U.S. patent application number 09/814851 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage.
Invention is credited to Matsumoto, Ryozo.
Application Number | 20010010780 09/814851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16565368 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010780 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsumoto, Ryozo |
August 2, 2001 |
Reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage
Abstract
A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage wherein a
vehicle body (14) is provided with an outrigger (20) upwardly
projecting via the center thereof and actuated by hydraulic
pressure, a cutting device (25) disposed in the front region of the
vehicle body (14), actuated by hydraulic pressure and having a
rotary cutter (24) at the front end, lift means (30) actuated by
hydraulic pressure to move the cutting device (25) up and down,
reach means (35) actuated by hydraulic pressure to move the cutting
device (25) back and forth, and swing means (40) actuated by
hydraulic pressure to turn the cutting device (25) clockwise and
counterclockwise.
Inventors: |
Matsumoto, Ryozo;
(Kasuya-Gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W.
SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
16565368 |
Appl. No.: |
09/814851 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09814851 |
Mar 23, 2001 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP00/00921 |
Feb 18, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/138 ; 175/26;
175/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 55/265
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/138 ; 175/26;
175/78 |
International
Class: |
E21B 007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 1999 |
JP |
11-208981 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage, comprising: a
vehicle body 14; an outrigger upwardly projecting via the center of
said vehicle body 14 and actuated by hydraulic pressure; a cutting
device 25 disposed in the front region of said vehicle body 14 and
actuated by hydraulic pressure, said cutting device having a rotary
cutter 24 at the front end of said cutting device; lift means 30
actuated by hydraulic pressure to vertically move said cutting
device 25; reach means 35 disposed in said vehicle body and
actuated by hydraulic pressure to longitudinally move said cutting
device 25; and swing means 40 disposed within said vehicle body and
actuated by hydraulic pressure to laterally turn said cutting
device 25.
2. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage as defined in
claim 1, which includes an outrigger control valve 51 to control
the hydraulic pressure for actuating said outrigger 20, a cutting
control valve 52 to control the hydraulic pressure for actuating
said rotary cutter 24 of said cutting device 25, a lift control
valve 53 to control the hydraulic pressure for actuating said lift
means 30, a reach control valve 54 to control the hydraulic
pressure for actuating said reach means 35, and a swing control
valve 55 to control the hydraulic pressure for actuating said swing
means 40.
3. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage as defined in
claim 1 or 2, wherein said vehicle body 14 is comprised of a
plurality of longitudinally separated segments, wherein said
segments are detachably coupled through a coupling section of said
vehicle body, respectively.
4. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage as defined in
either one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said cutting device 25
includes a laser beam emitting section 28 for emitting a laser beam
toward the region to be cut by said rotary cutter 24.
5. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage as defined in
claim 4, wherein said laser beam emitting section 28 is pluralized,
wherein said plurality of laser beam emitting sections are arranged
at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation center of
said rotary cutter 24, respectively.
6. A reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage as defined in
either one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said lift means 30 includes a
link 87 having a fulcrum located at one end of said link, a movable
point located at another end of said link to provide the vertical
movement of said cutting device 25, and an actuated point located
at the midpoint of said link and actuated by hydraulic pressure,
wherein a link ratio of said link 87 is adapted to provide the
amount of displacement of said movable point larger than that of
said actuated point.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a reclamation pipe boring
apparatus for sewerage, to bore a hole in a region of a reclamation
pipe corresponding to an opening of a branch pipe during a pipe
reclaiming operation for forming the reclamation pipe within an
existing pipe in sewerage
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Heretofore, a pipe reclaiming operation has been known to
reclaim an existing decrepit pipe in sewerage by forming a
reclamation pipe therein. As shown in FIG. 1, an operation for
forming the reclamation pipe 3 within the decrepit pipe is
typically accomplished by the steps of inserting a tube formed of
thermosetting resin into the decrepit pipe, e.g. a main pipe 1,
from a manhole 2, expanding the tube within the pipe, and injecting
a steam within the tube to thermally cure the thermosetting resin
of the tube.
[0003] In such a pipe reclaiming operation, since the main pipe has
a number of branch pipes 4, each opening of these branch pipes 4 is
closed up by forming the reclamation pipe 3 within the main pipe.
Thus, it has been necessary to bore a hole in the region of the
reclamation pipe 3 corresponding to each of the closed openings of
the branch pipes 4.
[0004] With this view, a boring apparatus has heretofore been
inserted into the main pipe having the reclamation pipe formed
therein to bore a hole in the region of the reclamation pipe
corresponding to each opening of the branch pipes 4 with cutting
means, such as a cutter driven by an electric motor.
[0005] The conventional boring apparatus has involved problems such
that increased overall size and weight of the apparatus due to the
electric motor or the like equipped therewith have caused
difficulty in applying the apparatus to all pipes having various
diameters and in providing a smooth movement of the apparatus
within the main pipe. In addition, the conventional boring
apparatus has involved other problems such that various functions
cannot be freely employed due to the requirement for preventing
from enlarging the entire size of the apparatus, which has caused
difficulty in adequately positioning the apparatus when boring a
hole in the region of the reclamation pipe corresponding to each
opening of the branch pipes within the main pipe and in stabilizing
a vehicle body of the apparatus during the boring operation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to solve these
problems and to provide a reclamation pipe boring apparatus for
sewerage, excellent in operation performances.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a
reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage, comprising a
vehicle body, an outrigger upwardly projecting via the center of
the vehicle body and actuated by hydraulic pressure, a cutting
device disposed in the front region of the vehicle body, actuated
by hydraulic pressure and having a rotary cutter at the front end
of the cutting device, lift means actuated by hydraulic pressure to
move the cutting device up and down, or vertically, reach means
disposed in the vehicle body and actuated by hydraulic pressure to
move the cutting device back and forth, or longitudinally, and
swing means disposed within the vehicle body and actuated by
hydraulic pressure to turn the cutting device clockwise and
counterclockwise, or laterally.
[0008] The reclamation pipe boring apparatus may further include an
outrigger control valve to control the hydraulic pressure for
actuating the outrigger, a cutting control valve to control the
hydraulic pressure for actuating the rotary cutter of the cutting
device, a lift control valve to control the hydraulic pressure for
actuating the lift means, a reach control valve to control the
hydraulic pressure for actuating the reach means, and a swing
control valve to control the hydraulic pressure for actuating the
swing means.
[0009] The vehicle body may be comprised of a plurality of
longitudinally separated segments which are detachably coupled
through a coupling section of the vehicle body, respectively.
[0010] Preferably, the cutting device is provided with a laser beam
emitting section for emitting a laser beam toward the region to be
cut by the rotary cutter so as to allow the current position of the
cutting device to be identified.
[0011] The laser beam emitting section may be pluralized, and this
plurality of the laser beam emitting sections are arranged at
positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation center of the
rotary cutter, respectively.
[0012] The lift means may include a link having a fulcrum located
at one end of the link, a movable point located at another end of
the link to provide the vertical movement of the cutting device,
and an actuated point located at the midpoint of the link and
actuated by hydraulic pressure, wherein a link or lever ratio of
this link is adapted to provide the amount of displacement of the
movable point larger than that of the actuated point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional pipe
reclaiming operation;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of a reclamation pipe boring apparatus
for sewerage according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partially sectional plan view of the reclamation
pipe boring apparatus for sewerage according to the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the reclamation pipe
boring apparatus for sewerage according to the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.
4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a hydraulic circuit
of the reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage according to
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation for
boring a hole in a region of a reclamation pipe corresponding to an
opening of a branch pipe with use of the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of
a laser beam emitting section of the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of a reclamation pipe boring
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 10(a) is a schematic cross sectional view of a
frictional coupling used in a reclamation pipe boring apparatus for
sewerage according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 10(b) is a schematic vertical sectional view of FIG.
10(a);
[0024] FIG. 11 is a side view of lift means according to another
embodiment of a reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage of
the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 12 is a side view showing the state when the lift means
in FIG. 11 is actuated.
BEST MODE FOR CARRING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] With reference to the drawings, one embodiment of a
reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage according to the
present invention will now be described. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4
and 5, the reclamation pipe boring apparatus includes a vehicle
body 14 composed of a main body 11, a base 12 fixed to the rear
region of the main body 11, and a approximately cylindrical cover
13 adapted to cover the base 12. A pair of cylindrical sliding
boards 15 are longitudinally extended along the lower region of the
vehicle body, and are symmetrically arranged so as to match the
center of the vehicle body 14 with a center of an objective pipe 1.
Each cylindrical sliding board 15 is attached to a bracket 16
detachably mounted to the vehicle body 14 with bolts.
Different-sized brackets 16 and sliding boards 15 are prepared
corresponding to different sizes of the pipe 1 (e.g. diameters of
200 mm, 250 mm, 300 mm, 350 mm and 400 mm), respectively, and an
optimum bracket 16 and sliding board 15 are selectively mounted to
align the center of the vehicle body 14 with the center of the pipe
1 at all times.
[0027] The vehicle body 14 is provided with an outrigger 20 located
in the longitudinally central region of the vehicle body and
orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body with
projecting upward. This outrigger 20 has a double-action hydraulic
cylinder 22 including a piston rod 23 to which a projecting head 21
is fixed, and thereby the projecting head 21 is moved up and down,
or vertically, in response to the actuation or movement of the
hydraulic cylinder 22. For fixing the projecting head to the piston
rod 23, the projecting head 21 is formed with a female thread and
then is fixed to the piston rod 23 through a screw nut. This allows
the projecting head 21 to be changed or adjusted in its projecting
height. In advance of boring a hole, the hydraulic cylinder 22 is
actuated to move the projecting head 21 upward. Thus, the vehicle
body 14 may be secured within the pipe 1 by means of the projecting
head 21 and the pair of sliding boards 15 attached along the lower
region of the vehicle body 14.
[0028] In the front region of the vehicle body 14, a cutting device
25 is provided which has a rotary cutter 24 at the front end of the
cutting device 25. The cutting device 25 comprises a hydraulic
motor 26, and a rotary cutter 24 including a plurality of cutters
27. The rotary cutter 94 is located in the upper region of the
hydraulic motor 26 and actuated by the hydraulic motor 26. The
cutting device 25 is also provided with a pair of laser beam
emitting sections 28 positioned symmetrically with respect to the
rotation center of the rotary cutter 24. Each of the laser beam
emitting sections 28 is adapted to emit a laser beam toward the
region to be cut by the rotary cutter 24. Thus, during the boring
operation, the position of the rotary cutter 24 (the position of
cutting tool or blades) may be identified by a camera from a branch
pipe associated with the boring operation.
[0029] In the front region of the vehicle body 14, a lift means 30
is provided to move the cutting device 25 up and down, or
vertically, with respect to the vehicle body 14. The lift means 30
includes a double-action hydraulic cylinder 31 disposed
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body 14. A
piston rod 32 of the hydraulic cylinder 31 is connected with a
mount bracket 33 which is mounted on and slidably guided by the
outside of the hydraulic cylinder 31. The cutting device 25 is
fixed to the mount bracket 33. Thus, the cutting device 25 may be
moved vertically with respect to the vehicle body 14 in response to
the actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 31.
[0030] In the front region of the vehicle body 14, a reach means 35
is further provided to move the lift means 30 and the cutting
device 25 back and forth, or longitudinally, with respect to the
vehicle body 14. This reach means 35 includes a double-action
hydraulic cylinder 36 located along the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle body 14, and the lift means is fixed to a piston rod 37 of
the hydraulic cylinder 36 through a mount bracket 38. Thus, the
lift means 30 and the cutting device 25 may be moved longitudinally
with respect to the vehicle body 14 by the actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder 36.
[0031] The vehicle body 14 also includes swing means for turning
the lift means 30 and the cutting device 25 clockwise and
counterclockwise, or laterally, with respect to the vehicle body
14. This swing means 40 has a double-action hydraulic cylinder 41
located in a horizontal position and perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle body 14. This hydraulic cylinder
41 includes a piston configured as a rack 43 which is moved
laterally within a gear case 42 extending in the lateral direction
of the vehicle body 14. A pinion gear 44 is fixed on a shaft
spline-engaged with the piston rod 37 of the hydraulic cylinder 36
of the reach means 35, and this pinion gear 44 is engaged with the
rack 43 of the hydraulic cylinder 41 of the swing means 40. The
rack 43 is linearly moved in response to the actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder 41 to rotate the pinion gear 44 engaged with the
rack 43 and thereby turn the lift means 30 and cutting device 25
laterally with respect to the vehicle body 14.
[0032] The vehicle body 14 is further provided with a plurality of
control valves on the base 12. These control valves comprises an
outrigger control valve 51 to control a hydraulic fluid to be
supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 22 for actuating the outrigger
20, a cutting control valve 52 to control a hydraulic fluid to be
supplied to the hydraulic motor 26 for actuating the rotary cutter
24 of the cutting device 25, a lift control valve 53 to control a
hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 31 for
actuating the lift means 30, a reach control valve 54 to control a
hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 36 for
actuating the reach means 35, and a swing control valve 55 to
control a hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the hydraulic cylinder
41 for actuating the swing means 40. These control valves are
coupled with electric cords connected to the rear region of the
vehicle body 14, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the
control valves is coupled with two pipelines branched from two
ports consisting of a pump port 56 and a tank port 57 which are
provided in the rear region of the vehicle body 14. The pump port
56 is supplied with a hydraulic fluid from outside and then supply
this hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor and each hydraulic
cylinder. The hydraulic fluid is supplied from each control valve
to the hydraulic motor and each hydraulic cylinder through
pipelines (not shown) formed in the main body or frame 11 of the
vehicle body 14, hoses (not shown) coupling the frame 11 with the
hydraulic motor and each hydraulic cylinder, or the like.
[0033] Handgrips 60 are attached to the upper front region of the
main body 11 and the cover 13 located in the rear region of the
vehicle body 14, respectively. Wire mounting sections are provided,
but not shown, in the lower front and lower rear regions of the
vehicle body 14, respectively.
[0034] A process for boring a hole in a region of a reclamation
pipe corresponding to an opening of a branch pipe by the
reclamation pipe boring apparatus for sewerage during the pipe
reclaiming operation will be described.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, for a first, wires 61 are attached to
the front and rear ends of the reclamation pipe boring apparatus,
respectively, and then the reclamation pipe boring apparatus is
inserted into the pipe 1 having the reclamation pipe 3 formed
therein. Hereat, a camera device 63 equipped with a camera 63
having a light source such as light fittings is attached to the
wire 61, and the camera device 63 is inserted into the pipe 1 so as
to be located in front of the reclamation pipe boring apparatus.
The camera 62 of the camera device 63 is directed toward the
reclamation pipe boring apparatus located in the rear of the camera
device 63. On the other hand, another camera device 65 equipped
with a camera 64 having a light source such as light fittings is
also inserted into the branch pipe 4 closed by the reclamation pipe
3. Then, the camera device 63 and the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus are moved within the reclamation pipe 3 by pulling the
wire 61 with the use of any suitable take-up or winding device
provided outside of the pipe 1. Then, as identifying the position
of the reclamation pipe boring apparatus by the camera 62 of the
camera device 63, the reclamation pipe boring apparatus is stopped
at an approximate position to the branch pipe 4 based on the light
from the camera device 65 inserted into the branch pipe 4. Then,
the outrigger 20 is actuated to move the projecting head 21 upward.
Thus, the projecting head 21 is engaged with the inner wall of the
reclamation pipe 3 to secure or stabilize the vehicle body 14
supported by the slide boards 15 within the pipe 1. The cutting
device 25 is directed toward the branch pipe 4 by actuating the
reach means 35 to longitudinally move the cutting device 25 and
actuating the swing means 40 to laterally turn the cutting device
25. Hereat, a laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting
sections 28 located on the right and left sides of the rotary
cutter 24 of the cutting device 25 of the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus, respectively, is detected by the camera 64 of the camera
device 65 inserted into the branch pipe 4. This allows the cutting
device 25 to be adequately positioned. Then, the rotary cutter 24
of the cutting device 25 and the lift means 30 are simultaneously
actuated to bore a hole in the region of the reclamation pipe 3
corresponding to the opening of the branch pipe 4. Hereat, if the
area of the opening of the branch pipe 4 is larger than the
diameter of the rotary cutter 24, the cutting device 25 is moved by
actuating the reach means 35 and the swing means 40 so as to
enlarge the hole.
[0036] As described above, a desirable hole may be readily and
accurately bored in the region of the reclamation pipe 3
corresponding to the opening of the branch pipe 4 closed by the
reclamation pipe 3 formed in the pipe 1.
[0037] During the boring operation or the like, the hydraulic
cylinder 22 is actuated to move the projecting head 21 of the
outrigger 20 upward. Thus, the vehicle body 14 is supported by
symmetrical three points provided by the projecting head 21 and the
pair of sliding boards 15 attached along the lower region of the
vehicle body 14, which allows the vehicle body 14 to be firmly
secured within the pipe 1. This may prevent the vehicle body 14
from being displaced during the boring operation so that the hole
may be bored with a high degree of accuracy.
[0038] Further, the cutting device 25 may be moved longitudinally
and laterally by the reach means 35 and the swing means 40. This
allows the cutting device 25 to be moved to any desirable position
without purposely moving the reclamation pipe boring apparatus
itself, which may facilitate to adequately position the reclamation
pipe boring apparatus.
[0039] Furthermore, the outrigger 20, cutting device 25, lift means
30, reach means 35, and swing means are adapted to be hydralically
actuated. This allows these components to be actuated with a
sufficient power. In particular, the hydraulic motor 26 for the
cutting device 25 may have a significantly enhanced power or
improved performance as compared to electric motors. In addition,
applying hydraulic power units allows each component to be reduce
in size and weight, which also allows the apparatus to be reduce in
size and weight as a whole. In particular, the hydraulic motor 26
for the cutting device 25 may have a significantly enhanced
downsizing and weight-reduction as compared to electric motors.
[0040] Thus, the apparatus reduced in size and weight may be
applied to all pipes having various diameters, and may provide a
smooth movement within the pipe. This apparatus may also includes
various functions, such as lift means 30, reach means 35, swing
means 40, outrigger 20 and the like, which may provide an excellent
product as reclamation pipe boring apparatuses.
[0041] In addition, each control valve (the outrigger control valve
51, cutting device control valve 52, lift control valve 53, reach
control valve 54, and swing control valve 55) is provided in the
vehicle body 14. This allows the hoses being pipelines necessary
for supplying the hydraulic fluid from outside to these control
valves to be reduced only to two hoses for supplying and draining
the hydraulic fluid. For example, when the vehicle body 14 is
provided with five hydraulic actuators, it is necessary to have ten
hoses because a minimum of two hoses are generally required to each
hydraulic actuator as the hydraulic motor or hydraulic cylinders.
These ten hoses provide a bunch of hoses having a large thickness.
Thus, connecting the bunch of hoses to the vehicle body 14 can
adversely affect when the reclamation pipe boring apparatus is
moved. However, by virtue of providing each control valve in the
vehicle body 14, the hoses to be connected to the vehicle body 14
may be limited only to two hoses having a significant thinness.
This allows problems involved in the hoses to be drastically
relieved and may provide a smooth movement of the reclamation pipe
boring apparatus within the pipe during the pipe reclaiming
operation.
[0042] Further, since the laser beam emitted from the laser beam
emitting sections 28 provided in the cutting device toward the
region to be cut by the rotary cutter 24 is displayed through the
camera 64 of the camera device 65, the position of the cutting
device 25 may be readily identified.
[0043] In addition, since the laser beam emitting sections 28 are
arranged at the positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation
center of the rotary cutter 24, the position of the rotation center
of the rotary cutter 24 of the cutting device 25 may be accurately
identified by the two laser beams from the laser beam emitting
sections 28, which may provide a significantly accurate cutting
operation. The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiment in which two leaser beam emitting sections 28 are
provided on the right and left sides of the rotation center of the
rotary cutter 24, and the leaser beam emitting sections may be
arranged at three or more positions. For example, as shown in FIG.
8, the leaser beam emitting sections may be arranged at four
positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation center of the
rotary cutter 24. Arranging the leaser beam emitting sections 28 at
the four positions may facilitate to detect the leaser beams during
the operation by the camera 64 of the camera device 65 inserted
into the branch pipe 4, so that the position of the rotary cutter
24 of the cutting device 25 may be readily and accurately
detected.
[0044] Another embodiments of a reclamation pipe boring apparatus
for sewerage according to the present invention will be
described.
[0045] While this apparatus is constructed as with the
aforementioned embodiment, the vehicle body 14 is adapted to be
separately pluralized in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle
body 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle body 14 is
composed of two segments by dividing the piston rod 37 of the
hydraulic cylinder 36 in the reach means 35. The vehicle body 14
also includes a coupling section 70 for detachably coupling these
segments mutually. This coupling section 70 comprises a frictional
coupling in which a pressure medium 72 is enclosed within a
circular ring 71 and a pressure screw (a pressurizing device) 73 is
provided in the periphery of the ring 71, as shown in FIGS. 10(a)
and 10(b). When the pressure screw 73 is driven in, the pressure
medium 72 is pressurized to deform the inner wall of the ring
inward, and thereby a shaft 74 inserted in the ring is firmly held
by the frictional force with the inner wall of the ring. More
specifically, the piston rod 37 of the hydraulic cylinder 36 is
divided into a base side "a" and a front side "b". Then, the base
side "a" is attached to the shaft 74, and the front side "b" is
fixed to the ring 71 of the frictional coupling. Thus, when the
coupling section 70 is released, the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus is divided into a front segment F composed of the cutting
device 25 and the lift means 30 and a main body segment M composed
of the outrigger 20, the swing means 40, the base 12 located in the
rear region of the vehicle body 14, and control valves. When the
reclamation pipe boring apparatus is carried, the front segment F
and the main body segment M may be separated, and individually
carried in the state disassembled into small segments. For the
operation, the front segment F and the main body segment M are
mutually coupled through the coupling section.
[0046] Thus, the carrying operation may be significantly
facilitated by disassembling the reclamation pipe boring apparatus
into small segments to individually carry them. Particularly, when
the apparatus is inserted into a manhole during the pipe reclaiming
operation, each segment of the apparatus may have a desirable
diameter smaller than that of the manhole to facilitate the
operation for inserting the apparatus into the manhole. Preparatory
to inserting the apparatus into the pipe 1 after separately
inserted into the manhole, the front segment F and the main body
segment M are coupled with each other through the coupling section
70 to assemble the reclamation pipe boring apparatus.
[0047] Further, the vehicle body 14 may be divided into a plurality
of segments. In this case, the vehicle body 14 is preferably
divided at the boundary between the main body 11 and the base 12 in
addition to the aforementioned division in the reach means 35.
[0048] Still another embodiments of a reclamation pipe boring
apparatus for sewerage according to the present invention will be
described.
[0049] While this apparatus has a similar construction as the
aforementioned embodiments, the lift means 30 provided in the front
region of the vehicle body 14 has a different construction. As
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this reach means 30 includes a guide rail
80 formed vertically in the mount bracket 38 which is fixed to the
piston rod 37 of the hydraulic cylinder 36 in the reach means 35.
The bracket 38 is also provided with a pin 81 serving as a fulcrum
located on both sides of the bracket 38. A double-action hydraulic
cylinder 31 to be vertically actuated is mounted inside of the
mount bracket 38. A first sliding block 82 is provided to be
slidably moved vertically along the guide rail 80 of the mount
bracket 38 by the hydraulic cylinder 31. The first sliding block 82
is also formed with a vertically extended guide rail 83. The first
sliding block 82 has a pin 84 serving as an actuated point located
on both sides of the first sliding block 82. The second sliding
block 85 is provided to be sidably moved vertically along the guide
rail 83 of the first sliding block 82. The second sliding block 85
has a pin 86 serving as a movable point located on both sides of
the second sliding block 85, and the cutting device 25 is provided
in this second sliding block 85. A link 84 is attached respectively
to each pin 81 located on the both sides of the mount bracket 38,
each pin 84 located on the both sides of the first sliding block
82, and each pin 86 located on the both sides of the second sliding
block 85. Specifically, one end of the link 87 is rotatably
attached to each pin 81 of the mount bracket 38 to provide the
fulcrum, another end of the link 87 being rotatably attached to
each pin 86 of the second sliding block 85 to provide the movable
point for vertically moving the cutting device 25, and the midpoint
of the link 87, e.g. the approximately central point in the
longitudinal direction of the link 87, being rotatably attached to
each pin 84 of the first sliding block 82 to provide the actuated
point to be vertically moved by the hydraulic cylinder 31. An
elongate aperture is formed respectively in the one and another
ends of the link 87 to allow the link 87 to be moved with respect
to each pin 81, 86 with an appropriate allowance.
[0050] When the hydraulic cylinder 31 is actuated to sidably move
the first sliding block 82 along the guide rail 80 of the mount
bracket 38, the link 87 is rotated about the fulcrum by the sidable
movement of the first sliding block 82, and this rotation of the
link 87 causes the sidable movement of the second sliding block 85
along the guide rail 83 of the first sliding block 82. The amount
of displacement of the second sliding block 85 is about two times
greater than the amount of displacement of the first sliding block
82 or the amount of actuation or movement in the hydraulic cylinder
31, as determined by a link or lever ratio being a ratio of the
distance between the fulcrum and the actuated point and the
distance between the fulcrum and the movable point. Thus, the
vertical movement of the cutting device 25 corresponding to the
amount of the displacement of the second sliding block 85 may be
sufficiently increased.
[0051] As described above, providing the link 87 to the lift means
30 allows the amount of displacement of the second sliding block 85
to be increased greater than the amount of actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder 31 by adequately arranging the link ratio of the
link 87. Thus, the vertical movement of the cutting device 25
yielded by the lift means 30 may be significantly increased so that
the operation performance of the cutting device 30 may be enhanced,
and the boring operation for the branch pipe in the cutting device
25 during the pipe reclaiming operation may be significantly
facilitated.
[0052] Further, even if a small-size hydraulic cylinder 31 is
applied, a desirable vertical movement of the cutting device 25
yielded by the lift means 30 may be assured. This may open the way
to apply a small-size hydraulic cylinder and thereby to provide a
compact apparatus.
[0053] Furthermore, in the above structure, the first sliding block
82 is adapted to sidably move along the mount bracket 38, and the
second sliding block 85 is adapted to slidably move along the first
sliding block 82. Thus, each height of the mount bracket 38, the
first sliding block 82, and the second sliding block 85 may be
arranged lower, and thereby compactness may be provided to these
components. In addition, even if a large-size (large-diameter)
rotary cutter 24 is applied to the cutting device 25, the rotary
cutter 24 may be avoid the interference with the mount bracket 38,
the first sliding block 82, and the second sliding block 85.
[0054] While the link ratio being a ratio of the distance between
the fulcrum and the actuated point and the distance between the
fulcrum and the movable point is 1 to 2 in the link 87 of the
aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to
such a ratio. For example, any other suitable link ratio, such as 1
to 3 or 1 to 4, may be applied.
[0055] While the hydraulic cylinders are applied to actuate the
outrigger 20, cutting device 25, lift means 30, reach means 35, and
swing means 40 in each aforementioned embodiment of the reclamation
pipe boring apparatus according to the present invention, an air
cylinder may be applied as a substitute for each hydraulic
cylinder.
[0056] According to the present invention, the apparatus reduced in
size and weight may be applied to all pipes having various
diameters, and may provide a smooth movement within the pipe. This
apparatus may also includes various functions, such as the lift
means, reach means, swing means, outrigger and the like, which may
provide an improved operation performance.
[0057] Further, each control valve provided in the vehicle body
allows the hoses being pipelines necessary for supplying the
hydraulic fluid from outside to these control valves to be reduced
only to two hoses. Thus, intertwist of the hoses may be drastically
reduced and the hoses may be bunched with an adequate thinness,
which may provide a smooth movement of the apparatus within the
pipe during the pipe reclaiming operation, a significantly
facilitated handling, and a reduced frequency of failure.
[0058] Furthermore, when the vehicle body is comprised of a
plurality of segments detachably coupled mutually by the coupling
section, the apparatus may be disassembled into small segments to
separately carry them, and particularly, these segments may be
inserted individually from a manhole during the operation, which
allows the carrying operation of the reclamation pipe boring
apparatus to be significantly facilitated.
[0059] In addition, since the cutting device is provided with the
laser beam emitting section emitting a laser beam toward the region
to be cut by the rotary cutter, the position of the cutting device
may be readily identified during the operation by the laser beam
emitted from the laser beam emitting section.
[0060] In case of providing a plurality of laser beam emitting
sections and arranging this plurality of laser beam emitting
sections at the positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation
center of the rotary cutter, the position of the rotation center of
the rotary cutter of the cutting device may be accurately
identified by the laser beams emitted from the laser beams emitting
sections, which may provide a significantly accurate cutting
operation.
[0061] In the example in which the lift means is provided with the
link, since the amount of displacement in the movable point is
adapted to become greater than that in the actuated point based on
the link ratio of this link, the vertical movement of the cutting
device yielded by the lift means may be increased. This may provide
an enhanced operational ability of the cutting device and an
improved cutting operation performance.
* * * * *