Cable-Laying Device And Method

Abstract

A mobile device for the underground laying of a flexible line, a cable, a cable-pulling empty pipe or fluid transport tube. A front vehicle has a rear support frame, a lateral ejection unit, a milling unit with a milling wheel and a drag formwork or cable laying unit following the wheel. The milling unit is connected to the front vehicle for lateral pivoting up to 25, in particular up to 20, is laterally offset towards the outside with respect to the front vehicle, and can be positioned to laterally protrude over the contour of the front vehicle, by a primary articulation or a swivel joint on the lateral ejection unit having a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The drag formwork, cable laying and cable introducing unit follows the milling unit and the cable introducing unit are also laterally pivotable about a second swivel joint.

Claims

1. A mobile device for underground laying of an elongate device, the mobile device comprising: a milling unit with a wheel milling cutter for digging a narrow trench having a given laying depth, wherein subsoil material that is milled out of the trench by said wheel milling cutter is laterally removed, the elongate device is inserted in the trench in a determined position, fine-particle subsoil material or cable sand is introduced into the trench in order to embed the elongate device, and the previously laterally removed, milled-out subsoil material is reintroduced into the trench and recompacted; a front vehicle configured to drive at a given speed and to feed the elongate device to be deposited for insertion into the trench in synchronicity with the given speed of the front vehicle; said front vehicle being a carrier vehicle carrying a rear support frame with a lateral ejection unit, said milling unit with said milling wheel, and a tow-casing and cable-depositing unit following said milling unit, together forming a compact laying unit; said compact unit including said milling unit and said milling wheel connected to said front vehicle by way of a first linkage or a rotational joint laterally offset from and beyond a contour of said front vehicle on said lateral ejection unit, enabling a lateral pivoting by a pivot angle of up to 25 about a substantially vertical axis of rotation relative to said lateral ejection unit; a second linkage or a rotational joint connecting said tow-casing and device-inserting and cable-sand-introduction unit following said milling unit to said milling unit so as to be laterally pivotable by an angle of up to 25 towards both sides about a substantially vertical axis; a conveyor belt to be loaded with the trench excavation material extending along said compact laying unit and mounted on said milling unit laterally of a milling housing; an elongate star screen following said conveyor belt, rising obliquely backwards, said screen having a plurality of screening stars mounted on axes of rotation that are transverse to a transport direction thereof, of fine-grained trench material from coarse-grained trench material; and a conveyor belt arranged underneath said star screen and disposed to load a fine screen with the fine-particle trench material; an ejection gutter to be guided above the trench to feed amounts of fine material or cable sand into the trench in accordance with the given speed of the front vehicle, having two drop chutes for introducing fine-grained and finest-grained trench material into the cavity of said tow-casing unit locally and temporally before the coarse-grained trench material, and wherein the coarse-grained trench material conveyed by said star screen is reintroduced into the trench immediately behind said tow-casing unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured for laying underground at least one elongate device selected from the group consisting of a cable, a flexible line, a cable-drawing empty pipe, and a fluid transport hose, optionally together with a warning tape.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said milling unit with said milling wheel is laterally pivotable by an angle and is linked to an ejection device which is connected to said front vehicle or to said support frame thereof, and said milling unit is adaptable to topographical conditions which are defined by a surface to be undercut.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said milling unit is laterally displaceably, at least to one side of said front vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said milling unit is linearly displaceable by hydraulic drive, with respect to said front vehicle.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein, to stabilize and keep stable walls of the trench being produced in each case, said the tow-casing and device-inserting unit are equipped with sheet metal form plates on two sides thereof, wherein a spacing distance between said plates from one another is adjustable to a respective trench width, and wherein said plates reach towards said milling wheel of said milling unit, rising in concave curves, to as short a distance as technically feasible.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said short distance is approximately 10 cm.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said milling wheel is supported so as to be lifted with respect to said milling unit by way of a mechanical system having hydraulic cylinders without changing a vertical position, within the trench, of said tow-casing and said device-inserting unit, which is connected to said milling device so as to be laterally pivotable and comprises the sheet metal form plates on both sides which ensure the stability of the trench throughout.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said milling wheel is lifted if said wheel is blocked by hard subsoil material.

10. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a parallelogram mechanical system for lowering or lifting said tow-casing and device-inserting unit, or for lifting said milling unit, optionally together with said milling wheel, out of the trench on occasion of a blockage, and said mechanical system is linked on both sides to said rotational joint for said tow-casing and device-inserting unit on said milling unit or on a housing thereof.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor belt for transporting away backwards the fine-particle trench material separated from the coarse trench material by way of said conveyor belt is arranged underneath said elongate star screen.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said conveyor belt is configured to load the fine screen with the fine-particle excavation material, and wherein fine-particle or finest-particle material separated from the excavation material is used at least in part instead of separately supplied cable sand, or said material is additionally used for embedding and surrounding the device being inserted in the cable trench.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein a chute directed towards the trench for the fine-particle or finest-particle material has a variable cross section and its disposed to release a variable-height opening in a lower face thereof, and an adjustable height to be adjusted to a demand in each case per running meter of trench and cable for fine cable-embedding and surrounding material per running meter of trench and cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0052] FIGS. 1 to 4 show, on the basis of views from above, from both sides, and from behind, the structure of the new compact cable-laying device according to the invention and FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention in greater detail. More specifically:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows the new laying-device according to the invention in a plan view,

[0054] FIG. 2 shows said device in a side view from the road,

[0055] FIG. 3 shows said device in a side view from outside towards the road, and

[0056] FIG. 4 shows said device in a rear view, and

[0057] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the second subject matter of the invention from which the present invention proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] FIG. 1 shows how a carrier or support frame 20 comprising a lateral ejection device 2 which, as indicated by a double arrow, can be moved sideways in a linear manner in both directions, is attached to the rear side of a towing vehicle 1 which is indicated only schematically per se, is driving in the driving direction F and is remaining strictly on the road surface covering Fb, for example a tractor.

[0059] By means of two attachments which are at a distance from one another and protrude backwards from the excavation device 2, of which in this case only the upper attachment is visible, a linkage formed by the first rotational joint 230 having a substantially vertical axis is supported, about which axis the trench milling unit 3, together with the housing 31 thereof and the trench milling wheel 35, can laterally pivot at an angle to the right or left, as indicated by the curved double arrow.

[0060] By means of hydraulic cylinders 23 fixed to the ejection device 2 and to the milling housing 31, the lateral pivoting angle can be adjusted according to the curve shape.

[0061] On the rear side of the milling unit 3, a second linkage which is formed by a rotational joint 340 is arranged, by means of which linkage the tow-casing and cable-inserting unit 4 directly following the milling unit 3 can pivot laterally likewise at an angle both to the right and to the left with respect to the milling unit 3. This lateral pivotability is also indicated by a curved double arrow.

[0062] The rollers 43 which are arranged inside the tow-casing and cable-inserting unit 4 for kink-free guidance of the cable L to be laid (not shown here) can clearly be seen from above the units 3 and 4 downwards into the cable trench K just produced by the cable-laying device 100 or the milling unit 3 thereof and cut into the verge B.

[0063] The tow-casing and cable-inserting unit 4 can be lowered with respect to the milling unit 3 by means of the two parallelogram mechanical systems 400 and is supported on the bottom of the trench, whereby the milling unit 3 is lifted.

[0064] Arranged or extending to the right, along the new complete or compact laying unit 10, which is formed comprising a lateral ejection device 2 a milling unit 3 and a tow-casing unit 4, and is doubly pivotable per se, of the new cable-laying device 100, a first conveyor belt 50 taking coarse-to-fine-grained trench material Kmg+Kmf=Km which is excavated by the trench milling wheel 35 through an ejection recess 36 in the milling unit housing 31 and ejected sidewaysin this case continuously to the rightbackwards is arranged, to which conveyor belt an elongate star screen 55 is connected, by means of which screen the separation of the fine-grained trench material Kmf from the coarse trench material Kmg takes place, the fine-grained trench material Kmf falling between the screening stars 51 downwards onto a second conveyor belt 56 (not visible here) and likewise being transported backwards by said belt while the coarse-grained trench material Kmg remains on the star screen 55 and is likewise taken backwards.

[0065] Inside the enclosure 6, the two material flows Kmf and Kmg reach two drop chutes 62, 63, the fine and finest material Kmf entering the trench K before the coarse material Kmg locally and temporally and embedding and surrounding the cable inserted therein, and the final filling of the trench K with coarse material Kmg, which optionally additionally contains excess fine material Kmf, taking place only thereafter.

[0066] FIG. 2 clearly showsthe reference sign meanings otherwise remaining the sameviewed from the right with respect to the driving direction F of the complete laying unit 10, the milling wheel 35 having the hard metal burrs and the ejection recess 36 in the housing 31 of the milling unit 3, by means of which all the trench excavation material Km reaches the first conveyor belt 50 and, rising from there, then reaches the star screen 55 comprising the plurality of rotatable screening stars 51.

[0067] Underneath the star screen 55, a second conveyor belt 56 runs parallel thereto.

[0068] While the coarse trench material Kmg is transported rising backwards by the star screen 55, the fine trench material Kmf falls through the star screen 55 onto the conveyor belt 56, and both material flows enter the drop box or enclosure 6 having a flow-splitting flap 64, from where, by means of the divided chutes 62, 63 (see FIG. 1) the fine trench material Kmf enters the trench K before the coarse trench material Kmg locally and temporally, in which trench the cable L is already deposited.

[0069] The supply of the cable L takes place above the laying unit 10, which cable is guided downwards by means of cable reels 75 and lastly enters the trench K by means of guide rollers (not visible here) inside the tow-casing unit 4. In this case, the hydraulic cylinder 405 of the parallelogram mechanical system 400 for lowering the tow-casing unit 4 is still visible throughout, which cylinder can be used for example to lift the milling unit 3 in the case of a blockage thereof.

[0070] The side view from the left shown in FIG. 3 of the new compact cable-laying unit 10 which is movable per seall other reference sign meanings remaining the samemakes it possible to clearly see the mechanical system 300 comprising hydraulic cylinders 305 for adjusting the depth of the milling wheel 35 with respect to to the milling unit 3.

[0071] The parallelogram mechanical system 400 comprising hydraulic cylinders 405 for the height adjustment of the milling unit 3 and tow-casing unit 4 relative to one another is clearly shown.

[0072] Furthermore, the route of the cable L to be laid over the upper roller 75 downwards through the tow-casing unit 4 and underneath the guide rollers 43 thereof is shown very clearly therein.

[0073] Furthermore, the unwinding drum 80 and the warning tape guide duct 81 for depositing the cable warning tape W above the cable L already deposited in the trench K is shown therein.

[0074] FIG. 4 showsthe reference sign meanings otherwise remaining the sameon both sides of the milling unit 3 and the tow-casing and cable-laying unit 4, the parallelogram mechanical system 400 for the mutual relative lifting or lowering of these two units 3 and 4 and the hydraulic cylinders 405 thereof and further shows the cable L guided above via the upper-side rollers 75, which cable is guided downwards through the unit 4 and is deposited between the two sheet metal form plates 41 on the bottom of the trench K.

[0075] Furthermore, the drop gutter 66 provided for coarse trench material and fine trench material separated therefrom is shown therein.

[0076] Clearly shown here are the two rails of the support frame 20 for the lateral ejection unit 2 and the actual edge of the roadway Fb, that is to say e.g. the asphalt layer of the road, which is absolutely not to touch or be touched by the new compact cable-laying unit 10, along which roadway the cable L is laid in the trench K produced in the verge B.

[0077] Each of the units 3 and 4 which is directly used when excavating the trench and laying the cable is equipped on the lower side thereof with a towing strip 150 which ensures the secure position of the just mentioned units on the verge B during the cable-laying journey.

[0078] All the essential new components of the cable-laying device according to the invention, summarized once again, include the following, reference being made to FIGS. 1 to 4.

a) Carrier frame 20
b) Lateral ejection device 2
c) Milling unit 3 having a milling wheel 35 and a housing 31
d) Tow-casing and cable-inserting unit 4
e) Conveyor belt 50 having a screening unit 55
f) Front or carrier device 1

Carrier Frame 20

[0079] By means of the carrier frame 20 on the carrier or front vehicle 1, the milling unit 3 is connected to the milling wheel housing 31 thereof via a standardized three-point suspension. All the control and drive elements not shown in greater detail are located on the carrier frame 20. The lateral ejection unit 2 is integrated in the carrier 20 in the form of a tube-in-tube system, which is mounted on rollers.

Lateral Ejection Device 2

[0080] The ejection device 2 can be laterally extended and retracted continuously by means of hydraulic cylinders. By means of the sideways extension of said device, it is possible for the milling unit 3 to be laterally pulled behind with respect to the carrier or front vehicle 1, and thus the milling of the trench K can take place precisely and without adversely affecting or damaging the road surface covering Fb or the like in the lateral strips of road or road verge B, and thus the roadway itself is not touched by the building work while the carrier or front vehicle 1 moves safely on the solid roadway in the driving direction F.

Milling Unit 3 and the Housing 31 Thereof having a Milling Wheel 35

[0081] The milling unit 3 or the milling housing 31 is connected to the lateral ejection device 2, 20 via the first rotational joint 230. An actuatable hydraulic cylinder, which is connected to the ejection device 2 and the milling housing 31, stabilizes said rotational joint. By means of the rotational joint 230, it is possible to mill narrow curves, since the milling housing 31 is pressed into the curve radius required in each case by means of hydraulic cylinders 23 of the ejection device 2, 20. A drive motor which is attached to the milling housing 31 axially drives the milling wheel 35. The milling wheel 35 is driven in the opposite direction to the driving direction F; see arrow D.

[0082] On the right-hand front side in the driving direction F of the milling housing 31, there is an ejection opening 36, through which the milled-out trench material Km is pressed. On the lower inner and outer face of the milling housing 31, there are two scraper bars which can press said material downwards or continuously lift said material by means of two hydraulic cylinders. The milling depth can thereby be changed continuously during the milling.

Tow-Casing and Cable-Inserting Unit 4

[0083] This Unit 4 Completes Three Tasks:

[0084] Said unit is used as a clearing blade towards the milling wheel 35, it protects the trench K against collapse or being washed in, ensures that the cables and/or lines L are deposited in a protected manner and protects the lines L inserted in the trench K against the introduction of coarse material.

[0085] The tow-casing unit 4 is located or begins as directly as possible behind the milling wheel 35, and the concavely curved front face thereof is formed having a slightly greater radius towards said milling wheel 35 than the milling wheel itself. This shape of the tow-casing unit 4 prevents milled-out material on the rear side from ultimately being able to be reintroduced into the trench K.

[0086] Two lateral steel sheets 41 prevent the trench K from collapsing and unwanted verge subsoil or trench material Km from washing into the trench.

[0087] Between the two lateral sheet metal form plates 41 of the tow-casing unit 4, the guide rollers 43 which ensure the kink-free depositing of the cables and/or lines L are located. In addition, the tow-casing unit 4 protects the freshly laid lines L against the introduction of coarse material. The height-adjustable device 80, 81 on the rear side of the tow-casing unit 4 is used as a guide for depositing the warning tape W at the height desired in each case above the laid cable L inside the trench K.

[0088] The tow-casing unit 4 is connected by means of the parallelogram mechanical system 400 to the second rotational joint 340, which is attached to the milling housing 31. The rotational joint 340 allows the flexible guiding of the tow-casing unit 4 in curves in the trench K. The two lower carriers of the parallelogram mechanical system 400 are provided with a slot in which the ends of two hydraulic cylinders are attached by means of a pin. The other end of the hydraulic cylinders is attached to the rotational joint 340 on the right and left.

[0089] By means of the hydraulic cylinders 405, it is possible to continuously lift or lower the tow-casing unit 4.

[0090] If the milling wheel 35 comes to a standstill for example as a result of impurities of the verge subsoil, said wheel can be lifted by means of the depth-adjustment mechanical system 300 in order to restart.

[0091] Slots in the lower carriers of the parallelogram mechanical system 400 on both sides allow the relative lifting of the milling housing 3 without the tow-casing unit 4 itself thereby being lifted upwards. As a result, damage to the laid cables L and the collapse of the trench K are effectively prevented.

Conveyor Belt 50 having a Screening Unit 55

[0092] The rising conveyor belt 50 is connected directly next to the upper ejection opening 36 in the milling housing 31 of the milling unit 3, which conveyor belt conveys the milled-out trench material Km towards the tow-casing unit 4. The screening device starts at the end of the conveyor belt 50, which device is particularly preferably formed by an elongate, further rising star screen 55.

[0093] The star screen 55 separates the trench material Km supplied thereto into fine and coarse particles Kmf and Kmg. The fine particles fall onto a conveyor belt 56 arranged underneath and are further transported backwards into a pivotable drop gutter.

[0094] The coarse material Kmg is likewise conveyed backwards into the drop gutter 63 during the screening process by the rotation of the screening stars 51. This pivotable drop gutter 63, which is located at the end of said screening device, allows the milled-out trench material to be deposited in a flexible manner.

[0095] The drop gutter can be pivoted towards the trench K or towards the roadway. The side of the drop gutter 63 which is tilted towards the trench K is divided into two grooves.

[0096] In a first groove in the driving direction, the sifted-out fine trench material Kmf is deposited, in the second groove, the coarse material Kmg is deposited. A height-adjustable deflector plate at the end of the first groove allows a dosed supply of the fine material Kmf via a cavity of the tow-casing unit 4 into the trench K. Excess fine material Kmf is conducted into the second groove by the deflector plate and, in said groove, mixes with the coarse material Kmg. By means of this grain mixture which is produced in the manner described, the trench K is lastly closed up.

[0097] Carrier or Front Vehicle 1:

[0098] Commercially available construction machines or tractors, which are preferably equipped with a continuous drive, are used as a carrier or front vehicle 1. On the front side of the carrier vehicle 1, there is a device which can receive the cable drums. By means of guide rollers above the compact cable-laying unit, the cables or lines L to be laid are guided into the tow-casing and cable-inserting unit 4 and inserted in the trench K therefrom.

[0099] By means of the combination of the described units 1, 2, 3, 4, it is ensured, with a high degree of safety, that in the edge strips or verge B of the traffic routes, lines and/or cables L can be laid without the roadway Fb being damaged in the process. This applies fully in particular in the curved regions of roads and the verges thereof.

[0100] FIG. 5, which illustrates the starting invention, that is to say the second essential subject matter of the present invention, shows how a first vehicle 100 which is formed by a specially equipped tractor 100 and moves forwards vo at a speed v1 in the area of from 0 to approximately 4 km/h, supports, on the front side thereof, an unwinding bearing bracket 38 together with a cable drum 30 mounted thereon.

[0101] From said cable drum 30, by means of a roller 31, which is arranged above the driver's cab, the cable 3 to be laid underground is guided downwards by means of an additional roller 32 arranged on the rear side behind the tractor 100 and deposited in the cable trench 70 which has been freshly excavated immediately beforehand by means of a milling wheel 40 arranged in the rear region of the tractor 100.

[0102] By means of a conveyor belt 45 which is attached to the side of the trench milling cutter 40, the soil material 7 which was excavated immediately beforehand is transported backwards at the same speed but in the opposite direction minus v1 (v1) and not, as previously, deposited to the side of the just excavated cable trench 70, which contributes very substantially to the high working speed of the new method.

[0103] Immediately after the cable 3 has been deposited in the cable trench 70 and the warning tape 35 which is pulled off of an unwinding device (not shown in greater detail) in the rear attachment 101 of the tractor 100 and guided via the roller 33 has been deposited above the inserted cable 3 in the trench 70, by means of the approximately funnel-shaped ejection gutter 50, which is always arranged precisely thereabove likewise on the rear of the tractor 100, in each case a preset amount of (fine) cable sand 6 per running meter of laying stretch is allowed to flow into the trench 70 continuously, by means of which the cable 3 and the warning tape 35 deposited above said cable is embedded and surrounded and of course also covered at the top.

[0104] The soil material 7, which is conveyed backwards r in the course of the milling of the cable trench 70 by means of the trench milling cutter 40 and the conveyor belt 45 which is attached to the side thereof at a speed minus v1 (v1) which is in the opposite direction to the forwards driving speed v1 of the tractor 100 and is not deposited to the side of the trench 70, is reintroduced into the trench 70immediately after the cable 3 and warning tape 35 have been embedded and surrounded with the (fine) cable sand 6by means of the discharge chute 41 of the conveyor belt 45 to be conveyed backwards r.

[0105] With regard to the supply and introduction of the (fine) cable sand 6 by the approximately funnel-shaped sand ejection gutter 50 attached to the rear of the tractor 100 into the cable trench 70, a second vehicle 200 is used, which drives forwards vo at a speed which is equal to the driving speed v1, in the present case a heavy goods vehicle which comprises a trough 201 containing the (fine) cable sand 6, and an externally mounted, obliquely rising sand conveyor belt 240, the outlet end 245 of which is held running precisely above the sand ejection gutter 50 of the tractor 100. The amount of (fine) cable sand which is to be introduced into the cable trench 70, provided per running meter of driving and thus cable-laying stretch, is applied to the conveyor belt 240 by means of the sand-discharge and dosing device 205 which can be controlled from the driver's cab, which is in the rear region of the trough heavy goods vehicle 200.

[0106] Both the tractor 100 and the trough heavy goods vehicle 200 which follows said tractor at the distance a at the same speed v2=v1 move forwards vo at a speed of from 0 to approximately 4 km/h in the course of the new type of cable laying. To ensure the constant and synchronous low and regulated driving speed v1=v2 of the two vehicles 100 and 200, both vehicles 100, 200 are equipped with computer-controllable hydraulic or hydrostatic transmissions.

[0107] Instead of the sand conveyor belt 240, a sand conveying hose can come up to the heavy goods vehicle 200, the open end of which is guided directly above the cable trench 70 and through which the cable sand 6 can be conveyed directly into the trench 70 by means of compressed air.

[0108] The trough heavy goods vehicle 200 shown in FIG. 2 in a rear and sectional view, which forms the second vehicle, can be a conventional, e.g. multi-axle transport vehicle for dry, fine-grained or pulverulent material, usually construction material, comprising a transport trough 12 having flanks 11 extending obliquely downwards at the angle a to one another, on the e.g. 60 cm narrow base of which a scraper conveyor 13 is moved, which can be driven by means of a motor 131, the speed of which can be controlled by means of the control unit which can be adjusted and controlled from the driver's cab of the second vehicle 200, by means of which the amount of (fine) cable sand 6 to be applied in each case per running meter is applied to a conveyor groove 16 which is oriented transversely to the vehicle axis or to the driving direction of the trough heavy goods vehicle 200, said groove having a discharge screw 17, a protrusion of which protrudes for example to the left laterally beyond the trough heavy goods vehicle 200.

[0109] The (fine) cable sand 6 conveyed by means of the discharge screw 17 is transported by a type of funnel member 204 or a hose of this type of the sand-discharge and dosing device 205 onto a conveyor belt 240 which is attached to the side of the vehicle 200 and rises upwards with the front discharge end 245 thereof over the sand discharge chute 50 (shown only by dashed lines) of the first vehicle 100 and falls through said chute in a precisely positioned manner directly into the cable trench 70 already occupied by the cable 3.