GB2566999A

GB2566999A - Device to position a trench-digging machine with respect to the ground

Info

Publication number: GB2566999A
Application number: GB1715890.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dariel Jean-Paul; Dariel Philippe
Original assignee: D'installation Telephonique Et De Signalisation Ste; Soc Dinstallation Telephonique Et De Signalisation
Current assignee: D'installation Telephonique Et De Signalisation Ste; Soc Dinstallation Telephonique Et De Signalisation
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2017-09-29
Publication date: 2019-04-03
Also published as: GB201715890D0

Abstract

A device 1 to position a trench digging machine 3 with respect to the ground of the type constituted by a telescopic beam 5 attached at one end to a wagon 4, which is part of a train, said beam 5 being associated with a reinforcing bar 8 and carrying two parallel legs 9a, 9b at its free end. The two legs 9a, 9b are both integral with a support base 10 attached to the free end of the telescopic beam 5, said support base 10 also being integral with the reinforcing bar 8. Optionally, the support base 10 is in the form of a T or L-shaped plate whose first side is integral with the beam 5, the second side 13 receiving reinforcing means on its front face that are integral with the telescopic beam 5 and on its rear face the two legs 9a, 9b. Optionally, the legs 9a, 9b are integral with the second side (figure 2, 13) by means of a mounting plate (figure 2, 14) attached to its rear face.

Description

Title: Device to position a trench-digging machine with respect to the ground

The technical scope of the present invention is that of trench-digging apparatus or machines for the installation of cable troughs or the burial of cables underground.

Devices are known of this type which are intended to prepare a trench in the ground of different widths.

Patent FR-2646185 discloses a system with a machine that enables trenches to be dug in the ground alongside a railway line. In this embodiment, provision has been made to link the apparatus to a carrier wagon by means of telescopic legs integral with beams hinged with respect to the wagon. The digging machine is attached to a pair of legs to the fore and to a pair of legs to the rear. By varying the length of the legs, the machine is positioned with respect to the ground.

However, attaching the legs to each beam is problematic. Indeed, one of the legs is attached to the end of the beam whereas the other leg is attached to a gantry extending the beam. This gantry is difficult to manufacture and additionally causes a clear separation of the two legs and a different distribution of the stresses applied to these two legs .

The aim of the present invention is to supply a device to rigidity the structure forming the two legs so as to subject the two legs to the same stress. The structure thus produced provides an additional degree of freedom to the legs to better orient the digging machine with respect to the ground.

The invention thus relates to a device to position a trench digging machine with respect to the ground of the type constituted by a telescopic beam attached at one end to a wagon, said beam being associated with a reinforcing bar and carrying two parallel legs at its free end, wherein the two legs are both integral with a support base attached to the free end of the telescopic beam, said support base also being integral with the reinforcing bar.

According to one characteristic of the device according to the invention, the support base is in the form of a T or

L-shaped plate whose first side is integral with the beam, the second side receiving reinforcing means on its front face that are integral with the telescopic beam and on its rear face the two legs.

According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the legs are integral with the second side of the support base by means of a mounting plate attached to its rear face.

According to yet another characteristic of the device 10 according to the invention, the second side is provided with at least one semi-circular groove intended to receive a dowel pin attached to the mounting plate, the dowel pin being intended to travel along the groove to impart a rotational movement to the legs with respect to the second side.

According to yet another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the second side of the support base comprises four semi-circular grooves each in relation with a dowel pin on the mounting plate.

Advantageously, each dowel has a screw head and the 20 mounting plate is immobilized with respect to the second side of the support base by means of a nut screwed onto each dowel pin.

According to yet another characteristic of the device according to the invention, it incorporates a jack positioned 25 between the first side of the mounting plate so as to impart a rotational movement to the legs with respect to the beam.

According to yet another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the free end of the beam is provided with a flange to which the support base is rigidly 30 attached by means of bar of the T-shaped plate.

Advantageously, the first side of the support base and flange are attached together by means of bolts.

Advantageously again, the beam is extendible and may be activated in translation by means of a jack and in rotation 35 with respect to the wagon.

A first advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the position of the legs is perfectly stable whatever the stresses applied by the machine when digging.

Another advantage lies in the device's compact and homogeneous structure.

Yet another advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the legs can be oriented with respect to the beam according to a second degree of freedom.

Other characteristics, details and particulars of the invention will become more apparent from the additional description hereafter of the different embodiments given by way of example and in relation to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure incorporating

- Figure support base ;

- Figure support base,

- Figure base,

- Figure shows a beam linked to a wagon the positioning device at its free end 2 shows according shows a shows shows a

4, and f a view of the legs attached to a first embodiment, view of the reinforcing means a variant embodiment of the top view of the embodiment view showing the legs in is a respect to the slots made in the body and

Figure position with shaped plate,

- Figure 7 shows the position of the legs The invention will now be described in With reference to Figure 1, a device 1 positions a trench-digging machine 3 with ground. This device is example, is to be after to for the the support in of

Figure median the Trotation.

greater detail.

that is shown in proximity to dug either telephone, reference electric, details, previously and which respect to moving, line along which a trench cable troughs or to bury other cables. For further linked to a wagon a railway integrate fibre-optic or may be made describes the to the for to the patent analysed digging of a trench. The ground 2 is assumed to be flat and the wagon platform 4 is in a horizontal position.

It goes without saying that the machine 3 is attached to two sets of legs, one to the fore and the other to the rear, according to the travel direction of the wagon. However, for the sake of clarity, Figure 1 a single beam is shown as a cross section.

In a known manner, a telescopic beam 5 is attached at one end to the wagon 4 by means of a rotating plate 6. The telescopic beam is manoeuvred in translation by a jack 7 so as to distance the device 1, if need be, with respect to the wagon and in rotation so as to bring it back onto the wagon platform 4 after use. The beam 5 is associated with a bar 8 to strengthen it and this bar 8 is integrated into the beam, as can be seen in the Figure. The machine 3 is hooked to two legs 9a and 9b integral with the device 1.

According to the invention, the two legs 9a and 9b are both integral with a support base 10 attached to the free end of the telescopic beam 5, said support base also being linked to the reinforcing bar 8. The Figure shows that the free end of the beam 5 incorporates a flange 11 to which the support base 10 is attached by means of bolts, not shown.

The support base 10 together with the legs 9a and 9b form a perfectly rigid assembly so as to evenly absorb the stresses transmitted by the machine 3 as a result of the digging of a trench. It goes without saying that the support base 10 and flange 11 are joined by bolts, not shown, or by any other means.

Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of the structure of the support base 10 which here is in the form of a T-shaped plate, the first side 12 of which is made integral with the flange 11 on the beam 5, and the second side 13 of which is substantially perpendicular. This second side 13 receives a mounting plate 14 for the legs 9a and 9b on its rear face. Naturally, these legs are rigidly attached onto this plate 14, which is itself attached to the second side 13 as explained hereafter.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the support base 10 incorporating means 15 on its front face to strengthen its structure. These means 15 are in the form of an L-shaped stiffener, 15a and 15b, welded on the second side, for example. In this Figure, drill holes 16a and 16b enabling the support base 10 to be attached to the flange 11 are shown.

The bar 8 may be stiffener.

integrated into the branch 15a of the

Figure 4 shows in the form of references

Thus, the described a simplified view of the support base 10 L-shaped plate for which the same retained for reasons of an have been first side is attached to the

The second side the mounting plate described above and practicality, flange 11 as receives the being equipped which do not need structure of the previously.

reinforcing means 15, with legs 9a and 9b as to be shown in this Figure. Indeed, the second side 13 of the L-shaped plate is identical to that of the second side 13 of the T-shaped plate equipped with the elements described previously.

Figure 5 shows a top view of both Figures 2 and 4 of the support base 10 attached to the flange 11 of the beam 5.

Figure 6 shows a front view of the second side 13 of the T-shaped plate or the branch of the L-shaped plate of the support base 10 provided with four semi-circular slots 17a17d each intended to receive a dowel pin 18a-18d. These dowel pins are, for example, attached or welded to the mounting plate 14 of legs 9a and 9b. Each dowel pin is intended to travel along the corresponding slot 17a-17d to impart a rotational movement to the legs 9a and 9b with respect to the second side 13 of the T or L-shaped plates of the support base 10. It goes without saying that it is possible for a single slot only to be provided through which a dowel pin passes.

Preferably, each dowel pin 18a-18d has a screw head and the mounting plate 14 is thus immobilised with respect to the second side 13 by means of a nut, not shown, screwed onto each dowel pin.

The mounting plate 14 may be activated in rotation either manually or by a jack.

Figure 6 shows a jack 19 whose body is attached to the first side 12 of the T-shaped plate or the branch of the Lshaped plate and the rod is attached to the mounting angle 20 integrated to the plate 14. Here the advantage of attaching the two legs to the support plate 10 to enable the same rotation value to be imparted to both legs 9a and 9b can clearly be seen.

Figure 7 shows a simplified view of Figure 6 but wherein the mounting plate 14 has been made to swivel. The legs 9a 5 and 9b are now inclined with respect to this plate 14. An additional degree of freedom is thus obtained for the legs. This rotation offers the specific advantage of compensating for any slope of the ground or railway line along which the wagon 4 is travelling so as to be able to keep the machine 3 10 in close contact with the ground. This Figure shows that the legs 9a and 9b may be inclined either to the left as seen in the plane of the Figure, or to the right. Naturally, the angular range of the slots 17a-17d is adjusted according to the known slope of the ground. An incline of around 15° to 15 the right or to the left enables full satisfaction to be obtained for most grounds.

When a trench is being dug, it goes without saying that the ground surface may vary as may the tilt of the wagon platform. The height of the legs 9a and 9b is thus adjusted 20 continually so as to keep the machine 3 on the ground. The legs 9a and 9b are naturally able to be manoeuvred vertically as can be seen in Figure 1 and as described previously in the prior patent. Thus, by combining the variation in height of legs 9a and 9b and their angular tilt with respect to the 25 vertical, the machine 3 can be precisely positioned on the ground whatever the horizontal or inclined position of the wagon platform 4.

This structure thus enables the personnel performing the trench digging operation along a railway line to precisely 30 align this trench with respect to the railway line in question.

Claims

1. A device (1) to position a trench digging machine (3) with respect to the ground of the type constituted by a telescopic beam (5) attached at one end to a wagon (4), said

5 beam (5) being associated with a reinforcing bar (8) and carrying two parallel legs (9a, 9b) at its free end, wherein the two legs (9a, 9b) are both integral with a support base (10) attached to the free end of the telescopic beam (5), said support base (10) also being integral with the

10 reinforcing bar (8).

2. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 1, wherein the support base (10) is in the form of a T or L-shaped plate whose first side (12) is integral with the beam (5), the second side (13)

15 receiving reinforcing means (15) on its front face that are integral with the telescopic beam (5) and on its rear face the two legs (9a, 9b).

3. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 2, wherein the legs (9a, 9b)

20 are integral with the second side (13) by means of a mounting plate (14) attached to its rear face.

4. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 3, wherein the second side (13) of the support base is provided with at least one semi-

25 circular slot (17a-17d) intended to receive a dowel pin (18a18d) attached to the mounting plate (14), each dowel pin (18a-18d) being intended to travel along the groove (17a-17d) to impart a rotational movement to the legs (9a, 9b) with respect to the second side (13).

30

5. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 4, wherein the second side (13) of the support base comprises four semi-circular grooves (17a-17d) each in relation with a dowel pin (18a-18d) on the mounting plate (14).

35

6. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein each dowel pin (18a-18d) has a screw head and the mounting plate (14) is immobilized with respect to the second side (13) by means of a nut screwed onto each dowel pin (18a-18d).

7. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein it incorporates a jack (19) positioned between the first side (12) of the mounting plate (14) so as to impart a rotational movement (9a, 9b) to the legs with respect to the beam (5).

8. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the free end of the beam (5) is provided with a flange (11) to which the support base (14) is rigidly attached by means of the first side (12) of the support base.

9. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to Claim 8, wherein the first side (12) and flange (11) are attached together by means of bolts.

10. A device (1) to position a machine (3) with respect to the ground according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the beam (5) is extendible and may be activated in translation by means of a jack (7) and in rotation with respect to the wagon.