Excavating machine for digging narrow trenches

<img file="NL1007263C2_D0001.tif" />

Office for Industrial Property The Netherlands © 1007263 © C OCTROOI²⁰ (© Patent application: 1007263 © Filed: 13.10.97 © Int.CI.®

E02D17 / 13, E02F5 / 10

<td>© Registered:</td><td>© Patent holder (s):</td>

<td> 14.04.99</td><td>Architectural consultancy Roel Meurs in Bunschoten Spakenburg.</td>

<td>© Date:</td><td rowspan="2">© Inventor (s): Roelof Meurs in Bunschoten Spakenburg</td>

<td> 14.04.99</td>

<td>© Published:</td><td rowspan="2">© Authorized representative: Ir. LC de Bruijn cs at 2517 KZ The Hague.</td>

<td>01.06.99 IE 99/06</td>

(54) Excavator.

A digging device for inserting a trench in a bottom comprises a frame that can be coupled to a manipulator, a cutter located at the front of the frame for removing soil material to form the trench, and a support member for both longitudinal sides. supporting the trench walls. The frame carries a formwork element at the rear to prevent the trench from collapsing.

NL C 1007263

The content of this patent differs from the original filed description with claim (s) and possible drawing (s). The documents originally submitted can be viewed at the Industrial Property Office.

Excavator

The invention relates to the field of digging a trench in a ground, in connection with the subsequent pouring of a concrete therein for the production of a wall. This may involve supporting walls, cellar walls and the like.

When installing such a wall, a fairly wide hole is first dug, which is bounded by slopes that must guarantee the stability of the hole wall. Then a formwork is placed, in which reinforcement is placed and finally the concrete is poured.

Such a course of events has major drawbacks. First of all, a fairly large surface of the soil must be laid open, which entails limitations, especially in densely built-up areas. In any case, it is not possible to work too close to existing buildings, since then no space is available for a stable slope. Only if an auxiliary wall, for example made of steel sheet pile planks, is placed beforehand can excavation be carried out at the desired location.

In certain areas, dewatering must also be carried out in order to keep the trench dry at high groundwater levels.

All this means that the known manner of arranging a wall in the ground is quite expensive.

EP-A-407934 discloses an excavating device for inserting a trench in a bottom, comprising a frame that can be coupled to a manipulator, a cutter located at the front side of the frame for removing soil material to form the trench , as well as a support member on both longitudinal sides for supporting the trench walls.

According to the invention, it is provided that each support member is formed by the outer part of a flexible belt in each case.

Each flexible belt can extend over substantially the entire height of the frame and be wrapped around two rollers, one of which is located near the front side and the other near the rear of the frame.

In this embodiment, the excavating device can be continuously moved forward. In this context, it is preferably suspended from the arm of a hydraulic crane, which travels along the slot in the desired path. It is therefore also possible, in addition to straight tracks, to produce curved tracks.

7263

The dimensions of the milling cutter, the frame and the formwork element in the longitudinal direction are so limited that it is not possible to go through too tight bends.

The excavating device according to the invention can first dig a trench and then stably support it by means of the supporting members. This means that if the trench walls are to be poured into the trench immediately after digging the trench, the stability of the trench walls is ensured without the need for formwork. The concrete and the like is stopped directly by the trench walls and can thus harden.

To this end, the excavating device according to the invention can carry a frame with formwork element for limiting material poured into the trench such as bentonite, concrete mixtures and the like. As the excavation work proceeds, the formwork element on the one hand provides a pressing effect on the cutter, which pressing effect results from the hydrostatic pressure of the material poured into the trench, and also provides the necessary barrier. As a result, the poured material cannot reach the cutter.

Preferably, the formwork element is U-shaped in cross-section, such that the legs of the U-shape are approximately in line with the support members and are turned away from the front side.

Furthermore, the formwork element can carry a chute, as well as a vibrating needle for compacting the poured concrete mixture.

Preferably, the mill is a chain mill that extends over essentially the width of the front of the frame; it can extend over the underside of the frame.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a hydraulic crane with the excavating device according to the invention when digging a trench.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the slot tip excavator.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the excavating device.

Figure 4 shows an example, in top view, of walls to be manufactured with the excavating device.

The excavating device 1 shown in figure 1 is suspended from the arm 2 of the hydraulic crane designated in its entirety by 3, the excavating device is located in the bottom of the surface 4, and has already dug a trench section 5.

The excavating device comprises a frame 7, at the front of which a chain cutter 8 is located. This chain cutter 8 continues to the bottom of the frame 7.

At the rear of the frame 7 there is a formwork element 10, while on the sides support members 11, 12 are provided in the form of endless belts.

As shown in Figure 2, these endless belts 11, 12 are wrapped about rollers 13, 14, each mounted in an auxiliary frame 15. The auxiliary frames 15 are mounted on the frame in an adjustable manner by hydraulic piston / cylinder devices. The mutual distance of the belts 11, 12 on either side of the frame is clearly variable, such that the excavating device 1 can be adapted to the conditions in the trench.

As can be seen in the example of figures 1 and 2, a bentonite mass or a concrete mixture 17 has been poured into the slot 5, which abuts on the one side against the walls 18 of the slot 5 and on the other side against the formwork element 10. This formwork element 10 has a U -shaped cross section with flanges 19, which ensure that the mixture

17 does not continue to the correctly dug trench in which the cutter 8, 9 is located.

The formwork element 10 further carries a chute 20 through which the mixture can be supplied, as well as a vibrating seam 21 for illuminating a concrete mixture.

It can be seen in figure 3 that the milling cutter 8, 9 is guided over a large number of rollers 22, which guarantee the desired pressing of the milling cutter against the slot front wall.

A turntable 23 can further be provided on the top of the frame 7, which can have a drive such that the excavating device 1 can be rotated in the desired direction at the end of the arm 2.

In this way, for example, the wall system with curved walls 24, 25 shown in Figure 4 can be manufactured. These walls have an outward curvature such that they can withstand the pressure of the earth well and convert into compressive stresses. If desired, stabilizing intermediate walls 26 can also be provided.