Field of the invention

Generally, the invention relates to dismantling structures. More specifically, the invention relates to a dismantling device allowing the outermost of a layered wall or wall element, for example, to be dismantled.

Background

In many buildings, the outermost layer of a wall or wall element is constituted by a concrete slab, brick cladding or other materials used for an exterior and interior cladding. Typically, if the outermost layer is the exterior layer of the wall, an insulating layer and an actual wall structure are provided on the inside thereof. Buildings based on the wall elements described above have been widely used since the 1960’s. Most of these buildings have such a low quality that the outermost layer and insulating layer of their wall elements need to be renovated when just 25 to 30 years old.

When renovating the outermost layer of prefabricated buildings, the dismantling work has traditionally been carried out by chipping or by using a dismantling device based on a lever supported against the wall structure. If done in this way, the dismantling work is slow, hard, loud as well as difficult to manage and often causes damage to the remaining wall structure. When renovating interiors, the traditional dismantling methods cause discomfort in the form of dust and noise, which is especially undesired and even detrimental in demanding renovation sites, such as hospitals as well as residential and office buildings where people stay during the renovation, as well as in other sites sensitive to adverse effects.

Finnish Utility Model FI3933U discloses a dismantling device for dismantling the outermost layer of a layered wall structure. The dismantling device has a frame part to which a shaft and a supporting structure are fastened to direct first forces to a first side of the outermost layer to be dismantled. A pressing jaw movable by a hydraulic cylinder is mounted to the shaft by bearings to direct a second force to a second side of the outermost layer to be dismantled, for the purpose of breaking and/cutting the outermost layer. The supporting structure and pressing jaw are implemented such that that the line of action of the second force is spaced from each contact surface of the supporting structure in order to cause torsional tensions in the outermost layer to be dismantled. The dismantling device disclosed in FI3933U results in significant advantages compared to the traditional methods mentioned above. However, a challenge encountered with this dismantling device is how to implement the pressing jaw in such a way that a sufficient force is also achieved at the point of the pressing jaw lying farthest away from the bearing point of the pressing jaw, but, on the other hand, the back portion of the pressing jaw must not cause damage to the actual wall structure located behind the outermost layer as the pressing jaw turns with respect to its bearing point.

Summary

The invention relates to a novel dismantling device allowing for example an outermost layer of a layered wall or a wall element to be dismantled. The dismantling device according to the invention comprises:

- a frame part,

- a supporting structure fixed with respect to the frame part and having contact surfaces to direct first forces to a first side of the structure to be dismantled,

- at least one pressing jaw movably supported with respect to the frame part and having a contact surface to direct a second force to a second side of the structure to be dismantled, the pressing jaw being adapted to move linearly with respect to the frame part,

- at least one force-generating means to move the pressing jaw with respect to the frame part, and

- a suspension part attached to the frame part for the purpose of coupling the dismantling device to an external apparatus.

As the pressing jaw is adapted to move linearly, no point on the pressing jaw needs to move away from the structure to be dismantled while the pressing jaw presses the structure, resulting in that any structures behind the structure to be dismantled are at a negligible, or at least at a minimum risk of getting damaged. In addition, an advantage provided by the linear movement is that the dismantling device stays better supported by the structure to be dismantled, and therefore, is not prone to fall. Preferably, the stroke length of the linear movement can be set or adjusted.

The suspension part is movably supported with respect to the frame part to allow a position of the dismantling device to be changed with respect to the external apparatus, wherein the suspension part is slidably supported with respect to the frame part. The slidable support of the suspension part makes it easier to use the dismantling device so that structures behind the structure to be dismantled are not damaged.

Compared to many traditional methods, other advantages of the dismantling device according to the invention include

- a more accurate control of the dismantling effect and area,

- a higher dismantling speed even in varying conditions,

- a reduced vibration and/or noise carried along the structures,

- a non-sparking dismantling operation,

- a minimum amount of dismantling dust,

- dismantling cleanliness due to the fact the insulating stays in the wall for further treatment, and/or

- the adaptability of the dismantling device for versatile mounting on skid-steer loaders, excavators, and many other machines.

In a dismantling device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pressing jaw is a changeable component. This allows a pressing jaw of a suitable shape and/or size to be selected for each material to be taken apart, for an optimum efficiency and control of the work. The pressing jaw can be connected to the machine element that operates it by a bolt joint, for example. In a dismantling device according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned force-generating means is a hydraulic force-generating means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston. This hydraulic force-generating means can be driven by a hydraulic machine known perse which can be a separate and freely placeable unit or form part of a working machine, such as a loader, excavator or chipping robot, or of some other apparatus capable of carrying and operating the dismantling device. In certain situations where the dismantling is used, or especially when a high dismantling speed is desired, the hydraulic machine operating the dismantling device is preferably adapted to supply a hydraulic fluid flow to the dismantling device, with the pressing jaw continuously moving reciprocally.

The different embodiments of the invention are characterized in what is set forth in the dependent claims.

The claims are open as to whether technical features not mentioned in the claims are present or absent.

Brief description of figures

In the following, exemplifying embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: figure 1 a is a lateral view of a dismantling device according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, figure 1 b is a bottom view of the dismantling device, figure 1 c is a top view of the dismantling device, and figures 2a and 2b illustrate how the dismantling device operates.

Description of exemplifying embodiments

Figures 1 a, 1 b and 1 c show a dismantling device according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, allowing an outermost layer of a layered, i.e. a sandwich wall or wall element, for example, to be dismantled. Figure 1a is a lateral view of the dismantling device, figure 1 b is a bottom view of the dismantling device and figure 1 c is a top view of the dismantling device. The dismantling device has a frame part 101 to which a supporting structure 102 having contact surfaces 105 and 106 for directing first forces to a first side of the structure to be dismantled is attached. In figure 1 b, the structure to be dismantled is presented by broken lines and denoted by reference numeral 114. The dismantling device has a pressing jaw 103 movably supported with respect to the frame part 101 and having a contact surface 107 to direct a second force to a second side of the structure to be dismantled. The dismantling device has force-generating means to move the pressing jaw 103 with respect to the frame part 101 . In figure 1 a, one of the force-generating means is denoted by reference numeral 104. In the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1c, each of the force-generating means comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston. In a dismantling device according to another exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the force-generating means is an electromechanical force-generating means comprising a threaded rod and an electric motor adapted to move it, for example.

The pressing jaw 103 is adapted to move linearly with respect to the frame part 101 . In the case shown in figures 1 a to 1 c, the linear movement of the pressing jaw 103 is parallel to a y-axis of a coordinate system 199.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate how the dismantling device operates. In the situation shown in figure 2a, the outermost layer 225 of a wall structure 227 is between the pressing jaw 103 and the supporting structure 102 of the dismantling device. In the situation shown in figure 2b, the pressing jaw 103 has been pulled to the right and a portion of the outermost layer 225 has been cut or crushed by the pressing jaw 103 and the supporting structure 102. The pressing jaw 103 being adapted to move linearly, none of the points on the pressing jaw 103 must move away from the outermost layer 225 to be dismantled as the outermost layer 225 is being pressed by the pressing jaw 103. As a result, any structures behind the structure to be dismantled are at a negligible, or at least at a minimum risk of getting damaged.

In the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1 c, the supporting structure 102 comprises two supporting members spaced from each other. In figure 1 b, these supporting members are denoted by reference numerals 108 and 109. As appears from figure 1 b, the pressing jaw 103 is between the supporting members 108 and 109 as the dismantling device is viewed from the front, in parallel to the linear motion path of the pressing jaw 103, i.e. to the y-axis of the coordinate system 199. The pressing jaw 103 as well as the supporting members 108 and 109 are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that the line of action of the force that the pressing jaw directs to the structure 114 to be dismantled is spaced from the contact surfaces of the supporting members 108 and 109. This causes local torsional tensions in the structure 114 to be dismantled, which, in turn, contributes to the breaking down of the structure. In figure 1 b, the above-mentioned line of action of the force is presented by a dash-dotted line 117.

The exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1c has a protecting plate 116 preventing any rocks or other objects flying during the dismantling work from hitting the force-generating system of the dismantling device which, in the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1 c, is a hydraulic system.

As appears from figure 1 a, the contact surface 107 of the pressing jaw 103 is in an oblique relation to the contact surfaces of the supporting structure 102, the contact surface 107 of the pressing jaw 103 and the contact surfaces of the supporting structure 102, in a lateral view of the dismantling device, thus forming an acute angle a opening towards the tip of the pressing jaw 103, i.e. downwards in figure 1 a. This design of the pressing jaw 103 results in a higher local pressure on the structure to be dismantled than a design where the contact surface of the pressing jaw is parallel to the contact surfaces of the supporting structure 102.

The pressing jaw 103 of the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1 c has cutting portion 110 adapted to be inserted into a slot provided in the frame part 101 in order to cut any rod-shaped elements of the structure to be dismantled, with the edges of the cutting portion and of the slot acting as cutting edges. In figure 1 b, the edges of the cutting portion and the edges of the slot are denoted by reference numeral 111 and reference numeral 112, respectively. In figure 1 b, the rodshaped element, which can be a reinforcing bar, for example, is presented by broken lines and denoted by reference numeral 113. A suspension part is attached to the frame part 101 of the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1 a to 1 c, for the purpose of coupling the dismantling device to an external apparatus which can be a loader, excavator or some other machine intended to operate the dismantling device. In figures 1 a and 1 c, the suspension part is denoted by reference numeral 115. It can also be contemplated that the dismantling device according to some other embodiment of the invention is a manually supported device.

In a dismantling device according to an embodiment of the invention, the suspension part 115 is movably supported with respect to the frame part to allow the dismantling device to change its position with respect to the external apparatus, such as to a boom of a working machine to which the dismantling device is suspended. This movable installation allows the dismantling device to be placed in a position favorable to the dismantling work, also in situations where the adjustment of the position of the apparatus operating the dismantling device is limited. A situation like this can be encountered when the dismantling device is coupled to a boom of an excavator which only can be adjusted to a limited extent.

In a dismantling device according to an embodiment of the invention, the suspension part 115 is rotatably supported with respect to the frame part. In a dismantling device according to an embodiment of the invention, the suspension part 115 is slidably supported with respect to the frame part.

The suspension part 115 of the exemplifying dismantling device shown in figures 1a to 1 c is both rotatably and slidably supported with respect to the frame part 101 . The planar part 118 shown in figures 1 a and 1 c is slidable with respect to the frame part 101 , in accordance with the broken-line double-headed arrow 121 , i.e. parallel to the y-axis of the coordinate system 199. The suspension part 115 is rotatably connected to the planar part 118 in order to allow the suspension part 115 to rotate around a shaft pin 119 in accordance with the broken-line double-headed curved arrow 120. In this exemplifying dismantling device, the motion path of the slidable installation of the suspension part 115 is parallel to the linear movement of the pressing jaw 103. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the invention and the embodiments thereof are not limited to the exemplifying embodiments described above, but the invention and the embodiments may vary within the scope of the independent claim. As an example, the dismantling device according to the invention can be pro- vided with two adjacent pressing jaws. The pressing jaws can be operated either by moving both of them continuously in the same way, or alternately by moving one of them towards the frame part of the dismantling device and by moving the other of them away from the frame part.