DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is enclosed in the area of vehicles which provide for the cutting of rock, which typically are movable through wheels or tracks, and comprising a cutting section with a saw such as a chain saw or a wire saw. Such vehicles are heavy vehicles, for operating in quarries.

Such vehicles, by having wheels or tracks, have more than one degree of freedom in their movement, being fully movable.

PRIOR ART

Solutions exist in the art where vehicles have a cutting element such as a saw, and such saw is coupled to a frame which is part of the vehicle, the frame providing for the movement of the saw as regards the rest of the vehicle.

Usually, the saw is rotatable along at least one axis, possibly two axles, in a point close to its coupling to the remaining structure. It therefore enables that the saw is positioned in different ways, depending of the desired direction of cutting.

Yet, such positioning is still limited, as it requires that, in order to position the saw to cut a section of rock other than the section being cut, it requires that the whole vehicle is moved to access the new section. Thus, other solutions are also known in the art, in which the saw is connected to a structure which enables that the saw is movable in one or two perpendicular directions, enabling further access to a rectangular area - when the structure provides movement along the two directions - and thereby reducing the need of moving the whole vehicle to access new sections of rock to be cut.

For such type of vehicles, the whole range of access of the saw in width, along an imaginary x axis, is typically of up to 3 m, in a large size vehicle. It is thus common that it is still required to frequently move the vehicle to access a section which is outside such range, as often it is necessary that a rock being cut has more than such width, or cuts are apart by more than such range.

Such issue could be addressed by a larger range, i.e., by a larger frame supporting the saw. Yet, such enlargement of the frame would also have to be reflected in the vehicle, so that the balance of the vehicle would be maintained, thereby resulting in a vehicle of a higher dimension.

The present solution innovatively overcomes such issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention a vehicle for the cutting of rock providing enhanced adjustment, which comprises:

- cutting means for the cutting of rock, the cutting means comprising at least one cutting element able to cut rock, such as a saw, and first means for displacing the at least one cutting element along at least one first direction, the first direction comprising a displacement in height and/or in width, the width being perpendicular to the height,

- a body,

- mobility means, the mobility means being coupled to the body, - at least one pair of stabilizing rods, the stabilizing rods being coupled to the body and being movable between a retracted position and a work position, wherein the movement between the retracted position and the work position is substantially parallel to the first direction and, when in the work position, the stabilizing rods are configured to anchor the vehicle in a ground surface,

- means for varying the position of each of the stabilizing rods of a pair as regards a reference point, the reference point being part of a line segment which is colinear or parallel to a line segment that links the two stabilizing rods of a pair, wherein the means for varying the position are configured to vary the position of at least one of the stabilizing rods of a pair as regards the reference point.

The means for varying the position of each of the stabilizing rods of a pair as regards a reference point allows that one stabilizing rod of a pair is moved as regards the reference point while the other remains, or that both stabilizing rods are moved, in which case the distance between the two stabilizing rods may be increased, decreased or maintained.

Advantageously, the distance is maintained while the position of the stabilizing rods of a pair is changed, thereby providing that the overall cutting means are shifted in width in a value which corresponds to the change in the stabilizing rods as regards the reference point. The reference point can be any point, although for simplicity may be part of a line segment which links the two stabilizing rods of a pair.

The means for varying the position are configured to vary the position of at least one of the stabilizing rods of a pair as regards the reference point when such stabilizing rod is in the retracted position. Such vehicle therefore provides an enhanced adjustment of the position of a cutting element in width while being compact. Such adjustment is particularly enhanced as it enables that the cutting element is positioned to cut a new section being aligned with the previously cut section, as it resorts only to the movement of the stabilizing rods and respective means for varying the position.

When the cutting means of the vehicle do not provide a displacement of the cutting element in width, the movement in the stabilizing rods alone provides such adjustment of the cutting element in width.

When the cutting means of the vehicle do provide a displacement of the cutting element in width, the movement in the stabilizing rods provides a further extension of the cutting element in width, the resulting position of the cutting element in such further extension being entirely aligned with the previous position of the cutting element.

Such consists of an additional advantage as regards prior art solutions which, by requiring that the vehicle moves to a new position by resorting to its mobility means, such as wheels or tracks, is not able to guarantee a correct alignment.

The cutting element may be rotatable along at least one axis, possibly two axles. Such axles are positioned in the coupling of the saw to the remaining structure, included in the cutting means. Such enables that the cutting element is positioned in different ways, depending of the desired direction of cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure la - representation of an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention in a top view, the vehicle (1) comprising four wheels coupled to a body (6) structure, cutting means which comprise a cutting element (2) which is a chainsaw and means for displacing the cutting element (2) in height and width. The vehicle (1) further comprises two pairs of stabilizing rods (10): frontal stabilizing rods (11) and rear stabilizing rods (12). The frontal stabilizing rods (11) are arranged closer to the cutting means, and substantially close to an edge of the mobility means (4), i.e. substantially close to the edge of the front wheels. The rear stabilizing rods (12) are arranged further away from the cutting means, and substantially close to another edge of the mobility means (4), i.e. substantially close to the edge of the rear wheels. The means for varying the position (20) of each of the stabilizing rods (10) are also presented, and showing an arrangement in which the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the left of the figure are closer to a centre of the means for varying the position (20), which may be considered as the reference point. In this arrangement, the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the right of the figure are further away from the same reference point.

Figure lb - representation of the same embodiment of Figure la, in which the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the left have been moved further away from the reference point as regards their position in the arrangement of Figure la, and the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the right have been moved closer to the reference point as regards their position in the arrangement of Figure la. The distance between stabilizing points in the rear (12) pair and in the frontal (11) pair has been maintained. Such adjustment would lead to a complete movement of the whole vehicle (1), consequently also of the cutting means, to the left.

Figure lc - representation of the same embodiment of Figures la and lb, in which the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the left have been moved further away from the reference point as regards their position in the arrangement of Figure lb, and the stabilizing rods of the frontal (11) and the rear (12) pairs presented on the right have been moved closer to the reference point as regards their position in the arrangement of Figure lb. The distance between stabilizing points in the rear (12) pair and in the frontal (11) pair has been maintained. Such adjustment would lead to a complete movement of the whole vehicle (1), consequently also of the cutting means, to the left. Figure 2a - representation of the same embodiment of Figure la, in a front view.

Figure 2b - representation of the same embodiment of Figure lb, in a front view.

Figure 2c - representation of the same embodiment of Figure lc, in a front view.

Figure 3a - representation of the same embodiment of Figures la and 2a, in a perspective view.

Figure 3b - representation of the same embodiment of Figures lb and 2b, in a perspective view.

Figure 3c - representation of the same embodiment of Figures lc and 2c, in a perspective view.

Figure 4a - representation of an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, in particular of the cutting means and the intermediate structure, in a top view. The cutting means comprise a cutting element (2) which is a chainsaw and first means for displacing (3) the cutting element (2) in height and width. The intermediate structure comprises a support structure (6) to which two guiding rods (31) are coupled (not visible, only in Figures 5 and 6). Two pairs of movable supporting elements (32) (only one of each pair is visible) are in turn associated with the guiding rods (31), and are movable along such guiding rods (31). It is also clear that the two guiding rods (31) are aligned with the first direction which also corresponds to the direction of alignment of the first means for displacing (3). In addition, it is represented an arrangement in which the movable supporting elements (32) are closer to an extreme position of the guiding rods (31), which may be referred to as the lowest point, which provides the lowest height.

Figure 4b - representation of the same embodiment of Figure 4a, in which the movable supporting elements (32) are further away from the lowest point of their course in the guiding rods (31), now being in an intermediate point and thereby raising the saw when compared to the arrangement of Figure 4a.

Figure 4c - representation of the same embodiment of Figures 4a and 4b, in which the movable supporting elements (32) are in the point which is the furthest away from the lowest point of their course in the guiding rods (31), which may be referred to as the highest point in such course. This, the saw is raised to the highest possible point in the course of the guiding rods (31). In all Figures 4a-4c, the saw is in the lowest point possible regarding the movement which may be provided by the respective first means for displacing (3). If the saw would also be raised to the highest possible point in the course of the first means for displacing (3), then such height would be summed to the height of the course of the guiding rods (31), and the saw would be positioned in the highest possible point.

Figure 5a - representation of the same embodiment of Figure 4a, in a front view. Figure 5b - representation of the same embodiment of Figure 4b, in a front view. Figure 5c - representation of the same embodiment of Figure 4c, in a front view.

Figure 6a - representation of the same embodiment of Figures 4a and 5a, in a perspective view.

Figure 6b - representation of the same embodiment of Figures 4b and 5b, in a perspective view.

Figure 6c - representation of the same embodiment of Figures 4c and 5c, in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The more general and advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the invention. Such configurations are detailed below in accordance with other advantageous and/or preferred embodiments of implementation of the present invention.

In an inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the means for varying the position (20) comprise i) at least one external element (21) substantially perpendicularly arranged to the stabilizing rods (10) and ii) two internal elements (22) fixedly coupled to the stabilizing rods (10), each of the two internal elements (22) being movable within an external element (21), and thereby providingthe variation of position of each of the stabilizing rods (10) the regards a reference point. The internal elements (22) are thereby slidable within an external element (21), and providing an efficient embodiment of varying the position of the stabilizing rods (10) as regards the reference point.

In another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it comprises two external elements (21), the two external elements (21) being fixedly coupled to one another, and each of the external elements (21) being configured such that one of the internal elements (22) is movable within a respective external element (21). Such allows for a wider course of each of the internal elements (22), since the external elements (21) may be adjacently positioned (for example, one external element (21) on top of the other, which is the case of the embodiments of Figures 1-3), and thereby allow that each of the internal elements (22) are movable within a same course which wide yet is compact.

In yet another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the means for varying the distance comprise a hydraulic cylinder associated with each internal element (22), the hydraulic cylinder being configured to move the respective internal cylinder within an external element (21). It further provides an additional efficiency and easiness of operation in the adjustment of the position of each of the stabilizing rods (10).

In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, each external element (21) consists of an external elongated element (21) which is hollow, and each internal element (22) consists of an internal elongated element (22), and thereby the cross-section of the internal elongated element (22) having an area which is lesser than the area of the cross-section of the external elongated element (21). In another advantageous embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it comprises two pairs of stabilizing rods (10), the two pairs of stabilizing rods (10) being arranged along a plane, such that a pair of stabilizing rods (10) is substantially close to one edge of the mobility means (4) and another pair of stabilizing rods (10) is substantially close to another edge of the mobility means (4), wherein a pair of stabilizing rods (10) which is closer to the cutting means is a frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) and a pair of stabilizing rods (10) which is further away from the cutting means is a rear pair of stabilizing rods (12).

The embodiments presented in figures 1-3 contain such features, having two pairs of stabilizing rods (10). The frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) and the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12) are particularly presented, and clearly positioned in a same plane. In addition, the pairs of stabilizing rods (10) are suitable to anchor the vehicle (1) in a same surface, the ground surface.

The two stabilizing rods (10) of a pair of stabilizing rods (10) are spaced apart along a transversal direction of the body (6). The body (6) has also a longitudinal direction, perpendicularto the transversal direction, which is longerthan the transversal direction. The frontal and rear designations refer to an arrangement along such longitudinal direction, and also regarding the position of the mobility means (4) and of the cutting means, as above described.

In an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) is movable independently from the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12). The same is applicable to the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12), which is movable independently from the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11).

In an inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it further comprises at least one controller, the controller being configured to: - control the means for varying the position (20) of each of the stabilizing rods (10) in varying the position of each of the stabilizing rods (10), and/or

-control the movement of the stabilizing rods (10) between the retracted position and the work position.

The controller may be based in electronic and computational means, an example comprising or consisting of an automaton.

The controller is configured to control the means for varying the position (20) of each of the stabilizing rods (10) in varying the position of each of the stabilizing rods (10), between extreme positions (closer and further away from the reference point) and being able to adjust the position of the stabilizing rods (10) in points in between the extreme positions, including predefined discrete points or a continuous set of points.

In an embodiment, the controller is configured to control the movement of the stabilizing rods (10) between the retracted position and the work position, which are also extreme positions. In a further embodiment, the controller is configured to adjust the movement of the stabilizing rods (10) in points in between the work and retracted positions, including predefined discrete points or a continuous set of points.

In a further inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the controller is configured to operate the movement of each of the internal elements (22) as regards an external element (21). It thereby may control the movement of each of the internal elements (22) independently.

In another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the controller is configured to vary the position of each of the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) while not varying the position of the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12) and maintaining the rear stabilizing rods (12) in work position, preferably, maintaining the distance between the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11). Such movement allows to provide a rotation of the vehicle (1), the axis of such rotation being between the two rear stabilizing rods (12). It adds a further capability of adjustment to the vehicle (1).

In yet another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, controller is configured to vary the position of each of the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12) while not varying the position of the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) and maintainingthe frontal stabilizing rods (11) in work position and, preferably, maintaining the distance between the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12). Such movement allows to provide a rotation of the vehicle (1), the axis of such rotation being between the two frontal stabilizing rods (11). It adds a further capability of adjustment to the vehicle (1).

In yet another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the controller is configured to simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously vary the position of each of the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12) and to vary the position of each of the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) and, preferably, maintaining the distance between the frontal pair of stabilizing rods (11) and/or the distance between the rear pair of stabilizing rods (12).

Preferably, the two pairs of stabilizing rods (10) are simultaneously moved and the position of corresponding stabilizing rods (10) in the two pairs is varied in a same extent, thereby providing a complete translation of the whole vehicle (1). Thus, the position of the vehicle (1) and consequently also of the cutting means is adjusted in a width corresponding to the variation of the position of the stabilizing rods (10), allowing a further extension, beyond that provided by the first means for displacing (3).

Alternatively, implementing a quasi-simultaneous setup, one of the pairs of stabilizing rods (10) may be moved before the other. In an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the distance between two stabilizing rods (10) of a pair is variable between a maximum distance and a minimum distance, the minimum distance being within the range of 0.5-3m, preferably 1 m, and/or the maximum distance being within the range of 2-5 m, preferably 2 m.

In another inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it further comprises an intermediate structure, the intermediate structure being coupled between and to the cutting means and the body (6), and comprising second means for displacing (30), the second means for displacing (30) being aligned with the first means for displacing (3), and thus configured for displacing the whole cutting means along the first direction, thereby providing a further displacement of the cutting means in height.

Such vehicle (1) therefore provides an extension in the height of the position of a cutting element (2) in width while being compact, not requiring an increase in the overall dimension of the vehicle (1), and maintaining its balance. Furthermore, and also unlike prior art, it consists of a single vehicle (1), not requiring a second vehicle (1) which is positioned on top of the rock element - a piece of rock or a rock bench - to be cut.

The cutting means of the vehicle (1) provide a displacement of the cutting element (2) in height, and the movement in the second means for displacing (30) provides a further extension of the cutting element (2) in height, the resulting position of the cutting element (2) in such further extension being higher than with the first means for displacing (3) alone. The maximum height of the vehicle (1) is therefore the sum of a maximum height provided by the first means for displacing (3) with a maximum height provided by the second means for displacing (30).

In a further inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the second means for displacing (30) comprise at least two guiding rods (31) aligned with the first direction and at least two movable supporting elements (32), the movable supporting elements (32) being movable along the guiding rods (31) and thus along the first direction, the movable supporting elements (32) being coupled to the cutting means and thereby providing for the movement of the whole cutting means jointly with the movable supporting elements (32). Such configuration allows to have a simplified and effective structure of further moving the whole cutting means, by using two guiding rods (31) which are aligned with the first direction, and in which at least two supporting means are movable. The movable supporting elements (32) are coupled to the cutting means and transmit their movement to the whole cutting means, which are consequently further extended. In addition, the supporting means may be driven by a driving mechanism. The cutting means thereby move jointly with the supporting elements. In addition, such configuration allows to have very short distance between the cutting means and the body (6) of the vehicle (1), while having a simplified structure which yet allows for the extended movement of the whole cutting means.

In another advantageous aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the movable supporting elements (32) are coupled to the cutting means in two separate sections, such separate sections preferably being substantially close to two separate edges of a coupling section of the cutting means. Such provides an enhanced coupling of the supporting elements to the cutting means. The supporting elements may be coupled to the cutting means in more than two separate sections. The cutting means comprise, for instance, a cutting element (2) which may consist of a chainsaw, consequently having a wide distribution. The coupling section of the cutting means is a section which is coupled to the remaining elements of the cutting means, and which provides for the coupling of the cutting means to the supporting elements. In addition, by being distributed between two separate sections of the coupling section of the cutting means, the supporting elements are coupled to the cutting means in a firm and balanced fashion.

In yet another advantageous aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the movable supporting elements (32) have a substantially elongated form which extends from one guiding rod (31) to another guiding rod (31), the movable supporting elements (32) comprising edges which at least partially embrace the guiding rods (31), the edges being slidably movable along the guiding rods (31) and thereby providing the movement of the supporting elements. Such configuration provides a simple while efficient coupling of the supporting elements to the cutting means.

In an advantageous aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the intermediate structure further comprises a support structure (6), the support structure (6):

- having a substantially flat form, and

- providing the coupling of the intermediate structure to the body (6).

In an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the guiding rods (31) are coupled to the support structure (6), allowing a firm coupling between the several elements.

In an inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it further comprises a fixed supporting element, the fixed supporting element being fixedly coupled to the at least two guiding rods (31) and not being coupled to the cutting means. The fixed supporting element, by being fixedly coupled to the guiding rods (31), allows to reduce the vibration resulting from the operation of the cutting means while using an intermediate structure which is based in two guiding rods (31).

In a further inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, each of the movable supporting elements (32) is movable between an extreme position of the guiding rod (31) and the fixed supporting element. It therefore consists of an efficient way to have a course of the movable supporting elements (32) as wide as possible, while still having the fixed supporting element which reduces the overall vibrations. In a further inventive aspect of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the fixed supporting element is fixed to each of the guiding rods (31) in a position which is substantially half of the length of each guiding rod (31). It therefore consists of a further efficient way to have a course of the movable supporting elements (32) as wide as possible.

In an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the first means for displacing (3) provide for a maximum displacement of 1-5 m, preferably of 3 m, and the second means for displacing (30) provide for a maximum displacement of 1- 5 m, preferably of 2 m.

In another embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, the cutting element (2) consists of a chainsaw or a wire saw, the wire saw preferably consisting of a diamond wire saw.

In yet another embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, wherein the mobility means (4) comprise at least four wheels, preferably four directional wheels, or at least two tracks, or a combination of wheels and tracks.

In an embodiment of the vehicle (1) of the present invention, it further comprises a power unit, the power unit providing a power of 80-120 KVA, preferably 100 KVA.

As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and a number of changes are possible which remain within the scope of the present invention.

Of course, the preferred embodiments shown above are combinable, in the different possible forms, being herein avoided the repetition all such combinations.