Privé, Robin (1205 rue Principale St-Léon, Québec G0W 2S0, CA)
| 1. | A guiding frame for attaching a machining tool to a boom, comprising: a base structure having first and second opposite sides; a mounting means for mounting the first side of the base structure to the boom; a support member adapted to support the machining tool in operative position; and 10 a positioning means for movably positioning the support member on the second side of the base structure. |
| 2. | The guiding frame according to claim 1, further comprising a system of stabilizing legs projecting from the base structure on the second side thereof and spaced from one another, the positioning means and the support member extending between the stabilizing legs. |
| 3. | The guiding frame according to claim 2, wherein the 20 stabilizing legs have arms outwardly projecting sideways from the base structure, and height adjustable leg members projecting from the arm members in substantially parallel directions. |
| 4. | The guiding frame according to claim 3, wherein the arms have ends to which the leg members are slideably mounted. |
| 5. | The guiding frame according to claim 2, wherein the 30 base structure has corners, the stabilizing legs being pivotally connected to the corners respectively with pivotal axes substantially perpendicular to the second side of the base structure. |
| 6. | The guiding frame according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises a rotary coupler extending on the first side of the base structure, the rotary coupler having a rotary member mountable to the boom. |
| 7. | The guiding frame according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises a mounting plate pivotally mounted on the first side of the base structure, and a jack arrangement between the first side of the base structure and 10 the mounting plate for adjustment of an angle therebetween, the mounting plate being mountable to the boom. |
| 8. | The guiding frame according to claim 6, wherein the mounting means comprises a mounting plate pivotally mounted on the rotary coupler, and a jack arrangement between the rotary coupler and the mounting plate for adjustment of a tilt angle of the mounting plate with respect to the rotary coupler, the mounting plate being mountable to the boom. |
| 9. | 20 9. |
| 10. | The guiding frame according to claim 8, wherein the rotary coupler comprises inner and outer rotary bearing members, the first side of the base structure being attached to one of the bearing members, the mounting plate being pivotally mounted on the other one of the bearing members, the jack arrangement extending between said one of the bearing members and the mounting plate. |
| 11. | The guiding frame according to claim 9, wherein the mounting means comprises a motor operatively coupled to the 30 bearing members for controlled rotation thereof. |
| 12. | The guiding frame according to claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a tool mounting structure adapted to receive the machining tool, the tool mounting structure being pivotally attached to the positioning means with a pivotal axis substantially extending in parallel with the second side of the base structure. |
| 13. | The guiding frame according to claim 11, wherein the tool mounting structure comprises a rotary coupler for controlled rotation of the machining tool. |
| 14. | The guiding frame according to claim 1, wherein the 10 positioning means comprises a mobile carriage bearing the support member and mounted on a runner element extending substantially parallel with the second side of the base structure for controlled displacement therealong. |
| 15. | The guiding frame according to claim 13, wherein the positioning means further comprises a slide arrangement mounted on the second side of the base structure, the runner element being movably mounted on the slide arrangement for controlled displacement therealong with the runner element 20 extending substantially crosswise to the slide arrangement. |
| 16. | The guiding frame according to claim 14, wherein the slide arrangement comprises a pair of parallel rail members spaced from each other, and wheels pressing in opposite directions against the rail members respectively for rolling therealong, the runner element being mounted on the wheels. |
| 17. | The guiding frame according to claim 8, further comprising a system of stabilizing legs projecting from the 30 base structure on the second side thereof and spaced from one another, the positioning means and the support member extending between the stabilizing legs; and wherein: the support member comprises a tool mounting structure adapted to receive the machining tool, the tool mounting structure being pivotally attached to the positioning means with a pivotal axis substantially extending in parallel with the second side of the base structure; and the positioning means comprises a mobile carriage bearing the support member and mounted on a runner element extending substantially parallel with the second side of the base structure for controlled displacement therealong, and a slide arrangement mounted on the second side of the base structure, the runner element being movably mounted on the slide arrangement for controlled displacement therealong with the runner element extending substantially crosswise to the slide arrangement. |
BACKGROUND Highway overpasses, buildings, dams and other structures having outside surfaces primarily made of concrete or other similar hard material have a tendency to crack and lose important portions of their outer surface over time due to the effects of natural elements, rain, droughts and freezing on these surfaces. The damaged surfaces require restoration or repair by resurfacing, sometimes large areas, of these structures for example by chipping the surfaces until good and firm concrete is reached in preparation for eventual refilling with concrete. The chipping and other machining operations are time consuming and very difficult to perform especially on vertical surfaces.
A certain number of devices, apparatuses, machines and tools can be used for cutting or grinding concrete in order to perform the restoration works. They can be grouped into two categories, namely hand held tools and devices which are extremely heavy and thus make them very difficult to be used on vertical surfaces, and wheeled devices which are not adapted for restoration and repair operations on vertical surfaces.
SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to provide a guiding frame for attaching a machining tool to a boom or an articulated arm for facilitating the operations involved in repairing or restoring or simply demolishing vertical, slanted or even horizontal surfaces made of concrete or other building materials.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a guiding frame mountable on the arm of an excavator or 10 a machine having a movable arm and which is adapted for holding a replaceable machining tool such as a milling machine, a saw, a drill, etc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a guiding frame which, once in place in front of the surface to be machined, provides steady support for the machining tool and enhanced positioning ability of the tool during the machining operation.
According to the present invention, there is provided a guiding frame for attaching a machining tool to a boom. The 20 guiding frame comprises a base structure having first and second opposite sides. A mounting device is provided for mounting the first side of the base structure to the boom. A support member is adapted to support the machining tool in operative position. A positioning device is provided for movably positioning the support member on the second side of the base structure.
Preferably, the guiding frame is provided with a system of adjustable legs for stabilization of the guiding frame against the surface to be machined.
30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of preferred embodiments will be given herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements: Figure 1 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, mounted on a boom.
Figure 2 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a horizontal positioning of the machining tool.
Figure 3 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a vertical positioning of the machining tool.
Figure 4 is a side view of a guiding frame according to 10 the present invention, illustrating a pivotal positioning of the machining tool.
Figure 5 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a pivoting of the stabilizing legs.
Figure 6 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating an adjustment of the stabilizing legs.
Figure 7 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating another adjustment of the 20 stabilizing legs.
Figure 8 is a side view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a rotational positioning of the machining tool.
Figure 9 is a top view of a guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a rotational positioning of the guiding frame.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a mounting arrangement of the guiding frame according to the present invention, illustrating a rotation of the guiding frame.
30 Figure 11 is a front view of another mounting arrangement of the guiding frame according to the present invention.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a milling machine for use with a guiding frame according to the present invention.
Figure 13 is a partial side view of a runner of a guiding frame according to the present invention.
Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of a slide arrangement of a guiding frame according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a guiding frame for attaching a machining tool, like a concrete saw 9 in the 10 illustrated case or a milling machine as shown in Figure 12, to a boom 5 of a machine like an excavator, a hydraulic shovel, a crane, or a machine having an articulated arm or at least a primary positioning device for placing the guiding frame in front of the concrete or other kind of surface to be machined (not shown in the Figures).
The guiding frame has a base structure 1 provided with a mounting device 3 for mounting a side 2 of the base structure 1 to the boom 5. The mounting device 3 is preferably designed so that it is capable of tilting and rotating the guiding 20 frame with respect to the boom 5 (see also Figure 10) to provide enhance positioning capacities with respect to the concrete surface. One or both the tilting and rotating functions may be omitted depending on the degree of mobility of the boom 5 to which the mounting device 3 is attached, or depending on the surface's situation and the possibility of bringing the equipment bearing the guiding frame in proper position for working the surface.
The guiding frame has a support member 7 adapted to support the machining tool 9 in operative position. As for 30 the mounting device 3, the support member 7 is preferably designed so that it is capable of pivoting and/or rotating the tool 9 (see also Figures 4 and 8) to enhance the operational range of the tool 9.
The guiding frame is provided with a positioning arrangement 11 for movably positioning the support member 7 and thus the tool 9 on a side 4 of the base structure 1 opposite to the side 2 mounted on the boom 5. The positioning arrangement 11 is preferably designed so that the tool 9 can be moved both horizontally and vertically, although it may also be designed so that the course of the tool 9 is limited along a single axis if desired.
Referring to Figures 1 and 5-7, the guiding frame is 10 preferably provided with a system of stabilizing legs 13 (four in the illustrated case) projecting from the base structure 1 on its side 4 and spaced from one another so that the positioning arrangement 11 and the support member 7 extend between the stabilizing legs 13.
The stabilizing legs 13 may be formed of arms 15 outwardly projecting sideways from the base structure 1, and height adjustable leg members 17 projecting from the arms 15 in generally parallel directions, though other directions such as outwardly slanted directions with respect to one 20 another may be used to provide greater stability if desired.
The leg members may conveniently be formed of hydraulic jacks or like devices for a typical adjustment range of 0 to 32 inches, as depicted by arrows 46. All the legs 13 may be controlled individually for adjustment of the guiding frame on a sloped surface.
The leg members 17 may be slideably mounted on the ends 21 of the arms 15 for extended adjustment range as depicted by arrows 48, for example for an additional 0 to 24 inches which may be performed for example manually.
30 Referring to Figure 5, the stabilizing legs 13 can be conveniently pivotally mounted on the corners of the base structure 1 with pivotal axes perpendicular to the second side 4 of the base structure 1 for a possible rotation range of approximately 225° as depicted by arrows 42. It is thus always or almost always possible to adjust each of the legs 13 as a function of the ideal support location and to adjust the angle of the guiding frame with respect to the surface for facilitating the work and/or the displacement of the machining tool.
Referring to Figures 1,10 and 11, the mounting device 3 may be formed of a plate 27 attachable to the boom 5 and mounted on a rotary coupler 23 extending on the first side 2 10 of the base structure 1 allowing a 360° rotation of the guiding frame as depicted by arrows 44 (see also Figure 6).
The rotary coupler 23 may consist of inner and outer rotary bearing members 24,25 driven in rotation with respect to each other in the desired direction, for example by means of a hydraulic motor 31.
The mounting plate 27 can be pivotally mounted on the bearing member which turns, i. e. the inner bearing member 25 in the illustrated case, and the adjustment of the tilt angle of the plate 27 with respect to the bearing member 25 and the 20 rest of the guiding frame can be achieved with a jack 29 extending between the bearing member 25 and the plate 27. As a result, the guiding frame may be tilted typically from 0 to 45° as a function of the slope of the surface, as depicted by arrow 50.
Figure 10 shows an embodiment of the mounting device 3 where the jack 29 operates directly along the tilting direction of the plate 27. Such an embodiment is particularly useful when the boom 5 has no or insufficient positioning capabilities.
30 Figure 11 shows an embodiment of the mounting device 3 where the jack 29 operates between opposite sides of the plate 27 and the bearing member 25, for sideways adjustment of the guiding frame against the wall surface. The jack 29 may be hydraulic and used mainly to lock the lateral tilt angle of the guiding frame with respect to the wall surface once the guiding frame has been set in the desired angle.
This can be simply done with the boom 5 exerting a pressure on the guiding frame against the wall surface, the boom 5 of the excavator, with its multiple joints, then providing complementary vertical tilting capabilities for the guiding frame.
Referring to Figures 1,4 and 8, the support member 7 10 may be formed of a tool mounting structure 33 adapted to receive and bear the machining tool 9. In the case where the tool 9 is a concrete saw, the mounting structure is preferably arranged so that the tool 9 may controllably be moved closer to and away from the surface, as depicted by arrow 36 (see Figure 8), to allow the saw to penetrate in the concrete and to begin the saw line. The saw may typically have a 72 inches diameter with a 24 inches cutting depth capability.
The tool mounting structure 33 is preferably pivotally 20 attached to the positioning arrangement 11 with a pivotal axis 34 generally extending in parallel with the, second side 4 of the base structure 1, for a typical pivoting range of 90° as depicted by arrow 38. The tool 9 may thereby be positioned in parallel with the ground and may remain operative, in the case of a concrete saw, to cut a vertical concrete wall to as low as one inch from the ground.
The tool mounting structure 33 may be attached to the support member 7 through a rotary coupler 35 for controlled rotation of the machining tool 9 over a typical 360° range as 30 depicted by arrow 40 (see Figure 8). With the above described arrangement, it is possible to position the guiding frame at a given place and, as the tool 9 may move in various tilt and rotation angles and perpendicularly with respect to the surface, to cut a concrete block of typically 3,5m by 2,5m without having to move the guiding frame. Other kinds of arrangements may be used to attach the tool 9 to the positioning device 11.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the positioning device 11 may conveniently consists of a mobile carriage 39 which bears the support member 7 and which is mounted on a runner element 41 extending in parallel with the second side 4 of the base structure 1 for controlled displacement therealong as 10 depicted by arrow 40 (e. g. horizontal displacement). The runner element 41 is preferably movably mounted on a slide arrangement 43 mounted on the second side 4 of the base structure 1, with the runner element 41 extending generally crosswise to the slide arrangement 43. The slide arrangement 43 may thus be used for moving the tool 9 and the runner element 41 in the direction depicted by arrows 52 (e. g. vertical displacement). Consequently, the tool 9 may be positioned anywhere within a square area defined by the length of the runner element 41 and the height of the slide 20 arrangement 43.
The runner element 41 and the slide arrangement 43 may take various configurations.
Referring to Figures 3 and 14, the slide arrangement 43 may be made of a pair of parallel rail members 45 spaced apart from one another, and two pairs of wheels 47 extending between mounting plates 63 and pressing in opposite directions against the rail members 45 respectively for rolling therealong. The runner element 41 is connected to the plates 63 through braces or wedges 61 in such a way as to 30 resist strong vibrations when the tool 9 is in operation.
Referring to Figures 4 and 13, the mobile carriage 39 may be formed of a pair of opposite plates 51,53 provided with pairs of wheels 55 running over and under the runner element 41.
Referring to Figure 12, the displacement of the mobile carriage 39 along the runner element 41 may be achieved using a system based on a chain 57 and a sprocket wheel 59 driven by a hydraulic power system (not shown in the Figures) compatible with the system possibly present on the equipment with the boom 5. It can be achieved using any other suitable driving system capable of displacing the mobile carriage 39 (e. g. straps, pneumatic systems, jacks, etc.). The same applies for the displacement of the runner element 41 along 10 the slide arrangement 43. The base structure 1 may take other forms and may be wider if desired.
The machining tool 9 may be any tool commonly used in the restoration of concrete or building surfaces.
The operation of the guiding frame requires only one operator who controls the entire process from the cabin of a crane, hydraulic shovel or by remote control, in total safety. The guiding frame can be used for working on any surfaces in different planes, e. g. slabs on the ground, upright or slanted walls, ceilings in any angles. The guiding 20 frame allows a controlled demolition at a given depth as chosen by the operator and during the whole process, which is practically impossible to do manually. It thus prevents depth deviations in order to limit the quantity of additional concrete or replacement material during the restoration phase. The work is fast and performed in a controlled fashion. The milling machine (as shown in Figure 12) allows to achieve the demolition and the finishing in one step and according to the desired depth, with enhanced accuracy. The guiding frame can be adapted to any type of bearing 30 equipment, and may have different dimensions for working in restricted spaces. The power for the guiding frame may be provided in most cases if not all by the bearing equipment.
Its installation is fast and easy.
While embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
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