FR2714090A1 - Scraper bucket for underground workings - Google Patents

Abstract

The scraper bucket has a bottom panel (6) with a free scraping edge, two side panels (8) and a rear panel with a coupling mechanism for joining it to a machine with lifting and tilting systems. The bucket has a wheel (15) on each side, turned about horizontal pivots on the side panels to deploy them below the bottom panel for transport and tipping, or to retract them for scraping and loading. The bucket has a scoop (21) for filling it and ejecting its contents, movable lengthwise inside the bucket and dividing it into front and rear sections. Each side panel has a recess (8a) for a wheel, and the scoop forms a partition inside the bucket adjacent to the ends of the two recesses.

Description

CURING BUCKET WITH COUPLING MEANS
ON A TOOL CARRIER
The invention relates to a cleaning bucket comprising a bottom wall provided with a free scraping edge, two side walls, and a rear wall provided with coupling means on a tool carrier provided with a lifting system and tilt. More specifically, it aims to provide a bucket intended to be used during excavation work in underground structures.

 Certain works, in particular cleaning in underground structures, require traveling relatively long distances between the place of loading of materials and their place of unloading. Under these conditions, it is advantageous to transport a large volume of materials during each shuttle. However, at present, the volume of transportable materials is directly proportional to the weight that can be lifted by the tool carrier ensuring transport, without the risk of the latter tipping over. In other words, the transportable volume is proportional to the weight and therefore to the size of the tool carrier.

 This results in a significant additional cost and loss of time, when the working conditions impose the use of a machine of small size, this additional cost and this loss of time increasing, moreover, proportionally with the distance to be covered during each shuttle. Among the works which are thus penalized, one can cite all the cleaning works in underground works such as collectors, aqueducts, ..., for which, on the one hand, the size of the work restricts the gauge of the machines usable tool holders, and on the other hand, the distance to be covered during each shuttle is often important.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and has the main objective of providing a cleaning bucket which, for a given tool carrier, has a significantly greater capacity (of the order of three times greater) than that of traditional buckets which can be used at present with said machine.

To this end, the invention relates to a cleaning bucket comprising in combination:
- two wheels arranged on either side of the bucket,
- means for pivoting the wheels with respect to substantially horizontal axes integral with the side walls, said pivot means being able to pivot said wheels between a loading position where they are retracted above the bottom wall and joined at the side walls, allowing the bucket to rest on the ground by its bottom wall, and transport and unloading positions where the wheels are deployed under the bottom wall allowing respectively to move the bucket and tilt it in view of its unloading,
- a shovel for filling, restraining and ejecting materials arranged in opposition with respect to the bucket, and of a suitable shape, on the one hand, so as to be able to be displaced longitudinally inside said bucket so as to ensure a function of filling of the bucket and ejection of the materials, and on the other hand, to form a door ensuring a partitioning of the bucket into two so-called front and barrier sections,
- - actuating means of the shovel, integral with said shovel and the bucket, and arranged so as to ensure the movements of this shovel relative to said bucket.

 Firstly, the capacity of such a bucket can be greater than that of current buckets thanks to the presence of wheels whose function is twofold. These wheels form, in fact, a load take-up system making it possible to roll the bucket during the movements of the latter, and eliminating the risks of tilting of the tool-carrying machine, the retraction of said wheels during cleaning allowing, in addition, to use the bucket in a traditional way for loading.

 In addition, during cleaning, the pivoting means of the wheels also make it possible to position the latter so that they protrude slightly relative to the bottom wall of the bucket, when the latter weighed down by the load of materials can no longer be moved to the ground due to too great an increase in friction forces. This positioning of the wheels, which has the effect of restoring the possibility of sliding of the front of the bucket, allows better loading of the latter.

 Secondly, the capacity of the bucket according to the invention is greater than that of current buckets thanks to the presence of the shovel whose function is threefold. Firstly, this shovel makes it possible to release by traction the materials located in the front section of the bucket and thus, to bring these materials into the rear section, thereby increasing the filling rate of this rear section. In addition, once the rear section is correctly filled, this shovel is used to form a material retention barrier which allows the bucket to be tilted in order to dig into the ground to fill the front section without risk of material slipping already. loaded.

Finally, this shovel can be used during unloading to help eject materials and to clean the bottom wall of the bucket.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, each side wall has a recess of shape adapted to accommodate a wheel in the loading position thereof. This arrangement makes it possible to restrict the transverse size of the bucket, without affecting in large proportions the capacity of the latter.

 In addition, according to a preferred embodiment, the shovel has a shape adapted to form a barrier to the right of the rear end of the recesses, the latter thus defining a front section of width less than that of the rear section.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the bucket comprises, in the extension of the front section, a scraper blade having, at the level of the scraper edge, a width combined with that of the rear section, said blade being provided laterally with two sides connecting the scraping edge to the front section and constituted by the end portion of the side walls delimiting the front areas of the recesses, said sides being adapted to form a constriction capable of channeling materials towards the front section.

 Such a scraper blade clears the materials at the front of the wheels and gives the bucket a working width equivalent to the width of its barrier section.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment:
each wheel is carried by an arm secured to one of its ends of the axis of said wheel, and articulated on one of the side walls at its other end,
- The pivoting means comprise, for each wheel, a jack articulated respectively on the corresponding side wall and on the axis of said wheel.

 The shovel is in turn advantageously connected to the rear wall of the bucket by at least one upright articulated on said shovel and rear wall, while the actuating means comprise two jacks arranged in series: a first jack articulated on said shovel and on the rear wall of the bucket and arranged to pivot the shovel about a horizontal axis transverse to said bucket, and a second cylinder articulated on the body of the first cylinder and on the rear wall of the bucket, and arranged to rotate said first cylinder around a horizontal axis transverse to said bucket.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the bucket comprises a pivot connection between the rear wall of said bucket and the coupling means, said connection comprising a pivot with vertical axis, integral with said coupling means, and a connection sleeve housing a partial length of the pivot, integral with the rear wall.

 This pivot connection allows the bucket to be easily towed by the tool carrier.

 In addition, the bucket advantageously comprises two cylinders arranged horizontally and articulated respectively on the coupling means and on the connecting sleeve, said cylinders being arranged so as to cause rotations in both directions of the sleeve around the pivot.

 These two jacks are used to guide the bucket when possibly the latter is moved by being pushed by the tool carrier, while allowing to release the rotation of the link when towing this bucket, by canceling the control pressure of said cylinders.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment. On these drawings which form an integral part of the present description
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in longitudinal section through a vertical plane A, of this bucket shown hitched to a tool carrier,
FIG. 3 is a side view of this bucket in its loading position,
FIG. 4 is a side view of it in its transport position,
FIG. 5 is a cross-section through a vertical plane B of this bucket in its loading position, the containment and ejection filling shovel being arranged so as to form a barrier between the front and barrier sections,
FIG. 6 is a cross section of this bucket through a vertical plane C,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, with a partial cutaway, showing the coupling means and the pivot connection,
- And Figures 8a to 8h are diagrams seen in longitudinal section through the plane A, illustrating the operation of this bucket.

 The cleaning bucket shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 6 is particularly suitable for carrying out cleaning works for underground works such as collectors, etc.. . . I1 is intended to be removably secured to the lifting arms 2 of a tool carrier 3 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, and conventionally comprising, associated with the lifting arms, jacks 4 making it possible to mount and lower the bucket 1, and jacks 5 making it possible to tilt this bucket forward or backward.

 This bucket has a bottom wall 6 of concave shape provided with a scraping edge, the concave shape particularly intended for this bucket for cleaning works of works whose bottom is curved.

 The bucket also has a rear wall 7 and two side walls 8, 9 shaped so that said bucket has three zones consisting of a rear section 10, a front section 11, and a scraper blade 12.

 To this end, these side walls 8, 9 have a recess 8a, 9a, which delimits the front section 11 which therefore has a width less than that of the rear section 10.

 The scraper blade 12 is located in the extension of the front section 11. It has, at the scraping edge, a width combined with that of the rear section 10. In addition, this blade 12 is provided, laterally, with two sides such as 13, connecting the scraping edge to the front section 11 and constituted by the end portion of the side walls 8, 9 delimiting the front zones of the recesses 8a, 9a. These flanks 13 are, moreover, inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the bucket so as to form a constriction capable of channeling the materials towards the front section.

 The upper face of the rear section 10 is, in turn, partially closed by two upper walls such as 14 each extending over the width of said section located in the extension of the recesses 8a, 9a.

 The bucket 1 also comprises two wheels 15, 16 each mounted on the end of an arm such as 17, the other end of which is articulated by means of a ball joint 18 on the corresponding side wall 8, 9, substantially halfway up and towards the rear end of said side wall.

 Each arm 17 has, moreover, a length adapted so that the wheels 15, 16 are received in the recess 8a, 9a of the side walls 8, 9 when said arms extend longitudinally along the bucket.

 Each wheel 15, 16 is also associated with a hydraulic cylinder such as 19, articulated respectively on the axis of said wheel and, by means of a ball joint 20, near the ball joint 18 of articulation of the arm 17 on the corresponding side wall 8, 9.

 - These hydraulic cylinders 19 controlled from the cockpit are adapted to rotate the wheels 15, 16 between a loading position shown in Figure 3, where these wheels are retracted inside the recesses 8a, 9a (retracted state said cylinders), and a transport and unloading position shown in Figure 4, where the arms 17 extend substantially orthogonally to the bottom wall 6 (deployed state of said cylinders).

 The bucket further comprises a shovel 21 intended, on the one hand, to help fill the bucket and eject the materials 1, and on the other hand, to constitute a barrier for retaining the materials contained in the section rear 10.

 This shovel 21 has a curved longitudinal shape and is arranged with its concave face opposite the bucket 1. It has a width combined with that of the front section 11 of the bucket 1, and has a lower end provided with a scraping rim 22 in the form of a visor, the leading edge of which has a rounded shape with a radius of curvature combined with that of the bottom wall 6, at the level of the front section 11.

 The shovel 21 is connected to the rear wall 7 of the bucket by means of two bars such as 23 articulated respectively on said shovel and rear wall at the upper end of the latter.

 In addition, this shovel is associated with actuation means controlled from the cockpit. These actuating means comprise a first hydraulic cylinder 24 articulated on the underside of said shovel and on the rear wall 7 of the bucket, towards the upper end of the latter.

 The actuating means also comprise a second hydraulic cylinder 25 articulated, on the one hand, by means of a yoke 26, at the end of the body of the first cylinder 24, and on the other hand, on - the rear wall 7 towards the lower end thereof. In addition, the two wings of the yoke 26 are connected to the bars 23 by crosspieces 27 making it possible to transmit the pivoting movements to said bars.

 The bucket 1 finally comprises a pivot link disposed between the rear wall 7 and the means for coupling the said bucket to the tool carrier 3.

 This pivot connection comprises two vertical plates such as 28 integral with the rear wall 7, said plates forming a dihedral centered on the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the bucket, and the top of which is constituted by a tubular sleeve 29.

 The second element of this pivot connection consists of a pivot 30 housed in the connection sleeve 29 and secured at each of its ends on cheeks 31, 32 connecting said pivot to a frame 33 forming a coupling plate.

 In addition, two hydraulic cylinders 34, 35 controlled from the cockpit, are associated with the pivot link and adapted to drive a rotation in both directions of said link.

 To this end, these jacks 34, 35 each articulated on a lug 36 integral with the sleeve 29 and on the coupling plate 33, are arranged horizontally and arranged one above the other so as to form an X, seen in plan.

 Finally, the coupling plate 33 is provided, at its rear face, with anchoring zones 37, 38 for a conventional quick attachment system of tool carrier.

 Figures 8a to 8h illustrate the operating mode of a cleaning bucket as described above.

 In view of its loading, the bucket 1 is inclined forward and is caused to scrape the ground, the wheels 15, 16 being in their retracted position, and this until reaching the slipping or stalling of the tool carrier 3 (Figure 8a).

 - The shovel 21 is then put into action so as to pull the cuttings inside the rear section 10 (FIG. 8b). This rear section 10 is thus filled in successive stages, the maintenance of the cuttings arranged in said rear section when the bucket is inclined to scrape the ground being ensured by means of the shovel 21 arranged so as to form a barrier between the front and rear sections .

 In addition, when the filling which has the effect of increasing the bucket 1 causes a blocking of the bucket / machine assembly due to the increase in friction forces, the wheels 15, 16 are slightly lowered so as to become load-bearing. and restore the possibility of sliding the front of the bucket on the ground (Figure 8c).

 Once the rear section 10 is completely filled, the latter is definitively closed by the shovel 21, and the front section 11 is in turn filled with cuttings (FIG. 8d).

 When the loading is finished, the wheels 15, 16 are lowered into their transport position, and the bucket 1 tilted as far back as possible to avoid the sliding of the cuttings located in the front section 11 (FIG. 8e). In addition, the shovel 21 is then positioned so as to maintain the cuttings arranged in the front section.

 In addition, if the bucket must be towed (and therefore not pushed) to reach the unloading location, the pivot link can be released by canceling the control pressure of the jacks 34, 35.

 In addition, the actuator supply system 19 can be designed so as to allow the balance of said actuators to be blocked so as to cancel any possible effects of transverse tilting of the bucket under the effect of cant or curved trajectories.

 Once in the unloading area, the bucket is lifted as far as possible and tilted forward in order to dump the cuttings (figure 8f) .- The end of unloading is carried out, bucket 1 tilted forward and detached from the ground, the shovel 21 being used to eject materials that do not descend by gravity (Figure 8g).

 This unloading completed, the wheels 15, 16 are returned to their retracted position, and the jacks 34, 35 actuated so as to position the bucket in alignment with the machine, thus authorizing movements with said bucket carried door-to-door. -false at the front of the machine (Figure 8h).

Claims (10)

 1 / - Ditching bucket comprising a bottom wall (6) provided with a free scraping edge, two side walls (8, 9), and a rear wall (7) provided with means (33, 37, 38) d hitch on a tool-carrier (3) provided with a lifting and tilting system (2, 4, 5), said bucket being characterized in that it comprises  - two wheels (15, 16) arranged on either side of the bucket,  - means (19) for pivoting the wheels (15, 16) relative to substantially horizontal axes integral with the side walls (8, 9), said pivot means being able to pivot said wheels between a loading position where they are retracted above the bottom wall (6) and attached to the side walls (8, 9), allowing the bucket to rest on the ground by its bottom wall (6), and transport and unloading positions where the wheels (15, 16) are deployed under the bottom wall (6) respectively allowing the bucket to be moved and tilted for unloading,  - a shovel (21) for filling containment and ejecting materials arranged in opposition with respect to the bucket, and of a suitable shape, on the one hand, so as to be able to be displaced longitudinally inside said bucket so as to ensure a function of filling the bucket and ejecting the materials, and on the other hand, to form a door ensuring a partitioning of the bucket into two so-called front (11) and rear (10) sections,  - Means (24, 25) for actuating the shovel (21), integral with said shovel and the bucket, and arranged so as to ensure the movements of this shovel relative to said bucket.  2 / - Ditching bucket according to claim 1, characterized in that each side wall (8, 9) has a recess (8a, 9a) of shape adapted to accommodate a wheel (15, 16) in the loading position of that -this.  3 / - Ditching bucket according to claim 2, characterized in that the shovel (21) has a shape adapted to form a barrier to the right of the rear end of the recesses (8a, 9a), the latter thus defining a front section (11) of width less than that of the rear section (10).  4 / - Draining bucket according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises, in the extension of the front section (11), a scraper blade (12) having, at the scraping edge, a width combined with that of the rear section (10), said blade being provided laterally with two sides (13) connecting the scraper edge to the front section (11) and constituted by the end portion of the side walls (8, 9) delimiting the front areas of the recesses (8a, 9a), said sides being adapted to form a constriction capable of channeling materials towards the front section (11).  5 / - Draining bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  - Each wheel (15, 16) is carried by an arm (17) secured to one of its ends from the axis of said wheel, and articulated on one of the side walls (8, 9) at its other end ,  - The pivoting means comprise, for each wheel (15, 16), a jack (19) articulated respectively on the corresponding side wall (8, 9) and on the axis of said wheel.  6 / - Ditching bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shovel (21) has a curved longitudinal shape, and is arranged with its concave face opposite the bucket, said shovel having a lower end provided with 'a scraper rim (22) in the form of a visor.  7 / - Draining bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  the shovel (21) is connected to the rear wall (7) of the bucket by at least one upright (23) articulated on said shovel and said rear wall,  - the actuating means of the shovel (21) comprise two jacks (24, 25) arranged in series: a first jack (24) articulated on said shovel and on the rear wall (7) of the bucket and arranged to pivot the shovel (21) around a horizontal axis transverse to said bucket, and a second cylinder (25) articulated on the body of the first cylinder (24) and on the rear wall (7) of the bucket, and arranged to pivot said bucket first cylinder around a horizontal axis transverse to said bucket.  8 / - Draining bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pivot connection (29, 30) between the rear wall (7) of said bucket and the coupling means (33, 37, 38), said connection comprising a pivot (30) with a vertical axis secured to said coupling means, and a connecting sleeve (29) housing a partial length of the pivot, secured to the rear wall (7).  9 / - Ditching bucket according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two jacks (34, 35) arranged horizontally and articulated respectively on the coupling means (33, 37, 38) and on the connecting sleeve ( 29), said jacks being arranged so as to cause rotations in both directions of the sleeve around the pivot (30).  - 10 / - Ditching bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a coupling plate (33) provided with anchoring zones (37, 38) for a quick coupling system tool carrier (3).