FR2855235A1 - Pipeline sections handling device, has chassis supporting clipping structure on outer envelope of pipeline section to assure structures connection and release, and another chassis anchored to the ground - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a chassis (2) with an integration unit (3) coupling with an operating arm (4) of a handling gear. The chassis supports a clipping structure (5) on an outer envelope of a pipeline section (15) to assure the structures connection and release. Another chassis anchored to the ground (18) is slidably mounted on the former chassis along a direction parallel to an axis of the section. The movements of two chassis are enabled using a hydraulic actuation cylinder.

Description

The present invention relates to a handling device allowing the

pose

  sections of pipes to be fitted into a trench.

  The buried pipe networks, for the conduction of water, gas or the like, are produced by fitting into each other sections of pipes 5 adapted to the type of fluid intended to be conveyed. The pipe sections used can have a diameter between 20 and 1800 mm, and their length can be several meters; One of their ends called "plain end" is straight, while the other end comprises a socket element ensuring the connection.

  As a general rule, sealing is ensured by means of a flexible plastic ring inserted in the socket element; a lubricating paste is also applied to the internal surface of this seal ring, and to the plain end of the associated pipe section.

  After having dug a section of trench using a backhoe-type earthmoving machine, for example, this same machine, or another, takes charge of the section of pipe to be laid by means of straps or pliers, for the position in the trench. An operator prepares the ends of the two sections to be joined, in particular by cleaning and applying the lubricating paste. The following operation consists in fitting the end of the pipe section being laid into the end of the previous section. This interlocking is generally carried out by pushing on the free end of the pipe, either manually using a lever, or by means of the earth-moving machine.

  However, these conventional laying operations take a long time, in particular because the earthmoving machine is required to perform many different maneuvers.

  On the other hand, the operator responsible for preparing the ends of the pipes to be joined, and responsible for assisting the operator of the machine for taking charge of the pipe sections and depositing them at the bottom of the trench, must descend into the trench and come out many times. The corresponding displacements are necessary because the pushing at the end of the pipes to ensure their interlocking can entail risks of soiling, and the operations of applying the lubricating paste must therefore be carried out at the last moment.

  The present invention provides a handling device for taking charge of the pipe sections for their positioning in the trench, then allowing the nesting of one of the ends of the supported pipe section, in the opposite end. of the pipe section previously laid.

  For this, the handling device according to the invention comprises: a main chassis provided with means for securing with the end of the operating arm of a handling machine like backhoe loader for example, which main chassis supports at least one clamp structure associated with maneuvering means to allow its application on the external envelope of a section of pipeline, in order to ensure its taking-over and its release, - a secondary chassis, carried by the main chassis and mounted sliding on the latter in a direction parallel to the axis of the pipe section supported by said clamp structure (s), which secondary chassis supports means for anchoring to the ground to immobilize it, and - means allowing relative movement of the main chassis and the secondary chassis.

  The use of this handling device saves time in terms of laying the different pipe sections; this device also authorizes the implementation of original operating procedures, in the sense that all of the 15 techniques for preparing the ends of pipes (cleaning, fitting the seal ring and brushing the lubricant paste) can be performed outside the trench.

  According to a particular embodiment, the main chassis is in the form of an elongated beam, extended upwards by a bracket, the end of which comprises means which allow it to be joined to the end of the operating arm of the handling machine. .

  According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, the handling device according to the invention comprises a motorized coupling member, disposed between the end of the bracket and the end of the handling arm of the handling machine, making it possible to control its rotation around a vertical axis.

  Still according to another particularity, the handling device comprises two gripper structures spaced from one another for taking charge and releasing the sections of pipes.

  According to yet another particularity, each clamp structure is made up of two articulated jaws, arranged opposite, each provided with an extension allowing the fixing of a maneuvering jack.

  Preferably, the jaws of the pliers are provided with a non-slip coating, such as rubber, at the level of their surface intended to come into contact with the external envelope of the pipe sections.

  According to yet another particularity, the means allowing the relative movement of the main chassis and the secondary chassis are in the form of an actuating cylinder.

  According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, the means 5 for anchoring to the ground carried by the secondary chassis consist of two deployable / foldable lateral arms, capable of coming into contact with the lateral walls of the trench.

  According to yet another particularity, the deployable / foldable arms are articulated on the secondary chassis around a vertical axis, connected together by a maneuvering cylinder.

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the deployable / folding arms are equipped with a contact plate at their free end; this plate is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis to optimize its plating against the wall of the trench, and it is equipped with protruding claws which ensure its attachment to said wall of the trench.

  Preferably, the various jacks which equip the handling device consist of hydraulic jacks capable of coming to be connected to the hydraulic circuit of the carrier handling device.

  However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and represented in the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a view in schematic perspective of a handling device according to the invention; - Figures 2 to 5 show in four steps the operation of the device illustrated in Figure 1, said device being seen from above; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a device according to the invention corresponding to the representation of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the attachment of the secondary chassis with the main chassis; - Figure 8 is a partial perspective view, detailing the structure of the contact plate of the deployable / foldable arms; - Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the hydraulic control of the handling device according to the invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the handling device 1 in accordance with the invention comprises a horizontal elongated main frame 2 provided with a vertical bracket 3 which allows it to be joined to the end of the operating arm 4 of a handling equipment not shown, for example a backhoe loader.

  The elongated frame 2 supports at its ends clamp structures 5 each consisting of two jaws 6 and 7, articulated respectively at 8 and 9 5 around a horizontal axis. Each jaw 6 and 7 of the clamp structures 5 has an extension, respectively 10 and 11, which extends beyond the axis of articulation 8, 9, used for fixing an operating means 13 in the form hydraulic cylinder. The body of the jacks 13 is articulated on one of the extensions 10, and its rod is articulated on the other extension 10.

  The hydraulic jacks 13 allow the jaws 6, 7 of each clamp structure 5 to be opened and closed, to allow their application to the external envelope of a section of pipe 15, in order to ensure its horizontal support and his release. The main chassis 2 extends parallel to the axis of the section of pipe 15, when the latter is supported by the clamp structures 5.

  These hydraulic cylinders 13 are connected to the hydraulic circuit of the handling machine and they are controlled by the operator of said machine.

  Between the two clamp structures 5, the main chassis 2 supports a secondary chassis 18 mounted to slide longitudinally, that is to say parallel to the axis of the section of pipe 15 carried.

  The main chassis 2 is operated relative to the secondary chassis 18 by a hydraulic cylinder 19 interposed between the two elements. This cylinder 19 is also connected to the hydraulic circuit of the carrier handling machine and is controlled by the operator of said machine.

  The secondary chassis 18 carries meanwhile for its anchoring to the ground to ensure its immobilization. These particular means here consist of two lateral arms 20, one of the ends of which is articulated on the secondary chassis 18 about a vertical axis 21, and the free end of which is intended to come to bear against the vertical lateral walls of the trench in which the pipe sections are to be laid. These two arms 20 are connected by a hydraulic cylinder 22 which allows their operation by rotation about the axis 21, to ensure their deployment and folding.

  During the deployment maneuver, the free ends of the two arms 20 move away from the main frame 2, and also from one another, in order to make contact each with one of the vertical walls of the trench. In the event of contact of the two arms with the walls facing the trench, it is understood that the secondary frame 18 is immobilized.

  During the reverse folding maneuver, the free ends of the anchoring arms 20 approach one another and are positioned along the main chassis 2.

  Note that the two arms 20 can be articulated on the same axis 21 or on two separate axes 21.

  The hydraulic cylinder 22 is also connected to the hydraulic circuit of the handling machine and is controlled by the operator of this machine.

  To improve the contact between the free ends of the anchoring arms 20 and the ground, materialized by the vertical walls of the trench, said arm ends are equipped with a pivoting plate 24 articulated around a vertical axis, and the active face can be fitted with hooking claws. The structure of the plates 24 in question will be illustrated in more detail below.

  The end of the vertical bracket 3 has suitable means 25 which allow it to be coupled with the operating arm 4 of the handling machine, so that this operating arm 4 can lift and rest the handling device at will. 1. Preferably, these coupling means 25 are motorized so as to allow the control of the rotation of the handling device 1 around a vertical axis 26, to facilitate its orientation manipulations.

  To this end, the corresponding coupling structure 24 can integrate a hydraulic motor (“rotator” type for example) connected to the hydraulic circuit of the handling machine and controlled by the operator of the machine.

  The handling machine equipped with such a device can handle a section of pipe 15, placed on the ground, or placed on an appropriate receiving support, at the edge of the trench, this by maneuvering the two clamp structures 5 by means of jacks 13. The ground anchoring arms 20 are then in the folded position.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2 in top view, the pipe section 15 30 can be positioned in the bottom of the trench 27, one of its ends being adjusted opposite the homologous end of a section of identical pipe 15 'already laid. Preferably the corresponding end of the pipe section 15 is slightly fitted into or on the opposite end of the pipe section 15 ′ already laid, this by the simple address of the driver of the machine, so as to facilitate operations. subsequent full nesting.

  To facilitate this position adjustment of the section of pipe carried 15, the operator of the machine can use the assistance of the rotary hydraulic motor 25.

  Once this slight interlocking has been obtained, the operator deploys the lateral arms 20 by maneuvering the hydraulic cylinder 22 so that their end plate 5 24 comes to bear and grips on the vertical lateral walls 28 of the trench 27 (figure 3).

  This operation ensures anchoring to the ground, and consequently immobilization of the secondary chassis 18. The hydraulic cylinder 19 can then come into action to ensure the displacement of the main chassis 2 with the associated pipe section 15, in the direction of the section. pipe 15 'already laid, that is to say in the direction of the orientation arrows 30 of Figure 4. The corresponding movement ensures the desired full nesting. This complete nesting can be of the order of 10 cm.

  Then, the side arms 20 are folded (Figure 5); the pipe section 15 is deposited on the ground and the clamp structures 5 are open to ensure its release (in FIG. 5, the clamps 5 have been shown open). The handling device 1 can then be extracted from the trench and the hydraulic cylinder 19 brought back to the initial position to allow the engagement of a new laying cycle.

  At the bottom of the trench, support means will be provided for the pipe section 15, such as sandbags for example, so that its free end is raised a few centimeters from the bottom of the trench, so as to facilitate the nesting of the next section.

  The handling device according to the invention allows the laying of pipe sections in both directions, that is to say from the plain end of a section in the socket of the preceding section, or else from the fitting of the section into the plain end of the previous section.

  The corresponding type of installation is very fast. It also allows the preparation of the two ends of the sections of pipes to be laid (cleaning, fitting of the seal ring and application of the lubricant paste) outside the trench, just before laying.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a possible embodiment of the handling device 1 in accordance with the schematic representation of FIGS. 1 to 5.

  The main frame 2 is here in the form of a horizontal beam with an H-section, the two ends of which are equipped with clamp structures 5. Each clamp structure 5 consists of two jaws facing each other 6, 7 articulated each around a horizontal axis 8, 9. The two jaws 6, 7 have upper extensions 10, 11 which allow the articulated fixing of the actuating cylinders 13. The active part of the jaws 6, 7 is in the form a portion of cylinder adapted according to the diameter of the section of pipe to be handled. Preferably, this active part comprises a non-slip coating 32, 5 of the rubber type or equivalent, making it possible to avoid the sliding of the section of pipe carried 15, in particular during the mechanical interlocking operation.

  On the other hand, the jaws 6, 7 are advantageously adapted so that when they take over the pipe section by pinching, the upper part of said pipe section comes into contact with the base of the lateral wings of the chassis. main 2 with H section. This particularity ensures effective maintenance of the section of pipeline carried, while ensuring good distribution of forces.

  The length of the beam 2 and the spacing of the jaw structures 5 on this beam are of course adapted according to the length of the sections of pipes handled.

  Still in FIG. 6, the central part of the beam 2 is extended by the vertical bracket 3 coupled to the operating arm 4 of the handling machine by the hydraulic "rotator" 25, illustrated diagrammatically. As described above, this motor 25 allows the handling device 1 to rotate about 20 about a vertical axis 26.

  To improve the rigidity of the assembly, the upper part of the bracket 3 can be connected to the beam 2 by struts arranged at an angle.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the secondary chassis 18 is in the form of a welded structure slidably mounted on the upper part of the beam 2, placed on the central core 33 of the H 2 structure and guided by the lateral wings 34.

  The corresponding sliding assembly is carried out by means of a pair of bolts 36, 37 integral with the welded structure 18 and passing through a median lumen 38 formed in the core 33 of the beam 2. The bolt structures 36 and 37 are not fully tightened to allow the corresponding sliding.

  The hydraulic cylinder 19 which ensures the relative operation of the main chassis 2 and the secondary chassis 18 is fixed, on one side, on a suitable support 40 (Figure 6) welded to the beam 2, and on the other side on the one of the ends of said secondary chassis 18.

  Preferably, the sliding of the welded structure 18 on the beam 2 is facilitated by suitable lubrication.

  One of the ends of the two anchoring arms 20 is articulated on the secondary chassis 18, this around a same vertical axis 21. In this case, the articulation in question can be produced by one of the structures of bolts 37 above.

  The two anchoring arms 20 are interconnected by the hydraulic cylinder 22 5 hingedly attached to suitable supports 42 and 43. At their free end, the two arms 20 comprise the contact plate 24, articulated around a vertical axis 44, in detail in FIG. 8.

  These contact plates 24 have the possibility of pivoting in a vertical plane around the axis 44, so that they can suitably press against the vertical side walls 10 of the trench, whatever the width of the latter. .

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the active part of the plates 24 advantageously comprises a plurality of projecting claws 45 which, coming to sink into the walls of the trench, optimize the anchoring of the arms 20 and the immobilization of the secondary chassis 18. These claws 45 may consist of small cylinders, one of the ends of which is shaped like a point, and the other end of which is fixed by any suitable means (welding, screwing, etc.) on the face active from tray 24.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a possible embodiment of the hydraulic supply circuit of the handling device according to the invention. In the corresponding diagram, we note, from the hydraulic unit 48 of the handling equipment: - the supply and return link 49 ensuring the supply of the two jacks 13 in parallel. On the supply links 49, we note the presence of non-return valves 51.

  the supply 52 and return 53 connection ensuring the supply of the "rotator" 25.

  the supply 54 and return 55 connection supplying a sequence valve 56, itself adapted to allow the supply of the two jacks 19 and 22, respectively by the supply connections 57, 58 and by return links 59, 60.

  These return links 59, 60 are connected to the sequence valve 56 by a built-in relief valve.

  The sequence valve 56 is adapted to allow the actuation of the jack 19 only above a given pressure (for example 50 bars). Consequently, by a single command, first of all, the jack 22 ensures the deployment of the anchoring arms 20 until the secondary frame 18 is immobilized, and then only the jack 19 is used to ensure the operation nesting.

Claims (12)

- CLAIMS   1.- Handling device for laying pipe sections (15) to be fitted into a trench, characterized in that it comprises: - a main chassis (2) provided with fastening means (3, 25) with the end of the 5 maneuvering arm (4) of a handling machine, such as a backhoe loader, which main chassis (2) supports at least one clamp structure (5) associated with maneuvering means (13) to allow its application on the outer casing of a section of pipe (15) in order to ensure its taking up and its release, - a secondary chassis (18), carried by said main chassis (2) and slidingly mounted 10 on the latter according to a direction parallel to the axis of said pipe section (15) supported by said clamp structure (s) (5), which secondary chassis (18) supports means (20, 22, 24) for anchoring to the ground for ensure its immobilization, and means (19) allowing the relative movement of udit main chassis (2) and said secondary chassis (18).   2.- handling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a main frame (2) in the form of an elongated beam, extended upwards by a bracket (3) the end of which comprises means (25) which allow it to be joined to the end of the operating arm (4) of the handling machine.   3.- handling device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a motorized coupling member (25), disposed between the end of the bracket (3) and the end of the operating arm (4) of the handling machine, making it possible to control its rotation about a vertical axis (26).   4. Handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises two clamp structures (5) spaced from one another for taking over and releasing the sections of pipes (15).   5.- handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each clamp structure (5) consists of two jaws (6, 7) articulated, arranged opposite, each provided an extension (10, 11) 30 allowing the fixing of an actuating cylinder (13).   6.- handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises jaws (6, 7) provided with a non-slip coating (32), of the rubber type for example, at their surface intended to come into contact with the external envelope of the pipe sections 35 (15).   7. Handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means allowing the relative movement of the main chassis (2) and the secondary chassis (18) are in the form of a cylinder operation (19).   8.- handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ground anchoring means carried by the secondary frame (18) consist of two lateral arms (20) deployable / foldable, suitable for come into contact with the side walls (28) of the trench (27).   9. Handling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the 10 deployable / foldable arms (20) are articulated on the secondary chassis (18) around a vertical axis (21), connected together by a jack of operation (22).   10.- Handling device according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the deployable / foldable arms (20) are equipped with a contact plate (24) at their free end, which plate (24) is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis (44) to optimize its placement against the wall (28) of the trench (27), and which plate (24) is equipped with protruding claws (45) which ensure its attachment to said wall (28).   11.- handling device according to claims 5, 7 and 9, characterized in that the jacks (13, 19, 22) which operate the clamp structures (5), 20 of the main chassis (2) relative to the chassis secondary (18), and anchor arms (20), consist of hydraulic cylinders capable of being connected to the hydraulic circuit of the handling machine.   12. Handling device according to claim 11, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (19) which controls the relative movement of the main chassis (2) and the secondary chassis (18), and the hydraulic cylinder (22) which controls the movement of the anchoring arms (20), are supplied from the hydraulic unit (48) of the handling machine via a sequence valve (56).