TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a crushing tool.

More particularly, the present invention concerns a crushing tool of the type having one or more movable jaws for the crushing of structures such as buildings, industrial structures or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

In the operations of crushing buildings or industrial structures, specific tools are used that are mounted on machines provided with an articulated robotic arm.

Such tools can be employed both for the so-called primary crushing, which concerns the actual demolition of the structure, and the secondary crushing, aimed for recycling and reducing into fine parts what was already demolished in the primary step.

More in detail, these tools generally comprise a support fixable to the free end of the articulated movable arm, and a pair of demolition jaws, hinged together, connected to the aforesaid support in a removable manner, in order to be easily dismounted or substituted when necessary.

In some of these tools, one of the two jaws is mounted fixed with respect to the support, while the second jaw is movable, i.e. articulated with respect to the first jaw, and hence with respect to the support.

In other types of tools, both jaws are movably mounted - i.e. articulated - with respect to the support.

The materials to be crushed can be of various type: two typical examples are cement and steel (separate or even joined together, as in the case of reinforced concrete).

Given the different nature of the materials, the different compression strengths of the same and the different breaking/crushing dynamics, tools can be used having different shape in order to specifically operate on the aforesaid types of materials, or comprising actuators (usually oil-hydraulic) with different features. For example, a suitably-designed tool can be used for crushing cement, and another tool - also thus suitably designed - for crushing/breaking up steel.

This means that the operator must have at least two types of tools, which he/she will use each time in relation to the work to be carried out (typically, using a same robotic arm that each time is connected to a different tool).

In order to overcome the drawback of using different tools for different materials, to be substituted each time, specific crushing tools have also been implemented which are capable of operating, with a same pair of jaws, on materials of different type (e.g. cement and steel).

For this purpose, the jaws each comprise different operating ends, with different shapes and sizes, which are adapted to crush/break different materials.

Notwithstanding this improvement, such tools are not completely satisfactory from an operating standpoint, since it often occurs that different materials - indeed due to their different breakage behaviors - require different forces applied on the jaws: in order to obtain this result, it would also be necessary to each time substitute the oil-hydraulic actuators with others of different size, which is not feasible in normal conditions, above all due to the work interruption times.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical aim of the present invention is that of improving the state of the art in the field of crushing tools.

Within such technical aim, it is an object of the present invention to implement a crushing tool which allows overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Still another object of the present invention is to implement a crushing tool that allows obtaining optimal results in treating materials of different nature and/or having different features.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a crushing tool that allows accomplishing the preceding objects with a structurally simple and practical solution.

Another object of the present invention is to implement a crushing tool that allows accomplishing the preceding objects without requiring long and costly maintenance interventions.

This aim and these objects are achieved by the crushing tool according to the attached claim 1.

The crushing tool, suitable for being fixed to a movable arm of an operating machinery or another similar device, comprises a support fixable to the free end of the movable arm, a first jaw connected to the support, a second jaw articulated to the first jaw at a first articulation axis.

The first jaw and the second jaw comprise respective distal portions and proximal portions, provided with respective distal operating ends and proximal operating ends, adapted to operate on materials of different types and/or with different features in order to obtain the crushing or breaking thereof.

The tool also comprises at least a linear actuator, having a first end articulated to the support at a second articulation axis, and a second end articulated to the second jaw at a third articulation axis.

According to one aspect of the invention, the tool comprises means for varying the position of said second articulation axis and/or of said third articulation axis with respect to the position of said first articulation axis, so as to obtain different use configurations of the tool.

The variation means hence allow modifying, within the same tool, the kinematic and dynamic features of the relative rotation of the jaws, so as to obtain different specific use configurations for the treatment of different materials.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention will be better understood by every man skilled in the art from the following description and from the enclosed drawings, given as a non- limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of the crushing tool according to the invention in a first use configuration, with some parts removed for greater clarity;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the crushing tool in a second use configuration, with some parts removed for greater clarity;

figure 3 is a side view of the crushing tool in the first use configuration and with the jaws completely open, with some parts removed for greater clarity;

figure 4 is a side view of the crushing tool in the first use configuration and with the jaws completely closed, with some parts removed for greater clarity;

figure 5 is a side view of the crushing tool in the second use configuration and with the jaws completely open, with some parts removed for greater clarity; figure 6 is a side view of the crushing tool in the second use configuration and with the jaws completely closed, with some parts removed for greater clarity; figure 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the tool according to the invention, in the first use configuration and with the jaws completely open;

figure 8 is a top view of the tool of figure 7;

figure 9 is a side view of the tool of figures 7,8, in the second use configuration and with the jaws completely open;

figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the force exerted by the jaws of the tool of figures 1-6, as a function of the extension stroke of the linear actuator, in the first use configuration;

figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the force exerted by the jaws of the tool of figures 1-6, as a function of the extension stroke of the linear actuator, in the second use configuration.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the enclosed figure 1, reference number 1 overall indicates a crushing tool according to the present invention.

The crushing tool 1 according to the present invention can be used, generally and without any limitation, on operating machineries provided with a movable arm and suitable for the demolition of civil and industrial buildings, or even of natural structures.

In particular, the tool 1 can be employed for crushing operations, both primary and secondary, in the sense clarified in the introductive part of the present description. The sizes and proportions between the parts, inferable from the enclosed drawings, are merely indicative: the tool 1 can in fact have any size, and the size proportions between the various parts can clearly be any, in relation to the specific use needs, and as will be better clarified hereinbelow.

Also the materials constituting the tool 1 can be of any type, without any limitation regarding the objects of the present invention.

The tool 1 comprises a support, indicated overall with 2.

The support 2 is fixable to the free end of the movable arm of the operating machinery, or to the free end of another suitable device.

The operating machinery - or another suitable device - and the relative movable arm are not represented in the figures for the sake of simplicity.

The support 2 can comprise, for example, a flanged portion 3 for the connection to the aforesaid movable arm, and/or various components 4, of any type, necessary for the operation of the tool 1.

The tool 1 also comprises a first jaw 5.

The first jaw 5 is connected to the support 2.

The first jaw 5 can be permanently fixed to the support 2, or it can be connected to the support 2 in a removable manner, such that it can be dismounted and remounted for maintenance, substitution or another activity.

In the embodiments of the invention represented in figures 1-6, better described hereinbelow, the first jaw 5 is fixed with respect to the support 2; in other words, it does not carry out any type of relative movement with respect to the support 2 during the use of the tool 1.

In other embodiments of the invention, nevertheless, the first jaw 5 could be movable with respect to the support 2.

The tool 1 also comprises a second jaw 6.

The second jaw 6 is movable with respect to the support 2; more in detail, the second jaw 6 is articulated to the first jaw 5 (and hence also to the support 2) in a first articulation axis A.

The first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6 comprise respective distal portions 7 and proximal portions 8, with reference to their distance from the first articulation axis A.

The distal portions 7 - i.e. those furthest from the first articulation axis A - are intended to operate on a specific material type, while the proximal portions 8 - i.e. those closest to the first articulation axis A - are intended to operate on another material type, mainly in relation to the toughness of the same.

More particularly, the distal portions 7 are intended to operate on materials with breakage behavior of fragile type, and hence with low toughness; a typical example of such materials, in any case non-limiting, is concrete.

The proximal portions 8, instead, are intended to operate on materials with tough behavior: a typical example of such materials, in any case non-limiting, is steel.

As a consequence of this different use destination, the proximal portions 8 and the distal portions 7 have different shapes.

More in detail, the proximal portions 8 and the distal portions 7 comprise respective proximal operating ends 8a, and distal operating ends 7a.

As can be observed, for example, in figure 3, the distal operating ends 7a are shaped in such a way to achieve an opening angle greater than that of the proximal operating ends 8a: the reason for this is that such two parts of the jaws 5,6 operate, as stated, on different materials and on respective portions that also normally have different size (for example, concrete portions are typically larger than steel bars or beams, when the cross section thereof is considered).

For the same reasons, the proximal operating ends 8a and the distal operating ends 7a can be provided with respective fitted elements 9, 10, which are intended for the direct contact with the materials to be treated and which can be quickly substituted when worn.

The aforesaid fitted elements 9, 10 are specifically shaped in relation to the features of the respective materials to be treated.

In addition, the first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6 also have different structural shapes.

Generally, the first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6 are shaped in such a way that, when they are completely closed, some parts of one are - at least partially - housed within parts of the other, i.e. they mutually penetrate, at least partially.

In further detail, the first jaw 5 is constituted by two opposite portions 11 - see for example figures 1,2 - which define a kind of space 12 between them.

The second jaw 6, instead, has more limited transverse size with respect to that of the first jaw 5, such that it can be at least partially engaged - with jaws 5,6 closed - within the space 12 (as shown in figure 4).

This can be particularly useful in the treatment of specific materials; for example, in the position shown in figure 4, the proximal operating ends 8a at least partially penetrate each other, so as to facilitate the breakage of particularly tough material portions (e.g. steel).

The tool 1 comprises at least one linear actuator 13.

The linear actuator 13 has the function of imparting during use, to the second jaw 6, a rotation around the first articulation axis A; such rotation, due to the shape of the second jaw 6 itself, and due to the mode of articulation of the second jaw 6 to the support 2, concretizes in a clamping force of the second jaw 6 directed towards the first jaw 5, as better explained hereinbelow.

In other words, the second jaw 6 is movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first jaw 5.

The linear actuator 13 comprises a first end 14 associated with the support 2; in addition, the linear actuator 13 comprises a second end 15 associated with the second jaw 6.

More in detail, the first end 14 is articulated to the support at a second articulation axis B; the second end 15 is instead articulated to the second jaw 6 at a third articulation axis C.

In an embodiment of particular practical interest, the linear actuator 13 is of oil- hydraulic type.

Nevertheless, in other embodiments of the invention, the linear actuator 13 could also be of another type (e.g. electromechanical, or the like).

More in detail, the linear actuator 13 comprises a cylinder 16 comprising the second end 15, and a stem 17, which can selectively exit from the cylinder 16 or return within the same, comprising the first end 14.

In other words, the linear actuator 13 can selectively assume a maximum extension El (see for example figure 4) or a minimum extension E2 (see for example figure 3).

According to one aspect of the invention, the tool 1 comprises variation means 18 of the position of the second articulation axis B and/or of the third articulation axis C, with respect to the position of the first articulation axis A.

As will be clearer hereinbelow, the variation means 18 allow modifying, within the same tool 1, the kinematic and dynamic features of the relative rotation of the jaws 5,6, so as to obtain specific different use configurations for the treatment of different materials.

With reference to the specific embodiments of figures 1-7, the variation means 18 are in particular suitable to modify the position of the second articulation axis B - i.e. the axis of articulation of the first end 14 of the linear actuator 13 to the support 2 - with respect to the position of the first articulation axis A.

However, as can be understood, this is only a specific application example: in other embodiments, the variation means 18 could be suitable to modify only the position of the third articulation axis C with respect to the first articulation axis A, or of the second articulation axis B and of the third articulation axis C with respect to the first articulation axis A.

More in detail, the variation means 18 comprise an articulation pin 19, integral with the first end 14 of the linear actuator 13.

The axis of the articulation pin 19 thus coincides with the aforesaid second articulation axis B.

In addition, the variation means 18 comprise at least two seats 20,21, provided in the support 2, for the selective engagement of the aforesaid articulation pin 19. In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated in the figures, the variation means 18 could comprise a seat integral with the first end 14, and at least two articulation pins, integral with the support 2, for the selective engagement within said seat. With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the variation means 18 comprise at least one first seat 20 and one second seat 21, provided in the support 2, for the selective engagement of the articulation pin 19.

In other words, the articulation pin 19 can be selectively inserted in the first seat 20 or in the second seat 21 of the support 2, in such a way to respectively obtain a first use configuration (figures 3,4) or a second use configuration (figures 5,6).

In other embodiments of the invention, the number of the seats 20,21 provided in the support 2 could also be higher than two, without specific limitations, so as to obtain a corresponding number of use configurations.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first seat 20 and the second seat 21 are substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the tool 1, or of the support 2.

In other embodiments of the invention, the positioning of the seats 20,21 could be any.

The seats 20,21 can be constituted by corresponding through holes provided in the support 2.

In one embodiment of particular practical interest (and with reference to figures 1,2), the seats 20,21 can comprise respective pairs of through holes, coaxial and opposite, provided in the opposite walls 23 of the support 2.

The linear actuator 13 is consequently housed between the aforesaid walls 23 of the support 2, as shown in figures 1,2, in which some parts of the support were removed for greater clarity.

The first end 14 of the linear actuator 13 comprises a kind of eyelet, within which the articulation pin 19 is engaged.

The articulation pin 19 in turn comprises two opposite terminal portions 24 which project from/exit with respect to the first end 14 of the linear actuator 13, and which can consequently be engaged in the seats 20,21 of the support 2.

The coupling between the articulation pin 19 and the seats 20,21 can be carried out with the interposition of rotation bushes 24a.

The variation means 18 can also comprise means for selective insertion/removal of the opposite terminal portions 24 of the articulation pin 19 in the seats 20,21. Such selective insertion/removal means could be manual or automated.

For example, such selective insertion/removal means could comprise a device (e.g. with oil-hydraulic drive) suitable to selectively retract the opposite terminal portions 24 of the articulation pin 19, in order to allow the removal of such portions from the seats 20,21; or, such selective insertion/removal means could comprise any other device or mechanical member, even of another type, suitable to carry out the aforesaid function.

As stated, in practical use the tool 1 can be configured - by means of the aforesaid variation means 18 - in such a way to operate in the first configuration, or in the second configuration (or even in other further configurations, if provided).

The first configuration of the tool 1, shown in figures 3,4, is particularly suitable for use with materials with breakage of fragile type (e.g. concrete).

In this first configuration, the first articulation axis A and the second articulation axis B are located spaced from each other by a first center distance Dl .

As can be observed, in this configuration the distal operating ends 7a - in passing from the open position of figure 3 to the closed position of figure 4 - pass from a maximum angular distance to a minimum angular distance, in which they are very close to each other (or partially penetrated, due to the particular shape of the jaws 5,6), in order to obtain the complete crushing of the material interposed therebetween.

It is important to note - and now reference is made to figure 10 - that the force exerted by the jaws 5,6 assumes a first maximum value Fl at the minimum extension E2 of the linear actuator 13, i.e. when the jaws 5,6 are completely open; after that the force is progressively decreased as the jaws 5,6 mutually approach, until a first minimum value F2 is assumed at the maximum extension El of the linear actuator 13 (jaws 5,6 completely closed).

This is particularly advantageous since the crushing of a material having behavior with fragile breakage (e.g. concrete) actually requires the maximum force when the portion to be broken is still completely intact, i.e. at the start of the operation (maximum opening of the jaws 5,6); but afterward, once the crushing has started, the material is easily and completely broken, even with lower force.

The progression of the first force curve Gl - as a function of the extension of the stem 17 of the linear actuator 13 - shown in figure 10 confirms the achievement of this advantageous behavior.

In the second use configuration (figure 5,6), instead, the first articulation axis A and the second articulation axis B are located spaced by a second center distance D2.

The second center distance D2 is greater than the first center distance Dl .

In this second configuration, the proximal operating ends 8a - passing from the open position of figure 5 to the closed position of figure 6 - passes from a maximum angular distance to a minimum angular distance, in which they mutually penetrate each other (due to the particular shape of the jaws 5,6), in order to obtain the complete breakage of the material interposed therebetween.

In this particular case, the proximal operating ends 8a work, in practice, in a manner similar to shears, also due to their particular shape.

With reference now to figure 11 (which represents the force-extension diagram for the second use configuration), the force exerted by the jaws 5,6 assumes a second minimum value F3 at the minimum extension E2 of the linear actuator 13, i.e. when the jaws 5,6 are completely open; after this, the force progressively increases as the jaws 5,6 mutually approach, until it assumes a second maximum value F4 at a certain value E of the extension of the linear actuator 13 rather close to that of its maximum extension El .

Also this result is definitely advantageous since the breakage of a material having tough behaviour (e.g. steel) actually requires the maximum force not at the start of the clamping of the jaws 5,6, but instead when they have mutually approached a specific angular travel, and a certain plastic deformation of the material has already been obtained.

Indeed, the yield phenomenon that occurs in the tough material requires a progressively increasing stress up to a maximum, at which breakage occurs.

The progression of the second force curve G2 of figure 11 confirms the achievement of this advantageous behavior.

In addition, it has been experimentally observed that the second maximum value F4 obtained in the second use configuration is considerably greater than the first maximum value Fl obtained in the first use configuration, given the same linear actuator 13 used, only due to the variation of the position of the second articulation axis B with respect to the first articulation axis A.

The technical advantages obtainable with the solution according to the present invention are now clear.

Indeed, due to the possibility of varying the position of the second articulation axis B with respect to the first axis A - and hence the center distance therebetween - different use configurations can be obtained that are characterized by different kinematic and dynamic features, i.e. different angular travels of the jaws 5,6 and - above all - different forces applied thereto, or forces applied to the jaws 5,6 according to different modalities (for example, greater force at the start or at the end of the travel).

The implemented solution is simple and inexpensive, while at the same time extremely effective.

The variation of the position of the second articulation axis B with respect to the first articulation axis A is obtainable with reduced stop times of the tool 1, and it could also be carried out in an automated or semi-automated manner.

The solution according to the present invention could also be easily applied to already-existing tools, with some simple modifications.

The above-described position variation means 18 are of discrete type, since they provide for a certain predetermined number of different positions.

Nevertheless, it should be observed that, in other embodiments of the invention, the variation means 18 could be of continuous type (e.g. by associating the articulation pin 19 with an element that is selectively slidable and lockable with respect to the support 2).

Another embodiment of the crushing tool 1 according to the invention is illustrated in figures 7,8,9. This embodiment differs from the preceding due to the fact that both the first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6 are movable with respect to the support 2.

In other words, the first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6 are both rotatable around the first articulation axis A.

Therefore, in order to obtain this result, the tool 1 comprises a first linear actuator 13a and a second linear actuator 13b, respectively associated with the first jaw 5 and the second jaw 6.

As can be observed, the tool 1 is therefore - from the kinematic and structural standpoint - mirrored with respect to its longitudinal axis (except for the different shapes of the two jaws 5,6).

In particular, in figure 7 the tool 1 is shown in the first configuration (with minimum center distance between the two second articulation axes B, arranged mirrored, and the first articulation axis A).

In figure 9, instead, the same tool is shown in the second configuration (with maximum center distance between the two second articulation axes B, arranged mirrored, and the first articulation axis A).

As clarified above, the two aforesaid configurations are respectively suitable for the treatment of materials with fragile breakage behavior and materials with tough behavior.

With respect to the preceding embodiment, nothing changes as regards the technical advantages and obtainable results.

It is thus seen that the invention attains the proposed objects.

As was demonstrated, it is possible to obtain, with a single tool 1, and without substituting the linear actuator 13, fully satisfactory results in the crushing/breaking of materials of different nature and/or with different features.

In this manner, it is no longer necessary to use multiple tools with different features, but it is sufficient to operate on the variation means 18 in order to actually obtain different use configurations characterized by different operating features, specific and optimal for the different materials.