Use of a quick change device for an excavator and soil working machine

Abstract

The invention relates firstly to the use of a quick-change device (04) designed for an excavator for attaching an excavator attachment (03) to a lifting carriage (06) of a mast (02). The excavator attachment (03) is designed for injecting a binding agent into soil and comprises a mounting bracket (07) for attaching the excavator attachment (03) to a carrier machine (01) and at least one motor (21). The excavator attachment (03) also comprises at least one track bar (16) which extends from the mounting bracket (07) to a bar head of the track bar (16) and which includes a guide rail (17) and a milling chain (18) rotating on the guide rail (17). The milling chain (18) can be driven by the at least one motor (21).The chain blade (16) further comprises a conveying line (22) extending from the mounting bracket (07) along the guide rail (17) to the blade head for conveying the binding agent. The invention further relates to a soil cultivation machine for introducing a binding agent into soil.

Description

[0001] The invention relates firstly to the use of a quick-change device designed for an excavator. Such a quick-change device is originally intended to allow an attachment to be detachably connected to the boom of an excavator. Furthermore, the invention relates to a soil cultivation machine for introducing a binding agent into the soil.

[0002] From EP 2 324 158 B1 a milling attachment for excavators is known, which is particularly suitable for breaking up hard surfaces made of rock, asphalt or concrete as well as for rock extraction.

[0003] DE 10 2015 115 543 B4 describes a strip milling machine with at least two spaced-apart main milling heads. The main milling heads are used to create milling channels and are arranged on a common axis. Furthermore, at least one fine milling device is arranged in front of or behind the strip milling machine.

[0004] DE 10 2005 023 966 A1 describes a device for cultivating soils for row crops. The device uses a milling tube to loosen the soil.

[0005] EP 4 209 636 A1 describes a soil milling machine for preparing forest soils for tree planting. The soil milling machine comprises an excavator-mounted milling attachment with a mounting bracket for attachment to a movable boom arm of an excavator.

[0006] German patent DE 42 14 569 C1 discloses a quick-change device for earthmoving vehicles for changing work attachments. The work attachments are detachably connected to the boom of the earthmoving machine via an adapter that can pivot about a horizontal axis.

[0007] From DE 10 2014 101 001 A1, a quick-change device for an excavator is known, with which a tool can be detachably connected to a boom of the excavator. A connecting piece is made up of an adapter attached to the tool and a quick coupler attached to the boom, which are detachably connected to each other by a locking mechanism.

[0008] DE 43 12 368 A1 discloses a device for attaching work equipment, such as a pile driver, to a lifting carriage of a construction machine's mast. The mast has, on the one hand, attachment points for each end of two tension cables guided over an upper and a lower pulley, and on the other hand, a receptacle for the work equipment, which is fitted with a corresponding counter-receptacle.

[0009] The product brochure "Kemsolid build on solid foundations" from Kemroc Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH, 2023-05, describes a mixing blade as an attachment for excavators, as well as pile drivers, piling rigs, and pile drivers, for the production of milled soil-cement walls. The mixing blade comprises a chain blade and a delivery line for fresh concrete. With this mixing blade, the ground can be milled, fresh concrete injected into the ground and mixed with the soil in a single operation, thus creating a soil-cement wall. The mixing blade is available in various versions with lengths between 6 and 12 meters. However, mounting such a long mixing blade on a pile driver proves difficult, as the mounting point is at a height corresponding to the length of the mixing blade, thus posing risks to the operating personnel.

[0010] Starting from the prior art, the object of the present invention is to facilitate the assembly of an excavator attachment unit formed by a mixing blade on a mast.

[0011] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a use according to the attached claim 1 and by a soil cultivation machine according to the attached dependent claim. 13.

[0012] According to the invention, a quick-change device designed for an excavator is used to attach an excavator attachment unit formed by a mixing blade to a vertically movable lifting carriage of a pile driver. The pile driver is originally a guide device for a construction machine and serves for driving piles, such as pipes or piles, or for drilling holes in the ground. The pile driver is, for example, designed as a pile drilling rig. The pile or a drilling drive is attached to the lifting carriage to enable its vertical movement along the pile driver. It is also known to attach a mixing blade, originally forming an excavator attachment unit, for driving a binding agent into the ground to such a pile driver, in order to enable the mixing blade to be driven vertically into the ground using the pile driver.

[0013] The quick-change device is primarily designed to allow a detachable attachment to be connected to an excavator boom. The attachment could be, for example, an excavator bucket, a backhoe bucket, or a hydraulic hammer. To connect the attachment to the boom, it is hooked onto the quick-change device and then locked in place, either mechanically by hand or, preferably, hydraulically.

[0014] The excavator attachment formed by the mixing blade is an interchangeable accessory for an excavator. Here, an excavator is understood to be a construction machine used for loosening and moving soil and rock. The excavator attachment can be detachably mounted to a movable boom arm of the excavator.

[0015] The excavator attachment formed by the mixing blade serves to introduce a binding agent into the soil. Here, "soil" refers to the outer layer of the earth, which can be natural or previously worked by humans. The soil can consist, for example, of earth or sandy soil. The binding agent introduced into the soil solidifies and forms a firm structure. Preferably, the excavator attachment is designed such that the binding agent is mixed with milled soil particles during introduction, creating a mixture of the binding agent and the soil that solidifies into a firm structure. The binding agent is preferably a liquid or a suspension. The binding agent preferably comprises cement and water. The binding agent is particularly preferably fresh concrete.The binding agent can also be formed by other materials such as a resin or an adhesive.

[0016] The excavator attachment unit comprises a mounting bracket for the detachable attachment of the excavator attachment unit to the excavator's movable boom arm. The mounting bracket is therefore designed to be detachably attached to the movable boom arm. For this purpose, the mounting bracket forms a mechanical interface between the excavator attachment unit and the excavator's boom arm. The mounting bracket preferably includes a perforated plate to which an adapter for the quick-change device is attached. However, the mounting bracket can also be designed for direct detachable attachment to the quick-change device.

[0017] The excavator attachment unit comprises at least one motor. The at least one motor is preferably a hydraulic motor powered by the excavator or an electric motor.

[0018] The excavator attachment includes at least one tracked cutting blade, which can be used to mill the soil by being driven into the ground by the excavator. The cutting blade extends from the mounting bracket to the blade head, which forms the distal end of the cutting blade. The cutting blade is designed to penetrate the soil starting with its blade head. It features a guide rail and a milling chain that runs around the guide rail. The milling chain serves to mill the soil as the cutting blade penetrates the ground. The milling chain slides continuously around the guide rail and is driven by at least one motor.

[0019] The tracked blade also includes a conveying line running from the mounting bracket along the guide rail to the blade head for transporting the binding agent. This allows the binding agent to be conveyed from the mounting bracket to the blade head, where it then exits. Since the blade head is in the ground during operation, the binding agent exits into the soil, where the moving milling chain preferentially mixes the binding agent with milled soil components, creating a binding agent-soil mixture. Therefore, the excavator attachment acts as a mixing blade.

[0020] A particular advantage of the inventive use of the quick-change device designed for an excavator on a mast is that it enables the simple and safe attachment of a mixing blade to the mast. This allows different versions of the mixing blade to be exchanged on the mast with minimal effort, for example, to achieve different widths of the solid structure to be formed in the ground.

[0021] In preferred embodiments, the lifting carriage with the attached quick-change device can be moved to a lower position, allowing the excavator attachment, which is in a horizontal position, to be hooked into the quick-change device. Similarly, the vertically movable lifting carriage of the boom, with the attached quick-change device, is moved to the lower position. In this lower position, personnel can preferably work at ground level on the lifting carriage. In this lower position, the lifting carriage is preferably less than 2 meters above the ground. This is preferably the lowest position to which the lifting carriage can be moved on the boom. The mixing blade, which forms the excavator attachment and is in a horizontal position, is moved to the lifting carriage, or the boom is moved to the mixing blade.The mixing blade forming the excavator attachment is positioned so that its mounting bracket is in front of the lifting carriage and that a longitudinal axis of the mixing blade and a longitudinal axis of the boom, i.e., a direction of movement of the lifting carriage, lie in the same plane. The mixing blade forming the excavator attachment is then hooked into the quick-change device. This is preferably achieved by slightly raising the lifting carriage.

[0022] In preferred embodiments, the lifting carriage, with the quick-change device attached to it and the excavator attachment suspended in the quick-change device, can be moved upwards, thereby erecting the excavator attachment. Similarly, the lifting carriage, with the quick-change device attached to it and the mixing blade suspended in the quick-change device, is moved upwards, thereby erecting the mixing blade and aligning it vertically. The mixing blade reaches its vertical alignment when the height of the lifting carriage above the ground is at least as great as the length of the mixing blade forming the excavator attachment. The mixing blade thus hangs freely from the lifting carriage of the mast.

[0023] In preferred embodiments, the erected excavator attachment can be locked in the quick-change device. Accordingly, the erected mixing blade is locked in the quick-change device, so that the mixing blade forming the excavator attachment is securely and releasably connected to the mast's lifting carriage via the quick-change device. The locked mixing blade then retains its vertical orientation, allowing it to be driven vertically into the soil to be worked by the mast.

[0024] In preferred embodiments, the mounting bracket or an adapter mounted on the mounting bracket has a retaining bolt. The quick-change device has at least one receiving claw for receiving the retaining bolt. The mixing blade is thus suspended by the retaining bolt in the at least one receiving claw of the quick-change device and therefore also on the lifting carriage of the boom. The retaining bolt can be engaged in the at least one receiving claw of the quick-change device. Thus, when the excavator attachment, which is in a horizontal position, is attached to the quick-change device, the retaining bolt is engaged in the at least one receiving claw of the quick-change device. During the intended use of the mixing blade, the retaining bolt is preferably horizontally oriented. The retaining bolt is preferably oriented perpendicular to the plane in which the longitudinal axis of the mixing blade and the longitudinal axis of the boom lie. The one receiving claw orThe two spaced-apart receiving claws preferentially grip the retaining bolt along its entire free length.

[0025] In preferred embodiments, the mounting bracket or an adapter mounted on the mounting bracket has a coupling pin in addition to the retaining pin. The quick-change device includes at least one locking claw as a counterpart to the coupling pin. The at least one locking claw is slidable to receive the coupling pin. Therefore, when the erected excavator attachment is locked in the quick-change device, the at least one locking claw is moved to receive the coupling pin. Thus, the excavator attachment is connected to the quick-change device via the retaining pin and the coupling pin, with the retaining pin and the coupling pin being clamped between the at least one receiving claw and the at least one locking claw, so that the excavator attachment is firmly and releasably connected to the quick-change device. The coupling pin is preferably arranged parallel to the retaining pin.The coupling bolt and the retaining bolt are preferably arranged in a plane that is preferably vertically oriented during the intended use of the mixing blade. The at least one locking claw is mechanically movable by hand or, preferably, hydraulically or pneumatically. Accordingly, the at least one locking claw is preferably moved hydraulically or pneumatically to lock the excavator attachment. Preferably, an operator is on the ground and hydraulically or pneumatically actuates the locking claw, which is located at a height of several meters.

[0026] In alternative preferred embodiments, the quick-change device comprises at least one sliding locking bolt for securing the mixing blade forming the excavator attachment within the quick-change device. Accordingly, the mounting bracket or an adapter mounted on the mounting bracket has at least one locking bolt receptacle into which the locking bolt can be slid. When the erected excavator attachment is locked in the quick-change device, the locking bolt is pushed into the locking bolt receptacle. The locking bolt can be moved mechanically by hand or, preferably, hydraulically or pneumatically. The locking bolt is preferably moved hydraulically or pneumatically to lock the excavator attachment. Preferably, an operator is on the ground and hydraulically or pneumatically actuates the locking bolt, which is located several meters above ground level.

[0027] The track blade has a length that is preferably at least 3 meters; more preferably at least 5 meters; and particularly preferably at least 8 meters. The length of the entire excavator attachment is preferably about one meter greater than the length of the track blade, due to the mounting bracket and the engine.

[0028] In preferred embodiments, the chain guide includes a sprocket for driving the milling chain. The milling chain runs on the sprocket. The sprocket is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft or itself forms a section of a drive shaft. The drive shaft can be driven by the at least one motor. The drive shaft is preferably directly connected to an output shaft of the at least one motor or is formed by an output shaft of the at least one motor.

[0029] In preferred embodiments, the milling chain comprises a plurality of milling tools. The milling tools are designed to mill the soil. The milling tools are preferably arranged evenly distributed on one outer side of the milling chain. In preferred embodiments, the milling tools are arranged in at least two rows on the milling chain. The distance between the two rows determines the width of the structure to be embedded in the soil.

[0030] In preferred embodiments, the at least one motor is a hydraulic motor supplied by the excavator or an electric motor. The at least one hydraulic motor is supplied via a hydraulic line that runs from the excavator along its boom and along the mounting bracket to the at least one hydraulic motor. Alternatively, the at least one electric motor is preferably supplied via an electrical line along this same route. In the application according to the invention, the hydraulic line runs from the carrier vehicle, over the boom, and along the mounting bracket to the at least one hydraulic motor.

[0031] The soil cultivation machine according to the invention is used for incorporating a binding agent into soil. The soil cultivation machine comprises a carrier unit suitable for carrying a binder. The carrier unit can be, for example, an excavator, a crane, or a binder carrier device. The carrier unit is preferably a tracked vehicle. The soil cultivation machine comprises a binder mounted on and supported by the carrier unit. The binder is vertically oriented. The binder includes a vertically displaceable lifting carriage. The soil cultivation machine also includes a quick-change device designed for an excavator, which is mounted on and supported by the lifting carriage. The soil cultivation machine also includes an excavator attachment for incorporating a binding agent into soil.The excavator attachment unit consists of a mixing blade and is detachably attached to the quick-change device, either directly or indirectly via an adapter. The quick-change device thus supports the excavator attachment unit on the mast's lifting carriage. The excavator attachment unit comprises a mounting bracket for attaching the attachment unit to a carrier machine and at least one motor. The excavator attachment unit also includes at least one track blade extending from the mounting bracket to the blade head. The track blade comprises a guide rail and a milling chain running along the guide rail. The milling chain is driven by the at least one motor. The track blade further includes a conveying line extending from the mounting bracket along the guide rail to the blade head for conveying the binding agent.The soil cultivation machine preferably also has features that are described in connection with the use according to the invention.

[0032] Further advantages, details, and developments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a soil cultivation machine according to the invention; Fig. 2 a first view of a preferred embodiment of a soil cultivation machine according to the invention. Fig. 1 shown quick-change device for attaching a Fig. 1 excavator attachment unit shown; Fig. 3 a second illustration of the use according to the invention of the in Fig. 1 quick-change device shown; Fig. 4 a third illustration of the use according to the invention of the in Fig. 1quick-change device shown; and Fig. 5 a fourth illustration of the use according to the invention of the in Fig. 1 shown quick-change device.

[0033] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a soil cultivation machine according to the invention. The soil cultivation machine comprises a carrier unit in the form of a tracked vehicle 01. The carrier unit 01 carries a mast 02, which can, for example, carry a drilling rig (not shown) that can be driven vertically into the ground by the mast 02. According to the invention, however, the mast 02 is used to carry an excavator attachment 03 formed by a mixing blade, which is mounted on a vertically movable lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 via a quick-change device 04 designed for an excavator (not shown). For this purpose, an adapter 08 was mounted on a mounting bracket 07 of the excavator attachment 03 to adapt the excavator attachment 03 to the specific design of the quick-change device 04.Specifically, the adapter 08 includes a horizontal retaining bolt 09, which can be engaged by two receiving claws 11 of the quick-change device 04. The adapter 08 also has a horizontal coupling bolt 12, into which two locking claws 13 of the quick-change device 04 can be inserted to secure the adapter 08 in the quick-change device 04.

[0034] The excavator attachment 03 comprises a tracked blade 16 with which a soil (not shown) can be milled. The tracked blade 16 has a guide rail 17 and a milling chain 18 running on the guide rail 17. The milling chain 18 has a plurality of preferably evenly distributed milling cutters 19, which are preferably arranged in two rows on the milling chain 18. The excavator attachment 03 includes a hydraulic motor 21, which drives the milling chain 18.

[0035] The chain blade 16 also includes a conveying line 22 extending from the mounting bracket 07 along the guide rail 17 for conveying fresh concrete.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a first illustration of a preferred embodiment of a use of the quick-change device 04 according to the invention in the Fig. 1The soil cultivation machine shown. In this configuration, the excavator attachment 03 is mounted on the mast 02 and used as intended. The excavator attachment 03 is in a horizontal position, so that the adapter 08 with the retaining bolt 09 is only slightly above the ground. The vertically movable lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 has been moved to a lower position, so that the retaining bolt 09 of the adapter 08 attached to the excavator attachment 03 can be engaged in the two receiving jaws 11 of the quick-change device 04 attached to the lifting carriage 06, without having to raise the excavator attachment 03.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a second illustration of the use of the quick-change device 04. This second illustration builds upon the one in Fig. 2The first illustration shows the vertically movable lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 being moved upwards, thereby erecting the excavator attachment 03 suspended from the lifting carriage 06. Thus, the erection of the excavator attachment 03 is carried out solely by the mast 02, without the need for any other machine, such as a crane or a lifting platform.

[0038] Fig. 4 This shows a third illustration of the use of the quick-change device 04. This third illustration builds upon the one in Fig. 3The second illustration shows the process. The vertically movable lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 was moved upwards until the excavator attachment 03 hung freely from the lifting carriage 06, thus assuming a vertical orientation. The locking jaws 13 of the quick-change device 04 were then hydraulically moved to engage the horizontal coupling bolt 12 of the adapter 08, thereby firmly connecting the excavator attachment 03 to the lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 via the adapter 08 and the quick-change device 04. The lifting carriage 06 is at a height of, for example, 20 meters. The excavator attachment 03 can now be used as intended.

[0039] Fig. 5 This shows a fourth illustration of the use of the quick-change device 04. This fourth illustration builds upon the one in Fig. 4The third illustration shows the excavator attachment 03 being used as intended. The vertically movable lifting carriage 06 of the mast 02 is moved downwards to insert the track blade 16 into the ground. The milling chain 18 is driven by the hydraulic motor 21 to mill the ground. Fresh concrete is conveyed through the delivery line 22 and emerges from the lower end of the track blade 16 in the milled ground. Reference symbol list

[0040] 01 Tracked vehicle 02 Marker 03 Excavator attachment 04 Quick-change device 05- 06 Lifting carriage 07 Mounting bracket 08 Adapter 09 Retaining bolt 10- 11 Mounting claw 12 Coupling bolt 13 Safety claw 14- 15- 16 Track bar 17 Guide bar 18 Milling chain 19 Milling cutter 20- 21 Hydraulic motor 22 Delivery line

Claims

1. Use of a quick-change device (04) designed for an excavator for attaching an excavator attachment (03) to a lifting carriage (06) of a mast (02), wherein the excavator attachment (03) is designed for injecting a binding agent into soil and comprises the following components: - a mounting bracket (07) for attaching the excavator attachment (03) to a carrier device (01); - at least one motor (21); and - at least one track bar (16) extending from the mounting bracket (07) to a bar head of the track bar (16) and comprising a guide rail (17) and a milling chain (18) rotating on the guide rail (17); wherein the milling chain (18) can be driven by the at least one motor (21); and wherein the chain blade (16) further comprises a conveying line (22) extending from the mounting bracket (07) along the guide rail (17) to the blade head for conveying the binding agent.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the lifting carriage (06) with the quick-change device (04) attached to it can be moved to a lower position, whereby the excavator attachment unit (03) which is in a horizontal position can be hooked into the quick-change device (04).

3. Use according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the lifting carriage (06) with the quick-change device (04) attached to it and the excavator attachment unit (03) suspended in the quick-change device (04) can be moved upwards, thereby erecting the excavator attachment unit (03).

4. Use according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the erected excavator attachment unit (03) can be locked in the quick-change device (04).

5. Use according to claim 4, characterized by the fact thatthe mounting bracket (07) or an adapter (08) mounted on the mounting bracket (07) comprises a coupling bolt (12), and that the quick-change device (04) comprises at least one locking claw (13), wherein the at least one locking claw (13) is slidable to accommodate the coupling bolt (12).

6. Use according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that which at least one locking claw (13) is hydraulically or pneumatically displaceable.

7. Use according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by the fact that the quick-change device (04) includes a locking bolt which can be moved into a locking bolt receptacle in the mounting bracket (07) or into an adapter (08) mounted on the mounting bracket (07).

8. Use according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the locking bolt is hydraulically or pneumatically movable.

9. Use according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized by the fact thatthe mounting bracket (07) or an adapter (08) mounted on the mounting bracket (07) has a retaining bolt (09) which can be hooked into at least one receiving claw (11) of the quick-change device (04).

10. Use according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the milling chain (18) has a large number of milling tools (19).

11. Use according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the milling tools (19) are arranged in at least two rows on the milling chain (18).

12. Use according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that the at least one motor is formed by a hydraulic motor (21) supplied by the excavator or by an electric motor.

13. Soil cultivation machine for introducing a binding agent into soil, comprising a carrier unit (01) and a mast (02) carried by the carrier unit (01), as well as a quick-change device (04) designed for an excavator and carried by a lifting carriage (06) of the mast (02), to which an excavator attachment unit (03) for introducing a binding agent into soil is detachably attached, wherein the excavator attachment unit (03) comprises the following components: - a mounting bracket (07) for attaching the excavator attachment unit (03) to the carrier unit (01); - at least one motor (21); and - at least one track blade (16) extending from the mounting bracket (07) to a blade head of the track blade (16) and comprising a guide rail (17) and a milling chain (18) rotating on the guide rail (17); wherein the milling chain (18) can be driven by the at least one motor (21);and wherein the chain blade (16) further comprises a conveying line (22) extending from the mounting bracket (07) along the guide rail (17) to the blade head for conveying the binding agent.

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