EP3399107A1 - Suction excavator provided with turbines in series - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction system (2) for a suction excavator (1), comprising two turbines (23, 24) arranged one after the other, each turbine comprising a housing and vanes, each casing comprising a central inlet and an eccentric outlet, means for rotating the vanes for the circulation of air from the central inlet to the eccentric outlet by generating a vacuum at the inlet, an intermediate casing (25) arranged between the casings of two turbines, the intermediate casing comprising an eccentric inlet which communicates with the eccentric outlet of the upstream turbine (23), a central outlet which communicates with the central inlet of the downstream turbine (24) and a shaped deflector spiral for the circulation of air in said intermediate chamber of the eccentric inlet to the central outlet.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of vacuum excavators used in the field of Public Works, more particularly in the branch "Roads and Miscellaneous Networks" of Public Works, to excavate and vacuum rubble in the trenches.

The invention relates particularly to the suction system arranged on a suction excavator.

State of the art

Excavator excavators, also known as rubbish suction trucks, are commonly used in the execution of works of Roads and Networks Divers (more commonly called VRD) type earthworks, to excavate, vacuum and evacuate rubble during the construction of trenches in soils already congested by distribution networks such as water pipes, gas pipes or electric cables strong current and / or weak currents, not to deteriorate or tear these networks.

Traditionally, a suction excavator comprises a suction system which is carried by a vehicle, an articulated suction arm for holding and guiding a flexible suction pipe which is connected, upstream, to an enclosure which is depressurized by through a suction system and downstream to a nozzle or a head that is moved in the trench to excavate and vacuum the rubbish, which are stored in the enclosure after aspiration.

The current suction systems on the suction excavators comprise a turbine or several multi-stage turbines that can generate an air flow and a vacuum in the enclosure on which is connected the flexible suction duct. Because of the depression, the rubbish is sucked into the flexible suction pipe and then enter the enclosure. This enclosure comprises means of separation of the rubbish and fines and filtering means of the air laden with fines (the dust), the filtered air passing through the turbine or the multi-stage turbines before being rejected into the atmosphere. 'atmosphere.

Current implementations of suction systems on vacuum excavators do not provide optimal performance and are also very noisy.

Summary of the invention

• au moins deux turbines disposées l'une à la suite de l'autre, chaque turbine comprenant un carter et des aubes, chaque carter comprenant une entrée centrale et une sortie excentrée,
• des moyens d'entraînement en rotation des aubes des turbines, la rotation et la configuration des aubes permettant la circulation de l'air de l'entrée centrale vers la sortie excentrée sur chaque turbine ;
• au moins un caisson intermédiaire, chaque caisson intermédiaire étant agencé entre les carters de deux turbines, le caisson intermédiaire comprenant une entrée excentrée qui communique avec la sortie excentrée de la turbine en amont, une sortie centrale qui communique avec l'entrée centrale de la turbine en aval et un déflecteur en forme de spirale permettant la circulation de l'air dans ledit caisson intermédiaire de l'entrée excentrée vers la sortie d'air centrale.

The present invention aims to limit these aforementioned drawbacks. For this purpose, the invention relates to a suction system of a vacuum excavator, which comprises:

• at least two turbines arranged one after the other, each turbine comprising a housing and vanes, each casing comprising a central inlet and an eccentric outlet,
• means for rotating the blades of the turbines, the rotation and the configuration of the blades allowing the flow of air from the central inlet to the eccentric outlet on each turbine;
• at least one intermediate box, each intermediate box being arranged between the casings of two turbines, the intermediate box comprising an eccentric inlet which communicates with the eccentric outlet of the turbine upstream, a central outlet which communicates with the central inlet of the turbine downstream and a spiral-shaped deflector for the circulation of air in said intermediate chamber of the eccentric inlet to the central air outlet.

These intermediate chambers make it possible to channel the air between each turbine so that the flow of air leaving the eccentric outlet of the turbine arranged upstream is well centered towards the central inlet of the turbine disposed downstream. This avoids breaking the air flow, which ensures better performance and reduces noise pollution by reducing turbulence. The enclosure of the suction excavator, connected to the main inlet of the suction system, that is to say the central inlet of the first turbine (the one upstream), is thus put under vacuum of optimally thanks to this improvement of the efficiency of the suction system.

The upstream and downstream terms are defined in consideration of the flow direction of the airflow in the suction system.

In one embodiment, the suction system comprises two turbines and an intermediate box arranged between the casings of the two turbines. According to one variant, the suction system comprises three turbines and two intermediate caissons respectively arranged between the casings of the three turbines. According to another variant, the suction system comprises four turbines and three intermediate boxes respectively arranged between the casings of the four turbines. It is understood that the characteristics of the suction system according to the invention make it possible to envisage an arrangement of more than four turbines in series constituting successively between them upstream turbines and downstream turbines, with caissons intermediates arranged between said turbines. It is understood that the intermediate boxes are interposed between the casings of the turbines arranged one after the other.

According to the suction system, the drive means comprise a motor driving a shaft on which are mounted the vanes of the turbines. This allows a simplified design of the drive means and a synchronization between all the turbines.

According to the suction system, on each turbine constituting an upstream turbine vis-à-vis a downstream turbine, that is to say all the turbines except the last (the one at the end of the suction system), the eccentric output on the housing is disposed on a partition wall with the intermediate box succeeding him. This partition wall is therefore common to the casing of the upstream turbine and the intermediate box.

In the same way, on each turbine constituting a downstream turbine vis-à-vis an upstream turbine, that is to say all the turbines except the first (the one at the beginning of the suction system), the opening central on the housing is disposed on a partition wall with the intermediate box preceding it. This partition wall is therefore common to the casing of the downstream turbine and the intermediate box.

According to the suction system, on each turbine constituting an upstream turbine vis-à-vis a downstream turbine, the housing comprises a deflector promoting the transfer of air from said housing to the succeeding intermediate box. It also helps to not break the airflow to maintain optimum performance.

According to the suction system, on the last turbine, the eccentric output is arranged on the peripheral contour of the housing.

According to the suction system, this comprises an inlet duct connected to the central inlet of the first turbine.

Depending on the suction system, this includes an outlet duct connected to the eccentric outlet of the last turbine.

The invention also relates to an excavator suction, which comprises a suction system having the above characteristics, an enclosure connected to the suction system for its depression, a flexible suction pipe connected to the enclosure, said enclosure comprising means for separating rubble and fines and filtering means of the air laden with fines before being conveyed to said suction system.

Brief description of the figures

• La figure 1 illustre une vue d'ensemble des éléments d'une excavatrice aspiratrice intégrant un système d'aspiration selon l'invention ;
• Les figures 2 et 3 illustrent deux vues d'une réalisation d'un système d'aspiration selon l'invention ;
• Les figures 4 à 10 illustrent plusieurs vue d'un découpage successif du système d'aspiration de la figure 3.

The features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description based on figures, among which:

• The figure 1 illustrates an overview of the elements of a vacuum excavator incorporating a suction system according to the invention;
• The figures 2 and 3 illustrate two views of an embodiment of a suction system according to the invention;
• The Figures 4 to 10 illustrate several views of a successive division of the suction system of the figure 3 .

detailed description

On the figure 1 is illustrated a suction excavator 1 which comprises a suction system 2, a housing 3 and a sheath 4 which connects the suction system 2 to the enclosure 3. This suction excavator 1 is generally mounted on the chassis of a vehicle (not shown)

The chamber 3 comprises a first chamber 30 in which are stored aspired rubbish (not shown). This enclosure 3 comprises two partitions 31, 32 forming a baffle that breaks the flow in the chamber 3 to drop the fines or dust in a second chamber 33, separately from the rubbish that falls into the first chamber 30. The enclosure comprises a filtration device 34 disposed in the continuity of the second chamber 33 and for filtering the air charged fines before the delivery of filtered air to the suction system 2 through the sheath 4. The enclosure 3 comprises an inlet mouth 35 communicating with the first chamber 30 on which is connected a flexible suction pipe (not shown) which can be supported by an articulated arm (not shown). The enclosure 3 comprises two flexible flaps 36, 37, for example of rubber, which make it possible to direct the flow of air in the first and second chambers 30, 33 and which also serve as shut-off valves when said chambers 30, 33 are filled. respectively of rubble or dust.

The suction system 2 is adjacent to the chamber 3 and comprises an inlet duct 20 which is connected to an end portion 40 of the duct 4 and an outlet duct 21 which allows the air to be ejected. an anti-noise box 5 which extends the sheath 4 on the side. When activating the suction system 2, the depression generated in the chamber 3 makes it possible to suck rubbish by means of the flexible suction duct. The rubble enters the first chamber 30 through the inlet mouth 35; due to the presence of partitions 31, 32 in baffle, the rubbish falls into the first chamber 30, while the fines are transferred to the second chamber 33. The dust-laden air is then filtered by the filtration device 34, this filtered air circulating in the longitudinal portion 41 of the sheath 4 until reaching its end portion 40 where it enters the inlet duct 20 of the suction system 2 and leaves through the outlet duct 21 of said duct system. suction 2, under the sound box 5.

Those skilled in the art will be able to take up the general characteristics of vacuum excavators currently on the market and adapt the characteristics of the suction system 2, an essential object of the present invention, which will now be described.

The Figures 2 to 10 explain in more detail the design of the suction system 2. The suction system 2 comprises a frame 22 receiving the various members of said system, namely an upstream turbine 23, a downstream turbine 24 and an intermediate chamber 25 interposed between the turbine upstream 23 and the downstream turbine 24.

The upstream turbine 23 comprises a housing 230, illustrated in FIG. Figures 2 to 3 , and vanes 231, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 . The casing 230 comprises an upstream wall 2301 which comprises a central inlet 2302 of cylindrical shape which communicates, on the one hand, with the blades 231 and, on the other hand, with the inlet duct 20. The casing 230 comprises a wall downstream 2303 which has an eccentric output 2304 in the form of a light illustrated in FIG. figure 6 . The casing 230 also comprises a first deflector 2305 in the form of a spiral or a snail and a second deflector 2306, as illustrated in FIG. Figures 5 and 6 , which promote the displacement of the air flow at the outlet of the blades 231 towards the eccentric outlet 2304 and the penetration of the air flow into the intermediate box 25. The rotation of the blades 231 makes it possible to suck air through the central entrance 2302 and to repress this air by the eccentric output 2304.

The intermediate box 25 comprises an upstream wall 250 provided with an eccentric inlet 251, said elements being respectively constituted by the downstream wall 2303 and the eccentric outlet 2304 of the upstream turbine 23. The intermediate box 25 comprises a spiral-shaped deflector 252 or snail, illustrated in figure 6 to 8 , which progressively approaches a central outlet 253 arranged on the downstream wall 254 of said intermediate box 25, as illustrated by FIG. figure 8 . The flow of air entering the intermediate box 25 through the eccentric opening 251, under the action of the upstream turbine 23, is thus directed to the central outlet 253 under the effect of the deflector 252.

The downstream turbine 24 comprises a housing 240 and vanes 241, illustrated in FIG. Figures 9 and 10 . The casing 240 comprises an upstream wall 2401 (illustrated in FIG. Figures 7 and 8 ) which comprises a central inlet 2402 of cylindrical shape which communicates, on the one hand, with the blades 241 and, on the other hand, with the intermediate box 25. The upstream wall 2401 and the central inlet 2402 are constituted respectively by the downstream wall 254 and the central outlet 253 of said intermediate housing 25. The housing 240 comprises a downstream wall 2403 and a peripheral contour 2404 which has an eccentric outlet 2405 which is extended upwards by the outlet duct 21. The shape of the peripheral contour 2404 is more or less spiral or snail, as shown by Figures 9 and 10 , which promotes the displacement of the air flow at the outlet of the vanes 241 towards the eccentric outlet 2405. The rotation of the vanes 241 makes it possible to draw air through the central inlet 2402, coming from the intermediate caisson 25, then to repress this air by the eccentric outlet 2405 to reject it through the outlet duct 21.

The suction system comprises drive means 26 for rotating the vanes 231, 241 on the upstream and downstream turbines 23 and 24. These drive means 26 comprise a motor 260 which is mounted on the frame 22 and which drives in rotation a pulley 261 via a belt 262. This pulley 261 is fixed to the end of a shaft 263 on which the blades 231, 241 are mounted. When the motor 260 is started up, the configuration of the blades 231, 241, illustrated on the figures 6 and 10 , makes it possible to move the flow of air from the center towards the outside, which makes it possible to move the air from the central inlet 2302, 2402 towards the eccentric outlet 2304, 2405, on each of the turbines 23, 25 by generating a depression. This design also allows a synchronization of blades 231, 241.

The foregoing description has no limiting character, many variations being conceivable within the scope of the invention.

It will be possible in particular to add in series on the suction system 2 Figures 2 to 10 one, two or more than two intermediate turbines of similar designs to that of the upstream turbine 23 and, respectively, one, two or more than two intermediate chambers of similar designs to that of the intermediate box 25, said intermediate boxes being interposed between the turbines . These turbines and intermediate boxes will be successively mounted between the intermediate box 25 and the downstream turbine 24.

Claims (12)

Suction system (2) of a suction excavator (1) characterized in that it comprises: at least two turbines (23, 24) arranged one after the other, each turbine comprising a housing (230, 240) and vanes (231, 241), each casing comprising a central inlet (2302, 2402) and an eccentric output (2304, 2405), - Drive means (26) for rotating the blades of the turbines, the rotation and the configuration of the blades for the circulation of the air from the central inlet (2302, 2402) to the eccentric outlet (2304, 2405) on each turbine; - At least one intermediate box (25), each intermediate box being arranged between the casings (230, 240) of two turbines, the intermediate box comprising an eccentric inlet (251) which communicates with the eccentric outlet (2304) of the upstream turbine (23), a central outlet (253) communicating with the central inlet (2402) of the downstream turbine (24) and a spiral-shaped deflector (252) for the circulation of air in said intermediate chamber of the eccentric input (251) to the central output (253). Suction system (2) according to claim 1, which comprises two turbines (23, 24) and an intermediate box (25) arranged between the casings (230, 240) of the two turbines. Suction system (2) according to claim 1, which comprises three turbines (23, 24) and two intermediate chambers (25) respectively arranged between the housings (230, 240) of the three turbines. Suction system (2) according to claim 1, which comprises four turbines (23, 24) and three intermediate boxes (25) respectively arranged between the housings (230, 240) of the four turbines. Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, the drive means (26) comprise a motor (260) driving a shaft (263) on which are mounted the blades (231, 241) of the turbines (23). , 24). Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on each turbine (23) forming an upstream turbine vis-à-vis a downstream turbine, the eccentric outlet (2304) on the housing (230) is disposed on a partition wall (2303, 250) with the intermediate box (25) succeeding it. Suction system (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein on each turbine (23) constituting an upstream turbine vis-à-vis a downstream turbine, the housing (230) comprises a deflector (2305) promoting the transfer of air from said housing to the intermediate box (25) succeeding it. Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on each turbine (23, 24) constituting a downstream turbine vis-à-vis an upstream turbine (23), the central opening (2302, 2402) on the housing (230, 240) is disposed on a partition wall (254, 2401) with the intermediate box (25) preceding it. Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the last turbine (24), the eccentric output (2405) is arranged on the peripheral contour (2404) of the housing (240). Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises an inlet duct (20) connected to the central inlet (2302) of the first turbine (23). Suction system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises an outlet duct (21) connected to the eccentric outlet (2405) of the last turbine (24). Excavator suction (1), which comprises a suction system (2) having the features of any one of the preceding claims, an enclosure (3) connected to the suction system (2) for its implementation vacuum, a flexible suction pipe connected to the enclosure, said enclosure comprising separation means (31, 32) of rubble and fines and filtering means (34) of the air loaded with fines before its transport to said suction system.

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