MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLING EXCAVATING EQUIPMENT FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES, EXCAVATING MACHINE, METHOD FOR CONVERTING THE EXCAVATING CONFIGURATION OF AN EXCAVATING MACHINE

Abstract

A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment is disclosed. The assembly includes a first rotating table having a main body; one or more motors, each having a pinion, associated with the main body; a bearing having a fixed ring constrained to the main body and a movable ring that is coaxial and rotatable with respect to the fixed ring; a dragging sleeve integrally coupled with the movable ring coaxially to the bearing; a ring gear integrally and coaxially coupled with the dragging sleeve to engage with the pinion and be moved in rotation by the motors rotating integrally with the dragging sleeve and integrally with the movable ring. The assembly also has a second rotating table adapted to be coupled to a continuous excavating propeller; a plurality of accessories associated with the first rotating table so it can be coupled to a telescopic Kelly rod or to a continuous excavating propeller or to a casing and excavating pipe.

Claims

1. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for various excavating configurations of an excavating machine, comprising: a first rotating table comprising: a main body; one or more motors associated with said main body, each of said motors being provided with a pinion; a bearing having a fixed ring constrained to said main body and a movable ring which is coaxial to and rotatable with respect to said fixed ring; a dragging sleeve integrally coupled to said movable ring coaxially to said bearing; a ring gear integrally and coaxially coupled with said dragging sleeve and provided to engage with said pinion so as to be moved in rotation by said motors by rotating integrally to said dragging sleeve and integrally to said movable ring; a second rotating table adapted to be coupled to a continuous excavating propeller; a plurality of accessories which can be associated with said first rotating table so it can be selectively coupled to a telescopic Kelly rod in a first of said excavating configurations, or with a continuous excavating propeller in a second of said excavating configurations or with a casing and excavating pipe in a third of said excavating configurations.

2. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of accessories comprises: a wear sleeve for Kelly rods arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially to said dragging sleeve and to transmit the rotary motion to a Kelly rod; a diameter adapter sleeve for propellers arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially to said wear sleeve for Kelly rods and to transmit the rotary motion to a continuous excavating propeller; a wear sleeve for intubator arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially to said dragging sleeve and to transmit the rotary motion to a casing and excavating pipe; said first rotating table being equipped with said wear sleeve for Kelly rods in said first excavating configuration, with said wear sleeve for Kelly rods and said diameter adapter sleeve in said second excavating configuration, with said wear sleeve for intubator in said third excavating configuration.

3. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for excavating machines according to claim 2, wherein said second rotating table is substantially equal to said first rotating table equipped with said wear sleeve for Kelly rods and said diameter adapter sleeve.

4. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for excavating machines according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the inner diameter of said dragging sleeve and the outer diameter of the telescopic Kelly rod intended to be coupled to said first rotating table is between 1.25 and 1.5.

5. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for excavating machines according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the inner diameter of said wear sleeve for intubator and the outer diameter of the telescopic Kelly rod intended to be coupled to said first rotating table is between 1.25 and 1.35.

6. A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for excavating machines according to claim 1, wherein said motors of said first rotating table comprise a spin-off motor.

7. An excavating machine comprising: a supporting machine body a guide tower associated with said machine body; a modular assembly for handling excavating equipment according to claim 1, wherein said first rotating table is equipped with said wear sleeve for intubator, said first rotating table and said second rotating table being slidably associated with said guide tower, said second rotating table being installed in raised position with respect to said first rotating table; a casing and excavating pipe associated with said first rotating table; a continuous excavating propeller adapted to slide in said casing and excavating pipe and associated with said second rotating table.

8. An excavating machine according to claim 7, wherein said first rotating table and said second rotating table are associated with a single cable handling system.

9. An excavating machine according to claim 7, wherein said first rotating table and said second rotating table are associated with respective cable handling systems independent with respect to one another.

10. An excavating machine according to claim 7, wherein said casing and excavating pipe is formed by two separate longitudinal portions, of a first length (t1) and of a second length (t2), respectively, said first longitudinal portion having a smaller inner diameter with respect to the one of said second longitudinal portion, said first longitudinal portion intended in use to be the upper portion of said casing and excavating pipe, a plurality of discharge slots being made on the outer wall of said second longitudinal portion of said casing and excavating pipe at the interface with said first longitudinal portion of said pipe, said continuous excavating propeller being formed by two separate longitudinal portions, of a first length (e1) and of a second length (e2), respectively, said first longitudinal portion of said continuous excavating propeller being sized so as to pass through said first longitudinal portion of said casing and excavating pipe in a flush manner, said second longitudinal portion of said continuous excavating propeller being sized so as to pass through said second longitudinal portion of said casing and excavating pipe in a flush manner.

11. An excavating machine according to claim 7, wherein said casing and excavating pipe is formed by two separate longitudinal portions, of a first length (t1) and of a second length (t2), respectively, said first longitudinal portion having a smaller inner diameter with respect to the one of said second longitudinal portion, said first longitudinal portion intended in use to be the upper portion of said casing and excavating pipe, a plurality of discharge openings being made in the upper end at the interface with said first longitudinal portion of said pipe, said second longitudinal portion having an inner helix formed by inner annular spires each having a circular central hollow, said inner spires thus forming a cylindrical passage substantially having the same diameter as said first longitudinal portion of the pipe, said continuous excavating propeller being formed by a single longitudinal portion of length (e), sized so as to pass through said first longitudinal portion of said casing and excavating pipe in a flush manner and so as to pass through said inner spires of said casing and excavating pipe in a flush manner.

12. A method for converting an excavating machine from a first excavating configuration with a Kelly rod or from a second excavating configuration with a continuous excavating propeller to a third excavating configuration with a continuous cased excavating propeller, where said excavating machine comprises: a supporting machine body; a guide tower associated with said machine body; a modular handling assembly according to claim 1, wherein in said first excavating configuration said first rotating table is equipped with said wear sleeve for Kelly rods and in said second excavating configuration said first rotating table is equipped with said wear sleeve for Kelly rods and with said diameter adapter sleeve, said method comprising the steps of: disassembling said telescopic Kelly rod or said continuous excavating propeller from said first rotating table; disassembling the accessories of said plurality of accessories coupled to said first rotating table; coupling said wear sleeve for intubator to said dragging sleeve of said first rotating table; associating said second rotating table with said guide tower at the top of said first rotating table; associating hydraulic systems and a cable handling system with said second rotating table; associating said continuous excavating propeller with said second rotating table and a casing and excavating pipe with said first rotating table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] The characteristics and advantages of a modular assembly for handling excavating equipment, a method for converting the excavating configuration of an excavating machine, and an excavating machine according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an excavating machine set up for the LDP excavation method according to the prior art;

[0068] FIG. 1B is a schematic view of an excavating machine set up for the CFA excavation method according to the prior art;

[0069] FIG. 1C is a schematic view of an excavating machine set up for the standard CSP excavation method according to the prior art;

[0070] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an excavating machine in quick-CSP configuration according to the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 3 is a schematic section view of a first rotating table in an LDP configuration of a modular handling assembly according to the present invention;

[0072] FIG. 4 is a schematic section view of a first rotating table in a CFA configuration of a modular handling assembly according to the present invention;

[0073] FIG. 5 is a schematic section view of a first rotating table in a CSP configuration of a modular handling assembly according to the present invention;

[0074] FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a casing and excavating pipe used in a first alternative embodiment of the excavating machine according to the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 6B is a schematic view of a continuous excavating propeller used in a first alternative embodiment of the excavating machine according to the present invention;

[0076] FIGS. 7A to 7G illustrate the excavation steps carried out by the excavating equipment of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

[0077] FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a casing and excavating pipe used in a second alternative embodiment of the excavating machine according to the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 8B is a schematic view of a continuous excavating propeller used in a second alternative embodiment of the excavating machine according to the present invention;

[0079] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate some excavation steps carried out by the excavating equipment of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0080] With reference to the figures, a modular assembly for handling excavating equipment for excavating machines for making excavated piles is shown.

[0081] Such a modular handling assembly comprises a first rotating table or rotary 2c, a plurality of accessories 27, 29, 31 able to be associated with the first rotating table 2c so it can be selectively coupled to a telescopic Kelly rod or Kelly rod 5, or with a continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c or with a casing and excavating pipe 15,15b and 15c, and a second rotating table or rotary 17 adapted for being coupled with a continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c.

[0082] The modular handling assembly, according to the present invention, can be set up in a different manner by equipping the first rotating table 2c with the accessories adapted for making it suitable for coupling with the different excavating equipment.

[0083] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show the first rotary 2c in LDP, CFA and CSP configuration, respectively. The first rotating table 2c comprises a main body or carcass 50, a sleeve 24 commonly called dragging sleeve rotatable with respect to such a main body 50, at least one bearing 22 arranged coaxial to the dragging sleeve to rotatably connect such a sleeve to the monolithic structure of the rotary, a toothed wheel or crown 58 integral with the dragging sleeve 24, one or more main motors 20 each of which is equipped with a pinion 21, said pinion being arranged to engage with such a toothed wheel or crown 58, directly or through further intermediate toothed wheels that form reduction stages, to move such a ring gear 58 and such a dragging sleeve 24 in rotation.

[0084] In the embodiment of the first rotating table 2c shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the dragging sleeve is rotatably connected to the monolithic structure of the rotary through the at least one bearing 22, which in this particular embodiment is a fifth wheel 22 made up of a fixed ring 55 and a movable ring 54 that is coaxial and rotatable with respect to said fixed ring 55. The fixed ring 55 is internal, i.e. in a position closer to the rotation axis of the fifth wheel, and constrained to the main body or carcass 50 so as to remain stationary with respect to it. The movable ring 54 is external, i.e. in a position further from the rotation axis of the fifth wheel, and is bolted through multiple screws 23 to the dragging sleeve 24, so as to be integral with the dragging sleeve 24 and rotating with respect to the main body or carcass 50. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the ring gear 58 is made directly on the movable ring 55 of the fifth wheel 22 and is integral with it, i.e. the ring gear 58 is made through a toothing on the movable ring 54. Since the movable ring 54 is integral with the dragging sleeve 24, the wheel or ring gear 58 is also integral and coaxial to the dragging sleeve and therefore when the main motors 20 set the ring gear 58 in rotation, the dragging sleeve 24 is also set in rotation.

[0085] In an alternative embodiment of the first rotating table 2c, the dragging sleeve 24 can be rotatably connected to the monolithic structure 50 of the rotary through two or more bearings 22, coaxial to the sleeve and axially spaced, each of which is made up of a fixed ring 55 and a movable ring 54 coaxial and rotatable with respect to said fixed ring. The fixed ring 55 of each bearing 22 is constrained to the main body or carcass 50 in suitable seats so as to remain stationary with respect to it and the movable ring 54 is constrained to the dragging sleeve 24 in suitable seats, so as to rotate as a unit with the dragging sleeve 24 and rotating with respect to the main body or carcass 50. In this case the toothed wheel 58 is a distinct component from the bearings 22, and is arranged coaxial and external to the dragging sleeve 24 and integrally constrained to it, for example through bolting or making the toothing 58 directly on the outer part of the dragging sleeve 24. Preferably, such a ring gear 58 is arranged axially between two bearings 22 axially spaced one to each other.

[0086] Moreover, it should be understood that the main motors 20 of the first rotating table 2c can be of various types, preferably hydraulic for example of the orbital or piston type (axial and/or radial) or a combination thereof, but they could also be electric. Moreover, the main motors 20 can couple directly with the final reduction stage of the first rotating table 2c, i.e. with the toothed wheel 58 that moves the dragging sleeve 24, or can be connected to a reducer arranged between the motor and said toothed wheel 58 to reduce the speed and multiply the torque coming out from such motors.

[0087] The dragging sleeve 24, once the first rotating table 2c is mounted on the excavating machine, is therefore mounted coaxial to the excavation axis and can rotate about such an axis with respect to the main body 50 of the first rotary 2c.

[0088] The dragging sleeve 24 is equipped, in its lower part, with a plurality of ear elements 25 to which, through pins 26, specific accessories suitable for the predetermined excavation type, i.e. LDP, CFA, or CSP, can be fixed.

[0089] The first rotary 2c, as shown in FIG. 3, is set up to be coupled with a telescopic Kelly rod, i.e. it is equipped with a first accessory 27 of the aforementioned accessories, specific for a telescopic Kelly rod. Such an accessory is a further sleeve 27 called wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27, arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially with said dragging sleeve 24 and to transmit the rotary motion to a Kelly rod. In particular, the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 is inserted in the main body 50 of the first rotary 2c coaxially in the dragging sleeve 24 and made integral with it through a plurality of pins 26. Such pins 26 engage in the ear elements 25 of the dragging sleeve 24 and in corresponding recesses present on the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27. The wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 is thus dragged in rotation by the dragging sleeve 24 when the latter is actuated by the main motors 20. The wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 has an inner cylindrical passage that allows a telescopic Kelly rod 5 to be inserted and has the function of transmitting the rotary motion and the axial forces to the telescopic Kelly rod 5. For this purpose, the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 is equipped in its inner surface with a plurality of strips 28 welded or bolted to the sleeve itself, which transmit torque and thrust to the telescopic Kelly rod 5 through friction or mechanical abutment on corresponding outer strips of the telescopic Kelly rod. The wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 must also allow, in some conditions, the axial sliding of the telescopic Kelly rod 5 with respect to the first rotary 2c. Such sliding indeed generates the wearing of the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 and of its strips 28, for which reason such parts are removably constrained to the first rotary 2c to be able to be easily replaced when excessively worn. In the lower part of the first rotary 2c a spin-off motor 19 is also installed. The spin-off motor 19, through a pinion mounted on its own outlet shaft engages with the ring gear, thus being able to contribute to the rotation of the dragging sleeve 24.

[0090] Preferably, the shaft of the spin-off motor 19 is engaged with the same pinion 21 with which the main motor 20 is also engaged.

[0091] The spin-off motor 19 is arranged to develop low torques and high rotation speeds at its outlet shaft.

[0092] It should also be understood that the spin-off motors 19 of the first rotating table 2c can be of various types, preferably hydraulic for example of the orbital or piston type (axial and/or radial) or a combination thereof, but they could also be electric.

[0093] During the excavation steps the spin-off motor 19 can preferably contribute to providing torque to the dragging sleeve 24 collaborating with the main motors 20. In order to carry out the step of unloading the debris from the excavation tool at the end of the excavation step, the operator in the cabin can actuate a command, for example a button or a lever, to activate the spin-off function. When the command is actuated, a hydraulic circuit of the first rotary 2c is pressurised which causes the disengagement of the shaft of each main motor 20 from the respective pinion 21. At the same time, the spin-off motor 19 is actuated imparting a very fast rotation, which can reach 150 revs per minute, to the dragging sleeve 24 and to the telescopic Kelly rod 5 with opposite rotation direction to that of excavation. In this way, the debris by centrifugal effect detaches from the excavation tool and falls to the ground. The main motors 20 during the spin-off step are disengaged since they are unable to reach such rotation speeds and therefore should be dragged by the spin-off motor 19 and would act as a brake opposing resistance to rotation. Therefore, by releasing them the force required to the spin-off motor 19 is reduced.

[0094] An alternative solution is that by which the spin-off motors 19 are coupled with the ring gear 58 with independent pinions. The spin-off motors 19 could also be connected indirectly to the ring gear 58, through further intermediate toothed wheels that form reduction stages. In the case of spin-off motors with high displacement, typically radial piston motors, the spin-off speed is reached by adjusting the displacement of one or more of the motors present on the rotary so as to reduce it. This displacement reduction causes a proportional increase in speed, sufficient to carry out the cleaning of the tool.

[0095] FIG. 4 illustrates the first rotating table 2c set up for the CFA excavation method. Such a set-up provides the use of a second accessory 29 of the aforementioned accessories, in addition to the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27, in order to make the first rotary 2c associable with a continuous excavating propeller. Such a second accessory is a diameter adapter sleeve for propellers 29 arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially with the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 and to transmit the rotary motion to a continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c. Such a diameter adapter sleeve for propellers 29 has a substantially cylindrical shape, is inserted coaxially inside the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 and is constrained to it so as to be dragged in rotation. Such a diameter adapter sleeve 29 reduces the inner passage of the first rotary 2c so as to allow the direct or indirect coupling through the extension sleeve 11 with the continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c; the core of the continuous excavating propeller and the extension sleeve 11, indeed, have an outer diameter substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the telescopic Kelly rod 5 that is used for the LDP excavation method. The diameter adapter sleeve 29 has an inner diameter typically comprised between 150 millimetres and 356 millimetres. In particular, the diameter adapter sleeve 29 has the inner and outer surfaces of the cylindrical body equipped with vertical strips (not illustrated), adapted for engaging with the strips 28 of the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 to receive the rotation motion from the latter. The diameter adapter sleeve 29 also has inner strips 30 adapted for engaging with the extension sleeve 11 or with the continuous excavating propeller to drag them in rotation.

[0096] FIG. 5 illustrates the first rotating table 2c set up for the CSP excavation method.

[0097] Such a set-up provides the use of a third accessory 31 of the aforementioned accessories, replacing the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27, in order to make the first rotary 2c suitable for the coupling and the dragging of a casing and excavating pipe.

[0098] Such a third accessory 31 is a sleeve 31 also called wear sleeve for intubator 31 arranged to be coupled integrally and coaxially with the dragging sleeve 24 and to transmit the rotary motion to a casing and excavating pipe 15, 15b, 15c. Such a wear sleeve for intubator 31 is inserted coaxially in the inner passage of the dragging sleeve 24 and is constrained to it through the pins 25 that engage both in the ear elements 25 of the dragging sleeve 24 and in the corresponding recesses arranged on the wear sleeve for intubator 31. The wear sleeve for intubator 31 is made with a minimum thickness, substantially comparable to the thickness of the drilling pipe or casing to which it will be connected, and this selection allows to maximise the inner passage diameter of the sleeve, i.e. to maximise the diameter of the propeller that can cross the first rotary 2c. The wear sleeve for intubator 31 has a plurality of seats 32 at the bottom for the insertion of screws, or pins or in any case means suitable for the transmission of the torque and of the rotary motion to the casing that will be connected to such a sleeve 31. The wear sleeve for intubator 31 extends longitudinally along the rotation axis of the first rotary 2c crossing it completely and extending at the bottom so as to allow the connection to the casing. Moreover, the wear sleeve for intubator 31 extends above the main body of the first rotary 2c so as to allow the ground rising between the coating and excavation casing and the continuous excavating propeller to be guided, when the first rotary 2c is used as intubator; thus, the debris comes out on top of the first rotary 2c and is unloaded towards the ground.

[0099] Once connected to the coating and excavation casing 15, 15b, 15c the wear sleeve for intubator 31 constitutes an extension of the casing 15,15b, 15c having substantially the same inner diameter and the same thickness. It is thus possible to say that the first rotary 2c modified to act as intubator is crossed longitudinally both by the coating and excavation casing and by the continuous excavating propeller.

[0100] Advantageously, the first rotary 2c according to the present invention is designed differently with respect to known rotaries, attempting to obtain an inner passage diameter of the first rotary that is as large as possible with minimum increases in the external dimensions of the first rotary 2c. The maximisation of the inner passage is particularly advantageous when such a first rotary 2c is used as intubator, since it allows the passage of propellers having a large diameter through the first rotary 2c.

[0101] The first rotary 2c, therefore, has a fifth wheel 22 with larger inner passage with respect to the minimum required, or in any case with respect to the fifth wheel diameter that would have been selected up to now with the design methods of the prior art. In particular, the first rotary 2c comprises a main body analogous to that of the known rotaries for Kelly rods; considering the dimensions of such a main body, the fifth wheel 22 has an outer diameter that is as large as possible and a minimum radial thickness so as to obtain the inner diameter of the fifth wheel that is as large as possible. These considerations on the sizing of the fifth wheel 22 can also be applied to the case in which the first rotary 2c has two or more bearings axially spaced one to each other. The dragging sleeve 24 has the maximum outer diameter that still allows it to be inserted inside the passage of the inner ring of the fifth wheel 22. The dragging sleeve 24 is then made with minimum thickness, in order to maximise the inner passage diameter. In this way, a dragging sleeve 24 with a very large inner diameter with respect to the outer diameter of a telescopic Kelly rod is obtained.

[0102] For example, considering the case of a first rotating table 2c for a Kelly rod having a diameter of 558 mm, the inner diameter of the dragging sleeve 24 can vary between 700 millimetres and 800 millimetres, preferably between 730 and 750 millimetres while the outer diameter of the telescopic largest Kelly rod provided for such a first rotary 2c and able to be coupled with the dragging sleeve of such dimensions is of the order of 558 mm. This thus results in a ratio between these two diameters that reaches values comprised between 1.25 and 1.5, and preferably comprised between 1.31 and 1.34.

[0103] Consequently, in order to compensate for the large difference between the diameters of the telescopic Kelly rod and of the dragging sleeve 24, the wear sleeve for Kelly rods 27 has walls of great thickness.

[0104] As a result of this, in the first rotary 2c set up like FIG. 3, by taking off the wear sleeve 27 an increase in the inner passage diameter of the rotary is obtained that is much greater than the increase that would usually have been obtained in known or conventional rotaries by taking off the known wear sleeve.

[0105] Therefore, for use according to the CSP excavation it proceeds taking off the wear sleeve for Kelly rods of large thickness 27 and to insert a wear sleeve for intubator 31, which has a minimised thickness and a maximised inner passage of about 740 mm. A ratio is thus obtained between the inner passage of the wear sleeve for intubator and the maximum diameter of the telescopic Kelly rod able to be dragged by the first rotary 2c comprised between 1.3 and 1.4, preferably equal to about 1.32.

[0106] As a result of this the first rotary 2c set up for CSP excavation method manages to drag a casing and excavating pipe with outer diameter of 800 mm and inner diameter of 740 mm, and allows the passage of an propeller of large diameter, equal to 700-730 mm, through the rotary itself.

[0107] The modular assembly for handling excavating equipment, according to the present invention, can be applied in the three different set-ups described above to an excavating machine to obtain a first configuration for pile drilled with telescopic Kelly rod i.e. for the LDP type excavation method, or a second configuration for pile drilled with continuous excavating propeller i.e. for CFA type excavation method, or a third configuration for pile drilled with cased continuous propeller i.e. for CSP type excavation method. In particular, the third configuration of the excavating machine that can be obtained through the aforementioned modular handling assembly is called configuration for quick-CSP type excavation method.

[0108] Such a third configuration is, indeed, different from the typical configuration of a standard CSP type excavating machine for the reasons that will be specifically given hereinafter in the present description.

[0109] FIG. 2 shows an excavating machine 60 of the quick-CSP type. For the sake of simplicity of presentation, details and elements that are similaror having an analogous functionto those of LDP type, CFA type and CSP type excavating machines described earlier, are associated with the same alphanumeric references.

[0110] The excavating machine of the quick-CSP type 60 comprises a supporting machine body or tower 1, a vertical guide tower 3 associated with such a supporting machine body, a head 4b fixed to the upper end of the guide tower 3, the modular handling assembly set up for the cased propeller excavation method.

[0111] In particular, the quick-CSP excavating machine has the first rotary 2c and the second rotary 17 slidably associated with the guide tower 3; preferably, the second rotary 17 is installed in raised position with respect to the first rotary 2c i.e. it is installed closer to the head 4b than the first rotary 2c is. The first rotary 2c is in CSP configuration i.e. it is equipped with the wear sleeve for intubator 31 coupled with the dragging sleeve 24. Such a first rotary 2c is coupled with a casing and excavating pipe 15, 15b, 15c while the second rotary 17 is associated directly or indirectly with a continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c. In particular, the second rotary 17 can be coupled, like in FIG. 2, with an extension sleeve 11 in turn fixed to an end of the continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c.

[0112] Preferably, the two rotating tables 2c, 17 are associated with a single cable handling system.

[0113] Alternatively, the two rotating tables are associated with respective mutually independent cable handling systems.

[0114] In an embodiment of the quick-CSP excavating machine, the second rotary 17 is associated with a pulling system arranged to make the rotary translate towards the head of the guide tower 3; such a pulling system comprises a first winch (not illustrated) that can be associated with the machine body or with the guide tower 3 and a relative cable 7.

[0115] In an alternative embodiment to the previous one, the quick-CSP excavating machine is provided with a second winch. This additional second pushing winch (not shown) is mounted on one of the two rotaries 17 or 2c and the cable of such a winch is connected to the other rotary.

[0116] In this way, by keeping the first rotary 2c stationary, which is always under the second rotary 17, and by actuating the second winch, a downward force is applied to the second rotary 17 that will tend to approach the first rotary 2c and therefore will tend to slide downwards. In this version, therefore, it is sufficient to add a tube sack, to feed the additional second rotary 17. Said tube sack is made up of a bundle of hydraulic tubes that acts as connection between the system part present on the machine body 1 and the second sliding rotary 17, fixed to the guide tower 3 in a suitable manner and of length such as to be able to follow the movement of the rotary.

[0117] The quick-CSP head 4b, i.e. the head mounted on the quick-CSP machine, can be substantially the same as a CFA head 4b like the one illustrated in FIG. 1B or it can be obtained by modifying an LDP head 4 like the one illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0118] It should be specified that in the present description we do not dwell describing the set-up of the pulleys and sheaves present on the excavating machine to transmit the cables for handling the rotaries or the excavating equipment, since these are actuation systems already known in the state of the art.

[0119] The difference between the LDP head 4 and the quick-CSP head 4b consists of the different centre to centre working distance, i.e. the distance between the guides of the guide tower 3 and the axis of the cable that descends from the front sheave of the head. In order to convert an LDP head into a quick-CSP head it is necessary, therefore, to move the pivot position of the front sheave, for example taking off the relative pin from the seat and slotting it back in a second seat arranged to fix the sheave in a new position.

[0120] Alternatively, the LDP head 4 could have a dismountable small front extension on which it is possible to pivot the sheave in a first position, and by dismounting such an extension it is possible to fix the sheave in a second point. These modifications to pass from the LDP head 4 to the quick-CSP head 4b can be carried out quickly and particularly they do not require that the head be dismounted or disconnected from the antenna.

[0121] The head is fixed to the antenna through numerous screws of large diameter, and therefore disconnecting the head from the antenna would require a lot of time and suitable equipment. The movement of the front sheave or the dismounting of the extension is, on the other hand, a much faster operation since these parts have limited weight and only the insertion or extraction of pins is required without special tools.

[0122] In a particular configuration shown in FIG. 6 the quick-CSP excavating machine can allow cased piles of any diameter to be made. In this case, a casing and excavating pipe 15b of length t is formed from two distinct longitudinal portions 51, 52 of length t1 and t2, respectively. The first longitudinal portion 51 of length t1 is intended in use to be the closest to the first rotary 2c; such a first longitudinal portion 51 encloses a coaxial inner pipe 53 of smaller diameter t1 with respect to the casing and excavating pipe 15b; such an inner pipe 53 extends substantially for the entire length tl of the first longitudinal portion 51.

[0123] The second longitudinal portion 52 of length t2, with reference to the use configuration, extends from the end of the first longitudinal portion 51 up to the lower edge of the casing and excavating pipe 15b. The first longitudinal portion 51 is, therefore, intended in use to be the upper portion of the pipe 15b. At the lower end of the first longitudinal portion 51, the inner pipe 53 is connected through a conical ring 40 to the outer pipe. Such a conical ring 40, as well as ensuring the coaxial nature of the inner pipe 53, defines and isolates a gap 39 making it completely fluid-tight. Such a gap 39 therefore has the shape of a hollow cylinder with outer diameter determined by the casing and excavating pipe 15b, an inner diameter determined by the inner pipe 53 and a length equal to the segment t1. The first longitudinal portion 51 of the pipe 15b, therefore, has a diameter t1 smaller than that t2 of the second longitudinal portion. On the outer wall of the second longitudinal portion 52 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b, under the conical ring 40, a plurality of discharge slots 41, preferably four, are made arranged equally spaced along the circumference of the pipe 15b.

[0124] Such discharge slots 41, act as openings for unloading debris that rises inside the pipe transported by the continuous propeller 9B.

[0125] The continuous excavating propeller 9b, visible in FIG. 6, is made up of two distinct longitudinal portions 56, 57 of respective lengths e1, e2: the first longitudinal portion 56 is intended in use to be the closest to the second rotary and has spires of smaller diameter e1 with respect to the diameter e2 of the second sector e2. The diameter e1 of the spires of the first longitudinal portion 56 is suitably sized to be able to pass through the first longitudinal portion 51 of the pipe 15b in a flush manner. In particular, the first longitudinal portion 56 of the propeller 9b is sized so as to be able to cross the inner passage of the first rotary 2c, in particular to cross the diameter of the wear sleeve for intubator 31 with minimum clearance.

[0126] The diameter e2 of the spires of the second longitudinal portion 57 of the propeller is suitably sized so as to be able to pass through the inner passage of the casing and excavating pipe 15b with minimum clearance and therefore the diameter of the spires in this segment is limited by the diameter of the selected pipe.

[0127] When the continuous excavating propeller 9b is completely contained in the casing and excavating pipe 15b, i.e. the second longitudinal portion 57 of the propeller 9b is contained in the second longitudinal portion 52 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b, the ground that rises along the second longitudinal portion 52 of the pipe 15b pushed by the rotation of the continuous excavating propeller 9b is in part unloaded outside of the casing and excavating pipe 15b through the slots 41. The shape of the conical ring 40, which has a divergent shape towards the upper part of the casing and excavating pipe 15b, acts as a guide and helps the ground to come out from the slots 41.

[0128] FIGS. 7A-7G show an excavation and subsequent rising sequence through an excavating machine in Quick-CSP set-up that uses the continuous excavating propeller 9b and the casing and excavating pipe 15b according to the variant embodiment just described. In the figures, for greater clarity neither the machine body 1 nor the guide tower 3 is shown, but it should be understood that the rotaries 2c, 17 and all of the excavation battery are connected to the guide tower 3 of the machine.

[0129] FIG. 7A shows the quick-CSP excavating equipment in position ready to start excavating.

[0130] In intermediate position between the two rotaries 2c, 17 a per se known roller cleaner 45 is installed to remove the debris from the spires of the continuous excavating propeller 9b. The continuous excavating propeller 9b can be equipped in the upper part with an extension sleeve 11 as shown in FIG. 7A. The continuous excavating propeller 9b thus passes through the entire casing and excavating pipe 15b, the first rotary 2c and the roller cleaner 45 and through the extension sleeve 11 connects to the wear sleeve (not illustrated) of the second rotary 17. Such an extension sleeve 11 can pass through the second rotary 17, and in this case the wear sleeve of the second rotary 17 will be engaged in the lower attachment of the extension sleeve 11.

[0131] In particular, as can be seen in FIG. 7A, the second longitudinal portion 57e of the continuous excavating propeller 9b that has a greater diameter is contained inside the second longitudinal portion 52 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b, while the first longitudinal portion 57 of the continuous excavating propeller 9b that has a smaller or decalibrated diameter extends passing through the entire inner pipe 53 present in the first longitudinal portion 51 of the casing and proceeds passing completely through the first rotary 2c through the wear sleeve for intubator 31. The first longitudinal portion 56 of the continuous excavating propeller 9b extends further passing through the roller cleaner 45 and continues until it connects to the second rotary 17, directly or indirectly through the extension sleeve 11 or directly. Again considering FIG. 7A it can be seen that the continuous excavating propeller 9b starting from this position cannot rise further sliding with respect to the pipe since the second longitudinal portion 57 of the propeller cannot pass through the first longitudinal portion 51 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b since it has a greater diameter than this last segment.

[0132] FIG. 7B shows the first step of making the cased excavation, in which both the continuous excavating propeller 9b and the casing and excavating pipe 15b are made to advance simultaneously, without mutual sliding keeping the propeller slightly advanced with respect to the lower edge of the pipe or completely withdrawn inside the pipe; this second case is preferable for making secondary piles. During the descent the continuous excavating propeller 9b is rotated in the clockwise direction and the casing and excavating pipe 15b can be rotated preferably in the anti-clockwise direction. In this case, the ground rises along the spires of the continuous excavating propeller 9b passing through the entire casing and excavating pipe 15b and the first rotary 2c until the roller cleaner 45 is reached that removes the ground from the spires and sends it into a conveyor that unloads the debris on ground level at low height.

[0133] Once the entire casing and excavating pipe 15b is inserted in the ground, the second rotary 17 is momentarily released from the lower attachment of the extension sleeve 11 and it is translated upwards until it engages in the upper attachment of the extension sleeve 11. During this translation, also called sleeve recovery, both the continuous excavating propeller 9b and the casing and excavating pipe 15b remain stationary.

[0134] At this point, the second rotary 17 can descend again along the guide tower 3, as shown in FIG. 7C, setting the continuous excavating propeller 9b in rotation and making it advance outside of the casing and excavating pipe 15b while the pipe stays at constant height. The continuous excavating propeller 9b thus reaches the maximum depth, and in the segment outside of the casing and excavating pipe 15b carries out an excavation with diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the pipe.

[0135] Thereafter, in FIG. 7D the simultaneous rising of the continuous excavating propeller 9b and of the casing and excavating pipe 15b begins, keeping the propeller in clockwise rotation to promote the rising of the debris. During this rising the jet of the cement is carried out on the bottom of the excavation that is made, making the cement pass inside the continuous excavating propeller 9b until it comes out from the lower end. As soon as the slots 41 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b come out from the ground and are completely above ground level, the rising of the pipe 15b is stopped while the second rotary 17 is still made to slide on the guide tower 3 to make the continuous excavating propeller 9b rise, generating a relative translation between propeller and pipe. In this step, the ground that rises from the lower part of the casing and excavating pipe 15b pushed by the rotation and translation of the continuous excavating propeller 9b, is unloaded on ground level through the slots 41. A modest part of the ground remains between the spires of the first longitudinal portion 56 of the propeller and rises inside the first longitudinal portion 51 of the pipe having reduced diameter then passing through the first rotary 2c until the roller cleaner 45 is reached.

[0136] When the second longitudinal portion e2 of the propeller has almost completely entered in the pipe, the second rotary 17 momentarily disengages from the upper attachment of the extension sleeve 11 and it is made to slide downwards with respect to the extension sleeve itself so as to engage it in the lower attachment of the sleeve as shown in FIG. 7E.

[0137] At this point, as can be seen in FIG. 7F, it is possible for the continuous excavating propeller 9b to continue to rise with respect to the casing and excavating pipe 15b, until the top of the second longitudinal portion 57 of the propeller meets the conical ring 40 that obstructs further rising thereof.

[0138] From this moment simultaneous rising of the continuous excavating propeller 9b and of the casing and excavating pipe 15b is carried out through the movement of the respective rotary 17 and 2c. During rising, the rotation of the continuous excavating propeller 9b and possibly also of the casing and excavating pipe 15b is maintained, while the jet of the cement is carried out.

[0139] At the end of the rising, both the continuous excavating propeller 9b and the casing and excavating pipe 15b are extracted from the ground and the machine is substantially in the same condition of FIG. 7A, ready to carry out a new excavation. The pile made as described up to now has a depth substantially equal to that of the continuous excavating propeller 9b or even greater if the extension sleeve 11 is used and has a diameter substantially equal to that of the casing and excavating pipe 15b, thus a greater diameter with respect to the inner passage of the first rotary 2c and of its wear sleeve for intubator 31. The lengths e1, e2 of the longitudinal portions 56, 57 of the propeller are suitably selected and are proportioned to the lengths of the two longitudinal portions 51 and 52 of the casing and excavating pipe 15b; in this way, it is possible to have a substantial freedom of vertical excursion between propeller 9b and pipe 15b, i.e. they can mutually translate allowing the propeller 9b to project with respect to the lower end of the pipe 15b by a large height.

[0140] In a further variant embodiment of the quick-CSP type excavating machine, the first rotary 2c is connected to a second alternative embodiment of a casing and excavating pipe 15c visible in FIG. 8A, whereas the second rotary 17 is connected to a second embodiment of a continuous excavating propeller 9c visible in FIG. 8B.

[0141] The casing and excavating pipe 15c has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment 15b but the length of the first sector 51c has been reduced to the minimum sufficient to allow the connection to the first rotary 2c. The upper end of the second sector 52c, i.e. the end close to the first sector 51c, has discharge openings 42, made in the annular space comprised between the two diameters of the first sector and of the second sector, and such discharge openings 42 allow a part of the ground present inside the casing and excavating pipe to come out during the excavation steps. The casing and excavating pipe 15c has the additional characteristic of having an inner helix (or propeller) at the pipe for the entire second sector 52c, which is the segment with greater diameter. For the entire extension in length of the second sector 52c, the casing and excavating pipe 15c has inner annular spires 43, which have the outer edges of the spires welded to the inner wall of the pipe. Said inner annular spires 43 each have a circular central hollow, thus forming a cylindrical passage coaxial to the pipe.

[0142] Such an inner cylindrical passage has substantially the same diameter t1 as the first sector 51 of the pipe. The annular helix inside the pipe 15c has the annular spires 43 that wind in the opposite direction with respect to that of the continuous excavating propeller 9c. In this way, if the spires of the continuous excavating propeller 9c tend to make the ground rise along the propeller when the propeller is set in clockwise rotation, the inner annular spires of the casing and excavating pipe 15c tend to make the ground rise upwards inside the pipe when the pipe is set in anti-clockwise rotation. The continuous excavating propeller 9c has the spires that exhibit a single constant diameter for the entire length (e) of the propeller and therefore it can be considered to be formed from a single longitudinal portion (e). It should be understood that only the longitudinal portion (e) can be made up of a plurality of propeller segments, all with spires of equal diameter, assembled to one another. In particular, such spires have a diameter that is decalibrated or reduced to a value suitable for allowing the passage of the continuous excavating propeller itself through the entire casing and excavating pipe 15c and therefore through all of the annular spires 43 of the inner helix. Therefore, the diameter (e1) of the continuous excavating propeller 9c is slightly smaller with respect to the diameter of the first sector 51 of the pipe 15c, i.e. less than t1 and in the same way it will be slightly less than the inner passage of the annular spires 43.

[0143] The spires of the continuous excavating propeller 9c and the inner spires of the casing and excavating pipe 15c are therefore never parallel, since they wind in opposite directions, but they always cross over, i.e. the inner edges of the spires of the pipe will always have opposite inclination with respect to the outer edges of the spires of the propeller. This ensures that in the interface area between the two propellers they never tend to lock into one another.

[0144] The entire length of the continuous excavating propeller 9c, being entirely decalibrated, can pass through the first rotary 2c. This allows to have the maximum possible excursion between propeller 9c and pipe 15c, as can be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0145] Starting from the excavating configuration shown in FIG. 9A, in which both the propeller 9c and the pipe 15c are at their maximum reachable depth, it is possible to make only the propeller 9c translate without making the pipe 15c translate, until the propeller 9c has reached the highest possible height, i.e. with propeller and sleeve 11 completely raised, as can be seen in FIG. 9B. In particular, as a function of the lengths selected for the propeller 9c and for the pipe 9C, it is possible for the translating propeller 9C to completely pass through the pipe 15 until it comes out from the top of the pipe as shown in FIG. 9B.

[0146] During the excavation, the continuous excavating propeller 9c and the casing and excavating pipe 15c are set in rotation with opposite directions. This ensures that a friction is generated between the ground that is located between the spires of the propeller 9c and the material that is located between the inner spires of the pipe 15c. Such friction allows the ground to rise along the inner spires of the pipe until the discharge openings 42 are reached, through which a part of the excavated ground can come out from the pipe. Another part of the excavated ground, in particular that which is located between the spires of the propeller 9C, can on the other hand rise passing through the lower rotary 2c, to then be removed by the cleaner 45.

[0147] The excavation and subsequent rising sequence through an excavating machine in Quick-CSP set-up that uses the second embodiment of a continuous excavating propeller 9c and of a casing and excavating pipe 15c, is analogous to the sequence already described with reference to FIGS. 7A-7G, having the further advantage of allowing more extensive mutual sliding between the propeller 9c and the pipe 15c.

[0148] The method for converting an excavating machine from an LDP or CFA type excavating configuration to a CSP type excavating configuration, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of:

[0149] dismounting the telescopic Kelly rod 5 or the continuous excavating propeller 9 from the first rotary 2c;

[0150] dismounting the accessories 27, 29 of the plurality of accessories coupled with said first rotating table 2c; in the case in which the starting excavating configuration is that of the LDP type the wear sleeve 27 is thus dismounted, otherwise if the starting configuration is of the CFA type the wear sleeve 27 and the diameter adapter sleeve 29 are dismounted;

[0151] coupling the wear sleeve for intubator 31 with the dragging sleeve 24 of the first rotary 2c;

[0152] associating the second rotary 17 with the guide tower 3 above the first rotary 2c;

[0153] associating hydraulic systems and a cable handling system with the second rotary 17;

[0154] associating a continuous excavating propeller 9, 9b, 9c with the second rotary 17 and a casing and excavating pipe 15, 15b, 15c with the first rotary 2c.

[0155] Such a conversion method is very advantageous with respect to that provided in the state of the art.

[0156] Indeed, converting the excavating machine into a configuration of the quick-CSP type by suitably setting up the modular handling assembly described above the following advantages are obtained:

[0157] it is not necessary to change the head 4, 4b nor dismount the rotary that drags the telescopic Kelly rod 5 or the continuous propeller 9; therefore, it is not necessary to dismount or modify the turning of the cables that command the translation of the rotary;

[0158] it is not necessary to modify or dismount the hydraulic systems (pipes) that connect the machine body 1 to the rotary 2c;

[0159] it is not necessary to mount an intubator 13 on the guide tower 3 of the machine nor to mount the relative hydraulic feeding systems;

[0160] it is not necessary to repeat or add the turning of the cables for the movement of the intubator.

[0161] Indeed, the first rotary 2c dedicated to the movement of the pipe keeps the same guide trolley and the same pulling members that were connected when the machine is set up in LDP or in CFA. This constitutes a great advantage since it means that to pass from the LDP or CFA set-up to the quick-CSP set-up it is not necessary to modify the paths of the cables that starting from the winch 6 actuate the trolley of the first rotary 2c nor for that matter it is necessary to replace the trolley or any parts thereof like the pulleys.

[0162] From the economic point of view the following considerations can be made:

[0163] to convert, according to the prior art, an excavating machine set up in LDP or in CFA into one set up in standard CSP of FIG. 1C it is necessary to acquire: a rotary 12, an intubator 13 and a head 16;

[0164] in order to carry out such conversions, according to the present invention, it is sufficient to acquire the configurable modular handling assembly described above.

[0165] The economic saving is obvious, and it is worth also considering all the hours of work saved for the transformation.

[0166] From the description that has been made the characteristics of the modular handling assembly, of the conversion method and of the excavating machine object of the present invention are clear, just as the relative advantages are also clear.

[0167] The modularity of the modular handling assembly of the present invention, indeed, allows easier transformation of the machine from an LDP set-up to a CSP set-up, reducing the number of mounting/dismounting operations to be carried out, reducing the number of components (rotaries, heads, winches) necessary to be able to have both of the set-ups and reducing the costs of the conversion from one set-up to another.

[0168] The proposed solution allows, in the CSP set-up, to reuse the same rotary (2c) used in the LDP or CFA set-up. With this solution the aforementioned rotary is configured to have performance compatible with use as intubator but at the same time it keeps compact dimensions with respect to the known intubators because the inner passage of the rotary is increased with respect to the outer diameter of the wider telescopic Kelly rod that can be used with that rotary.

[0169] By then using few interfacing adapters for dragging the casing and excavating pipe (casing) and adding a single new rotary for dragging the continuous excavating propeller a quick and efficient combination for the conversion to different excavation technologies is obtained. The investment for the conversion from LDP to quick-CSP is very low with respect to a conversion from LDP to Standard CSP given that it is not necessary to acquire and install a new intubator. The system modifications are also more contained given that the rotary 2c that is used as intubator remains connected to the same hydraulic feeds that it already had in normal use as a rotary and in the same way it keeps its handling systems unchanged, i.e. the turning of the cables and the pulleys that connect it in this case to the winch 6.

[0170] Finally, it is clear that the device thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.