EP0790354B1 - Device for inserting an active joint in a structure, apparatus and process therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Tool for inserting active joint in rigid structure such as a concrete slab or road surface comprises vibration jig with blade to form channel for joint.

Description

The invention relates to a device for inserting a seal. active in a structure, an apparatus for inserting an active joint in a structure and a method for inserting an active joint in a structure.

In the context of the present invention, the term "structure" means any type of road road, landing strip or other industrial paving in fluid concrete or in a malleable mineral mixture such as sand / gravel / hydraulic or hydrocarbon road binder.

When taking a large concrete slab dimension, this one retracts. To avoid cracks anarchic, we create in the concrete slab, before the grip, privileged breaking lines. These lines of breaks are in the form of grooves made by example using a concrete saw.

Similarly, effects of dilation and removal of a slab when it is subjected to temperature variations. These effects help to amplify the phenomenon of withdrawal. To control the number and the dimension of the cracks, we proceed to the pre-cracking of the structure at the time of its construction by grooves.

To do this, we first prepare grooves in which are then deposited the seals.

Such a groove is advantageously formed in a soil made of a stable and perfectly calibrated material.

To create grooves, for example, tools fitted with a narrow coulter such as those described in the document FR-A-2,687,699 or machines comprising at least minus a cylinder of horizontal axis mounted in a frame and driven by means of propulsion, the cylinder comprising at least one peripheral blade in the form of crown, as described in document FR-A-2,581,687.

According to another technique, known from document FR-A-2,609,480, we carry out pre-cracking by introducing a discontinuity at the top of the last layer spread of a roadway. More specifically, we open furrows in the layer before its final compaction. Then, a product is created in these grooves creating the discontinuity with the neighboring material, we close the grooves and the final compaction of the layer is carried out. The opening of the furrows can be carried out either by means mechanical, either by high pressure injection of a liquid product creating discontinuity.

These known devices and machines do not allow ensure the transfer of rolling loads from a slab to the other.

The document FR-A-2,547,330 describes a machine for provide joints in a roadway, or a paving, comprising burial means constituted by two articulated jaws, intended to bury a joint in a strip of pavement. The jaws can be controlled in open-close, they form in the state closed a housing for a joint. The seal is inserted in the strip of the roadway by driving in the closed jaws.

Document FR-A-2,601,977 describes a device for inserting active joints in a structure, especially when the creation of a traffic lane. These measures includes a substantially shaped driving member half-disc, for the opening of a receiving trench joint, and a member for closing the trench constituted by a fork with two branches, the sinking member and the member of closure being carried by a common shaft and mounted at pivoting. This machine requires a structure made of a stable material and perfectly calibrated.

The stability of the material being a function of the content of water, mixing must be done with materials, sands and serious treaties with a constant water content. If the mixture is too dry, the gravel may fill the furrow. And if the mixture is too wet, the edges of the groove collapse.

Due to the variability of conditions weather it is obvious that the placement of a seal active by means of a tool or device as described more high, is often interrupted, reducing the yield of the installation of the active joint.

The object of the invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device insertion of an active joint into a structure, comprising a tool intended to form a groove for the introduction of the seal active. According to the invention, the tool comprises a vibrator carrying a blade extending in a first direction and used to form the groove by sinking according to the first direction. The vibrator also carries a series of rods substantially parallel to each other and extending in a second direction so as to be arranged in a plane perpendicular to the orientation of the blade and forming a rake. The vibrator is able to activate the blade, to form the groove, in vibration according to a main component parallel to the first direction, i.e. generally vertical, and to actuate the rake, to close the groove after introduction of the active joint, in vibration according to a main component transverse to the plane of the rods, is generally horizontal. The vibrator is mounted pivoting so that the blade can be oriented alternately or the rake approximately perpendicular to the surface of the structure.

The principle of vibro-sinking is based on the fact that the internal shear strength of a material is strongly lowered by vibrations produced in the material. When the active seal is introduced into the groove, the application of vibrations transmitted by the rake allows unpack the material on either side of the active joint. The closing of the groove by unzipping the eastern edges essential to keep the seal in vertical position during the material compacting operation with a roller vibrant.

The opening and closing of the train path, and advantageously also the introduction of the active seal into the groove, are performed by a single tool. This one is designed from in such a way that we can use the same means intended to activate the vibrating tool for the blade and for the rake.

The vibrations necessary for the operation of the tool and the device comprising it, can be generated as well by means separate from the device and connected to it by appropriate mechanical means, only by means integrated into the device.

The device of the invention ensures a depression efficient and fast tool in a material or structure to form the groove, thanks to the possibility of choosing the frequency and amplitude of vibrations as a function of material, or the nature of the structure, in which the joint active must be inserted. In addition, the invention presents a convenience of use since there is no furrow formwork to accompany the driving blade and where the tool and the device comprising such a tool can be controlled by piloting from a cabin of an apparatus or a vehicle fitted with such a tool.

• l'outil comprend un étrier de fixation dans lequel le vibro-fonceur est monté pivotant autour d'un axe sensiblement horizontal en position de travail;
• le dispositif comprend un porte-outil auquel l'outil est attaché au moyen d'un élément rotateur permettant d'orienter l'outil autour d'un axe sensiblement vertical en position de travail;
• l'étrier peut être attaché à l'élément rotateur au moyen de biellettes et d'un vérin de relevage;
• l'outil comprend un vérin de basculement monté respectivement sur l'étrier et le vibro-fonceur et destiné à basculer le corps d'outil de manière à mettre la lame ou le râteau dans la position de travail;
• les tiges sont disposées en au moins deux rangées et les moyens de préhension comportent des pinces hydrauliques destinées à saisir le joint actif et à le maintenir jusqu'à son introduction dans le sillon. Ces pinces sont disposées à l'intérieur des rangées de tiges, soit entre les deux seules rangées de tiges, soit entre les deux rangées centrales de tiges et approximativement parallèles à celles-ci;
• le râteau est solidaire d'un support monté amovible sur le vibro-fonceur;
• la lame est montée amovible sur le vibro-fonceur.

The device of the invention may also have one or the other of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:

• the tool comprises a fixing bracket in which the vibrator is mounted to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis in the working position;
• the device comprises a tool holder to which the tool is attached by means of a rotator element making it possible to orient the tool around a substantially vertical axis in the working position;
• the stirrup can be attached to the rotator element by means of rods and a lifting cylinder;
• the tool comprises a tilting cylinder mounted respectively on the stirrup and the vibrator and intended to tilt the tool body so as to put the blade or the rake in the working position;
• the rods are arranged in at least two rows and the gripping means comprise hydraulic clamps intended to grip the active joint and to maintain it until its introduction into the groove. These pliers are arranged inside the rows of rods, either between the only two rows of rods, or between the two central rows of rods and approximately parallel thereto;
• the rake is secured to a removable mount on the vibrator;
• the blade is removably mounted on the vibrator.

The shape and dimensions of the blade and the dimensions and arrangement of rods may vary depending the application of the tool or device.

The active joint can have different shapes and dimensions. However, joints with a cross section approximately sinusoidal cross section show characteristics clearly superior to those of a flat joint. Advantageously, seals with a series are used undulations with a flat at each of its ends.

The tool for inserting an active joint into a soil and device comprising such a tool can be mounted on a apparatus for inserting an active joint into a structure or onto a vehicle.

Thus, the invention also relates to an apparatus insertion of an active joint into a structure, comprising a hydraulic arm, and an insertion device as defined more high. In this arrangement, the hydraulic arm serves as toolbox. More particularly, such an apparatus comprises a frame having the dimensions necessary to allow the frame to step over a section of the structure, the hydraulic arm being mounted rotating on the frame.

This arrangement is particularly advantageous to implement an almost automatic installation of joints active, for example on an airport runway.

In this case, the insertion device is integrated into the suite of different machines used for construction of the track. Guided by one of the edges of the track or by any other suitable means, the device positions the tool at regular distances and orient it so as to lay the joints active regularly and thus obtain, as the case may be, a line continuous active joints or a series of parallel active joints between them and perpendicular to the axis of the runway, or both, continuous line and following, both. Besides, greater regularity of the installation, we also get better quality of work following the elimination of manual tasks for pre-marking the position of the seals and thanks to assistance with repetitive and tedious tasks such as, for example, lowering and raising the tool, tool tilt, sinking time and depth, and vibration time for closing the groove.

Similarly, this device may consist of a vehicle comprising a hydraulic arm and a tool as defined more high. More particularly, such a vehicle is then a machine dedicated whose hydraulic arm is capable of carrying such mechanical and whose control elements are used to handle the tool according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method insertion of an active joint into a structure, with opening a groove intended to receive the active joint, by vibro-sinking. This process includes the steps of positioning a tool such as described above, on the structure, push the blade the tool in the structure by vibration, reassemble the blade, tilt the tool, insert an active seal in the open groove, lower the rake of the tool to push it into the structure, close the groove by vibration while raising the tool.

According to a main implementation of the method, a vehicle fitted with a device according to the invention runs in the axis or along a roadway in order to lay a line of active joints or a series of active joints arranged perpendicular to the axis of the road.

Advantageously, the active seal is gripped by a clamp hydraulic part of the device tool and is maintained until its introduction into the furrow. In that case, the tool now the active seal is lowered so that drive the rake stems into the road, on both sides on the other side of the groove. Then the hydraulic clamp is opened and the tool is slowly raised by actuating the rods vibration according to an essentially horizontal component.

The method of the invention can be applied for the insertion of an active joint in all kinds of materials foundations such as for example compacted concrete, gravel and sands treated with hydraulic binders, soils and by-products manufacturers treated with hydraulic binders. In these cases, has a working time of the order of two to three hours depending on the workability of the material.

La Figure 1 montre un dispositif selon l'invention dans sa position de travail pour une ouverture d'un sillon.

La Figure 2 montre un outil selon l'invention dans sa position de travail pour la fermeture d'un sillon, et

La Figure 3 montre le dispositif de la Figure 1 dans une vue de face.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description of an exemplary embodiment made with reference to the drawings. In these drawings:

Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention in its working position for opening a groove.

FIG. 2 shows a tool according to the invention in its working position for closing a groove, and

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 in a front view.

The following description of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention is made in the event that the active joint must be inserted in a ground appreciably horizontal. However, the invention is also applicable for the insertion of an active joint in an inclined floor.

Similarly, the following description is made in the assumption that the active joint is inserted vertically in a ground. However, the invention is also applicable to a insertion of an active joint in a plane different from a plane vertical and, generally speaking, at an angle different from the right angle to the ground.

The device for inserting an active joint into a soil according to the invention comprises a tool 1 pivotally mounted around an H axis on a stirrup 2. The tool 1 is provided with a blade 3 and a plurality of rods 4 forming a rake 5.

The blade 3 has a cross section substantially triangular and more particularly in the shape of a triangle isosceles symmetrical with respect to a plane extending in a first direction A. This first direction A is the direction of tool insertion into the ground when the opening of a furrow. Blade 3 has a height, measured in direction A, on the order of 30 cm to 40 cm and a base width of about 5 cm. The edge of the blade, corresponding to the triangle tip of its section transverse, has a width of the order of 1 cm.

The blade 3 has a length of the order of 3 m. of the blades longer than 3 m, more particularly 5 m, are formed with stiffeners.

The rods 4 are arranged in two rows and integral with a support 6 thus forming a rake mounted removable on tool 1.

The two rows of rods 4 are arranged symmetrically and parallel to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry extending in a second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A. The second direction B is the direction in which the rods are driven into the ground in view of the closing of the groove, after insertion of a joint active, by vibro-decompaction.

The insertion tool 1 also includes a vibrator 7 which generates vibrations which make it possible to actuate blade and rods in a frequency range included between 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz and with an amplitude ranging from 5 to 15 mm.

The stirrup 2 is connected to a hydraulic arm 16 serving as a tool holder by means of a rotator element 8. The bracket 2 is attached to the rotator element 8 by a lifting cylinder 9 and optionally by two links 10, 11. The jack 9 is used when sinking into the ground and raising the implement, while the hydraulic arm is mainly used for positioning the tool or device comprising the tool.

The rotator element 8 makes it possible to orient the vibrator 7 at any angle around an axis V substantially vertical.

The tilting of tool 1 around the horizontal axis H to alternately put the blade 3 or the rake 5 in a vertical position, can be done by hand. However, the insertion device shown in the drawings comprises a tilting cylinder 12 attached by one of its ends at stirrup 2 and by the other of its ends at vibro-digger 7. This arrangement makes it possible to tilt the tool 1 by a 90 ° pivot around the tilting axis H to fix it in either of two positions predefined. However, it is conceivable that tool 1 could be positioned, either by hand or by the actuator tilting 12, in any position other than the position vertical or horizontal position.

Tool 1 also includes hydraulic clamps 14 arranged symmetrically between the two rows of rods 4. Hydraulic clamps allow to retain an active joint 15 during tilting and lowering of the rake 5.

Vibrator 7 and stirrup 2 can be fitted with a blocking system for blocking the vibrator 7 especially in the horizontal and vertical positions. Of plus, tool 1 can be fitted with a quick coupler system allowing a removable attachment of the vibrator 7 to the stirrup 2.

The tool and the insertion device comprising such a tools require only two hydraulic functions. Moon successively manages the rotation around the vertical axis V, when tilting around the horizontal axis H and the vibration. These functions are never simultaneous.

The second hydraulic function manages the grippers hydraulic to keep the seal active.

In addition, all hydraulic functions assisted are disengageable and can be managed directly by the manipulator. In case of no operation of the automated systems, the machine remains operational, with manual control.

The active joint is advantageously made of PVC in 6 / 10th of a mm. It is made continuously and cut to desired lengths, preferably lengths per example of 2 m and 3 m. However, other dimensions and materials are also possible.

• positionnement du porte-outil ou bras hydraulique dans l'axe de la chaussée (translation par exemple de 2 m par rapport à sa position précédente),
• positionnement de l'outil,
• descente de l'outil au contact du sol,
• ouverture d'un sillon par vibro-fonçage,
• remontée de l'outil,
• insertion du joint dans les pinces hydrauliques
• basculement de l'outil,
• descente de l'outil,
• pose du joint dans le sillon,
• fermeture du sillon par vibration,
• remontée de l'outil,
• retour de l'outil en positionnement initial.

The use of an insertion device or a tool according to the invention is as follows, shown for a two-lane carriageway with a width of between 7 and 8 m:

• positioning of the tool holder or hydraulic arm in the axis of the roadway (translation, for example 2 m from its previous position),
• tool positioning,
• lowering the tool in contact with the ground,
• opening of a groove by vibro-sinking,
• tool ascent,
• insertion of the seal in the hydraulic clamps
• tool tilting,
• lowering the tool,
• fitting the seal in the groove,
• closing the groove by vibration,
• tool ascent,
• return of the tool to initial positioning.

The reference signs inserted after the characteristics techniques mentioned in the claims have for the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of these, and in no way limit its scope.

Claims (11)

1. A device for inserting an active joint in a structure, comprising a tool (1) carrying a blade (3) intended for forming a groove for the introduction of the active joint (15), characterised in that the tool (1) comprises a vibration pile driver (7) carrying the blade (3) extending in a first direction (A) and used for forming the groove by pile driving along the first direction (A), whereas the said vibration pile driver (7) also carries a series of rods (4) arranged along a plane (B) perpendicular to the orientation (A) of the blade and substantially parallel to each other, and forming a rake (5), and whereby the said vibration pile driver (7) is capable of actuating the blade (3), in order to form the groove, by vibrating along a main component parallel to the first direction (A) and of actuating the rake (5), to close the groove after introduction of the active joint (15), by vibrating along a main component transverse to the plane (B) of the rods (4), whereas the tool (1) is mounted to pivot in order to orient alternately the blade (3) or the rake (5) substantially perpendicular to the surface of the structure.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the vibration pile driver (7) comprises pick-up means (14) enabling introduction of the active joint (15) in the groove.
3. A device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the tool (4) comprises a fastening stirrup (2) in which the vibration pile driver (7) is mounted to pivot around an axis (H) substantially parallel in working position.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises a tool carrier (16) to which the tool is fixed by means of a rotary element (8) enabling to orient the tool around an axis (V) substantially vertical in working position.
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the stirrup (2) is fixed to the rotary element (8) by means of a lifting jack (9) and possibly rocker bars (10, 11).
6. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the tool (1) comprises a tipping jack (12) mounted respectively on the stirrup (2) and the vibration pile driver (7) and intended to tip the vibration pile driver (7) in order to bring the blade (3) or the rods (4) in the working position.
7. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the rods (4) of the rake (5) are arranged in at least two rows and in that the pick-up means comprises hydraulic clamps (14) intended for seizing the active joint (15) and for maintaining the said joint until introduction in the groove, and provided inside the rows of rods and substantially parallel to the said rods.
8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the blade (3) is mounted removable on the vibration pile driver (7).
9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the rake (5) comprises a rest (6) mounted removable on the vibration pile driver.
10. An apparatus for inserting an active joint in a structure, comprising a hydraulic arm (16) characterised in that it comprises a device according to any one of claims 1 to10, whereas the hydraulic arm (16) is used as a tool-carrier.
11. A method for inserting an active joint in a structure by opening a groove, in order to receive the active joint, by a vibration pile driving process, comprising the following steps:

    positioning a tool (1) comprising a vibration pile driver (7) that carries a blade (3) extending in a first direction (A) and used for forming the groove by pile driving along the first direction (A), whereas the said vibration pile driver (7) also carries a series of rods (4) substantially parallel to one another, arranged in a plane (B) perpendicular to that (A) of the blade (3) and forming a rake (5), and the said vibration pile driver (7) actuates the blade (3), to form the groove, by vibrating along a main component parallel to the first direction (A) and actuating the rake (5) to close the groove after introduction of the active joint (15), by vibrating along a main component transverse to the plane (B) of the rods (4), whereas the tool (1) is mounted to pivot in order to orient alternately the blade (3) or the rake (5) substantially perpendicular to the ground,

    sinking the blade in the structure by vibration,

    bringing the blade back up,

    tipping the tool,

    inserting the active joint in the open groove,

    lowering the rake,

    closing the groove by vibration,

    bringing the tool back up.

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