Patent Application
20200149231
This invention refers to a new shoot-peening machine with scarifying accessory.
The Applicant works with more than 20-year proved experience in the field of the manufacturing of machines for the treatment of the coatings of road, airfield, and industrial surfaces.
The Applicant is owner of previous patents that represent the up-to-date State of the Technique, relevant to the solution of various problems in the field of the cleaning and regeneration of the coating of roads and airfields.
A first problem comes from a correct
To solve the problem of the overheating with sticking of the bituminous materials and their removal avoiding their deformation and ovalization.
In fact, the high acceleration experienced by the microspheres inside the turbine besides their impact causes the production of a big amount of heat which prime a chemical reaction of the struck bituminous parts, reviving, tempering and so making them sticky.
Big difficulties come from the treatment of the used abrasive, to free it from stones and bituminized sands that stick to it, in particular these latter have created not few problems despite the contrivances of the previous inventions of the applicant.
Therefore, it was embodied in the body of the shot-peening machine subject of this invention a second intercooler sieve so that the debris adherent to the abrasive when cooled by the experienced mechanical shaking break off allowing in turn to obtain a complete cleanliness of the abrasive which can be convoyed perfectly clean for a subsequent total cooling of the spheres in a tower elevator to avoid their ovalization during their recycling and re-use.
A second problem comes from the structure and composition of the modern road markings, that containing new materials and substances different from the sole traditional paints cause various problems for their removal, the sole shot-peening to be done in deep for their elimination causing the destruction of the roughness of the road coating besides the problem of the contamination of the abrasive spheres.
To make the road markings visible and perceivable to the man and to the car special pigments and machines are used.
After laying they appear like small transverse grains and/or bars. These typologies of road markings cannot be removed with the shot-peening machine, because to be able to remove the part with most of the paint in relief it would result in a damage of the part with less quantity.
Currently there are clearly other technologies that are used; high pressure water or scarifying milling machines.
We believe that the result is mitigate by the fact that no alternatives are available.
Causes determining the removal of the road markings:
The solutions (State-of-the-Art)
The shot-peening is a process using steel spheres of diameter ranging from 0.8 to 1.4 mm, to hit the surface of the coating.
The microspheres are thrown against the surface and the impact of these microspheres removes the superficial soft parts of the bituminous conglomerate and of the coloured pigment bringing in relief the aggregate and creating a micro and macro superficial roughness able to receive the new road markings.
In case of special road markings, the microspheres are thrown against the surface by one or more turbines, but because the thickness is very irregular the shot-peening cannot be used for the removal because in the empty space it would result in a damage of the road coating.
It is then allowed at most and to a limited way the removal by shot-peening of traditional road markings.
Currently there are on the market various models of scarifying machines driven by air or internal combustion engine, with inverted rotation against the line of march, with horizontal rotation and with double rotation, that can be embodied in operating machines or used manually according to the dimensions. They derive from the principle of the milling machine, using only smaller “teeth” or anyway less aggressive. The scarifying machine is intended to scarify (roughen)the road surface. Despite the efforts of the specialists its use is limited, in the Nineties a model of 2000 mm subdivided in sectors of 400 mm, seemed to have solved the problem of the superficial flatness. The problem is unresolved and a few years later it was banned because of the danger represented by the small grooves left by the teeth. Later, with the change of the rules regarding the colouring of the road markings the use of the scarifying machines seemed to be useful, but the poor productivity, the high wear and the excessive aggression of the road coat have decreed their end.
It was then embodied upstream the vehicle a scarifying machine of new concept and design for the removal of the road markings of new type, able to remove the road markings without damaging the road coating which is regenerated by the shot-peening machine downstream, the whole by a single pass.
This invention refers then to an improved shot-peening machine combined with a scarifying machine, mounted on a chassis of a self-propelled road yard vehicle, to remove road markings, remove gum from airfield surfaces and roughen the coating of runways, roads and motorways.
Hence a big advantage against the previous machine carried out according to Patent EP2325395 of the Applicant.
This invention refers to a new design of shot-peening machine with scarifying accessory.
The idea consists of applying on the front part of the vehicle a sideways sliding plate, to which a milling drum is connected; according to the typologies of road markings being possible to apply different typologies of tools.
Two ducts connect the scarifying machine to the self-propelled vehicle, one acts as fan to remove the residual material which goes in the separation and washing box, the second contains the hydraulic ducts for the transmission of the movement and the electric and electronic cables for the management sand control of the utilities.
This scarifying accessory has the sole function to remove the protruding parts from the surface of the road coating, it must absolutely not damage this latter to avoid creating the micro-grooves that the scarifying machines of the known technique fail to avoid and solve, the regeneration of the road coating being entrusted to the rear shot-peening machine which immediately follows.
In fact the idea consists of the application on the front part of a vehicle of a first connection and support plate, of a second plate sliding sideways on this first plate through a guide or track arranged on this, connecting to this second plate through two lock and pivot supporting pins an accessory scarifying machine built by a sequence of rollers rotating in opposite direction but moving forward in the direction of the movement of the vehicle, with the possibility of free transversal and vertical movement as well as inclination of their axes to adapt themselves to the work plane where lay the road markings to be removed without damaging the road coating whose regeneration is entrusted to one or more coupled shot-peening machines, placed in the rear part and connected to the vehicle. According to the typologies of road markings it is possible to use different types of tools applied on the rollers of the scarifying machine, which at the end of the work can be overturned on said second plate on which it is hinged by rotation of 90 degrees of pivoting.
Two flexible ducts or tubes connect the scarifying machine to the body of the vehicle, one tube acts as fan, to remove the residual material which goes in the filtering and collecting box of the dusts and debris, placed inside the body of the vehicle; the other one contains the hydraulic pipes, the electronic cables, the electronic connections for the transmission respectively of the motion, of the command, control, setting and adjustment of the various members and components of the scarifying machine, at the command and control post of the operator.
The principle of operation of the scarifying machine of the known technique recalls overall that of the milling machine, that is a rotating drum on which “teeth” are applied tools of special material able to remove the superficial part. By the milling machine the “teeth” are welded around a sheet cylinder hence the rigidity of the two work axes determines a sole work plane which does not allow the adaptation to the roadway using the machine on disconnected surfaces. On the contrary by the scarifying machine of the invention in a form of execution, the drum shows a central shaft and two disks at the ends, a sequence of spindles on the circumference, on these latter are inserted octagonal washers of thickness variable from 5 to 10 mm. The central hole of the washers is about the double of the diameter of the spindle allowing to operate also on disconnected surfaces. Preferably six milling drums compose the scarifying machine which is integrant part of this invention.
The flatness of work of each one is managed by the PLC, which according to the settings of the operator will remove a part of the road markings avoiding the contact with the road surface. To this aim the axle-base among the rollers put in sequence are vertically swinging, transversally displaceable and revolving, provided with sensors and managed by PLC.
Clearly all the drums, in the various forms of execution of the machine subject of this invention, will have a different arrangement of the tools to manage for the best and with a greater speed and productivity the removal of the different typologies of road markings, as well as the type of tools which will be embodied according to the requirements of the road markings to be removed.
We can illustrate as example three different typologies of tools arranged on the milling drums:
In the presence of a disconnected road coating, each axis of the drums can adapt its roller or disks for the best.
But it allows us above all to remove the typology of road markings called “noisy plate”, or that called “drop” which includes glass microspheres.
Without PLC control, it would not be possible to remove these typologies of road markings without damaging the road coating. In fact, because of its own weight each drum would try to break into the surface in absence of paint to be removed; the shot-peening performed downstream in the same pass will allow to leave the surface clean, without disturbance for the utilities and free to receive a possible further paint.
A third problem comes from:
The technology process evolves continuously, the systems of data acquisition and transmission reached a very high level. Currently only to switch on the machine and start all the members, turbines, sieves, fans and so on, a skilled operator is needed, as well as to set the roughening intensity and the direction to follow. Without the introduction of a PLC or similar with system software for the management of the functions, an application for data acquisition and processing and a modem for the remote assistance it is not possible to manage the machine; the survey of the functions, besides to “help” the operator to decide the roughening intensity, because the currently available technology, allows to acquire and process the data in real-time, transfer know-how directly to the PLC; it avoids potential and huge damages to the surfaces and to possible obstructions (for example runway lights and so on), further on it provides useful data to prepare graphs and reports about the difference before and after the operation.
Nowadays, the introduction of Smartphone, Personal Computer and Internet, the domotic and so on made us a bit dependent from an outside help. Nowadays our cars have system to survey the adherence, the obstacles and the road markings. That “forced” the specialists to produce and implement special road markings. The problem appears when the road markings must be removed. The Applicant, thanks to the acquired experience, carried out an innovative solution: add an accessory having the function of honing machine, to remove the superficial parts of the road markings without damaging the coating for the subsequent pass with the shot-peening machine.
Nowadays the predetermining aspects to face speaking about maintenance of roads, motorways and runways refer to the degeneration of the superficial properties, the traffic hampering, the safety of the employed personnel and the environment.
The bodies and the relevant suppliers engage themselves in the research to use ecological, safe and possibly recyclable raw materials, that the producers of applied technologies and machinery are forced to pursue. Nowadays any technology cannot be considered exempt from being deposed or absolutely fully replaced.
As already said we are nowadays accustomed to being helped by the technology, at home, in the car and at work.
The demonstration to an operator of a high technology machine with a full human management presents an obstacle. Operators accepting such task cannot almost be found, that in addition to the technical requirements of the machine has addressed us toward the application of various technologies.
In fact, without the control of the PLC it would not be possible to remove these typologies of road markings without break into the road coating, because of its own weight each drum would try to break into the surface in absence of paint to be removed. The shot-peening performed in the same pass, will allow to leave the surface clean, without disturbance for the utilities and free to receive a possible further paint.
This is on the contrary made possible by the intervention of the PLC on the axle-base among the rollers arranged in sequence transversally, vertically swinging, displaceable and revolving.
Automation and implementation of the scarifying accessory to remove the superficial road markings.
The project set itself the following objectives:
The display system collects data till now inaccessible, allowing a new approach to the working process:
A 3D display and measurement system was never applied to this type of machinery. The sight allows the assistance to the driving of the lorry; let the scarifying machine work correctly; set, control and record the entire work process. The evaluation of the quality of the milling and shot-peening process was never developed in the world and is indispensable to obtain the constancy of the settled results. The data obtained by the display system, like the 3D profile, the scattering measurement and the result of the processed images must be combined and interpreted to quantify the quality of the process.
The extreme work conditions to which the display system is subjected (bouncing microspheres, reflections, high temperatures) are the new problems that have been faced.
Illumination and laser have been developed for this specific application, where the components are outside and exposed to the direct sunlight.
The trouble of the vibrations, important factor in this kind of application, has been also specifically faced.
The PLC, or equivalent, collects all the signals received from bulbs, transducers and sensors installed on board, manages automatically activating and deactivating service commands like: radiator start, filter washing, and so on setting the oil flow, the revolution number and so on; manages the commands sent to the operator in the cabin or from the one on the ground, by means of the radio control and autonomously, in fractions of second, compares the requested commands with the programmed ones and executes them; in case of incorrect move, besides to prevent to put it into effect, provides to send an acoustic signal followed by a text message to the operator in the cabin; can set the working speed according to the result obtained by the treatment, move laterally and lift or lower ac the work bench cording to the need, open or close the abrasive.
The diagnostic can be inquired locally as well as remotely (for instance via GLTE, Intranet or Wi-Fi), allowing remote sensing and actions that allow to directly modify the state of the machine as well as update the software, as well as optimize the process in progress; the process can be remotely assisted if the operator likes to confer with the control centre. All the commands manageable by the operators, by the PC and by the maintenance people are memorized on a memory card. The involved staff by means of different password according to their duties can access the software, visualize historical data, modify some parameters and reset alarms. The software can be modified only by the authorized personnel, hence any try of modification, copy or tampering is not authorized by the system, even the removal of the memory for the installation on another PC cause its lockout. Moreover, the Management has full authority to manage and elaborate at will the data received from the PCs installed on the machines, to create updates or others. The owner Company is the sole authorized to remotely access the PC, to perform the remote diagnostic. The product of the current line includes various innovations, of course already implemented: the idea to integrate the solution in a lorry able to move autonomously, the hydrostatic traction, the intercooling system and the efficient filtering system of the aggregates. Based on these concepts, already creating themselves a noticeable gap against the competitors, the following innovations are properly added to the product, allowing further reducing the working time and the personnel involved, increasing at the same time the quality and the productivity of the working.
To fit the road profile and to guarantee the removal of the sole protruding part of the road markings it has been necessary to develop a new scarifying machine with 6 independent and self-cleaning axes.
The integrated milling system allows to subject the surface to two treatments—milling and shot-peening—by a single pass, noticeably reducing the working time, extremely critical factor in this kind of applications, moreover also reducing the possibility of error in the application of the treatment.
The shot-peening and milling process was never automated before in the terns proposed by this project, whose aim is to allow the use of the machine any operator with little training and lacking knowledge of the matter, being the setting of the process and the interactions among subsystem carefully designed. The remote diagnostic is an important feature which allows the skilled operator to intervene from a control centre and to understand quickly the problem, giving all the relevant data in real time and undertake remedial actions. It is a basic brick to guarantee a high reliability typical of this kind of machines.
More precisely this invention refers to a shot-peening machine combined with a high performance self-propelled scarifying machine, to treat the coting surfaces of bituminous conglomerate, asphalt, concrete or metal, including:
The combined shot-peening machine is also characterized by the fact that the scarifying unit (C-C) is fully arranged on the vehicle on its front part and to whom is connected by means of two plates coupled together, a first frontal plate placed on the front chassis of said self-propelled vehicle, a second plate able to translate along the full length of said first plate to whom a pivoting and vertically adjustable plate is anchored which is integral to the rear end of said scarifying unit, allowing the scarifying unit to translate along the full length of the self-propelled vehicle, to set itself in height against it and to rise and turn over it by a rotation of 90°, for an easy transportation from the yard to the garaging place or workshop.
The combined shot-peening machine is characterized by the fact that the scarifying unit (C-C) includes at least six drums with self-cleaning milling rollers, mounted on independent axes, arranged in sequence, rotating in opposite direction against the direction of the movement, adaptable to the working plane, moveable transversally, in height and slope, provided with tools of different typologies according to the needs of the road markings to be removed, allowing the shot-peening performed in the same pass, to leave the surface clean not disturbing the utilities and free to receive a possible further paint.
The combined shot-peening machine is characterized by the fact that the milling rollers of the drums of the scarifying unit (C-C) have a different arrangement of the tools, so that the removal of the road markings can be managed for the best and quicker avoiding the contact with the road coating, in presence of a disconnected road coating, being each axis able to adapt its drum for the best.
The combined shot-peening machine is characterized by the fact that the tools mounted on the milling drums or rollers are box or hoe or diamond tools.
The combined shot-peening machine is characterized by the fact that the rotation axes of the drums of the rotating milling rollers of the scarifying unit (C-C) are provided with sensors to survey their position and the working data for their feedback of setting and control.
The combined shot-peening machine is characterized by the fact that the scarifying unit (C-C) includes a bodywork with frame and bonnet which houses the rollers of the milling drums, partition bulkheads to separate and discharge the debris among the different rollers, intake and removal ducts of said residual materials at the box of the unit (B-B), a control station of the movements of rollers and plates, ducts for cables, cameras for the 3D display and measurement means, bulbs, transducers and sensors installed on board to collect and transmit all the captured signals and the PLC collected parameters.
The combined shot-peening machine is also characterized by the fact that in the scarifying machine the axle-bases among the drums arranged in sequence, vertically swinging, laterally displaceable and revolving, do not include a unique roller along their length but one or more disks mounted side by side on different lengths of the axis, coupling and inserting themselves parallel to the other disks mounted on the different rotation axes.
The above mentioned combined shot-peening machine is moreover characterized by the fact that, in the scarifying machine the drum shows a central shaft and two disks at the ends, a sequence of spindles on the circumference, on these latter are inserted octagonal washers of thickness variable from 5 to 10 mm, the central hole of the washers being about the double of the diameter of the spindle allowing to operate also on disconnected surfaces.
The combined shot-peening machine includes in addition an integrated system software of survey, monitoring and control managed by a utility, like PLC, Tablet, Smartphone or Server-Router Wi-Fi, able to perform the following functions:
This invention also refers to an automated process using the machine subject of the invention, managed by the software applications, characterized by the fact that it includes,
Said automated process is suitable and compatible to a remote management and operation of the whole working process, in absence and without the need for a local operator in a full automatic and autonomous way.
The machine subject of this invention is suitable to be used to remove the road markings and to clean and regenerate the macro-micro roughness of the road and motorway coating, including the coatings of modified bitumen (polymeric bases).
As well as for cleaning and gum removing of the runways and the removal of the runway markings in the airports.
This invention refers also to a self-propelled unit with suction, storage and housing of the magnetic group recovering the possible part of abrasive wasted and not recovered by the shot-peening machine, which otherwise would be lost with safety implications.
We give now a description of some preferred forms of execution of the machine subject of this invention by way a non-limiting example of the invention itself, without depriving of anything the extension and the generality of the same, with reference to the drawings of the attached tables:
The
The machine of the invention comes typically to solve the problem of the removal of the new typologies of “drop” or “lamellar” road markings, with subsequent regeneration of the macro and micro roughness of the road coating.
The technology has been applied to a road lorry with three to five axes.
The aim is to have a vehicle free to circulate on the roads to reach the possible yards, airports and so on, provided with both shot-peening and scarifying machine. Moreover, the aim of the technology applied to this new machine unique in its kind is to be able to work in moving yards, that means be able to work on roads, motorways and airports, where it is necessary to remove the road markings and remake them immediately after without close the lane or the section. The speed during the work shall be 1 km/h to cope with the coating vehicles.
By the two updated technologies of scarifying and shot-peening applied to this machine we would like to cure the drawbacks of the one and the other and to capture a share of this market left at the moment latent, trying to avoid troubles due to the lack of road markings or emission of dusts, liquids and other.
The shot-peening machine combined with high performance self-propelled scarifying machine, for the cleaning and regeneration treatment of the coating surfaces of bituminous conglomerate, asphalt, concrete or metal, includes:
includes:
includes:
includes:
The drums with milling rollers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
There are three preferred typologies of tools:
The axis bases among axes 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the drums arranged in sequence are vertically swinging, transversally displaceable and revolving, in a preferred form of execution provided with disks not aligned as indicated below, disk drums,
In presence of a disconnected road coating, each axis can adapt its drum for the best.
But above all it allows to remove the typology of road markings called “noisy band”, or that called “drop” containing glass microspheres.
Without the control of PLC, Tablet, Smartphone or remote Server (system software) it would not be possible to remove these typologies of road markings without break into the road coating, because owing to its own weight each drum would try to break into the surface where no paint to remove was present; he shot-peening performed immediately afterwards in the same pass, will allow to leave the surface clean without disturbing the utilities and free to receive a possible further paint.
Work Process The lorry is driven in the work area, when the lorry stands in the yard area the auxiliary engine 8′ is started and the hydrostatic transmission 11 is turned on; the safety pins of the scarifying unit are unlocked and it is turned of 90° and locked, 50, 52, 51, 51′, 50′, 40, 40′ through the fitting plates 50, 40, 30 on the self-propelled vehicle ready to move in the direction of the road axis X,
The scarifying action starts 20, the shot-peening unit (A-A) and the fan 9, reached the start point need just one input, then the computer 70 will memorize the position allowing also the shot-peening machine 20 to start in the same point, the same applies for the stop; the operator must drive the vehicle trying to keep an approximate direction, the machine will take care automatically to follow the line to remove.
The basic principle consists in utilizing the scarifying machine 20 only to remove the “protruding” parts without breaking into the road coating. The number of drums and the rotation speed are chosen automatically by the programme to optimize results and working speed. Same principle applies to the shot-peening unit, where the rotation speed and the quantity of abrasive can vary. The whole system aims to the highest yield and speed.
Besides the cameras 28, 29,
For the direction, the information is transmitted to the translators and through a led bar to the driver to help him to drive the vehicle.
For the plane, the information is transmitted directly to each shaft 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the scarifying machine 20, giving already the position to keep.
For the status of the line, the information is divided in three blocks: scarifying machine, shot-peening machine and working speed.
About the scarifying machine 20, the system seeks the optimization between number of shafts and rotation speed: it could also suggest the change of the typology of the utilized tools,
The shot-peening machine can receive the input for the quantity of abrasive and for the rotation speed.
The working speed fits to the two working processes to achieve the highest efficiency.
The captured images are superimposed among them to provide the above-mentioned information, to elaborate an average but also to provide and keep an historical record of the performed work; the same cameras provide the system with the indispensable information for the thickness of the line, the plane of the road, possible not removable obstacles and the achieved result. According to the skill of the operator the parameters to be inserted in the computer can be changed, but in case a different typology of demarcation is noted a specialized operator can remotely access and modify the basis parameters.
To have a full view and survey.
The cameras 28, 29 send the images to the board computer, it superimposes the images to one memorized and hence obtains the information to achieve the plane line, according to the acquired data, then the PLC sends to each shaft the position to keep, on each shaft 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 inductive sensors 21″, 22″, 23″, 24″, 25″, 26″ are suitable mounted, to know exactly its position,
The rear cameras survey the result to be able to adapt the rotation and motion speed of the scarifying machine and the working intensity of the shot-peening machine. According to the same above-mentioned principle, the virtual connection occurs through the main computer.
Here it is possible to carry out the adjustments and the settings of the basis software and change the parameters.
According to the received inputs the scarifying machine 20 proceeds, the milling rollers of the drums 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, rotating in the opposite direction against the motion,
All the machines of the new technique have big problems of abrasive cleaning before to put it again in the cycle, deteriorating its abrasive characteristics, being from one side polluted by other residual materials and from the other side having stuck on it bituminous, gummy and other materials.
Moreover, the high temperatures reached by the adhesive contribute to further worsen the situation.
The Applicant has embodied the following improvements and innovations on the object of this invention:
The shot-peening unit (A-A) composed of inlet means of the external air 2, 2′, of means throwing the microspheres 1, 1′, of a sequence of ducts A, B, C′, C, for the passage of said microspheres together with the collected impurities and the residual materials of the working process, of separating, collecting and recycling means, D′ D
includes
This modification and improvement has allowed to increase the duration of the microspheres, moreover to treat surfaces coated with modified bitumen (polymeric bases) that nobody of the competitors is able to treat.
Moreover, the PLC software surveys the position to avoid the fortuitous opening of the abrasive valves.
The suction and filtering unit (B-B) includes an aspirator or fan 9, a collector box 8 of the material of the working cycle, the general exhaust collector F, the shot-peening unit A-A and the duct G, G′ of the scarifying machine 20, an auxiliary and autonomous power generator 8′ to distribute the motion in autonomous way to the machine through a hydrostatic transmission 11, and to generate the hydraulic and electric power necessary to all the units and utilities enslaved to the machine; it is provided with conic-shaped cartridges 9′ of fireproof polyester self-cleaning by composed air, and with a unit for stoppage verification and washing automatic setting; with the help of a new type of nozzles 10′ it is possible to detach the dust particles that usually remain inside the plies of the filtering cartridges, allowing to preserve their filtering integrity a longer time.
The compressed air used for washing is produced by a sliding-vane toroidal compressor, which after filtering and cooling is directly stored into the chamber placed inside the suction box in the zone of the clean air, which houses together the electro valves feeding the washing nozzles, being also arranged inside the suction box.
By all the previous machines, the skill of the operator had a great influence, because he had to prevent the fatigue of the filtering cartridges, monitoring the depression indicator and acting on the control unit (cycling generator of impulses), varying the frequencies of work and pause. If for whatever reason this particular had escaped him, it should have caused the stop of the machine by clogging of the cartridges.
Very often, to prevent this drawback one went to the extremes, causing noticeable waste of compressed air, besides to reduce the duration of the filtering elements.
The machine subject of this invention, to obviate said drawbacks, has entrusted the management of the whole box to the PLC, the system besides monitoring the clogging of the cartridges, the quantity of treated air, the pressure difference between the two plenum chambers (air treated, air to be treated), manages the washing valves and the revolution speed of the fan, notifying any action undertaken by the operator in the cabin. This has allowed saving the applied energy to drive both the fan and the compressor.
The project of the Applicant, foresees a great number of technological innovations that we have described in detail and very important, but we are sure that the embodiment of the system software with PLC, Tablet, Smartphone or Wi/Fi Sever interface represents one of its peculiar advantages. The fact to allow the dialogue man-machine (command, setting and control), the remote diagnostic, the automation of the vital functions and the visualization of the state of the machine, reduce the complexity of use of the machine, reduce the complexity of use and management, besides to increase reliability and productivity.
The dialogue unit (Monitor Touch Screen), placed on the middle of the cabin console 70,
The PLC or equivalent electronic device (process and software control unit) represents the brain of the machine, it collects the signal received from bulbs, transducers and sensors installed on board and from the 3D display system, drives the commands dictated by the operator in the cabin and in case of need by that on the ground, through the radio control in an autonomous way, in the period of fractions od second, compares the requested commends to those programmed and execute them. In case of incorrect moves, besides to prevent to put them into effect, provides to send an acoustic signal followed by a text message to the operator in the cabin.
The Flash Memory, all the commends manageable by the operators, by the PLC and by the PC and by the maintenance people are memorized on a memory card, creating a programme, by means of different passwords any one of the above-mentioned staff according to its duties can access the software, visualize historical data, modify some parameters and reset alarms.
The programme (that is the menu) can be modified only by the authorized personnel, any try of modification, copy or tampering is not authorized by the system.
If the Applicant creates updates or modify settings, it can by Customer authorization perform the update via Internet and mobile telephony.
The Applicant is qualified and authorized to access the PLC via GLTE and in general via Internet and mobile telephony, to perform the remote diagnostic. All the service commands of the machine are autonomous, the system performs a certain number of checks per second (loop, software monitoring operation and maintenance) activating and deactivating service commands like: start of radiators, washing of filters and so on. Increasing and decreasing: oil flows, revolution number and so on.
It memorized all the status: work, anomalies, messages transmitted to the operator, maintenance actions and any other requirement of the programming phase, creating an archive (history), which can be remotely downloaded. In the same way, it is possible to perform the remote diagnose of the machine.
of the
The continuously increasing cost of the abrasive, the new airport orders, the introduction of the new sound absorbent asphalts and the troubles coming from the “lost” grit on the roads have led the Applicant to start a study to elaborate a new concept of recovery of the same grit following the shot-peening process regenerating the surface coating of roads, motorways and runways.
It is also part of this invention, completing the shot-peening process, a magnetic group mounted on a self-propelled vehicle placed after the shot-peening machine removing ad recovering the grit lost during the shoot-peening work.
This is particularly useful for the safety of the means and of the persons working and circulating on the coating surfaces after the treatment.
The presence of not recovered grit can in fact cause various safety problems for the users and means operating on roads, motorways, runways and landing strips.
The simple cleaning and suction process by the means of the known technique does not guarantee the complete removal of the grit left on the ground which in most cases remains entangled on the ground.
The subject of this invention cures the problems still unresolved by the means of the known technique.
The grit left on the ground is “found out” and freed to be sucked in by the magnets that remove it from the surface and convey it from a capture point to a release point by means of conveyor belts to collection basins or containers.
The new setting-up concept foresees a light self-propelled trailer, towed by the shot-peening unit, more precisely this invention refers also to a self-propelled mechanic-magnetic unit, collecting metallic materials, mainly on road coatings and runways, characterized by the fact it includes an autonomous self-propelled trailer, provided with:
Previous executions of this kind are not known to the Applicant.
A preferred form of execution of the subject of this invention foresees:
In a different form of execution of this invention the magnetic group of the mechanic-magnetic self-propelled mean, collecting the metallic materials, includes a PVC belt supported by a Polyzene plate rotating on two idle and one motorized pins, under said belt a tripolar fixed Neodymium (Nd) three-layer plate of 75 mm thickness, of length up to 2500 mm, placed at a height up to 130 mm to the ground, allowing the automatic and continuous “capture” of the ferrous materials on said belt, performing afterwards the transportation of said materials and their lateral release by means of a cochlea collecting and discharging them into a storage basin.
In another form of execution of this invention the magnetic group of the self-propelled mechanic-magnetic mean, collecting metallic materials, includes a first Neodymium (Nd) fixed plate capturing on a PVC belt the metallic materials (grit), that are retained during their transportation by a Neodymium (Nd) magnetic pulley and by a second Ferrite (Fe) plate arranged inclined with respect to the said first Neodymium plate, lifting from ground and conveying said materials until the release point in a collection basin-cochlea, a belt-tightener transmission roller allowing the sliding of the belt on said first and second plate.
In another form of execution of this invention a magnetic group M includes a two-way carriage, containing two fixed magnetic Ferrite-Neodymium drums, with minimum diameter of 600 mm, each with a fixed magnetic nucleus, each wrapped out by a jacket or envelope counter-rotating, these rotating from a magnetized collection point of the metallic material to e release point without magnetic attraction where the caught material falls in a storage and recovery basin.
A light self-propelled trailer 1, D-D, towed by the shot-peening unit A-A, is provided with brushes 122 on the front part removing the grit 107 attached to the modified bitumens that are tempered during the shot-peening treatment, of dry suction and filtering means 103, suction box 104 and storage container 133, in order not to produce powders during the brushing, of a rear fully automated magnetic group M, with adjustable rotation and ground clearance automatically controlled according to the settings to control the removal of the grit, of a collection basin 105 of the recovered lost grit. The suction and conveying duct 103 of the contaminating debris and residual materials of the grit leads to the suction box 104 operated by the fan 115, where, kept by the filter 115′, they fall in the storage container, the suction duct 103 foresees a diffuser 116 decelerating the flow for the fall in the collecting basin of the grit possibly sucked because of the brushing 122.
The self-propelled mean includes a power unit 101′ and an electronic computerized control unit 101,
A preferred form of execution of the invention foresees a magnetic group M composed of three shafts, two idle 102′, 102″ and one motorized 102, a chain or track rotating around drives a belt 108, 108′ conveying the Neodymium bars 106, of 20 mm×20 mm×240 mm spaced of 50 mm.
A honeycomb conveyor belt 108, 108′ interposes between the magnets 106 and the grit 107 to be captured, the material remains “glued” on the belt because of the single bars until it reaches the apex of the climb, here a further shaft 102′″ provides to strength the belt 108 forcing the abrasive, grit, 107 to detach itself reaching the collection basin 105.
Advantages: the grit remains attached always to the single bar 106, not be able to “fall”, being the part in contact with the ground 108′ widely adjustable in height, of a length of at least 500 mm,
In a different form of execution of this invention the magnetic group M of the self-propelled metallic-magnetic mean D-D collecting metallic materials, includes a PVC belt rotating on two pins 102, 102′ one of them motorized, under said belt a tripolar fixed Neodymium (Nd) three-layer plate 106 of 75 mm thickness, of length up to 2500 mm, placed at a height up to 130 mm to the ground, allowing the automatic and continuous “capture” of the ferrous materials 107 on said belt 108, performing afterwards the transportation of said materials and their lateral release by means of a cochlea 105′collecting and discharging them into a storage basin 105.
Under the belt is placed the three-layer Neodymium plate 106 of 75 mm which can remains up to 130 mm height from ground continuing anyway to make its effect. Over the plate 106 there is a Polyzene sheet 119 to support the belt and to prevent it to graze on the stands of the magnet below. There are the two external pulleys 102, 102′, suitably spaced to the Nd plate in order not to alter the flow lines of the magnetic field, that strength the PVC belt 108 and a number of guide rollers to maintain this last aligned, the belt working to remove the captured grit 107. The grit 107 is discharged laterally, from there a cochlea 105′ is working to convey the material to the collection/storage basin 105.
It is a solution for sure very effective, even if of large overall dimensions and the recovery of the grit from the release point is just a bit more difficult.
In another form of execution of this invention, the magnetic group of the self-propelled mechanic-magnetic mean, collecting metallic materials, includes a first fixed Neodymium (Nd) plate capturing on a PVC belt the metallic materials 107 (grit), that are retained during their transportation by a magnetic Neodymium (Nd) pulley 102′ and by a second Ferrite plate 109 arranged inclined with respect to said first Neodymium (Nd) plate 106, lifting from ground and conveying said materials 107 until the release point into a collection basin-cochlea, a belt-tightener transmission roller 102′″ allows the sliding of the belt 108, 108′ rotating trough three shafts, two idle 102′, 102″ and one motorized 102 on said first 106 and second 109 plate.
The Neodymium plate 106 is fixed and on its upper part is placed a Ferrite plates 109, to recover the grit, which would fall sat the end of the first plate before to be captured by the heading Neodymium pulley 102′, a carter 114 is arranged there, the not retained grit falling no longer on the ground but into the carter, from there the magnetic pulley 102′ provides to recover the remaining through a cochlea 105′ from there the collection basin 105 is reached,
Also in this version the belt 108, 108′ shows longitudinal profiles 108′″ acting as guides and profiles 108″ acting as lateral bulkheads,
In another form of the execution of this invention, a magnetic group M foresees a two-way carriage, including two fixed magnetic drums 110 mixed of Ferrite 112—
Neodymium 111, with minimum diameter of 600 mm, each with a fixed magnetic nucleus 11, 112 and a demagnetized part 113, each wrapped by a jacket 110′ or envelope counter-rotating, these rotating from a magnetized point 107′ of collection of the grit towards a release point 107″ without magnetic attraction where it falls into a collection and recovery basin 105.
In this execution the magnetic group is housed on a carriage which can also take the motion directly from the road
This solution very simple, but very heavy, is a good concept because it includes few pieces, no belt. Here the grit 107 “glues” directly to the jacket of the drum and when it reaches the free zone discharges itself into the basin 105,
In a different version the solid fixed drums can be replaced by a fixed crown of Neodymium bars 106, internal to the counter-rotating jackets 110′,
In all the situations the suction and collection ducts in case of the semitrailer can be also connected to the suction box of the shot-peening unit B-B.
This invention finds peculiar application in the decontamination of the runways after shot-peening, avoid dangerous ingestions of dispersed metallic grit not recovered by the shot-peening machine into the aviation engines, avoiding also troubles on roads and motorways, besides cleaning and decontamination operations in different environments, reducing the costs for the abrasive (grit).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00716/17 | Jun 2017 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2017/001199 | 9/21/2017 | WO | 00 |
