FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of machines and equipments for cutting, drilling, boring, milling, digging or excavating the ground and/or solid walls. In particular, the present invention relates to cutter heads for cutter machines and to cutter machines provided with such cutter heads. Still more in particular, the present invention relates to cutter heads for performing drilling works without discontinuities in the ground and/or on solid walls.

STATE OF THE ART

Several systems are known in the art for cutting, drilling, boring, milling, digging or excavating the ground and/or solid walls. For example, several kinds of cutter heads for excavators are known in the art.

An example of such a cutter head is shown in figure 4 taken from the Italian Patent Application No. BO2001A000532. The system comprises a supporting frame 101 coupled with a central frame 102. The central frame 102 supports two rotating drums. In particular, the central frame 102 supports a left rotating drum 103a and a right rotating drum 103b. Each of the drums is provided with a plurality of cutter tools 104. The rotation of the drums provided with the cutter tools 104 allows the formation of holes or drills H in the ground S.

The system shown in figure 4 involves however a series of problems and drawbacks. In particular, as can be seen from figure 4, the depth of the holes which can be dug is limited by the presence of the central frame 102. Moreover, because of the presence of the central frame 02, the bottom surface of the hole is not level but it rather exhibits a discontinuity or defect D in correspondence to the position of the central frame 102. The discontinuity D is due to a protrusion in the ground due to the region of the cutter head in correspondence to the central frame 102. Accordingly, in order to improve the shape of the hole to be dug, finishing works are required so as to remove the discontinuities D. This is time consuming and increases the overall costs of the digging works.

The present invention allows overcoming the problems and drawbacks of the systems known in the prior art. In particular, the present invention guarantees the formation of holes without major discontinuities and/or defects. Moreover, the depth of the holes is increased with respect to the depths achievable by the systems known in the art.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a cutter head for ground and walls cutter machines such as excavators or the like.

The present invention is based on the idea of providing a cutter head wherein the cutter head is provided with a transmission element adapted to actuate the rotation of one or more rotating drums wherein the transmission element is provided with a plurality of cutter tools so that the cutter head is adapted to dig in the region in correspondence to the transmission element. Accordingly, the space occupied by the transmission element is provided with cutter tools acting on the area to be dug in such a way so as to avoid the formation of defects and/or discontinuities in the holes to be formed. Moreover, this structure allows the formation of deep holes since the space occupied by the transmission element does not limit the depth that can be achieved.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, further comprising at least a first rotating drum provided with a plurality of cutter tools so as to define a first cutter area, wherein the cutter tools provided on the transmission element define an extension cutter area, the extension cutter area being adapted to extend the first cutter area defined by the first rotating drum.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, further comprising a second rotating drum provided with a plurality of cutter tools so as to define a second cutter area, the second rotating drum being opposed to the first rotating drum, wherein the extension cutter area is adapted to connect the first cutter area to the second cutter area.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein at least a portion of the transmission element is placed between the first rotating drum and the second rotating drum. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein at least one or more of the cutter tools of the at least first drum are coplanar with one or more of the cutter tools of the transmission element.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the transmission element is provided with a plurality of plates and wherein at least one or more of the plates is adapted to support one or more of the cutter tools.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the plurality of plates comprises a plurality of hinged plates.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the transmission element comprises one of a roller chain or a transmission belt.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the transmission element transmits the motion of a drive wheel to a driven wheel, the driven wheel being adapted to actuate the one or more rotating drums.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the driven wheel is supported on the first extremity of a shaft, so that the shaft is adapted to support a rotating drum on its second extremity.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the driven wheel is supported along the length of a shaft so that the shaft is adapted to support a first rotating drum on a first extremity and a second rotating drum on a second extremity.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter is provided, wherein the axis of rotation of the drive wheel is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the driven wheel and to the axis of rotation of the one or more rotating drums.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein the drive wheel is actuated by a hydraulic motor.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter machine is provided, the cutter machine being provided with a cutter head according to the present invention. According to a further embodiment of the present invention a cutter machine provided with a cutter head according to the present invention is provided, wherein the cutter machine is an excavator.

BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein the same reference numbers refer to the same and/or similar parts of the system. In the drawings:

Figure 1 schematically displays a cutter head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure I bis schematically displays a cutter head according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 schematically displays a support frame of the cutter head shown in figure 1 ;

Figure 2bis schematically displays a support frame of the cutter head shown in figure I bis;

Figure 3 schematically displays an excavator provided with a cutter head according to an embodiment of the present invention and digging the ground;

Figure 3bis schematically displays an excavator provided with a cutter head according to an embodiment of the present invention and digging a vertical solid wall;

Figure 4 displays the cutter head according to a system known in the prior art;

Figure 5 schematically displays in detail an operation of the cutter head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, the present invention is described with reference to particular embodiments as shown in the enclosed drawings. Nevertheless, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described in the following detailed description and shown in the figures, but, instead, the embodiments described simply exemplify several aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims. Further modifications and variations of the present invention will be clear for the person skilled in the art. Therefore, the present description has to be considered as including all the modifications and/or variations of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 schematically displays a cutter head 1 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cutter head 13 is provided with a first lateral rotating drum 4 and a second lateral rotating drum 4'. The arrows G display the direction of the rotation of the lateral drums 4 and 4' during the digging operations. In particular, the two rotating drums 4 and 4' rotate around a common axis of rotation r. The lateral rotating drums 4 and 4' are provided with a plurality of cutter tools 6.

The plurality of cutter tools 6 provided on the first lateral rotating drum 4 defines a first cutter area.

The cutter area corresponds to the operating region of the cutter head, i.e. to the excavating region of the head adapted to penetrate into the solid material which is to be dug. For example, the presence of the cutter tools 6 on the first lateral rotating drum 4 and the rotation of the drum 4 define a first excavating region. In particular, when the cutter tools 6 rotate and get in contact with the solid material to be dug, such as the surface of the ground or the surface of a wall, the entire area occupied by the rotating cutter tools 6 penetrates into the solid material and render possible the formation of the holes.

Similarly, the plurality of cutter tools 6 provided on the second lateral rotating drum 4' defines a second cutter area. The first cutter area surrounds the first lateral rotating drum 4, the second cutter area surrounds the second lateral rotating drum 4'. In figure 1 , the first cutter area is located on the left, while the second cutter area is located on the right.

As can be seen in figure 1 , the cutter head 13 is provided with a transmission element 2 for actuating the rotation of the first lateral rotating drum 4 and of the second lateral rotating drum 4'. The transmission element 2 shown in figure 1 comprises a roller chain. However, the transmission element 2 may also comprise for example a transmission belt. The transmission element 2 is provided with cutter tools 16 so as to define an extension cutter area. In particular, the extension cutter area defined by the cutter tools 16 placed on the transmission element 2 in the embodiment shown in figure 1 is adapted to extend both the first cutter area defined by the cutter tools 6 placed on the first lateral rotating drum 4, and the second cutter area defined by the cutter tools 6 placed on the second lateral rotating drum 4'. In particular, as can be seen in the figure, the extension cutter area defined by the tools 16 placed on the transmission element 2 is adapted to connect the first cutter area to the second cutter area so as to form a continuous head cutter area. In other words, the tools 16 placed on the transmission element 2 are adapted to create continuity with the first lateral rotating drum 4 and the second lateral rotating drum 4'.

Accordingly, the cutter head 1 3 forms holes without discontinuities. In particular, due to the presence of the transmission element 2 provided with cutter tools 16, there are no discontinuities between the first cutter area due to the first lateral rotating drum 4 and the second cutter area due the second lateral rotating drum 4'. In this way, the cutter head 13 operates uniformly on the surface to be dug without forming defects and/or discontinuities.

Moreover, since the space between the first rotating drum 4 and the second rotating drum 4' is occupied by the transmission element 2 provided with cutter tools 16, the depth which can be reached is not limited. In particular, the region corresponding to the space between the first rotating drum 4 and the second rotating drum 4' is dug in a similar way to the regions corresponding the first rotating drum 4 and to the second rotating drum 4', so that the cutter head 1 3 can penetrate deep into the solid material. In other words, the cutter head 13 allow the elimination of non-worked areas in the holes which are formed by means of same.

The transmission element 2 shown in the embodiment shown in figure 1 comprises a roller chain. The roller chain is provided with a plurality of plates 5. Each of the plates 5 is adapted to support two cutter tools 16. The number of cutter tools 16 supported by each plate is not limited to two. For example, each of the plates 5 can support one cutter tools. Moreover, each of the plates 5 can support three or more cutter tools. The number of cutter tools 16 housed on the plates 5 can be chosen for example according to the size of the plates 5 and of the cutter tools 16. Moreover, according to alternative embodiments of the present invention, the transmission element 2 can be provided with a plurality of hinged plates. Each of the hinged plates can support cutter tools. Alternatively, the plates supporting cutter tools can be separated by one or more plates not supporting cutter tools.

As can be seen in figure 1 , the cutter head 13 is provided with actuating means 3 for actuating the rotation of the lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'. The actuating means 3 can comprise for example a hydraulic motor.

The actuating means 3 are coupled to the transmission element 2 so that the actuating means actuate the motion of the transmission element 2. In turn, the transmission element 2 is coupled to both the first and second lateral rotating drums 4 and 4' so that the motion of the transmission element 2 actuate the rotation of the rotating drums 4 and 4'.

The arrow indicated with F in the figures show the motion of the transmission element 2. The arrows indicated with G in the figures show the motion of the rotating drums 4 and 4'.

Figure 2 schematically displays the frame 1 of the cutter head 13 shown in figure 1 .

As can be seen in figure 2, the actuating means 3 are coupled to a drive wheel 8. The drive wheel 8 is adapted to support the transmission means 2. In particular, in case the transmission means 3 comprise a roller chain, the drive wheel 8 can be a drive sprocket. In case the transmission means 3 comprise a transmission belt, the drive wheel 8 can be a drive pulley.

The motion of the drive wheel 8 is transmitted by the transmission means 2 to a driven wheel 9. The driven wheel 9 is adapted to support the transmission means 2. In particular, in case the transmission means 3 comprise a roller chain, the driven wheel 9 can be a driven sprocket. In case the transmission means 3 comprise a transmission belt, the driven wheel 9 can be a driven pulley.

The driven wheel 9 is coupled to a shaft 10. The shaft 10 is adapted to support both the first lateral rotating drum 4 and the second lateral rotating drum 4'. In particular, the shaft 10 extends from the first lateral rotating drum 4 to the second lateral rotating drum 4'. The driven wheel 9 is supported by the shaft 10 in a position between the first rotating drum 4 and the second rotating drum 4'. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the driven wheel 9 is substantially located in correspondence of the midpoint of the shaft 10 and the two rotating drums 4 and 4' are supported by the extremities of the shaft 10.

The shaft 10 and, accordingly, the first rotating drum 4 and the second rotating drum 4' rotate around the same rotation axis r. Moreover, the driven wheel 9 rotates around the same rotation axis r as well.

Accordingly, the transmission element 2 transmits the motion from the actuating means 3 to the lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'.

As can be seen in figure 2, the axis of rotation of the drive wheel 8 is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation the driven wheel 9. Accordingly, the axis of rotation of the drive wheel 8 is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the first and of the second lateral rotating drums 4 and A'.

As can be seen for example in figure 5, when the cutter head 13 is in operation, these axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the surface of the solid material to be dug. In particular, in figure 5, these axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the surface of the ground S.

The transmission element 2 moves along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'.

Figure I bis schematically displays a cutter head 1 3 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

In particular, the cutter head 13 shown in figure bis is provided with a single lateral rotating drum 4. Even if in the embodiment shown in figure I bis, the cutter head 13 is provided only with the left rotating drum, according to the present invention, the cutter head 13 can be provided only with the right rotating drum.

In the embodiment shown in figure I bis the transmission element 2 is provided with cutter tools 16 so as to define an extension cutter area. In particular, the extension cutter area defined by the cutter tools 16 placed on the transmission element 2 in the embodiment shown in figure I bis is adapted to extend the first cutter area defined by the cutter tools 6 placed on the single lateral rotating drum 4'. In other words, the tools 16 placed on the transmission element 2 are adapted to create continuity with the single lateral rotating drum 4'.

Accordingly, the cutter head 13 shown in figure I bis forms holes without discontinuities. In particular, due to the presence of the transmission element 2 provided with cutter tools 16, the cutter head 13 operates uniformly on the surface to be dug without forming defects and/or discontinuities.

Compared to the cutter head shown in figure 1 , the cutter head shown in figure I bis allows obtaining narrower holes. In particular, the cutter head shown in figure I bis allows obtaining narrow and deep holes.

Figure 2bis schematically displays the frame 1 of the cutter head 13 shown in figure I bis.

Differently from the system shown in figure 2, the system shown in figure 2bis is provided with a shaft 1 1 extending from the driven wheel 9 to the rotating drum 4. In particular, the driven wheel 9 is mounted on the shaft 1 1 at the first extremity of said shaft 1 1 and the rotating drum is mounted on the shaft 1 1 at the second extremity of said shaft 1 1 .

As can be seen comparing figures 1 and I bis, the system shown in figure I bis exhibits substantially the same structure as the system shown in figure 1 with the only difference being the application of a single lateral rotating drum 4 instead of the couple of opposed lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'. Moreover, in the system shown in figure I bis, in place of the lateral rotating drum 4' a lateral cover 7 is provided. The lateral cover 7 may prevent rubble and/or pieces of the material to be dug from entering into the actuating mechanism of the system.

The system according to the present invention is accordingly versatile. In particular, the cutter head according to the present invention can be easily switched from the operation with a single rotating drum to the operation with two rotating drums. To do so, in the embodiments shown in figures 1 , I bis, 2 and 2bis, it is simply necessary to remove the shaft 1 1 adapted to support a single drum and to replace it with the shaft 10 adapted to support two drums or vice versa.

Figure 3 schematically displays an excavator 12 provided with a cutter head 13 according to the present invention and operating on a horizontal surface S such as the ground. The cutter head 13 is mounted on the arm 15 of the excavator by means of a support portion 14. The support portion 14 is adapted to support the cutter head 13 and to engage with the extremity of the arm 15 of the excavator.

Figure 3bis schematically displays an excavator 12 provided with a cutter head 13 according to the present invention and operating on a vertical solid wall W. The cutter head 13 is mounted on the arm 15 of the excavator by means of a support portion 14. The support portion 14 is adapted to support the cutter head 13 and to engage with the extremity of the arm 15 of the excavator.

Figure 5 schematically displays in detail an operation of the cutter head 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, as can be seen in figure 5, the cutter head 13 digs a hole H in the surface of a solid material such as the ground S. Since the transmission element 2 is provided with the cutter tools 16, the region in correspondence to the transmission element 2 is dug in a similar way to the regions in correspondence to the first lateral rotating drum 4 and to the second lateral rotating drum 4'. Accordingly, the surface of the hole H does not exhibit discontinuities, and finishing works are not required to improve the quality of the hole H.

Moreover, the transmission element 2 rotates at substantially the same speed as the first and second lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'. Accordingly, the speed of the tools 16 supported by the transmission element 2 is substantially the same as the speed of the tools 6 supported by the first and second lateral rotating drums 4 and 4'. This allows digging homogeneously on the entire cutter area defined by the cutter head 13. However, according to alternative embodiments of the present invention, the coupling between the transmission element 2 and the rotating drums 4 and 4' can be adapted to make the rotation speed of the rotating drums 4 and 4' different from the rotating speed of the transmission element 2.

It has been shown that the cutter heads for cutter machines according to the present invention allow obtaining holes and/or drills in the ground and/or on vertical solid walls without discontinuities and without defects. Moreover, it has been shown that the depth of the holes that can be dug by means of the present invention is noticeably increased with the respect to the depths reachable by means of the system known in the prior art.

In the system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cutter head comprises a transmission element adapted to actuate the rotation of one or more rotating drums wherein the transmission element is provided with a plurality of cutter tools so that the cutter head is adapted to dig in the region in correspondence to the transmission element.

In the system according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the cutter head comprises a transmission element with hinged plates provided with cutter tools.

Moreover, in the system according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the transmission element with hinged plates is provided on one or both sides with a lateral rotating drum provided with cutter tools.

Furthermore, in the system according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the cutter tools provided on the transmission element and on the lateral rotating drums are aligned and coplanar so as to obtain smooth surfaces on the sides and/or at the bottom of holes both in the ground and on vertical solid walls.

Moreover, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cutter head is provided, wherein at least one or more of the cutter tools of the at least first drum are coplanar with one or more of the cutter tools of the transmission element so as to obtain smooth surfaces on the sides and/or at the bottom of holes both in the ground and on vertical solid walls.

In particular, the apexes of the cutter tools of the at least first drum can be substantially on the same level as the apexes of the cutter tools of the transmission element so that the cutter tools of the at least first drum and of the transmission element are coplanar. Alternatively, the basis of the cutter tools of the at least first drum can be substantially on the same level as the basis of the cutter tools of the transmission element so that the cutter tools of the at least first drum and of the transmission element are coplanar. For example, the surface of the at least first drum, i.e. the surface on which the cutter tools are housed, can be substantially coplanar with the surface of the transmission element on which the cutter tools are housed. Similarly, in case the cutter head comprises two drums, the cutter tools of the first drum can be substantially coplanar to the cutter tools of the second drum and to the cutter tools of the transmission element.

While the invention has been described with respect to the preferred physical embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations and improvements of the present invention may be made in the light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

For instance, several kinds of materials can be employed for realizing the cutter head according to the present invention. Moreover, the cutter head according to the present invention can have several dimensions. For example, the cutter head according to the present invention can be adapted to be applied to several kinds of movable machines such as buggers, excavators or the like and can have several dimensions according to the dimensions of the machines it is to be applied to.

In addition, those areas in which it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar, have not been described herein in order not to unnecessarily obscure the invention described. Accordingly, it has to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.