Patent Application
20190040599
The present disclosure relates to the field of improving ground, and more particularly to techniques for draining ground.
It is known to use drains, generally vertical drains, for consolidating and stabilizing ground that is soft and compressible, such as clayey ground. In particular, vertical drainage is generally used for accelerating the consolidation of relatively impermeable soft terrain supporting a heavy load, such as for example filling material. The presence of drains serves specifically to accelerate the removal of water from the ground, thereby enabling the ground to be consolidated in a few months. In contrast, in the absence of drainage, the consolidation or settling phenomenon can last for several years, which runs the risk of damaging the structure constructed on ground that has not been treated.
In order to drain ground, it is known to make use of machines for inserting drains in the form of elongate wicks vertically into the ground. The disclosure relates to such a machine for putting a drain into place in ground, the machine comprising:
Such a machine is described in particular in FR 2 518 607.
In the method described in that document, the anchor is fastened in automatic manner to the drain, and then the drain together with the anchor are driven into the ground during the vertical descent of the drive tube. After reaching the desired depth, the drive tube is raised, leaving the drain in the ground because of the anchor that prevents the drain from rising.
In that document, the anchors are constituted by individual plates that are previously stored in a magazine. On each cycle, a plate is brought up to the drain in order to be stapled to the drain. That document also proposes another variant in which, instead of using a magazine of individual anchors, the anchors are detached from a strip scored with lines of weakness.
Nevertheless, that machine presents the drawback of being particularly expensive to fabricate since it requires individual anchors to be cut apart beforehand or else it requires prior machining of lines of weakness in a strip. Also, storing anchors in a magazine in the form of individual plates is generally not compatible with the working conditions encountered on a work site, such as vibration, sudden movements, or indeed the presence of mud.
Also, if the operator desires to change the size or the type of anchor, e.g. because of a local variation in the structure of the ground, it is necessary to act on the machine in order to reload the individual anchor magazine or else to replace the strip with a strip having lines of weakness in a different arrangement, thereby making it necessary to interrupt work on site in order to intervene on a machine so as to make such changes. Furthermore, there is a risk of accidents resulting from handling plates, since they are generally made of metal and sharp.
An object of the disclosure is to propose a machine for making drains in ground while remedying the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Embodiments of the disclosure achieve this by the fact that the machine of the disclosure further comprises a cutter device for cutting the anchor from a strip.
Thus, the machine itself can produce anchors by cutting them from a strip, on request and to the desired size, in a manner that is simple and inexpensive, without requiring the presence of a human operator in the proximity of the bottom end of the drive tube. The machine of the disclosure is thus safer and less burdensome than the prior art machine.
Furthermore, in the meaning of the disclosure, the term “ground” is used to cover ground on land or under the sea. In other words, the machine of the disclosure can be used for putting drains into place both in terrain on land and in a seabed.
Advantageously, the machine further comprises an actuator device for simultaneously actuating the cutter device and the fastener device.
In other words, the anchor is cut from the strip and the cut off anchor is fastened to the drain at the same time, thereby putting drains into place faster, and thus accelerating work on site.
Advantageously, the cutter device is configured to slice the strip. To do this, it advantageously comprises a blade for cutting the anchor from the strip.
In an advantageous embodiment, the machine includes an assembly station comprising the fastener device and the cutter device, and a feeder device for feeding a free end part of the strip into the assembly station.
Preferably, the feeder device is configured to feed the free end part parallel with and facing the drain. Also preferably, the free strand of the strip extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the drive tube.
In a preferred embodiment, the machine further comprises a reel for receiving the rolled up strip in the form of a roll. Preferably, but not exclusively, the reel is surmounted by a cover in order to protect the roll.
Preferably, the reel is mounted to rotate relative to a support of the machine.
Advantageously, the feeder device includes a device for un-rolling at least part of the strip, which device is preferably in the form of two rotary cylinders having axes of rotation that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. Causing the cylinders to rotate in contrarotation has the effect of pulling on the free strand of the strip and of driving rotation of the reel carrying the strip, thereby having the effect of un-rolling the roll.
In a preferred embodiment, the reel is mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive tube.
It can be understood that, after the anchor has been cut from the strip and moved down the drive tube, the device for un-rolling at least part of the strip is actuated so as to bring the free end part of the strip into register with the drain and the cutter device.
In an advantageous variant, the cutter device includes a setting member for modifying the length of the anchor cut from the strip. The setting member serves to modify the position of the cutter device relative to the free end of the strip. Preferably, the setting member also serves to change the position of the free end of the strip relative to the drain, so as to center the anchor for cutting off relative to the drain.
In a preferred embodiment, the fastener device is configured to fasten the anchor to the drain by crimping.
One advantage is to be able to fasten the anchor to the drain in robust manner, without any additional fastener part, such as a screw or a staple, for example. In particular, this makes it possible to avoid interrupting the operation of the machine in order to refill the supply of consumables, thereby further reducing the cost of operating the machine. Risks of accident are also reduced by avoiding the presence of an operator in the proximity of the drive tube and the fastener device.
Advantageously, the crimping fastener device has means for piercing the drain and the anchor, the anchor preferably being pierced without removing material.
Preferably, the fastener device has one or more punches configured to perform crimping by punching the drain and the anchor. Preferably, the punching is accompanied by the punched material being folded onto the drain so as to secure the drain to the cut-off anchor.
In an advantageous embodiment, the machine of the disclosure further comprises an adjuster device for increasing the length of the drain portion that is located under the cutter member.
Thus, by means of embodiments of the disclosure, it is easy to adjust the length of the drain portion above the ground, which presents an advantage in particular when the drain needs to be connected to a horizontal drainage system.
Preferably, the adjuster device comprises a first roller and a second roller that is movable relative to the first roller, the second roller presenting an active position and a retracted position, rotation of at least one of the first and second rollers being motor-driven, the first and second rollers being configured to pinch the drain when the second roller is in the active position so as to be able to un-roll the drain.
Embodiments of the disclosure thus make it simple to adjust the length of the drain portion that emerges from the ground, in automated manner without the presence of an operator, thereby further serving to reduce the risk of any accident.
Advantageously, the machine of the disclosure further comprises a blocking device for holding the drain portion that is located under the cutter member.
An advantage is to be able to facilitate the operation of cutting the drain, while the drain is being held, preferably under tension, during the operation of cutting the drain by the cutter member.
In an advantageous embodiment, the adjuster device and the blocking device form a single element. Thus, and preferably, the blocking device comprises the above-mentioned first and second rollers. These rollers thus advantageously present two functions, namely both adjusting the length of the drain portion that emerges from the ground, and also blocking the drain portion arranged under the cutter member, preferably prior to cutting the drain.
Thus, the cutter member is arranged between the assembly station and the blocking device, whereby the drain can be tensioned between the assembly station and the blocking device while it is being cut, thereby facilitating the operation of cutting the drain.
Advantageously, the machine of the disclosure further comprises a mast having a bottom end, the drive tube being movable relative to the mast in a substantially vertical direction, and the cutter device, the fastener device, and the cutter member for cutting the drain are arranged in a module that is releasably fastened to the bottom end of said mast.
Thus, by means of this modular system, the disclosure makes it possible in simple manner to transform a carrier into a machine for putting a drain into place.
The disclosure also provides an assembly constituted by a machine of the disclosure and at least one strip rolled up in the form of a roll. Preferably, the strip is in the form of a roll. The width of the strip lies in the range of 70 millimeters (mm) to 150 mm, and its thickness preferably lies in the range 1 mm to 2.5 mm. Advantageously, the strip presents thickness that is constant.
The disclosure also provides a method of putting a drain into place in ground, the method comprising the following steps:
It can be understood that the steps are advantageously repeated in order to place a plurality of drains vertically in the ground one beside another.
Preferably, after cutting the drain under the second anchor, the second drain portion is pulled so as to bring the second anchor into contact with the bottom end of the drive tube. An advantage is to close the bottom end of the drive tube so as to prevent fragments of ground penetrating into the drive tube.
Advantageously, and if necessary, after raising the drive tube and before fastening the second anchor to the second drain portion, the drain is un-rolled in order to increase the length of the top part of the first drain portion.
Advantageously, the second anchor is cut from the strip while said second anchor is being fastened to the second drain portion.
Preferably, the fastening is performed by crimping. Also preferably, the crimping is performed by punching.
Advantageously, the first drain portion and/or the second drain portion is/are blocked by pinching before cutting the drain.
The disclosure can be better understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of the disclosure given as a nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In
The machine 10 is for attaching to a carrier, e.g. a crawler carrier (not shown). By way of example, one such carrier is described in particular in U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,091. The machine 10 has a mast 12 that extends in a vertical direction. The machine also includes a drive tube 14 that has a bottom end 14a and that extends along a longitudinal axis A. The drive tube is in the form of a hollow elongate tube that extends parallel to the mast 12.
The machine 10 also has a movement device 16 in the form of a carriage 17 that is movable along the mast 12 so as to move the drive tube 14 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A. This example is not limiting, and other movement devices could be used.
In this example, it can be understood that moving the carriage 17 in translation along the mast 12 has the effect of moving the drive tube 14 vertically, and consequently serves to insert the bottom end 14a of the drive tube 14 into the ground S.
The machine 10 also includes a drain 18 that, in this example, is in the form of an elongate flexible wick. The drain is initially stored on a winder 20 that is mounted on the carrier. As can be seen in
The machine 10 also has a first anchor 22, which is fastened to the drain 18 in the proximity of its bottom end 18a. It can be seen that the greatest transverse dimension T1 of the first anchor 22 is greater than the cross-section S1 of the bottom end 14a of the drive tube 14, such that the first anchor closes the bottom end of the drive tube while it is being moved down into the ground, thereby preventing matter from entering into the drive tube.
In
With reference to
The machine 10 also has an adjuster device 36, which can be seen more clearly in
As can be seen in
The above-described adjuster device 36 constitutes a blocking device 42 for holding the portion of drain that is under the cutter member 28, which blocking is obtained by the drain being pinched between the first and second rollers 38 and 40.
With reference to
The reel 50 is for receiving a roll 52, visible in
In this nonlimiting example, the strip is made of metal and presents a width of about 80 mm and a thickness of about 1 mm.
In accordance with the disclosure, the machine 10 also includes a device 60 forming part of the assembly station 30 for the purpose of cutting an anchor from the strip 54.
As shown in
The assembly station 30 also includes a stand 31 secured to the support 11, together with a body 32 that is movable in translation relative to the stand 31 in a direction C perpendicular to the drain 18 and to the feed direction F. The direction C is also perpendicular to the large faces of the free end part 54a of the strip 54. The cutter device has a blade 61 that is secured to the body 32 in order to cut the anchor from the strip when the body moves relative to the stand.
The machine 10 also has a fastener device 70 for fastening to the drain the anchor that has been cut off by the cutter device 60.
The fastener device 70, which can be seen in
The fastener device also has a punch 76 fastened to the stand 31 and configured to pass through the thickness of the second plate 74 via an orifice 78 formed in said second plate 74, whenever the second plate 74 moves towards the stand 31 in direction C. The cushions 75 constitute return springs that enable the punch 76 to be retracted relative to the second plate 74 when no pressure is being exerted on said second plate.
With reference to
The effect of moving the body 32 relative to the stand is firstly to move the blade 61 of the cutter device 60 so that it slices through the strip 54 across its entire width, thereby separating the anchor 90 from the remainder of the strip.
Simultaneously, actuating the actuators 84 and 86 has the effect of moving the first plate 72 in the direction G, thereby pressing the first plate 72 against the drain 18 and bringing it into contact with the free end part 54a of the strip 54, and then pushing the drain and the end together against the second plate 74. At this stage, the drain and the anchor 90 as cut from the remainder of the strip 54 are sandwiched between the first plate 72 and the second plate 74. Continued combined movement of the first plate 72, of the drain 18, of the anchor 90, and of the second plate 74 has the effect of flattening the cushions 78 and of causing the punch 76 to emerge from the second plate 74.
The punch 76 then perforates the free end part 54a of the strip 54, together with the drain 18. With reference to
Simultaneously with the fastening operation, it can be understood that the blade 60 cuts off the anchor 90, thereby having the effect of detaching it from the remainder of the strip 54.
It is also specified that the cutter device 60 further includes a setting member 63 for modifying the length of the anchor 90 cut off from the strip 54. In this nonlimiting example, the setting member 63 is configured to modify the position of the blade 61 relative to the strip in a direction parallel to the feed direction F. In another variant, the setting member 63 may be actuated automatically by the user.
With reference to
In this method, use is made of a strip 54 of metal that is rolled up to form a roll that is placed on the reel 50. In
In
Thereafter, in accordance with the disclosure, the top part 1802 of the second drain portion is blocked by clamping by causing the second roller 40 to pass into the active position, as shown in
Thereafter, and as shown in
Thereafter, and as shown in
During this operation of cutting the drain, the first drain portion 180 is blocked by being pinched between the first and second rollers, while the second drain portion 182 is blocked above the cutter member by being pinched between the body 32 and the stand 31.
Thereafter, and as shown in
As shown in
Eventually, in the step shown in
Preferably, the steps starting from
Preferably, provision may be made to use a sensor in order to detect the position of the drive tube. In this variant, when the sensor detects that the drive tube is in the raised position, a control unit of the machine 10 starts sequenced actuation of the above described devices and members.
Once the entire strip 54 has been used up, the operator intervenes to change the roll by lifting the cover 51 that covers the reel 50. That is the only manual operation that is undertaken while performing the method of the disclosure, in addition to changing the drain roll. Furthermore, in this example, the devices and the members are actuated hydraulically by appropriate actuators.
Even though some features, concepts or aspects of the embodiments may be described herein as being a preferred (more or less) arrangement or method, or an advantageous arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature or features are required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1651244 | Feb 2016 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2017/050330 | 2/14/2017 | WO | 00 |
