Underground construction device

Abstract

An underground construction device includes a hydraulic assembly having an internal combustion engine and a hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine, a work device connected with the hydraulic assembly in a hydraulic circuit for introducing material to be pile-driven into the ground, a clamping apparatus connected with the work device for holding a material to be pile-driven, in clamped manner, which device has a hydraulic clamping cylinder, as well as a controller for opening and closing the hydraulic clamping apparatus. A further hydraulic pump for building up the clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder of the clamping apparatus is provided, which pump is operated by an electric motor. A method operates such an underground construction device.

Claims

1. An underground construction device comprising: (a) a hydraulic assembly having an internal combustion engine and a first hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine; (b) a work device configured as a vibrating pile-driving device and connected with the hydraulic assembly in a hydraulic circuit for introducing material to be pile-driven into the ground, wherein the vibrating pile-driving device comprises a vibrator gear mechanism having a hydraulic motor and shafts arranged parallel to each other and provided with imbalances driven by way of the hydraulic motor; (c) a clamping apparatus configured as a clamping pincer comprising a hydraulic clamping cylinder, wherein the clamping pincer is connected with the work device and configured to hold the material to be pile-driven in a clamped manner; (d) a controller for opening and closing the hydraulic clamping apparatus; (e) a second hydraulic pump for building up clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder of the clamping apparatus; (f) an electric motor operating the second hydraulic pump; and (f) a pressure intensifier arranged to precede the second hydraulic pump in a flow direction of hydraulic fluid for increasing the hydraulic pressure made available by the electrically driven second hydraulic pump; wherein the second hydraulic pump is configured to maintain the clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder at least when the internal combustion engine is stopped; and wherein the second hydraulic pump driven by the electric motor for building up the clamping pressure is connected in parallel with a third hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine for building up the clamping pressure.

2. The underground construction device according to claim 1, wherein the second hydraulic pump driven by the electric motor for building up the clamping pressure is a radial piston pump.

3. The underground construction device according to claim 1, wherein the electrically driven second hydraulic pump is controlled to make a higher pressure available than the third hydraulic pump operated by the internal combustion engine to build up the clamping pressure.

4. The underground construction device according to claim 3, wherein a maximal clamping pressure is made available only by the electrically driven second hydraulic pump.

5. The underground construction device according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine and the work device are connected with the controller that is set up for querying at least one operating state value in a case of a deactivated work device, and for automatically stopping the internal combustion engine or recommending to an operator that the internal combustion engine be stopped, by way of a signal if the at least one operating state value corresponds to an assigned default value.

6. The underground construction device according to claim 5, wherein the signal comprises a display message.

7. The underground construction device according to claim 5, further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring at least one of a hydraulic fluid temperature and an internal combustion engine oil temperature, wherein the temperature sensor is connected with the controller, wherein the controller is set up in such a manner that if a limit temperature assigned to the temperature sensor is not reached, the stopping of the internal combustion engine or the sending the recommendation for stopping of the internal combustion engine does not take place.

8. The underground construction device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor connected with the controller for continuous measurement of the clamping pressure of the clamping apparatus, wherein the controller is set up in such a manner that if the clamping pressure drops below a predetermined minimum pressure value, a pressure increase by the second hydraulic pump operated by the electric motor to a predetermined reference pressure value takes place.

9. The underground construction device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rechargeable battery; a charging apparatus connected with the rechargeable battery and operated by the internal combustion engine; and a sensor connected with the controller for continuous measurement of a charging state of the rechargeable battery; wherein the electric motor is supplied by way of the rechargeable battery; wherein the controller is configured for turning on the internal combustion engine and is set up in such a manner that if a predetermined minimal charging state of the rechargeable battery is not reached, automatic starting of the internal combustion engine takes place.

10. A method for operation of an underground construction device comprising a hydraulic assembly having an internal combustion engine and a first hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine, a work device configured as a vibrating pile-driving device and connected with the hydraulic assembly in a hydraulic circuit for introducing material to be pile-driven into the ground, wherein the vibrating pile-driving device comprises a vibrator gear mechanism having a hydraulic motor and shafts arranged parallel to each other and provided with imbalances driven by way of the hydraulic motor, a clamping apparatus configured as a clamping pincer comprising a hydraulic clamping cylinder, wherein the clamping pincer is connected with the work device and configured to hold the material to be pile-driven in a clamped manner, a controller for opening and closing the hydraulic clamping apparatus, a second hydraulic pump for building up clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder of the clamping apparatus, and an electric motor operating the second hydraulic pump, the method comprising: (a) querying by the controller at least one operating state value during a break in operation when the work device is deactivated; (b) automatically stopping the internal combustion engine or sending a recommendation to an operator by the controller by way of a signal that the internal combustion engine be stopped if the at least one operating state value corresponds to a default value; and (c) maintaining the clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder of the clamping apparatus by the second hydraulic pump operated by the electric motor at least when the internal combustion engine is stopped; wherein the at least one operating state value comprises a first operating state value, wherein an opening state of the clamping apparatus is queried as the first operating state value, wherein the internal combustion engine is stopped when the clamping apparatus is closed only when the second hydraulic pump operated by way of the electric motor is activated.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the signal comprises a display message.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one operating value further comprises a second operating state value, wherein the electric motor is operated by way of a rechargeable battery, and wherein a charging state of the rechargeable battery is queried as the second operating state value, wherein the internal combustion engine is only stopped, when the clamping apparatus is closed, if the charging state of the rechargeable battery lies above a predetermined minimum charging state.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the clamping pressure of the clamping apparatus is continuously queried as the at least one operating state value, wherein the internal combustion engine is stopped if, when the clamping apparatus is closed, the clamping pressure is greater than a predetermined minimum pressure.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the hydraulic oil temperature, the engine oil temperature of the internal combustion engine, and an engine coolant temperature of the internal combustion engine is queried as an additional operating state value, wherein the internal combustion engine is not shut off if a queried temperature lies below an assigned minimum temperature.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a high pressure required for operation of the clamping cylinder is maintained independent of an operating state of the internal combustion engine by the second hydraulic pump operated by the electric motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other further developments and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vibrating pile-driving device with a hydraulic assembly arranged on it;

(4) FIG. 2 is a schematic detail representation of the vibrating pile-driving device from FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit schematic of the vibrating pile-driving device from FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit schematic of a vibrating pile-driving device in a further embodiment;

(7) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit schematic of a vibrating pile-driving device in a third embodiment; and

(8) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic circuit schematic of a vibrating pile-driving device in a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The underground construction device selected as an exemplary embodiment is configured as a vibrating pile-driving device 1, which is connected with a hydraulic assembly 2 in a hydraulic circuit 5. See FIG. 1. The vibrating pile-driving device 1, in known manner, comprises a vibrator gear mechanism 11 having shafts 12 shown in FIG. 2 arranged parallel to one another. Shafts 12 are provided with imbalances 13 and can be driven by way of a hydraulic motor 14. Such a vibration gear mechanism is described, for example, in EP 1 967 292 A2. A clamping apparatus 15 is arranged on the housing of the vibrator gear mechanism 11, configured in the form of a clamping pincer, which apparatus has a clamping cylinder 16 for clamping material to be pile-driven, in known manner.

(10) The hydraulic assembly 1 comprises an internal combustion engine, in the present case a supercharged diesel engine 21, which drives a hydraulic pump 22. The hydraulic pump 22 is connected with the hydraulic motor 14 of the vibrator gear mechanism 11 of the vibrating pile-driving device 1 by way of hydraulic lines 51 of the hydraulic circuit 5.

(11) Furthermore, a second hydraulic assembly 4 (see FIG. 4) is arranged on the vibrating pile-driving device 1, which assembly comprises an electric motor 41 that drives a second hydraulic pump 42. To supply voltage, the electric motor 41 is connected with a rechargeable battery 43 as shown in FIG. 2. The hydraulic pump 42 operated by the electric motor 41 is connected with the clamping cylinder 16 of the clamping apparatus 15 by way of hydraulic lines 52. To build up the required clamping pressure, a pressure intensifier 53 is arranged between the hydraulic pump 42 and the clamping cylinder 16, in the hydraulic line 52. To turn on the clamping apparatus 15, a controller 3 is further provided, which is connected with the electric motor 41 and the clamping cylinder 16 by way of control lines 31. Furthermore, the controller 3 is connected with the rechargeable battery 43.

(12) In the present arrangement, completely separate supply to the hydraulic motor 14 of the vibrator gear mechanisms 11 takes place by means of the hydraulic pump 22 driven by the diesel engine 21, on the one hand, as well as supply to the clamping cylinder 16 of the clamping apparatus 15 by way of the hydraulic pump 42 driven by the electric motor 41, on the other hand. In the case of configuration of the hydraulic pump 42 as a high-pressure pump, for example as a radial piston pump, the hydraulic pressure intensifier can be eliminated, as is shown in FIG. 4. Here, only a kickback valve 54 is arranged between hydraulic pump 42 and clamping cylinder 16.

(13) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, two hydraulic pumps 22, 23 are arranged in the first hydraulic assembly 2, which pumps are driven by the diesel engine 21. The additional hydraulic pump 23 is connected with the clamping cylinder 16 of the clamping apparatus 15 of the vibrating pile-driving device 1 by way of a kickback valve 54. At the same time, the hydraulic pump 42 driven by the electric motor 41 is also connected with this clamping cylinder 16 by way of a kickback valve 54. In this configuration, the possibility exists of filling the clamping cylinder 16 in conventional manner, using the further hydraulic pump 23 driven by the diesel engine 21, and building up the higher clamping pressure using the hydraulic pump 42, driven by the electric motor 41, once the pressure that can be implemented with this hydraulic pump 23 has been reached.

(14) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, the arrangement described above, according to FIG. 5, was supplemented with a hydraulic pressure intensifier 53, which is arranged to precede the clamping cylinder 16 in the flow direction of the hydraulic fluid, whereby smaller dimensioning of the further hydraulic pump 23 of the first hydraulic assembly 2 and also of the hydraulic pump 42 of the second hydraulic assembly 4 is made possible. Furthermore, the electrical supply to the electric motor 41 is represented by way of a rechargeable battery 43 in an electrical circuit. The controller 3 is configured in expanded form and is connected, at its inputs, with sensors for detection of the vibrator amplitude (a), of the engine oil temperature of the diesel engine (b), of the clamping pressure of the clamping cylinder (c), of the temperature of the hydraulic oil (d), as well as of the charging state of the rechargeable battery (e). Turning on the diesel engine 21 of the hydraulic assembly 2 as well as of the electric motor 41 of the hydraulic assembly 4 takes place by way of the controller 3, as a function of the signals of these sensors. If, for example, the engine is cold in the case of a low outside temperature (corresponding to the engine oil temperature reported by the sensor b) and the charging state of the rechargeable battery 43 is low (corresponding to the charging state reported by the sensor e), the diesel engine 21 is not shut off even during a break in operation. If, in contrast, sensor a, for example, reports a vibrator amplitude of zero, sensor b reports a sufficient engine oil temperature, sensor c reports a sufficient clamping pressure, sensor d reports a sufficient temperature of the hydraulic oil, and sensor e reports a sufficient charging state of the rechargeable battery 43, then the controller 3 either brings about automatic shutoff of the diesel engine 21, or the operator is given an optical and/or acoustical signal that the diesel engine 21 can be shut off.

(15) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.