Vertical, constructions .

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device and a method according to th preambles of the appended claims 1 and 11 , respectively.

It is today a very serious problem that columns and other substantially ver tical constructions located outdoor are subjected to very hard conditions The columns or the constructions are on one hand at the lower part thereo exerted to phenomena of breakage by freezing. In the case that th columns or constructions are located close to traffic routes there will on th other be an additional factor that the road salt used in the winter has considerable degradating influence upon the surface layer of the column or the constructions and then of course in particular at the lower parts o the columns or the constructions.

It will be necessary to carry out a renovation of the columns or th constructions when they have been damaged to a certain extent. Th conventional technique used so far is based on the utilisation of hammer¬ ing machines for renovating such vertical columns or constructions, the disintegrating function of which is based on smashing the material into pieces to a required depth by means of shocks applied on disintegrating tools. The normal way to proceed is to unload the column or supporting construction in question by so called bracing by means of auxiliary support elements. All the damaged material is after that removed from the columns or the constructions by means of the hammering machines and the material in question, generally concrete, is after that repoured or -cast, so that the

columns or the construction is restored. The concrete has to be allowed cure in a required degree before the bracing may be removed, since t supporting capacity of the column or the construction otherwise could unsatisfying. In renovating columns and constructions of this kind it namely normal to remove material around the entire circumference of t column or the construction until a depth which may vary from one case the other but often is comparatively large. A requirement of bracing duri the renovating work often means that it becomes necessary to interrupt t use of the constructional work or building carried by the columns or t constructions, which gives rise to a considerable loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a metho which make it possible to process and renovate, respectively, substantiall vertical material layers on constructions, such as columns and the like, in rational and efficient way, in which it is with respect to the metho especially aimed at the possibility to avoid or at least reduce the extensio of such measurements as bracing.

The object of the invention is more exactly obtained by the characteristic defined in the appended claims 1 and 11.

Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to carry ou processing of the substantially vertical material layer extremely efficientl by the high pressure fluid jet while the carriage carrying the jet tube i moving to and fro along the guide and is also vertically moved.

Advantageous developments of the device according to the inventio appear from the dependent claims 2-10.

The inventional method according to claim 11 means that a renovation o the damaged constructions or columns may be rationally carried out in th processing sequence defined, according to which the processing of th damaged surface is divided into two or more processing operations and th surface processed within a certain operation is restored by casting, pouring or injecting material before a further processing operation is carried out on a further damaged surface. The aim of this processing sequence is that the

building or constructional work supported by the supporting construction the columns has to be ready to be completely or at least partially used in normal way during the renovating procedure without any need of bracing supporting or in any case a considerable reduction thereof.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear fro the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific descrip tion of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a schematic side elevation of the device according to the invention

Fig 2 is a view illustrating the guide of the device in a view from above an applied around a column,

Fig 3 is a schematic view illustrating a possible processing sequence,

Fig 4 is a side elevation illustrating how the processing may be carried ou on a column and

Fig 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the driving of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device according to the invention comprises a carrier generall indicated by 1 , a guide 2 arranged on the carrier, a carriage 3 movable t and fro along the guide and carrying a jet tube 4 for directing a hig pressure fluid jet towards the material layer in question, which in Fig 1 i considered to consist of the envelope surface 5 of a column 6, at least first driving means 7 for driving the carrier 1 vertically so as to move th guide 2 along the column 6 and at least one second driving means 8 fo driving the carriage 3 along the guide 2.

The high pressure fluid supplied to the jet tube 4 is as a rule water. T high pressure fluid is fed to a jet tube 4 through a conduit not shown from high pressure source 9, which may be arranged on a vehicle 10, which be explained below.

The carrier 1 comprises a member 11 having the character of a seco carriage, which is vertically movable along a substantially vertical path of movement. Although the carriage 3 illustrated along the guide 2 in th example is supposed to be provided with rollers or the like for running portions of the guide 2, it is to be mentioned that such a construction is n necessary. The carriage 3 could also be arranged to slide along the gui 2 or on the whole move along this in another way, for instance through cushions, in magnetic fields or the like. The definition carriage in conne tion with the detail indicated by 3 is accordingly to be interpreted in a bro sense. The corresponding considerations are valid in connection with th carriage 11 movable along the path 12 of movement.

The driving of the carriage 3 along the guide 2 is in the example suppose to be achieved by the fact that the guide 2 has a cog railway 13 into whic a cog wheel arranged on the carrier 3 engages, said wheel being arrange to be rotated by means of the driving means 8. However, other drivin principals known per se may also be used and corresponding consid erations are valid for the carriage 11 movable along the path 12 of move ment.

Means collectively indicated by 14 are arranged for interconnecting th carriage 11 and the guide 2. These interconnecting means comprise mean 15-21 adapted to provide the guide with a movability in substantiall horizontal direction with respect to the carriage 11. The definitio "movability" means here adjustability, i.e. that relative positions set are in tended to be maintained until a new adjustment is carried out. However, i is mentioned that the definition "movability" may below have another an broader meaning.

The interconnecting means comprise more exactly first means 15-17 fo providing the guide 2 with adjustability with respect to the carriage 11 in first substantially horizontal direction, which extends perpendicularly to th plane of the drawing in Fig 1, i.e. substantially perpendicularly to a vertical

plane passing through the centre of the column 6 as well as the path 12 movement, and second means 18-21 for providing the guide 2 with mo ability with respect to the carriage 11 in a second substantially horizon direction, which makes an angle, preferably an almost right angle, with s first direction. Said second direction shall more exactly have at least component directed substantially parallelly to said vertical plane a passing through the centre of the column 6 and the path 12 of movement.

The first interconnecting means 15 and 16 have in the example t character of a guide arrangement, the relative direction of movement which is substantially horizontal and rectilinear. The interconnecting mea 15 and 16 comprise more exactly female means 15 and male means 16 r ceived therein and at least a power means 17 acting therebetween and a ranged to drive the means 15, 16 for relative movement and by that cau a movement of the guide 2 with respect to the carriage 1 1. The pow means 17 could have any suitable construction, for instance be an hydra lic cylinder.

The second interconnecting means 18-21 are in the example designed permit pivoting of the guide 2 in a vertical plane directed substantia perpendicularly to the direction of relative movement concerning the fi interconnecting means 15-17. The interconnecting means 18-21 ha more exactly a first means 18 connected to the carriage 1 1 , second mea 19 connected to the guide 2 and a power means 20 acting between the means 18, 19 so as to generate a relative pivoting of the means 18, about a substantially horizontal axis 21. Accordingly, the guide 2 will pivoted in a substantially vertical plane about said axis 21. In order to o tain the aim of the pivotal movability of the guide 2 about the axis 2 namely a reasonable component of movement directed substantial horizontally and outwardly from the carriage 11 , the distance between t axis 21 and the guide 2 should not be to short.

Instead of the second interconnecting means 18-21 described and show interconnecting means could be arranged, which form a rectilinear relati displaceabllity between the guide 2 and the carriage 11 substantially in t horizontal plane and substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane coinci ing with the direction of displacement defined by the first interconnecti means 15, 16.

The interconnecting means 14 also comprise means 22-24 adapted t provide a guide 2 with a pivotability with respect to the carriage 11 about substantially horizontal axis. The axis intended here is intended to be sub stantially parallel to a vertical plane extending through the centre of th column 6 and the path 12 of movement. The interconnecting means 22, 23 may more exactly be a part of or form a so called pivot ring or crub, wherein said means 22 is connected to the carriage 11 while the means 23 is connected to the guide 2. These two means 22, 23 are pivotable with re¬ spect to each other about said axis, which in Fig 2 lies in the drawing plane, and a suitable power means 24 has the task to achieve a relative pivoting between the means 22, 23. This power means 24 may for example be secured with respect to the means 22 and be arranged to drive a cog¬ wheel or gear engaging into a cog-ring on the means 23.

The end positions of the carriage 3 along the guide 2 are defined by end position components 25 (Fig 2), which are connected to a control unit 26 (Fig 5) arranged to control the driving means 7, 8. The end position components 25 may be switches, inductive transmitters or the like, which detect when the carriage 3 has reached an end position and emit a corresponding signal to the control unit 26, which emits control signals to the driving means 8 for reversing the movement of the carriage 3 and to the driving means 7 so as to start the movement of the carrier 1. The end position components 25 are movable to and securable in desired positions along the guide 2.

In the case of a column of the kind illustrated in Fig 1 -4 it is suitable that a guide 2 is made completely or partially annular so as to completely or par¬ tially surround the column. The guide 2 is in the case of a complete surrounding of the column of course intended to consist of two or more paths being movable with respect to each other or dismountable from each other, so that the guide 2 may be applied around the column in question and be removed therefrom again, respectively.

The interconnecting means 14 also comprise means 27-29 for providing the guide 2 with adjustable movability with respect to the carriage 11 in substantially vertical direction. These interconnecting means may for example be vertically displaceable with respect to each other and one

means 27 thereof may be connected to the carriage 11 while the other is connected to the guide. Means 29, for instance locking screws, bolts the like, are present for locking the interconnecting means 27, 28 against relative movement in the position set. Accordingly, the position of the guid 2 with respect to the carriage 11 may be adjusted by relative movement the means 27, 28. It is then suitable that the carrier 1 has such a construc tion that the guide 2 or at least the jet tube 4 is able to decline along th column 6 to a level below that level 30, on which the path 12 of moveme is applied. Lower column portions located below said level 30 may by th be processed, preferably all the way down to mounting bases 31 or the lik possibly present. The vertical adjustability of the interconnecting means 2 28 is provided for regulating how far below the level 30 the processin shall be possible to carry out.

It is illustrated in the example how the interconnecting means 27, 2 engage telescopically into each other. It appears from Fig 2 how the carri 1 may comprise a fork-shaped end 32 close to the guide 2, while a set interconnecting means 27, 28 allowing vertical adjustments and corre sponding locking members 29 are arranged at each fork end.

The substantially vertical path 12 of movement is formed by a guid arrangement arranged on the vehicle 10. The guide arrangement may s as to stabilise the guide arrangement 12 or adjust it into parallellity with re spect to the column 6 have a support arrangement 33 intended to suppo the guiding arrangement with respect to the column 6 and a stayin arrangement 34 acting between the vehicle chassis and a point on th guiding arrangement 12 located comparatively high. Particular powe means may be present so as to adjust the guide arrangement 12 verticall or otherwise into a desired position. The vehicle 10 is in a convention way supposed to have arrangement 35 bearing on the ground for unloadin the vehicle against the ground.

The driving system illustrated in Fig 5 comprises besides the elements al ready described means 36 for adjusting the velocity of the carriage 3. I the embodiment driven by compressed fluid, especially hydraulic fluid meant in Fig 5 the adjusting means 36 is supposed to be a flow regulatin valve in fluid conduits belonging to the motor 8. The pressure fluid syste according to Fig 5 comprises in a way known per se a pump 37, which de

livers pressure fluid through the pressure fluid conduits 38 not only to th motor 8 but also to the motor or motors 7. There is also a valve 39 in pressure fluid supply conduit to the driving means 7, said valve enablin adjustment of the driving speed of the driving means 7 constructed as pressure fluid motor through flow regulation. Return conduits for pressur fluid from the driving means 7 and 8 may in a conventional way emerg into a pressure fluid reservoir 40, from which the pump 37 is supplied wit fluid.

There are control means 41 and 42 for each of the driving means 7 and with a task to start, stop and reverse the direction of the function of th driving means. These control means 41 , 42 are in the pressure fluid cas illustrated fluid valves which are subjected to control by the control unit 2 through schematically indicated connections thereto.

The control unit 26 is arranged to control the driving means 7 through th control means/valve 41 to move a distance set when the carriage 3 reaches one of its end positions as a consequence of an end position component 25. The speed of this movement is determined by the control means/valve 39. The control units 26 contains a clock adjustable by the operator so as to define the distance of movement aimed at, so that this clock determines the period of time during which the driving means 7 is in function and by that the distance over which the guide 2 is vertically moved.

The device described function in the following way: when a column 6 is to be processed the lower part of the column is layed free by digging should this be required. The vehicle 10 is after that located in an appropriate position with respect to the column 6 and the guide arrangement 12 is erected and adjusted. The guide 2 is after that applied with a carriage 3 applied thereon about the column 2 as indicated in Fig 2 and the guide 2 is located in an appropriate position with respect to the column by means of the interconnecting means 14 discussed. In doing so it is desired to locate the guide 2 so that the geometrical axis thereof will substantially coincide with the geometrical axis of the column 6 or, expressed in another way, so that the guide 2 is located at a distance from the surface of the column 6 being approximately equally long along the entire way to be processed. The operator decides after that how long the movement distance of the

carriage 3 shall be by locating the end position components 25. It is a mat ter of course that the carriage 3 may be allowed to move 360' around th column in a movement to and fro if desired. However, the operator may a indicated in Fig 2 adjust the end position components 25, so that a smalle angle a than 360* is obtained for the movement of the carriage. Th operator decides depending on the actual operating conditions after th the speed of the vertical movement of the carrier 1 by means of th adjusting means 39. By setting the time of duration of this movement in th control unit 26 it is possible to determine the distance of movemen resulting. The operator determines the speed of the carriage 3 along th guide 2 by means of the adjusting means 36. When the carriage 3 reache one of the end positions along the guide 2 the end position component 2 in question is influenced, so that the driving means 7 is activated to rais the carriage 11 along the path 12 and the carriage 3 now moves in the op posite direction along the guide 2 until the other end position is reached, i which a further raising of the carriage 1 1 along the path 12 takes place an so on.

It is normally recommendable to start processing the lower end of th column and move the guide 2 upwardly as the processing proceeds. It i then suitable to have the jet tube 4 directed obliquely downwardly.

In a method for renovating columns or other similar, substantially vertical supporting constructions a calculation is carried out for determining processing sequence allowed with respect to the supporting capacity o admissible load of the column. This sequence comprises at least tw processing operations each concerning only one part of the damage surface on a separate column, wherein after an operation has been carrie out but before a further operation is carried out the surface processed i the operation carried out is restored by supply of material and a further op eration is not carried out until the material supplied has cured to an exten required for the supporting capacity.

It is normally a question of supply of material by concrete casting o throwing. For the sake of clearness a conceivable situation in which thre columns 43, 44, 45 support a schematically indicated building or construc tional work 46 lying thereabove, for instance a building deck or a drive wa for vehicles, is illustrated in Fig 3. If these columns 43-45 now are dam

aged, as a rule in the lower part, it is in accordance with the invention pro¬ ceeded so that the calculation mentioned above is carried out, so that the processing sequence is determined so as to be able to carry out the renovation of the columns without the necessity of stopping the use of the building 46 located thereabove or arranging further bracings or support stands for supporting the building or constructional work 46 during the renovation work. Accordingly, the processing sequence is only so deter¬ mined that restricted parts of the columns 43-45 are made weaker by removal of material by means of the high pressure tube 4 at each separate location. For instance, may in a first processing sequence each of the col¬ umns be processed along the circumferential portion that is indicated by the continuous arrows in Fig 3. The processing is carried out in the vertical direction of the columns over a distance required, and it should be noted that resistance reasons may also here motivate that the work is divided into two or more operations with respect to the processing height of the separate column with intermediate concreting and curing before the remaining portion or portions are renovated. When the columns 43-45 have been renovated along the circumferential portions indicated by the continuous lines and the newly cast concrete material has cured to a sufficient extent the work may proceed through a further operation, during which the columns are processed and provided with new material along the circumferential portions indicated by the dashed arrows. When these circumferential portions have cured and accordingly got the supporting ca¬ pacity required, a further processing operation will be carried out and so on until it has been taken care of all the column surfaces damaged. The work in such a processing sequence with an intermittent concreting may be car¬ ried out extremely rationally by means of the device according to the invention as a consequence of the in particular annular guide 2 and the distance of movement of the carriage 3 along the guide 2 easily adjustable by means of the end position components 25 thereof.

It is illustrated in Fig 4 how the processing by means of the device according to the invention may in specific cases be carried out in different ways in the vertical direction with respect to the processing depth as well as the processing width.

Since there are generally a greater amount of columns, as indicated in Fig 3, a renovation work may be rationally and continuously carried out by

successively moving the device according to the invention from one colu to the other so as to carry out the processing required, which is followed concreting. Thus, the work may be carried on in a rational way.

It is indicated in Fig 2 how it would be conceivable to provide a guide with wheels or other components for position defining bearing against t column or the construction 6. Thus, the idea would here be that the wheels 47 would function in a position defining way with respect to t guide 2 as the carrier 1 is moving along the column or the constructio The interconnecting means between the guide 2 and the carriage 11 wou in such a case only have to be adapted for transferring of forces to t guide 2 and besides that provide the guide 2 with a freedom of moveme in the horizontal plane, for instance by the interconnecting means 15- described, although the power means 17 and 20 would have to be floating position", or other similar interconnecting means. However, an e bodiment having such support wheels 47 would have to have an adjust bility of the support wheels when the column diameter is varied. It wou therefor as a rule be more suitable that the support wheels 47 are omitted and that such adjustments of the guide 2 which are required for appropriate processing result are instead carried out by means of t interconnecting means 14.

It is particularly advantageous that the carrier 1 is so constructed that t guide 2 may be located/is located displaced away from the substantial horizontal pivot axis formed by the interconnecting means 22-24. As h been noted, this results in the possibility to process columns at a very lo place, especially below the ground level. Furthermore, processing m then after pivoting the guide 2 and the part of the carrier 1 attached there by 180* be carried out on columns at their upper ends and especially all th way up towards the constructional works carried by the columns.

The invention is of course not restricted to the embodiment shown and de scribed here. The guide 2 is in the example shown as circular in corre spondence with a substantially circular column. It should be understoo that the guide 2 in the case of columns or supporting constructions havin another cross-section may be carried out in correspondence thereto. Als other modifications are possible within the scope of the inventional idea.