Securing means for securing a civil engineering element, and civil engineering method

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing means and a method for securing a civil engineering element to a construction machine by means of a flexible securing element, wherein a first end of the flexible securing element is attached to the construction machine and a second end is provided with a connecting link which can pass through a securing lug on the civil engineering element and can be releasably fastened to the construction machine by a connecting means. According to the invention, a detection unit is provided on the connecting means, which detection unit is designed for identifying fastening of the connecting link to the connecting means. The detection unit can generate and output a signal if fastening of the connecting link is identified.

Claims

1. A securing means for securing a civil engineering element to a construction machine by means of a flexible securing element, wherein a first end of the flexible securing element is attached to the construction machine and a second end is provided with a connecting link which can pass through a through-hole in a securing lug on the civil engineering element and can be releasably fastened to the construction machine by a connecting means, wherein a detection unit is provided on the connecting means, which detection unit is designed for identifying fastening of the connecting link to the connecting means, and the detection unit is configured to generate and output a signal at the identification of fastening of the connecting link to thereby provide information indicating that the connecting link is fastened to the connecting means.

2. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein at least one locking bolt is provided on the connecting means, and the connecting link can be locked in the connecting means by the at least one locking bolt.

3. The securing means according to claim 2, wherein the at least one locking bolt is adjustably mounted so as to be adjustable between a retracted position for receiving or releasing the connecting link from the connecting means, and a latching position in which the connecting link is locked in the connecting means.

4. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit can identify a locking position of the connecting link.

5. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one proximity sensor.

6. The securing means according to claim 5, wherein the at least one proximity sensor can identify if the connecting link is located in the connecting means.

7. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the flexible securing element is electrically conductive, and an electrical energy source is provided, by means of which a test current can be conducted between a fastening element, to which the first end of the flexible securing element is attached, and the connection means through the flexible securing element, which current can be identified by the detection unit.

8. The securing means according to claim 7, wherein the fastening element and the connecting means are electrically insulated with respect to the construction machine.

9. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the construction machine is a pile driver for driving in and/or drawing a pile in the ground.

10. A civil engineering method using a securing means, comprising: fixing a civil engineering element to a construction machine by means of a flexible securing element, attaching a first end of the flexible securing element to the construction machine, providing a second end of the flexible securing element with a connecting link which is passed through a through-hole in a securing lug on the civil engineering element and releasably fastened to the construction machine by a connecting means in order to secure a position of the civil engineering element on the construction machine, providing a detection unit on the connecting means, which detection unit is designed to identify fastening of the connecting link to the connecting means, and generating and outputting a signal from the detection unit at identification of fastening of the connecting link, or at identification of a lack of fastening of the connecting link, to thereby provide information indicating that the connecting link is fastened, or not fastened, to the connecting means.

11. The civil engineering method according to claim 10, driving a pile as the civil engineering element with the construction machine being a pile driver, by means of which the pile, is driven into the ground or drawn out of the ground.

12. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the flexible securing element is a securing chain.

13. The civil engineering method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible securing element is a securing chain.

14. The securing means according to claim 1, wherein the connecting link has a T-shape.

15. The civil engineering method according to claim 10, wherein the connecting link has a T-shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a part of a construction machine comprising a securing means according to the disclosure, in an open state;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of the securing means of FIG. 1, in a closed state;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the securing means of FIG. 2, along the line A-A;

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of a connecting means of the securing means according to FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a front view of the connecting means according to FIG. 4, and

(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of the connecting means of FIG. 5, comprising a received connecting link.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The fundamental design of a securing means 20 according to the disclosure on a construction machine 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The construction machine 10 (which is shown only in part) comprise a pile drive unit 12 which can comprise rotatably driveable unbalancing means in a manner that is known in principle. A hydraulic clamping means 13 is arranged on a lower region of the pile drive unit 12, by means of which clamping means a civil engineering element 5, which is a sheet pile in the embodiment shown, can be firmly clamped between two clamping jaws.

(8) In order to insert the pile-shaped civil engineering element 5 into the clamping means 13, a first insertion flank 14 and a second insertion flank 15 being arranged on the lower end of the pile drive unit 12, which insertion flanks together form an approximately V-shaped receiving slot. In order to additionally secure the position of the civil engineering element 5, a securing means 20 according to the disclosure is provided.

(9) The securing means 20 comprises a flexible securing element 22 which, in the embodiment shown, is designed as a chain. A first end of the chain is fastened, by means of a plate-like fastening element 28, to the first insertion flank 14, and thus to the construction machine 10. An insulation layer 29 can be arranged between the fastening element 28 and the first insertion flank 14, by means of which insulating layer the fastening element 28 and thus the flexible securing element 22 is electrically insulated with respect to the construction machine 10.

(10) A connecting link 24 is attached to the second end of the flexible securing element 22, which link is formed as an approximately T-shaped handle. The securing link 24 can be pushed through a through-hole or a securing lug 7 on the pile-shaped civil engineering element 5 and guided towards a connecting means 30 on the second insertion flank 15, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The connecting link 24 can be inserted or pushed into a matching receptacle 32 on the box-shaped connecting means 30, wherein the connecting link 24 can be latched in the connecting means 30. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the box-shaped connecting means 30 in a state ready for receiving. In this case, a block-like housing 31 comprises a slot-like receptacle 32 for receiving the connecting link 24. The receptacle 32 is open on one side, which side is remote from the clamped civil engineering element 5.

(11) Furthermore, a slot 33 is made in an underside of the housing 31, the slot width of which slot is designed so as to be smaller than the reception region of the receptacle 32 located thereabove. In this case, two lateral, track-like rests 35 are formed, on which the handle-like connecting link 24 can rest. The rests 35 can be designed having an upwardly protruding shoulder 37 towards the open side.

(12) A proximity sensor 42, as a detection unit 40, is inserted into a corresponding locating bore, on an upper face of the housing 31. The proximity sensor 42 is designed to identify the presence of the connecting link 24 in the receptacle 32 of the connecting means 30. Furthermore, a vertically displaceable locking bolt 34 comprising an upper actuating plate 36 protrudes from a locating bore on the upper face of the housing 31. The locking bolt 34 comprising the actuating plate 36 is designed for mechanical operation by hand or by means of an actuating tool. It is also possible, however, for an active device (not shown), in particular an actuating member such as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuating cylinder to be provided for the purpose of actuation.

(13) FIG. 6 shows the state of the securing means 20, in which the T-shaped connecting link 24 of the chain-like flexible securing element 22 is inserted into the receptacle 32 of the connecting means 30. In order to secure the connecting link 24 in position in the receptacle 32, the locking bolt 34 is adjusted downwards, from a retracted position into a locking position. In this position, the detection unit 40 can ascertain, by means of the proximity sensor 42, both the presence of the connecting link 24 in the connecting means 30 and adjustment of the locking bolt 34 in the locking position.

(14) In this state, the detection unit 40 can output a signal to a control unit, signalling that the connecting link 24 is correctly attached in the connecting means 30, and thus the civil engineering element 5 is correctly secured by the flexible securing element 22.

(15) While various embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it should be understood that these embodiments are not limited thereto. The embodiments may be changed, modified, combined, and further applied by those skilled in the art. Therefore, these embodiments are not limited to the detail shown and described previously, but also include all such changes and modifications.