Slurry wall cutter

Abstract

The invention relates to a slurry wall cutter for producing vertical ground trenches, which can be connected to a carrier apparatus, comprising a frame, a motor unit and a drive unit which is releasably connectable with the frame, wherein the drive unit comprises a carrier structure, at least one gear mechanism arranged on the carrier structure as well as a cutting tool for crushing ground material, which connected to the gear mechanism and drivable by the motor unit, wherein the motor unit is releasably connectable to the drive unit and wherein the frame and the drive unit respectively comprise guide means which are configured in such a way that the drive unit can be pushed laterally into and out of the frame.

Claims

1. A slurry wall cutter for producing vertical trenches in the ground, which is connectable to a carrier apparatus, the slurry wall cutter comprising: a frame; a motor unit; and a drive unit releasably connectable with the frame, the drive unit comprising: a carrier structure, at least one gear mechanism arranged on the carrier structure, and at least one cutting tool for crushing ground material, the at least one cutting tool connected to the at least one gear mechanism and drivable by the motor unit; wherein the motor unit is positioned within a recess of the frame and releasably connectable to a top side of the carrier structure, wherein the top side of the carrier structure is opposite the at least one cutting tool, wherein the carrier structure is connected to the frame via connecting means, wherein the connecting means are accessible from an exterior of the slurry wall cutter when in an assembled state, and wherein the top side of the carrier structure on either side of the motor unit is substantially covered by the frame when in the assembled state, wherein the frame and the drive unit respectively comprise guide means, which are configured such that the drive unit moves laterally along the guide means into and out of the frame, and the top side of the carrier structure and a lower side of the frame are in contact with each other when in the assembled state, wherein an outer surface of the frame includes a portion that flares away from a center of the slurry wall cutter, and wherein the portion of the outer surface that flares away from the center of the slurry wall cutter includes the lower side of the frame that is in contact with the top side of the carrier structure, and wherein a motor receptacle is accessible from the exterior of the slurry wall cutter via a cutout when in the assembled state, the cutout formed into the frame.

2. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises the motor receptacle, and the motor unit is releasably connectable to a top side of the motor receptacle and a bottom side of the motor receptacle arranged on the top side of the carrier structure.

3. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 2, wherein the frame comprises the cutout at a side through which the motor receptacle is received when the drive unit is displaced via the guide means.

4. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the guide means of the frame and of the drive unit are configured as beveled edges, chamfered surfaces of which contact one another in a connected state.

5. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a recess on a lower side, into which a part is introduceable, wherein a releasable connection of the drive unit and the frame is produceable via lateral introduction of the drive unit into a lateral cutout of the frame or introduction of the drive unit into a lower recess of the frame.

6. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the guide means are arranged and configured to center the drive unit relative to the frame when the drive unit is introduced into a lower recess of the frame.

7. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 6, wherein the motor unit is introduceable into the lower recess of the frame in a state in which the motor unit is connected with the motor receptacle and the motor receptacle is attached to the top side of the carrier structure.

8. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is releasably connectable with the lower side of the frame.

9. The slurry wall cutter according to claim 1, wherein the motor unit is releasably connectable with the frame.

10. The slurry wall cutter of claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise screws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1: a carrier apparatus with a slurry wall cutter in a lateral view;

(2) FIG. 2: an exemplary embodiment of the slurry wall cutter in the mounted state in a lateral view;

(3) FIG. 3: the exemplary embodiment of the slurry wall cutter according to FIG. 2 in a demounted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a carrier apparatus 20, configured as a mobile cable excavator, with a slurry wall cutter 10 according to the invention, in a side view. Of course, other work machines such as hydraulic excavators or special civil engineering machines can be used as the carrier apparatus 20 for the slurry wall cutter according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 2 illustrates a detail of an exemplary embodiment of the slurry wall cutter 10 according to the invention in a side view, which illustrates the drive unit 12 and the lower end of the frame 7. The slurry wall cutter 10 includes a frame 7, with the lower end of which the drive unit 12 is releasably connected.

(6) The drive unit 12 includes a carrier structure 1, which has a carrying function for the further components of the drive unit 12, such as the cutting tools (not shown). Multiple gear mechanisms 3 are located in the lower region of the carrier structure 1, to which receptacles 4 for the cutting tools configured as cutting wheels are connected. The carrier structure 1, in a lateral view, has a substantially T-shaped cross-section, wherein gear mechanisms 3 are arranged at the same height to both sides of the longitudinal beam of the T-shaped cross-section. The carrier structure 1 comprise wear plates 5 on the face sides (viewed from the side).

(7) The gear mechanisms 3 and the wear plates 5 constitute components of the drive unit 12 that are particular prone to wear and therefore are high-maintenance that need to be replaced at regular intervals. Conventionally, the entire drive unit 12 including the motor unit(s) 9 connected thereto have to be demounted and the respective components have to be exchanged or serviced to that end. The present invention significantly speeds up and simplifies this replacement or mounting/demounting process.

(8) The drive unit 12 is reversibly connected to the lower side of the frame 7 of the slurry wall cutter 10 at the upper side of the drive unit (via the crossbar of the T-shaped cross-section, viewed from the side). The connecting means 8 form a screw-nut-connection, wherein the upper side of the carrier structure 1 and the lower region of the frame 7 comprise corresponding openings for the screws 8.

(9) The slurry wall cutter 10 according to the invention can be fastened or suspended on a carrier apparatus 20 via the frame 7. The slurry wall cutter 10 further comprises at least one motor unit 9 by means of which the cutting wheels are drivable via the gear mechanisms 3. The energy supply of the motor unit(s) 9 is ensured via corresponding supply lines in or on the frame 7. The motor unit 9 can include or constitute a hydraulic or electric motor.

(10) The connection of the motor unit 9 to the drive unit 12 occurs via a motor receptacle 2 arranged on the upper side of the drive unit 12, to which the motor unit 9 can be connected in a releasable manner. To that end, respective ports for mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and/or other connections are provided, which can be configured as quick-release couplings or multi-coupling, for example. The connection of motor unit 9 with the connections of the frame 7 is likewise releasable and can also be configured as a quick-release coupling or multi-coupling.

(11) The motor receptacle 2 protrudes into the frame 7, so that in the mounted state, the motor unit 9 is arranged within the frame 7. For this purpose, the frame 7 comprises a recess at its lower side, into which the motor receptacle 2, optionally together with the motor unit 9 already connected with the motor receptacle 2, can be introduced when mounting the drive unit 12.

(12) The upper side of the carrier structure 1 comprises guide means 6 configured as beveled edges which correspond with respective guide means 6 on the lower side of the frame 7 at the edge of the recess that are likewise configured as beveled edges. The chamfered surfaces of the beveled edges 6 of the frame 7 are directed downwards, wherein the chamfered surfaces of the beveled edges 6 of the drive unit 12 and of the frame 7 contact each other in the mounted state. When introducing the drive unit 12 into the lower recess, the beveled edges 6 function as auxiliary means which center the drive unit 12 during insertion on the last portion. Mounting of the drive unit 12 via the lower recess is simplified thereby.

(13) The drive unit 12 including the motor unit 9 can be mounted on the frame 7 via the lower recess.

(14) The frame 7 further comprises another cutout 13 laterally, the geometrical dimensions of which exceed those of the motor unit 9 (in a view from the side). The cutout 13 is open downwards and thus forms a contiguous opening with the lower recess. The beveled edges 6 (with the slurry wall cutter 10 in vertical orientation) are oriented horizontally and parallelly to one another and are located at opposite edges of the lower recess. The beveled edges 6 thus serve as guide means, via which the drive unit 12 can be displaced laterally-horizontally with respect to the frame 7 (with the slurry wall cutter 10 in vertical orientation). To that end, the connection via the connecting means 8 has to be released, of course.

(15) The drive unit 12 can therefore be pushed laterally out of the frame 7 or pushed into said frame without the motor unit 9 after release of the connection between motor receptacle 2 and motor unit 9. The guidance along the guide means 6 facilitates the displacing process. This results in a simplified and faster mounting and demounting process of the drive unit 12, with the motor unit 9 remaining within the frame 7. This is particularly advantageous in cases where the drive unit 12 is to be demounted and mounted again for the purpose of replacement or maintenance of the components which are prone to wear, such as gear mechanism 3, cutter wheel receptacles 4 or wear plates 5.

(16) The guide means 6 consequently fulfill a double function. On the one hand, they serve for centering the drive unit 12 during the mounting process from bottom to top (with the frame 7 in vertical orientation) via the lower recess (in which the motor unit 9 may already be connected with the motor receptacle 2), and on the other hand they serve for the guiding of the drive unit 12 during the lateral insertion and removal via the lateral cutout 13 (with the motor unit 9 not being connected to the motor receptacle 2 in this case).

(17) The frame 7 can have such a cutout 13 at both sides, so that the lateral insertion and removal is possible via both sides. It can furthermore be provided that the geometrical dimensions of the lateral cutout exceed those of the motor receptacle 2 and of the motor unit 9 in the connected state, so that the drive unit 12 can be laterally mounted/demounted together with the motor unit 9.

(18) The drive unit 12 can either extent over the entire or substantially the entire width of the frame 7, so that only one single drive unit 12 is used in the slurry wall cutter according to the invention. Alternatively, multiple, in particular two drive units 12 next to one another can be used, which are each assigned to respectively one motor unit 9. In this case, one lower recess for one drive unit 12 is respectively located on the lower side of the frame 7. Furthermore, the frame 7 expediently comprises a cutout 13 on both sides in this case, so that each of the drive units 12 can be pushed into the frame 7 on the respective side.

(19) The frame 7 further comprises indentations 11 in the lower region of the front and rear sides (which are located to the right and to the left of the cutout 13 in FIG. 2), inside of which the parts accessible from outside (in particular the nuts) of the connection means 8 are located in the connected state. This way, the screw-nut-connection between the drive unit 12 and the frame 7 can easily be released or fixed from outside, without additional connecting elements inside the frame 7 being required, which would complicate the mounting and demounting process. The nuts 8 are furthermore located completely within the indentations 11, that is within the outer contour of the frame 7, which would be achieved if the outer contour was extended beyond the indentations 11, that is the contour that would result without indentations 11. This results in space savings, and a collision of the connecting means 8 with the walls of the ground trench to be produced by means of the slurry wall cutter is prevented.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the slurry wall cutter in a state where the drive unit 12 is demounted from the frame 7, with the motor unit 9 being connected with the motor receptacle 2. With respect to the (vertically oriented) frame 7, such a demounting occurs from top to bottom via the lower recess of the frame 7. In this illustration, the beveled edges 6 of the frame 7 and of the carrier structure 1 are discernable individually.

(21) The Figures are drawn to scale although other relative dimensions may be used if desired.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(22) 1 carrier structure 2 motor receptacle 3 gear mechanism 4 cutter wheel receptacle 5 wear plate 6 guide means 7 frame 8 connecting means 9 motor unit 10 slurry wall cutter 11 indentation 12 drive unit 13 cutout 20 carrier apparatus