WO2002001006A1

WO2002001006A1 - Improved impactor

Info

Publication number: WO2002001006A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2001/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angus Peter Robson
Original assignee: Rocktec Ltd
Current assignee: Rocktec Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-23
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2002-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2002-12-23
Also published as: AU2001267956A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buffer for use with a portable impactor characterised in that the buffer ensures that the portable impactor is a set distance above the surface that the portable impactor is to impact upon. In preferred embodiments, the buffer is in the form of a skid.

Description

IMPROVED IMPACTOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an improved impactor.

BACKGROUND ART

Reference throughout the specification will be made to the present invention as being a concrete breaker, however it should be appreciated that the present invention can apply to other portable impactors such as post rammers, rock crushers and the like.

Reference throughout the present invention shall now be made to the concrete breaker as being portable.

Portable concrete breakers can be self propelled or attached in the front or back of vehicles such as skidsteer loaders, excavators or rubber tyred backhoes. These vehicles have advantages in that they are relatively small, powerful and manoeuvrable.

Concrete breakers may come in a variety of forms. For ease of reference throughout the present invention, the concrete breaker should be referred to as a drophammer type which lifts up a weight and then allows it to drop onto the surface or concrete to be broken.

Generally concrete is required to be broken is in the form of slabs and beams with a relatively flat upper surface. The concrete may be at the same level as the carrier of the concrete breaker, but may also form a hollow or a bump. In any case the breaker must be positioned at a useful height above the slab to allow the greater benefit of

(a) visibility to the operator of the breaking process, and (b) follow through of the breaker point into the impact area.

The useful height range is small. On self propelled breakers the height control function is generally done remotely from the point by raising or lowering the frame which encases the drop weight relatively to the chassis and wheel assembly of the propulsion system.

In the prior art of attachment-type breakers, the method of gauging the height of the breaker from the concrete is by eye. On skidsteer loaders with an experienced operator this is semi practical, but not ideal. Inexperienced operators have trouble gauging the height.

On excavators and rubber tyred backhoes the eye method is not at all practical and normally results in either poor visibility of the breaking (work) area or damage to the breaker because of excessive follow through of the drop weight. This is because the operating radius of the excavator and backhoe is large and height control of the arm at this radius is difficult.

To gain height control the operator may lower the breaker to the ground such that the bottom of the frame is touching the ground, but this has disadvantages of

(a) rendering the point and breaking area invisible, and

(b) creating a great risk of flying debris from the impact going between the weight and frame, thus jamming the breaker or wearing it out prematurely.

If the frame is held too high with respect to the ground, then the hammer hits the end of the frame before the weight penetrates the concrete sufficiently to be efficient. This damages the hammer, the frame and the carrier.

Another problem with existing concrete breakers is that after the concrete is broken, the breaker itself can be difficult to withdraw from the hole that it has created. A problem with existing concrete breakers is that considerable debris scatters during the breaking process which is both dangerous and messy.

A further problem with conventional concrete breakers is that the weight is usually surrounded by a guide tube. Unfortunately, this guide tube can act to trap stones and other pieces of concrete which fly upwards as a consequence of the concrete breaking action. This can lead to severe damage to the concrete breaker, and at the very least result in maintenance being required.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems, at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objections in the advantages of the present invention are now become apparent from the following description which is given by way of examples only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a buffer for use with a portable impactor

characterised in that

the buffer ensures that the portable impactor is a set distance above the surface that the portable impactor is to impact upon.

Reference throughout this specification shall be made to the buffer as being a height control device.

According to the further aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable impactor incorporating a height control device as described above.

While it is possible for our machine to incorporate just one height control device, it is envisaged that for stability and more accurate movement control, two or more devices are used.

Throughout the specification, the portable impactor will now be described as a concrete breaker. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention can apply to other portable impactors such as rock crushers and post rammers and be used to break surfaces other than concrete.

The height control device may come in a variety of forms. An important element of the height control device however is that it can hold the impactor at a set distance above the surface that the impactor is to act upon.

For example, the height control device may in some embodiments comprise of legs which extend downward from the base of the impactor.

Other embodiments the height control device may be wheels on the impactor.

However, the preferred embodiments the height control device is in the form of a skid and shall be referred to as such throughout the specification. Reference to a skid however should not be seen as limiting.

The provision of a height control device or skid offers considerable advantages over the prior art.

A major advantage is that the operator of the vehicle carrying the portable impactor can instantly gauge whether the concrete breaker is positioned at the correct height above the concrete to give the optimum impact required. If not, then the operator of the vehicle manoeuvre the vehicle to ensure that the skid rests upon the ground to provide the correct positioning of the concrete breaker relative to the ground.

In addition to this advantage, the applicant has in preferred embodiments to the present invention designed the skid so as to offer further advantages over the prior art. In preferred embodiments, the base of the skid is configured so that it can be readily dragged across a non level surface. For example, result of the impactors breaking action causes craters to be formed in the concrete. Thus, a skid which has rounded or sloped ends can be more readily pulled from a crater than a skid having vertical ends.

The skid may be configured so as to have barriers, walls or panels that can limit the spray of rocks and concrete chunks resulting from the action of the concrete breaker. As can be appreciated this is a much needed safety feature.

To complement the action of the skid barriers the applicant may also include rugged curtains or some other barriers on the sides of the concrete breaker not already covered by the walls of the skid.

While it is envisaged that the skids will be positioned at the sides of the concrete breakers and other barriers or curtains at the front and back, it should not be seen as limiting and then positioned anywhere relative to the machine providing they perform their required functions.

The applicant has found that the present invention offers a number of other advantages over the prior art as well.

For example, the present invention can reduce the amount of stones which fly up into the housing of the concrete breaker.

Another advantage is that the solid nature of the skids and their preferred proximity to the weight of the concrete breaker means that skids can contribute to the breaking of the concrete itself. For example, the impact of the weight on the concrete can cause the centre of the concrete area to move downwards and the edges of the concrete area to buckle upwards. However, if the skids are positioned appropriately with respect to the weight, the outer edges of the concrete area may impact on the skids which effectively holds them down causing secondary breakage of the concrete between the weight and the walls of the skid.

The present invention allows the operator of the vehicle carrying the portable breaker to assure that the height of the breaker with respect to the surfaces is breaking with optimal impact.

A further advantage is the reduced amount of rubble that flies out from the concrete breaker.

The concrete breaker is easier to remove from craters formed within the surface and in some embodiments may contribute to additional breaking of the surface.

The ends of the skids can be used for raking of rubble and reinforcing steel to remove it from the breaking area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: is a cross sectional view of a concrete breaker in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 2: is a perspective view of a skid in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 3: is a view of an alternative skid.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With respect to Figure 1 there is illustrated a cross sectional view of a concrete breaker generally indicated by arrow 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The basic elements of the concrete breaker consists of a housing 2 inside of which is a weight 3 which can be repeatedly dropped onto a surface to break it.

At the outside of the housing are two skids 4. While in the preferred embodiments skids 4 are attached to the concrete breaker itself, it is envisaged that in some embodiments where the concrete breaker is fixed with respect to the vehicle carrying it, the skids likewise may be fixed to the vehicle carrying the concrete breaker. Provided of course the concrete breaker is a set level above the surface it is to work upon.

In the cross sectional view shown in Figure 1, the skids 4 look like inverted tees with a base 5 that rests upon the surface to be broken and an upright 6.

The upright 6 acts as a barrier to stones flying out as a consequence of the actions of the concrete breaker.

Further, the upright 6 also acts to cause secondary breakage of the concrete as illustrated by the effective "M" shape of the broken concrete 7.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the view of the skid.

The upright 6 is effectively a flat panel which acts as a barrier to stones.

The base 5 consists of a flat plate 8 with two further plates 9 and 10 projecting outwardly therefrom. The angle of the plates 9 and 10 with respect to the flat plate 8 facilitates the removal of the concrete breaker from the hole it has dug. This is because the shape of the skid makes it easy to drag along uneven ground.

An alternative skid (see Figure 3) may be merely an upright (6) of rugged constructions with sloped ends (9) and (10).

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A buffer for use with a portable impactor

characterised in that

2. A buffer as claimed in claim 1 in the form of a height control device.

3. A buffer is claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in the form of a skid.

4. A portable impactor incorporating a height control device which ensures that the portable impactor is a set distance above the surface that the portable impactor is to impact upon.

5. A portable impactor is claimed in claim 4 in the form of a concrete breaker.

6. A portable impactor is claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the height control device is in the form of wheels on the impactor.

7. A portable impactor is claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the height control device is in the form of a skid.

8. A portable impactor is claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 when the skid has rounded or sloped ends.

9. A portable impactor is claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 where in the skid is configured so as to have barriers that can limit the spray of material resulting from the action of the impactor.

10. A portable impactor is claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9 which includes additional barriers in the side of the impactor.

11. A buffer substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

12. A portable impactor substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.