VIBRO REPLACEMENT PROBE AND METHOD FOR EQUIPPING A LEADER WITH A VIBRO REPLACEMENT PROBE

Abstract

A vibro replacement probe includes a ramming tube that is connected with a filling piece that includes a feed tube as well as a filling funnel and/or a hose connection flange. The feed tube is firmly connected with a vibrator that has a mechanism for pivoting attachment to the leader of a construction machine, wherein the mechanism includes a connection part that is connected with the vibrator so as to pivot and that can be attached to a carriage that is displaceably guided on the leader. Furthermore, a construction machine has such a vibro replacement probe and a method equips a leader of a construction machine with such a vibro replacement probe.

Claims

1. A vibro replacement probe comprising: (a) a filling piece comprising a feed tube and at least one of a filling funnel and a hose connection flange; (b) a ramming tube connected with the filling piece; (c) a vibrator connected with the feed tube; and (d) a connection part pivotably connected with the vibrator and configured to attach to a carriage displaceably guided on a leader of a construction machine.

2. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, wherein the connection part is elastically connected with the vibrator; and wherein the elastic connection is formed by way of at least one of rubber/metal rails, helical springs, and elastomer elements.

3. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, wherein the connection part comprises a connection plate or a connection frame.

4. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, wherein the connection part has at least one of hooks and receiving holes configured to correspond to receiving holes or hooks arranged on the carriage of the leader.

5. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, further comprising a holding rack releasably attached to the connection part.

6. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 5, wherein the holding rack is attached to the connection part by way of at least one of bolts and screws.

7. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 6, wherein the holding rack has a support surface set at a right angle to the connection part.

8. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 7, wherein the support surface is U-shaped.

9. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, wherein the filling piece comprises the filling funnel and the filling funnel is connected with the ramming tube by way of at least one spring element, by way of an elastic sealing element, or by way of at least one spring element and an elastic sealing element.

10. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 1, wherein the filling piece comprises the filling funnel and the vibrator comprises first and second exciter cells connected with the feed tube; and wherein the exciter cells are connected with one another by way of a yoke.

11. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 10, wherein the first and second exciter cells are structured to be self-synchronizing.

12. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 10, wherein the vibrator has a passage that aligns with the ramming tube; and wherein the passage has a cross-section that is greater than or equal to a cross-section of the ramming tube.

13. The vibro replacement probe according to claim 12, wherein the feed tube is passed through the passage and is connected with the ramming tube; and wherein the feed tube has at least one lateral opening within the filling funnel.

14. A construction machine having a leader and a carriage displaceably guided on the leader, wherein the vibro replacement probe according to claim 1 is attached to the carriage so as to pivot.

15. A method for setting up a leader of a construction machine, the method comprising: (a) providing the construction machine with the vibro replacement probe according to claim 1; (b) first orienting the leader vertically, positioning the vibro replacement probe horizontally, and attaching the vibrator of the vibro replacement probe to a carriage guided on the leader so as to pivot; and (c) subsequently moving the carriage upward along the leader until the ramming tube of the vibro replacement probe is situated in a vertical position above the ground.

16. A method for setting up a leader of a construction machine, the method comprising: (a) providing the construction machine with the vibro replacement probe according to claim 6; (b) first orienting the leader vertically, positioning the vibro replacement probe horizontally, and attaching the vibrator of the vibro replacement probe to a carriage guided on the leader so as to pivot, wherein the connection part that is connected with the vibrator so as to pivot is connected to the carriage and is oriented vertically; and (c) subsequently moving the carriage upward along the leader initially so far that the holding rack no longer has any contact with the ground; (d) removing the holding rack from the connection part; and (e) subsequently moving the carriage further upward until the ramming tube of the vibro replacement probe is situated in a vertical position above the ground.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Other objects and features 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.

[0033] In the drawings,

[0034] FIG. 1A shows a side view of a vibro replacement probe;

[0035] FIG. 1B shows a front view of the vibro replacement probe from FIG. 1A;

[0036] FIG. 1C shows the side view of FIG. 1A in longitudinal section;

[0037] FIG. 1D shows the front view of FIG. 1B in longitudinal section;

[0038] FIG. 1E shows a spatial representation of the vibro replacement probe from FIG. 1A;

[0039] FIG. 2A shows a set-up process of the leader of a construction machine having a vibro replacement probe, with the vibro replacement probe in the transport position;

[0040] FIG. 2B shows the set-up process of the leader of a construction machine having a vibro replacement probe, with the vibro replacement tube with connection part in the raised position;

[0041] FIG. 2C shows the set-up process of the leader of a construction machine having a vibro replacement probe, with attachment of the connection part to the leader;

[0042] FIG. 2D shows the set-up process of the leader of a construction machine having a vibro replacement probe, with the vibro replacement tube in the working position;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a spatial representation of the vibro replacement probe from FIGS. 1A-1E (without vibrator);

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a spatial representation of a vibro replacement probe in a further embodiment (without vibrator);

[0045] FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional representation of the connection of funnel and feed tube of the vibro replacement probe from FIGS. 1A-1E;

[0046] FIG. 5B is a detail representation of the seal on the ground side of the connection of funnel and feed tube of the vibro replacement probe from FIGS. 1A-1E;

[0047] FIG. 6 shows the articulation connection of the connection part and vibrator of a vibro replacement probe; and

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a SCHWINGMETALL or rubber/metal rail of the articulated connection from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The vibro replacement probe selected as an exemplary embodiment comprises a tube that passes through a funnel 2, with which it is connected and on which a vibrator 3 is attached on the end side, on which vibrator a connection part 4 is attached so as to pivot.

[0050] The tube is formed essentially by a ramming tube 11 that is connected with a feed tube 12 and is provided, on its end that lies opposite the feed tube 12, with a tip 13 that is configured in the manner of a sleeve that narrows conically on its end side, which tip is set onto the ramming tube 11 and screwed onto it.

[0051] The feed tube 12 has a circumferential flange 121, 122 at its two ends, in each instance. The two flanges 121, 122 lie against four ribs 123, in each instance, which run axially and are arranged circumferentially on the feed tube 12, offset from one another by 90°, in each instance. A first flange 121 of the feed tube 12 is screwed onto a flange 111 that is present on the ramming tube 11 on the end side, so that the feed tube 12 is connected with the ramming tube 11 so as to be aligned with it.

[0052] The funnel 2 comprises a rear wall 21 that runs parallel to the feed tube 12, an inflow wall 22 that is set at a distance from the rear wall and set at an outward angle relative to it, as well as two side walls 23, which are set parallel to one another and connect the rear wall 21 and the inflow wall 22 on both sides, and jointly delimit an essentially rectangular passage into which a bottom plate 24 is set, through which plate the feed tube 12 is passed. On the inside, a support ring 25 having an essentially rectangular cross-section is arranged in the funnel 2, which ring is connected with the rear wall 21, inflow wall 22, and side walls 23 by way of four struts 251 that are set offset from one another by 90°, in each instance. On the outside, the funnel 2 is provided with a support plate 26 on each rear wall 21, side wall 23, and inflow wall 22. The feed tube 12 is connected with the funnel 2 by way of springs 124. The springs 124 are arranged between the ribs 123 that border on the first flange 121 and the support plates 26, on the one side, and between the ribs 123 that border on the second flange 122 and the support ring 25, on the other side. In the exemplary embodiment, the springs 124 are formed by SCHWINGMETALL or helical springs. Within the funnel 2, two openings 125 that penetrate the tube wall are introduced into the feed tube 12, lying diametrically opposite one another. The openings 125 serve for entry of filling material applied to the funnel 2 into the ramming pipe 11.

[0053] An elastic seal 241 is arranged between the oscillating feed tube 12 and the funnel 2, which is connected with the former by way of springs 124, which seal closes off the gap between the bottom plate 24 of the funnel 2 and the feed tube 12. This seal 241 must be structured to be wide enough so as to be able to equalize the vertical displacement path between feed tube 12 and funnel 2 without damage. This displacement path results from the static displacement of the funnel 2 as the result of its own weight and its load, as well as from the oscillating movement of the feed tube 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the seal 241 consists of rubber. Alternatively, it can also be produced from an elastomer plastic.

[0054] The vibrator 3 comprises a housing 31, having a bottom-side flange 32, which is screwed onto the second flange 122 of the feed tube 12. A pipe socket 321 that projects into the housing 31 is formed on the flange 32, aligning with the feed tube 12. The housing 31 contains two exciter cells 33 that are arranged opposite one another, between which the pipe socket 321 runs, and which have in each instance a shaft 332 connected with a hydraulic motor 331, in each instance, on which shaft an imbalance mass 333 is arranged. On the top side of the housing 31, which lies opposite the flange 32, a yoke 34 is arranged, onto which two pairs of holding plates 35 are welded, parallel to and at a distance from one another, which plates are provided with bores 351, in each instance, wherein the bores 351 of the two pairs of holding plates 35 align with one another.

[0055] The connection part 4 comprises a connection plate 41 that is configured to be essentially rectangular, on the longitudinal sides of which side plates 42 are arranged, which are connected with one another on the top side of the connection part 4, by way of a head plate 44. The side plates 42, on the top of the connection part 4, in each instance, have an arm 421 that projects out approximately orthogonal to the connection plate 41 and forms a gibbet, into which arm a bore 422 is introduced, wherein the bores 422 of the arms 421, which are arranged parallel to one another, align with one another. On the side of each side plate 42 that lies opposite the arm 421, this plate furthermore has a hook 431 and a holding motion link 43 arranged at a distance from the hook, which motion link has a bore 432 for holding a holding rack 5.

[0056] The connection part 4 is connected with the yoke 34 of the housing 31 of the vibrator 3, so as to pivot, wherein the arms 421 are positioned between the holding plates 35 of a pair of holding plates, in each instance, in such a manner that the bores 422 of the arms 421 align with the bores 351 of the holding plates 35, wherein a bolt 45 is passed through the bores 351, 422 of the holding plates 35 and of the arms 421, which bolt functions as a pivot axle.

[0057] The holding rack 5 consists essentially of a frame 51 configured in C shape, which has two holding arms arranged parallel to one another and set orthogonal to the frame at the transitions between the center crosspiece and the shanks. The holding arms are provided with a bore 521, in each instance, at their free end. An axle holder 522 is arranged at a distance from the two bores 521 of the two holding arms, which bores align with one another, through which bores an axle—not shown—is passed, by way of which the two holding arms are connected with one another. Furthermore, two foot pieces 53 that project outward are arranged on the frame 51, which pieces each continue a shank 511 and extend over a region of a holding arm.

[0058] For assembly of the holding rack 5, the axle—not shown—is introduced into the hooks 431 of the holding motion links 43 of the connection part 4. Subsequently the holding rack 5 is pivoted about the axle—not shown—until the bores 521 of the holding arms align with the bores 432 of the holding motion links 43. The holding arms are then connected with the side plates 42 of the connection part 4 by way of bolts that are passed through the bores 521, 432.

[0059] To set up the leader 61 of a construction machine 6, the vibro replacement probe is first positioned in the transport position (FIG. 2A). Subsequently the connection part 4, with the holding rack 5 attached to it, is pivoted in such a manner that the connection part 4 stands on the holding rack 5, which is functioning as a support foot in this position (FIG. 2B). Subsequently the leader 61 of the construction machine 6, which is set vertically, is set against the vertically positioned connection part 4, which is then connected with the carriage 62 of the leader 61. The carriage 62, with the connection part 4, is moved along the leader 61 until the holding rack 5 is suspended freely. Subsequently the holding rack 5 is removed from the connection part 4, after the bolts that have been passed through the bores 521 have been removed, and the carriage 62 is moved upward until the ramming tube 11 of the vibro replacement probe has reached its vertical working position.

[0060] An alternative embodiment of a vibro replacement probe without a vibrator is shown in FIG. 4. Here the feed tube 12′ is provided with a pipe socket 126 for connecting a line for concrete—not shown.

[0061] An alternative embodiment of the yoke 34′ is shown in FIG. 6. The yoke 34′ accommodates an oscillation housing 341, in which SCHWINGMETALL or rubber/metal rails 342 are arranged at a distance from one another. The SCHWINGMETALL or rubber/metal rails 342 absorb forces both in horizontal directions and in the vertical direction. On the outside, two helical springs 343 are arranged on the oscillation housing, at a distance from one another, which springs are connected with the yoke 34′ and essentially absorb forces in the vertical direction. Instead of the helical springs 343, crane buffers can also be provided. In this exemplary embodiment, the connection part 4′ is configured as a carriage, into the guides 46 of which the leader 61 is moved. After attachment of the advancing cables—not shown—to the connection part 4′ configured as a carriage, this part can be moved along the leader.

[0062] 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.