Description

EXTENDABLE EXCAVATING SCREW WITH HYDRAULIC

EXCAVATING BLADES

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an excavating screw for auger crane for mechanized excavation of burial holes for utility poles or utility pole underbracing and guy wire underbracing, more specifically to an extendable excavating screw with hydraulic excavating blades and an extension rod inserted into and out of the top of an excavation pipe, wherein an extension unit having in-and-out popping auxiliary excavating blades is mounted at the lower end of the excavating screw and the auxiliary excavating blades are popped in and out by the pressure of oil fed through fluid channels formed in the extension pipe and extension unit to make economical and effective use of the extendable excavating screw possible. Background Art

[2] Generally in the work of power transmission and distribution lines and communication lines, utility poles are erected and electric and communication cables are installed. In this case, in order to reinforce unbalanced tension of electric and communication cables, utility pole underbracing or guy wire is installed to prevent the utility pole from inclining or falling down. The utility pole underbracing is buried simultaneously with the utility pole after erecting the utility pole and excavating 0.5 m below the ground surface of the lower end of the utility pole. Next, to install the guy wire, excavation work for burial of the guy wire underbracing is carried out using man power or machine. After that, guy wire underbracing is buried at the excavation point to be connected with the utility pole.

[3] Normally, excavation work for installing such utility pole underbracing or guy wire underbracing is done using an excavating screw fastened to auger crane. Meanwhile, techniques for more excellent mechanized work and improving the efficiency of work are disclosed in prior art. For example, in Korean Patent Application No. 2005-126562 filed by the applicant of the present invention, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0417120 and Korean Patent Application No. 2006-122020 are disclosed excavating screws for auger cranes having various types of popping in-and-out auxiliary blades.

[4] However, because the excavating screws disclosed in these documents have a mechanism by which the auxiliary excavating blade is popped in and out by manual rotation, many problems arise such as needing many workers, there is a considerable difficulty in adjusting the auxiliary excavating blades, and that a lot of work time is consumed making the work cumbersome.

[5] So, an excavating screw in which auxiliary excavating blades of a type similar to the aforementioned is popped in and out by hydraulic pressure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H 13-73664. Since it is possible to remotely control the auxiliary excavating blades using hydraulic pressure in this excavating screw, it can be used economically and effectively. However, since the fluid transmission system is complicated in the auxiliary excavating blades having a hydraulic popping in-and-out means, actual application is difficult.

[6] Meanwhile, both the excavating screw developed by the applicant of the present invention and the excavating screw with hydraulically popped in-and-out auxiliary excavating blades can only be used in excavation ground of limited depth. Therefore, in the case of working on excavation ground deeper than the length of the excavating screw, an extendable excavating screw having an extension means should be used instead of the aforementioned excavating screw.

[7] In an extendable excavating screw, an extension rod that can be inserted into and out of the excavating screw is inserted into the excavating screw. Since the total length of the excavating screw is varied according to the drawn-out length of the extension rod, it is characterized in that excavation work is possible to deeper depths. Accordingly, if auxiliary excavating blades having a conventional rotation-type popping in-and-out means are applied to an extendable excavating screw, operation is still difficult and cumbersome.

[8] Therefore, the excavating screw used in deep excavation keenly requires auxiliary excavating blades and a hydraulic popping in-and-out means of the auxiliary excavating blades to make more economic excavation possible. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] It is an object of the present invention to provide an extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary excavation blades, wherein oil inflow and discharge passages (below to be also called fluid channels) are formed in an extension rod that is inserted into and out of the inside of the excavating screw, and separate auxiliary oil inflow and discharge passages are formed in the extension unit that is mounted on the bottom of the excavating screw, to apply hydraulic pressure continuously to the auxiliary excavating blades mounted on the lower extension unit even if the length of the extendable excavating screw is varied, so that the hydraulically operated auxiliary excavating blades can be used while varying the length of the excavating screw according to the excavation depth of the excavation ground and the work period is shortened and workability is improved. Technical Solution

[10] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary excavating blades, which has a tube-shaped excavation pipe, an extension unit that is combined with the lower end of the excavation pipe and has auxiliary excavating blades, a spiral screw placed on the outer circumference of the excavation pipe and extension unit, an extension rod extendably installed in the excavation pipe, and a coupler mounted at the upper end of the extension rod for combining with auger crane, the extendable excavating screw characterized in that: said coupler comprises an oil hose in which oil force-fed from a fluid system is flown in, said extension rod comprises an oil inflow passage formed for oil to be flown in through said oil hose and an oil discharge passage formed for oil to be discharged through said oil hose, said extension unit comprises cylinder slots formed transversely at different heights, a popping shaft which is mounted and able to pop in said cylinder slots in a transverse direction and at one end of which are fixed auxiliary excavating blades, main channels formed in the extension unit for the oil flown in and discharged through said oil inflow and discharge passages to flow, and oil pipes one end of which is connected to said oil inflow and discharge passages and the other end of which are connected to main channels through fluid communication means and are placed between said extension unit and said extension rod inside the excavation pipe, and said oil pipes slide in said oil inflow and discharge passages in interlock with the extension rod that is inserted into and out of the excavation pipe, so as to continuously act hydraulic pressure on the popping shaft having said auxiliary excavating blades through said main channels.

Advantageous Effects

[11] Since in the extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary excavating blades the hydraulic pressure continuously acts on the auxiliary excavating blades of the lower extension unit in interlock with the variable condition of excavation length of the extendable excavating screw, it is possible to work effectively according to the depth of excavation ground by using the extendable excavating screw with auxiliary blades operated by hydraulic pressure, so the construction period is shortened and workability is greatly improved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] These and other objects, features, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[13] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an excavating screw according to the present invention;

[14] Fig. 2 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view showing the major part of the

excavating screw according to the present invention; [15] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the whole excavating screw according to the present invention; [16] Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the assembly of the whole excavating screw according to the present invention; [17] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the major part showing the oil inflow and discharge passages in the excavating screw according to the present invention; [18] Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the enlargement of the channels varied according to the length adjusted state of the excavating screw according to the present invention; [19] Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the state in which the auxiliary excavating blades of the excavating screw according to the present invention are advanced and extended by hydraulic pressure;

[20] Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the state in which the auxiliary blades of the excavating screw according to the present invention are retreated and reduced by hydraulic pressure; and [21] Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically showing another example of channels formed on the excavating screw according to the present invention. [22] [Description of Symbols for Major Parts of the Drawings]

[23] 10: extension unit, 11, 11': auxiliary blades,

[24] 12, 12': cylinder slots, 14, 14': oil pipes,

[25] 15, 15': main channels, 16: cylinder,

[26] 17: popping shaft, 17a: fluid chamber,

[27] 18: piston shaft, 19: piston,

[28] 19a and 19b: auxiliary channels, 20: excavation pipe,

[29] 21: screw, 30: extension rod,

[30] 31: coupler,

[31] 32, 32': oil inflow and discharge passages,

[32] 33: oil hose, 40, 40': valve slots,

[33] 41, 41': double pilot check valve,

[34] 50: channel connection plate, 51, 51': hydraulic hoses.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [35] Below will be described in detail an extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary excavating blades according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. [36] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an excavating screw according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view showing the major part of the excavating screw according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a per-

spective view showing the assembly of the whole excavating screw according to the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the assembly of the whole excavating screw according to the present invention.

[37] An extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary blades of the present invention comprises a tube-shaped excavation pipe 20, an extension unit 10 that is assembled to the lower end of the excavation pipe 20 and has auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11', a spiral screw 21, an extension rod 30 extended and installed inside the excavation pipe 20, and a coupler 31 mounted at the upper end of the extension rod 30 for assembly to auger crane.

[38] The coupler 31 comprises oil hoses 33 into which oil force-fed from a fluid system is flown. The extension rod 30 comprises an oil inflow passage 32 formed for oil to be flown in through the oil hose 33, and an oil discharge passage 32' formed for oil to be discharged through the oil hose 33.

[39] The extension unit 10 comprises cylinder slots 12 and 12' formed transversely at different heights, a popping shaft 17 which is mounted and able to pop in the transverse direction in the cylinder slots 12 and 12' and at one end of which are fixed auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11', main channels 15 and 15' formed inside the extension unit 10 for oil flown in and discharged through oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' to flow, and oil pipes 14 and 14' one end of which is connected to oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' and the other end of which are connected to main channels 15 and 15' through flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' and are placed between extension unit 10 and extension rod 30 inside the excavation pipe 20.

[40] The oil pipes 14 and 14' move in the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' in interlock with the extension rod 30 that is inserted into and out of the excavation pipe 20, so that hydraulic pressure continuously acts through the main channels 15 and 15' on the popping shaft 17 having auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11'.

[41] Also, the extendable excavating screw of the present invention further comprises a channel connection plate 50 which is placed between extension unit 10 and extension rod 30 in the excavation pipe 20 and to one side of which are connected the oil pipes 14 and 14', and flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' which are placed between channel connection plate 50 and extension unit 10 so that one end of which connects with the other side of the channel connection plate 50 and the other end of which communicates with the main channels 15 and 15' of the extension unit 10.

[42] Therefore, if twist with the extension unit 10 below is generated by rotation of the excavation pipe 20, the flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' offset the twist to make it possible to prevent twist of or damage to the oil pipes 14 and 14' that are slidably inserted in the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' formed in the extension rod 30.

[43] At this time, as shown in enlargement in Fig. 7, the respective ends of the oil pipes

14 and 14' and hydraulic hoses 50, 50' are sealed and assembled by retainer. Into the lower end of the extension rod 30 is also inserted the retainer to prevent oil leakage in the process that the oil pipes 14 and 14' move along the oil inflow and discharge passages 32, 31' and guide the oil pipes 14 and 14' to slide smoothly.

[44] In the cylinder slots 12 and 12' of the extension unit 10 is mounted the cylinder 16 for supporting the popping shaft 17 having auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' at the end. One end of the cylinder 16 is fixed into the cylinder slots 12 and 12' and the other end is installed in protrusion on one side of the extension unit 10, and inside it the popping shaft 17 is slidably mounted. In the popping shaft 17 is formed a fluid chamber 17a, and in the fluid chamber 17a is through-installed a piston shaft 18. The head of one end of the piston shaft 18 is fixed to the cylinder slot 12 of the extension unit 10, and the rod extended from the head is placed lengthwise in the fluid chamber 17a. To the end portion of the rod of the piston shaft 18 is fixed a piston 19 that is in slide contact with the inner wall of the popping shaft 17. Into the end of the fluid chamber 17a through which the piston shaft 18 passes is inserted the retainer to prevent oil leakage.

[45] The fluid chamber 17a formed in the piston shaft 18 is partitioned into two by means of the piston 19. In the piston shaft 18 are formed auxiliary channels 19a and 19b. One end of the auxiliary channels 19a and 19b communicates with the main channels 15 and 15' of the extension unit 10, and the other end is exposed to both sides of the piston 19 so as to selectively supply oil into each fluid chamber 17a partitioned by the piston 19. Accordingly, the length of the popping shaft 17 is extended or reduced by selective oil supply into each fluid chamber 17a partitioned by the piston 19.

[46] As shown in Fig. 9, transverse valve slots 40 and 40' are formed in the top of the extension unit 10, and check valves 41 and 41' are mounted in the valve slots 40 and 40'. The double pilot check valves 41 and 41' selectively connect the main channels 15 and 15' in the extension unit 10 with the auxiliary channels 19a and 19b in the piston shaft 18 to prevent the extended auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' from being inserted into the cylinder 16 by external force.

[47] The extendable excavating screw of the present invention having such a configuration will be described in more detail. The extendable excavating screw is provided with the excavation pipe 20, and to the upper end of this excavation pipe 20 is mounted the into-and-out inserted extension rod 30 for performing excavation work in a deeper field. A coupler 31 is formed at the front end of this extension rod 30, so the coupler 31 is used to mount an excavating screw to a conventional auger crane.

[48] Also, to the lower end of the excavation pipe 20 is mounted the extension unit 10 with popping auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11'. On the outer circumference of the

excavation pipe 20 and the extension unit 10 forming continuously across the whole length is a spiral screw 21 for discharging excavated earth by rotation of the excavation pipe 20.

[49] Such an excavating screw is constructed in such a way that the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' are popped in and out by the pressure of the fluid supplied from the fluid system.

[50] For this, the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' are formed parallel along the lengthwise direction of the extension rod in separation at a given interval. To the coupler 31 is mounted to the oil hose 33 for transmitting the oil supplied from the fluid system. Therefore, when the oil hose 33 and the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' communicate with each other, the oil supplied from the fluid system is flown in through the oil inflow passage 32 and is returned to the fluid system through the oil discharge passage 32'.

[51] Also, into the top of the extension unit 10 is inserted the excavation pipe 20, and into the excavation pipe 20 is extendably inserted the extension rod 30. Namely, the extension rod 30 can have the whole length of the excavating screw adjusted by being extended outward from the excavation pipe 20 or inserted into the excavation pipe 20. At this time, between extension rod 30 and extension unit 10 in the excavation pipe 20 are inserted the oil pipes 14 and 14' that are connected with the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32'. The oil pipes 14 and 14' are connected with separate flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' through the channel connection plate 50, and the flexible channels 51 and 51' communicate with the main channels 15 and 15' formed in the extension unit 10.

[52] Namely, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the oil pipes 14 and 14' and the flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' are inserted into the excavation pipe 20 in communication with the oil inflow and discharge passages 32, 31', so even if the extension rod 30 is drawn out and extended from the excavation pipe 20, the fluid communication state of the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32' and main channels 15 and 15' is maintained as it is by the oil pipes 14 and 14' and flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51', so the inflow and discharge of the fluid are continuously maintained.

[53] Provided in extension unit 10 are the main channels 15 and 15' for popping in and out the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' by the pressure of oil supplied through the oil pipes 14 and 14' and flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51'. The main channels 15 and 15' are formed in such a way that they can supply oil to each of the left and right auxiliary excavating blades in bifurcation so as to individually pop each of the left and right auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11'. Therefore, it is possible for the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' having different heights and directions to pop out or in while advancing or retreating simultaneously by the action of the fluid.

[54] Also, in the extension unit 10 are formed cylinder slots 12 and 12' facing opposite directions at different heights. Inside the cylinder slots 12 and 12', the tube-shaped cylinders 16 and 16 are inserted and fixed in protrusion outward of the extension unit 10. Into the cylinder 16 is inserted the popping shaft 17 having auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' at one end.

[55] In particular, in the popping shaft 17 is provided with the fluid chamber 17a extended lengthwise, and into the fluid chamber 17a is inserted the piston shaft 18. In the head composing one end of the piston shaft 18 are formed a plurality of fastening holes for bolts to be fastened, and also in the cylinder slots 12 and 12' are formed a plurality of corresponding fastening holes. Therefore, the piston shaft 18 is firmly fixed in the cylinder slots 12 and 12' by a plurality of bolts screw-joining with these fastening holes. In the end portion of the rod extended from the head of the piston shaft 18 is inserted the piston 19 that is in close contact with the inner wall of the fluid chamber 17a. In the piston shaft 18 are formed auxiliary channels 19a and 19b of different lengths extended lengthwise of it, as shown in Fig. 7.

[56] One end of the auxiliary channels 19a and 19b communicates with the main channels

15 and 15' and the other end is respectively exposed to both sides with the piston 19 in between. Accordingly, when the fluid supplied from the main channel 15 is flown into the fluid chamber 17a of one side (for instance, left side) partitioned by the piston 19 through the auxiliary channel 19a, the piston 19 moves along the inner wall of the fluid chamber 17a while the popping shaft 17 is protruded in the arrow direction, so that the whole length of the auxiliary excavating blade 11 is increased. At the same time, the oil in the fluid chamber 17a of the other side (for instance, right side) partitioned by the piston 19 is discharged into the main channel 15' through the auxiliary channel 19b on the other side.

[57] Conversely, as shown in Fig. 8, when oil is supplied to the fluid chamber 17a of the other side (for instance, right side) partitioned by the piston 19 through the auxiliary channel 19b on the other side, the piston 19 moves along the inner wall of the fluid chamber 17a by hydraulic pressure while the popping shaft 17 retreats in the arrow direction, so that the whole length of the auxiliary excavating blade 11 is decreased. At the same time, the oil in the fluid chamber 17a of one side (for instance, left side) partitioned by the piston 19 is discharged into the main channel 15 through the auxiliary channel 19a on one side.

[58] As described above, since the auxiliary channels 19a and 19b are connected with the main channels 15 and 15', fluid is supplied or discharged through the oil inflow and discharge passages 32 and 32', main channels 15 and 15' and auxiliary channels 19a and 19b, so the popping shaft 17 is protruded outward to be extended or inserted inward to be reduced by the hydraulic pressure acting at this time.

[59] Therefore, since it is possible to extend or reduce the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11 ' remotely and conveniently by using the pressure of fluid, it is possible to use the excavating screw more economically and effectively for deep excavation as well as excavation to a given depth.

[60] At this time, in the case of expanded excavation by using auxiliary excavating blades rotated by the excavating screw, deviation could occur in the excavation pipe 20 and extension rod 30 due to the twist with the lower extension unit 10. Namely, between the extension rod 30 and the extension unit 10 where the length is adjusted in the excavation pipe 20, twist could occur between each other by the rotatory force in the direction of vertical axis. If such a twist occurs, considerable load and twist stress act on the oil pipes 14 and 14' made of metal material; if serious, the oil pipes 14 and 14' will be twisted or damaged causing malfunction.

[61] In particular, if the extension rod 30 in the excavation pipe 20 goes up and down with twist applied as mentioned above, oil leakage due to serious damage and deformation to the oil pipes 14 and 14' could occur at the lower end of the oil pipes 14 and 14' in twisted condition.

[62] To prevent this, in the present invention, a separate channel connection plate 50 is installed inside the lower end of the excavation pipe 20 and then the lower end of the oil pipes 14 and 14' was assembled to the top surface of the channel connection plate 50. To the bottom surface of the channel connection plate 50 is assembled the front end of separate flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51', and the lower end of the flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' is connected to the main channels 15 and 15' in the extension unit 10.

[63] After all, the twist occurring during rotary excavation between the extension unit 10 and the upper excavation pipe 20 and the extension rod 30 inside it is absorbed and offset effectively by the flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51'. Because the flexible hydraulic hoses 51 and 51' are made of relatively soft elastic material, so they do not cause any trouble to the supply of fluid even if a certain extent of twist occurrs, they can fundamentally solve the aforementioned problem.

[64] Moreover, since the channel connection plate 50 is directly fixed to the inside of the excavation pipe 20, it rotates together with the excavation pipe 20 regardless of twist during rotary excavation, so no twist is applied to the upper oil pipes 14 and 14'. Therefore, they can be used stably for a long time.

[65] The extendable excavating screw with hydraulic auxiliary excavating blades of the present invention can use a method of continuously supplying the fluid to maintain the popping condition when the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' are extended and popped by hydraulic pressure. Because such a method causes a considerable trouble to the fluid transmission system and pressure and shock load are applied during ex-

cavation, it is preferable to use a fluid control technique through separate check valves.

[66] As shown in Fig. 9, valve slots 40 and 40' are formed at the front end of the extension unit 10 in a transverse direction, and double pilot check valves 41 and 41' are embedded in the valve slots 40 and 40'. The double pilot check valves 41 and 41' are installed between the main channels 15 and 15' connected with the oil inflow and discharge passages 32, 31' and the auxiliary channels 19a and 19b formed inside the piston shaft 18 to play a role of controlling the opening and closing of the channels.

[67] Namely, when fluid is supplied from the oil inflow passage 32 of one side the pertinent quantity of fluid is allowed to be discharged through the oil discharge passage 32' of the other side; when supply of fluid is ended the channels opened by the original function of the double pilot check valves 41 and 41' are cut off so as to cut off high-pressure fluid leaking out again. Therefore, the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11 ' protruded out by supply of fluid are prevented from being inserted in the reverse direction even if external force occurred.

[68] And conversely, when fluid is supplied to the oil discharge passage 32' of the other side, the oil inflow passage 32 of one side is opened to discharge the fluid. Such a state is a process in which the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' retreat to be inserted into the cylinders 16 and 16. Even when retreat has ended, the auxiliary excavating blade 11 and 11' are not protruded arbitrarily by the channel cut-off action of the double pilot check valves 41 and 41'.

[69] Therefore, since the auxiliary excavating blades 11 and 11' are popped in or out only by actual control of the user by means of the double pilot check valves 41 and 41', malfunction of the relevant major part can be prevented, so it is very economical. Industrial Applicability

[70] According to the present invention, it is possible to work effectively according to the depth of excavation ground by using the extendable excavating screw with auxiliary blades operated by hydraulic pressure, so the construction period is shortened and workability is greatly improved.

[71] Although the present invention has been described in detail reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

[72]