin (not shown) is then dropped into a second compartment 96 of the waste bin 60.
- the spigot pin can generally be reused without reprocessing.
- the teeth 10, since they are worn will need to be reprocessed before they can be used again. It is for this reason that the two items are sorted in this manner.
- the manipulator of the present invention has a computer control system to guide hand 90 onto a worn tooth, which will not necessarily be in a fixed position relative to the handler 64. Therefore, the hand 90 shown in the drawings is fitted with an optical tooth sensing system (not shown) to enable the computer control system to control and position the robotic tooth handler 64, its arms and the hand so as to engage and then remove any or all of the variously worn teeth, in turn.
- Other position sensing means can also be used, as would be well known to a person skilled in the art of robotics.
- the software driving the hand positioning control system could also be programmed to recognise a worn tooth as opposed to an acceptable tooth and only replace those teeth which are worn.
- Image matching software can be used of this purpose, for example.
- the rotation control of the cutterhead can also be connected to the computer system for tlie robotic tooth handler 64.
- the cutterhead can then be rotated incrementally to move tihe leading edge 44, and therefore the teeth 10, to an appropriate rotational position for the teeth thereon to be handled by the robotic tooth handler 64 more easily, or in a stepwise manner.
- a second robotic tooth handler 98 is provided on the opposite side of the cutterhead 38.
- the second robotic tooth handler 98 is a multi- axis device. It has a base 100 mounted on a tabletop 102 having stops 104 (see figure 6) at each end thereof so that the robotic tooth handler 98 can be moved on the tabletop 102 parallel to the axis of the cutterhead 38.
- the robotic tooth handler 98 has rotateable or swingable arms sections and various axles and motors for driving the swinging or rotating sections. These arm sections and axles are generally the same as or similar to the first robotic tooth handler 64.
- the hand on the second robotic tooth handler 98 although generally similar in design, is for positioning a new tooth 48 onto the spigots 12 that have had a worn teeth 10 removed therefrom by the first robotic tooth handler 64.
- the computer control for the second robotic tooth handler 98 is linked to the computer control for the first robotic tooth handler 64 to instruct it as to which location to fit a new tooth.
- an optical position control system may be provided for the hand of the second robotic tooth handler 98. It will guide the hand for fitting new teeth or for picking up a new tooth from a supply of teeth.
- the optical control system may in addition be used to identify spigots without a tooth. This could work either with or separate to the connection linking the two computer controls together. It would in particular allow the replacement of teeth that fell off spigots at the seabed.
- a significant difference between the second robotic tooth handler 98 and the first robotic tooth handler 64 is that instead of a waste bin 60, an array of new teeth 48 is provided.
- the array of new teeth 48 are positioned on tooth benches 106 that extend parallel to the axis of the cutterhead 38. Three such tooth benches 106 are provided, each provided at a different height. This staggered effect enables the hand of the second robotic tooth handler 98 to grasp teeth 48 from the different benches 106 more easily since the teeth 48 on other benches 106 will not interfere with the movement of the handler 98.
- the teeth are positioned point up so that the hand of the tooth handler 98 will be able to position the aperture of the underside of the tooth over the spigot 12 of the cutterhead 38 without adjusting its grip on the tooth 48.
- spigot pin magazine dispensers 108 At an end of the tabletop 102 there are provided spigot pin magazine dispensers 108.
- the dispensers 108 contain small containers containing a number of new (or recycled) spigot pins 14.
- the containers, and the dispensers 108 operate in much the same manner as a magazine of a machinegun or rifle.
- the hand of the second robotic tooth handler 98 In addition to collecting a tooth 48 from the tooth benches 106, the hand of the second robotic tooth handler 98, as and when required, will collect a spigot pin magazine from one of the dispensers 108.
- the pins 14 in the magazine will them be used for fastening the new tooth 48 to the spigot 12 of the cutterhead 38.
- a spigot pin grasping mechanism and hydraulic driver (not shown) is provided for the hand for holding and driving the pin 14 through the tooth and spigot for attaching the new tooth 48 to the spigot 12.
- the present invention on a cutterplatform removes personnel from the dangerous environment of the cutte ⁇ latform. This improves safety onboard the dredger ship. Further, the robotic system is able to operate more quickly than personnel are. Yet further, the manipulator can be designed to handle teeth having a greater mass than 20kg, therefore allowing larger cutterheads to be designed and fitted to dredger ships. Yet further, the present invention enables the automation of tooth change procedures without any need to alter the design of the cutterhead or cutterladder. Further, the present invention can be retrofitted to existing cutterplatforms.
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- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
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- Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/575,157 US20080008546A1 (en) | 2003-10-09 | 2004-10-05 | Dredger Cuttertooth Manipulator |
JP2006530763A JP2007508475A (en) | 2003-10-09 | 2004-10-05 | Manipulator for dredge cutter head |
EP04769690A EP1670994A1 (en) | 2003-10-09 | 2004-10-05 | Digger cuttertooth replacing robot on a dredger |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP03256377.7 | 2003-10-09 | ||
EP03256377A EP1522636A1 (en) | 2003-10-09 | 2003-10-09 | Digger cuttertooth replacing robot on a dredger |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2005035884A1 true WO2005035884A1 (en) | 2005-04-21 |
Family
ID=34307002
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2004/003443 WO2005035884A1 (en) | 2003-10-09 | 2004-10-05 | Dredger cuttertooth manipulator |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080008546A1 (en) |
EP (2) | EP1522636A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007508475A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1860271A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005035884A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011003869A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-01-13 | Dredging International N.V. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
KR20120049246A (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-16 | 드레징 인터내셔널 엔. 브이. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
US11725365B2 (en) | 2016-06-13 | 2023-08-15 | Esco Group Llc | Handling system for ground-engaging wear parts secured to earth working equipment |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN102373725B (en) * | 2011-12-07 | 2013-04-24 | 中国船舶重工集团公司第七�三研究所 | Reamer tooth for cutter suction dredger |
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JOP20200120A1 (en) * | 2013-10-21 | 2017-06-16 | Esco Group Llc | Wear assembly removal and installation |
DE102018204775A1 (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2019-10-02 | Thyssenkrupp Ag | Excavator tooth for a bucket wheel excavator |
CA3122073A1 (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2020-06-18 | Esco Group Llc | System and process for conducting in-field operations |
US11661846B2 (en) * | 2021-02-01 | 2023-05-30 | Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. | Systems and methods for replacing wear parts |
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- 2004-10-05 WO PCT/IB2004/003443 patent/WO2005035884A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2004-10-05 EP EP04769690A patent/EP1670994A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-10-05 US US10/575,157 patent/US20080008546A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-10-05 JP JP2006530763A patent/JP2007508475A/en active Pending
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Cited By (7)
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WO2011003869A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-01-13 | Dredging International N.V. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
BE1018585A3 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2011-04-05 | Dredging Int | CUTTING HEAD FOR DAGGING GROUND, CUTTING DRAINER PROVIDED WITH SUCH CUTTING HEAD, AND USE OF THE CUTTING HEAD FOR Dredging Ground. |
KR20120049246A (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-16 | 드레징 인터내셔널 엔. 브이. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
AU2010270277B2 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2015-11-12 | Dredging International N.V. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
KR101697622B1 (en) | 2009-07-06 | 2017-01-18 | 드레징 인터내셔널 엔. 브이. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
EP2452022B2 (en) † | 2009-07-06 | 2021-01-27 | Dredging International N.V. | Cutter head for dredging ground, cutter suction dredger provided with such a cutter head and use of the cutter head for dredging ground |
US11725365B2 (en) | 2016-06-13 | 2023-08-15 | Esco Group Llc | Handling system for ground-engaging wear parts secured to earth working equipment |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2007508475A (en) | 2007-04-05 |
EP1670994A1 (en) | 2006-06-21 |
EP1522636A1 (en) | 2005-04-13 |
CN1860271A (en) | 2006-11-08 |
US20080008546A1 (en) | 2008-01-10 |
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