Supply belt, particularly supply belt for civil engineering machinery

Abstract

To provide a supply belt for civil engineering machinery which has high stability and can be wound up compactly.SOLUTION: The supply belt comprises: at least two supply lines which are arranged side by side to form a belt-like line assembly and which have diameters less than a maximum line diameter; lateral guide strands which run along respective end edges of both ends of the line assembly and are constructed of dimensionally uniform multiple segments positioned to overlap each other when the supply belt is wound up, where, for protection of the supply lines, the height of each segment exceeds the maximum line diameter by a prescribed projection amount; and crossbars, which extend transversely to a longitudinal direction of the belt from a connecting segment of the first lateral guide strand to an opposite connecting segment of the second lateral guide strand, thereby linking them together.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply belt, in particular a supply belt for earth moving machines, which is a supply belt according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising at least two supply lines arranged side by side to form a belt-like line assembly, each of the supply lines having a diameter not exceeding the maximum line diameter LD, two lateral guide strands extending respectively along both edges of the line assembly, each of the guide strands being made up of a number of segments with no dimensional variation, the segments overlapping each other when the supply belt is wound up, the height of each segment exceeding the maximum line diameter LD by a predefined protrusion in order to protect the supply lines, and a number of transverse strips arranged individually along the supply belt, which extend transversely in the belt longitudinal direction from a joining segment of a first lateral guide strand to a joining segment of a second lateral guide strand on the opposite side, connecting them to each other. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical supply belt for earthmoving machines is disclosed, for example, in the patent DE 10 200 43 33 52. The supply belt comprises a number of supply lines arranged next to each other to form a belt-like line assembly. At both edges of the line assembly, guide strands are provided, which are made in a chain by a number of segments with uniform dimensions. To protect the supply belt, each segment has a height that exceeds the maximum line diameter of the supply line by a certain projection. This prevents damage to the supply line when winding the supply belt, since the layers wound on top of each other are located above the lower layer in the region of the larger lateral guide strands, so that in the radial direction the main forces are absorbed by the dimensionally uniform segments of the lateral guide strands. The height of the segments determines the height of the supply belt, and is therefore also called the system height.

[0003] The cross strips are also located independently along the feed belt and extend transversely across the belt length from a segment of one of the first side guide strands to a segment of the second opposite side guide strand to connect them together. The segments connected to the cross strips may also be referred to as connecting segments. The cross strips may hold adjacent feed units in place and secure them in place. The cross strips provide tension relief in the feed line since the feed strips may also be connected to the side guide strands.

[0004] For this reason, the transverse strip must be made with sufficient mechanical strength. In order to make the supply belt as light as possible, it can be made not of steel but of light metals, such as aluminum alloys. Since light metals are not very strong, the transverse strip must have a relatively large wall thickness to prevent bending or breaking, which leads to larger lateral segments and thus to an increased height of the supply belt. The higher the supply belt, the shorter the length of the belt that can be wound or wound on the belt drum with the largest drum diameter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 1826456 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The underlying object of the present invention is to provide a supply belt, in particular a supply belt for earth-moving machines, which has high stability whilst being able to be wound up very compactly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by using a supply belt having the features set forth in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0008] The supply belt according to the invention is characterized in that the height of the connecting segment is equal to the height of the other segments of the guide strand and that the transverse bands, in the area of ​​the line assembly of the supply line, protrude with a predetermined protrusion amount relative to the height of the connecting segment.

[0009] The basic idea of ​​the invention is that the transverse bands protrude with a predefined protrusion in the area of ​​the line assembly of the supply line with respect to the height of the adjacent connected segments. The connected segments have the same height as other segments that are not connected to the transverse band. The total height of the supply belt is determined by the height of the segments plus the predefined protrusion of the transverse band. However, when the supply belt is wound, the winding height is determined only by the height of the segments. The protrusion of the transverse bands can be accommodated in the area of ​​the line assembly with the supply line, the maximum diameter of the supply line being smaller than the height of the segments. This free space in the transverse bands can therefore be utilized for the protrusions.

[0010] As a result, the transverse band can be produced with sufficient material thickness and strength, which does not have a negative effect on the height and number of turns of the supply belt when wound on the drum. Longer supply belts can therefore be wound onto existing hose or belt drums. Alternatively, the length of the supply belt can be maintained, while the conveying diameter of the reel can be reduced, which means that, depending on the circumstances, expensive dedicated conveying means can be avoided.

[0011] The more compact configuration also requires less torque to wind and unwind due to the shorter levers and lighter operating weight, and also reduces material and manufacturing costs in constructing the supply belt.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, the value of the predetermined projection of the transverse strip in the area of ​​the line assembly is equal to or less than the value of the predetermined projection of the segment of the guide strand relative to the supply line, so that the supply line is prevented from being damaged in the line assembly by the projection of the transverse strip and thus the line is protected.

[0013] In principle, the transverse strips can be designed to protrude only on one side relative to the block-shaped segments, or can be designed asymmetrically. According to a further development of the invention, it is particularly advantageous if the transverse strips protrude on both sides in the region of the line assembly of the supply line with a predefined protrusion relative to the height of the connecting segments. This allows the free space present on the supply belt to be utilized very effectively for the organization of the transverse strips during winding. The sum of the protrusions on both sides is preferably less than or equal to the predefined protrusion of the guide strand segments relative to the supply line.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the transverse strip is configured in the form of a frame having a number of passages spaced apart from one another to receive and hold the supply lines. In particular, the passages are shaped to fit the outer diameter of each supply line. The supply lines are threaded through the passages and held in position relative to one another. The transverse strip is attached to or integrally formed with segments of the guide strands, so that the guide strands are also held in position relative to one another and the entire supply line is held in the desired shape and arrangement.

[0015] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the transverse strip is provided with a fastening device, in particular a line clamp, configured to fasten the supply lines to the transverse strip. By adding a fastening of the supply lines directly to the transverse strip, a reduction in tension of the respective supply lines can be achieved. The tensile loads can be absorbed by the transverse strip and the guide strands, preferably via existing tension or suspension cables along the supply lines. The tension or suspension cables can be passed through channels in the segments of the guide strands. This avoids undesired pinching of the supply lines during winding. Overall, this results in protection and an extremely long lifespan.

[0016] Generally, the supply lines can be configured in any suitable form. According to one variant of the invention, the supply lines are preferably configured as hose lines for conveying liquid or gas, as energy lines and / or as data lines. The hose lines can in particular be configured to convey hydraulic fluid, or compressed air, or cooling liquid, or drilling slurry, or cuttings slurry, or to convey slurry together with the removed earth material. The power lines can also be metallic cables conveying electric current, the cables being provided with suitable insulation. The data lines can also be metallic wires, but also for example optical fiber wires. These wires can be arranged in combination with one another in a supply belt, so that for example a civil construction machine can be efficiently supplied with fluids, energy and data from the supply belt.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, it is particularly advantageous for the supply belt to be wound on the belt drum, in which the windings of the lateral guide strands are located overlapping each other in the wound state. The guide strand is formed in a chain-like manner of segments of essentially identical construction. The segments, made from metal or plastic with uniform dimensions, can be held by at least one tension or suspension cable running along the guide strand in one or more passages of the individual segments.

[0018] The segments can be formed in a known manner with tongue and groove elements which connect and hold the segments together in a flexible manner so that they can be wound onto a belt drum. The belt drum can be mounted on a fixed base frame of the construction machine or on a mobile transport device and can be rotatably mounted. The belt drum can be driven in rotation by at least one drum drive, which preferably allows the supply belt to be wound onto and unwound from the belt drum.

[0019] A number of transverse strips can be arranged at each point of the supply belt between two laterally opposite connecting segments at a distance from one another. According to an embodiment of the present invention, for a particularly compact winding, it is advantageous to arrange the transverse strips at intervals along the supply belt in the belt longitudinal direction, so that in the wound state the transverse strips do not directly overlap one another. This distribution of the transverse strips along the supply belt prevents two transverse strips from being located opposite one another and coming into contact when the supply belt is wound up. The dimensionally stable transverse strips are arranged in such a way that when the supply belt is wound onto the adjacent winding, the transverse strips do not come into contact opposite one another. This allows the space in the line arrangement to be efficiently utilized for the transverse strips.

[0020] In principle, the segments can be connected in any suitable manner to form the guide strand. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one steel or suspension cable runs along each guide strand, which is particularly useful if these cables run within the segments. Each segment has a passage through which the steel or suspension cable can be passed. This allows the segments to be held in place to form the guide strand, while at the same time providing tension relief via the cable.

[0021] The invention further relates to an earthmoving machine, characterized in that at least one supply belt according to the invention is arranged on it, which may in particular be a trench cutter, or a bulkhead gripping device, or a drilling rig, or any other earth removal device that needs to be connected to several supply lines supplying liquids, gases, energy and / or data during its operation.

[0022] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments which are illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a supply belt according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a transverse strip of a supply belt according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the transverse band of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a supply belt according to the present invention, wound in an overlapping manner. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional supply belt different from the present invention, in a state corresponding to that shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic side view of a construction machine equipped with a supply belt according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] 1 shows a supply belt 10 according to the present invention, which comprises a total of seven supply lines 12 arranged side by side to form a belt-like line assembly 14. On each edge of both sides of the line assembly 14, a guide strand 20 is provided, each guide strand 20 being made up of a number of aligned, dimensionally consistent segments 22. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each segment 22 has two cable passages 24 through which tension or suspension cables pass. This allows the individual segments 22 to be arranged in a chain with a certain degree of flexibility relative to one another to form each guide strand 20.

[0025] Along the supply belt 10, a number of separate transverse bands 30 are arranged, each of which extends between two connected segments 32 of both guide strands 20 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the belt.

[0026] 2 and 3 show the structure of each transverse strip 30. The transverse strip 30 is a rod-shaped member with a substantially rectangular cross section, and comprises a central strip 34 to which two connecting segments 32, which are respectively assembled to the lateral guide strands 20 on both sides, are connected in a one-piece manner. The strip 34 is provided with passages 36 corresponding to the number and size of the supply lines 12 to be accommodated. In the area of ​​the passages 36, a fixing device (not shown), such as a hose clamp, can be arranged to fix the supply lines 12 to the transverse strip 30. This improves the stability of the supply belt 10 and provides a tension relief for each supply line 12. The passages may be of similar construction or of different constructions to accommodate lines of different sizes.

[0027] The diameter of the passage 36 is set according to the maximum line diameter LD of the supply lines 12 to be accommodated. In order to prevent the supply lines 12 from being damaged when the supply belt 10 is wound up or taken up, the guide strand 20 with the segments 22 and the respective connecting segments 32 is formed with a height H that exceeds the maximum line diameter D of the supply lines 12 by a certain projection. In order to ensure that the passages 36 of each supply line 12 are accommodated, the transverse strips 30 have a minimum wall thickness W in the central strip 34 outwardly from the passages 36 in the height direction, as shown in FIG. 3. This results in the total thickness G of the transverse strips 30 at the central strip 34 being greater than the height H of the connecting segments 32 on the sides of the transverse strip 30. Thus, at the transitions between the two connecting segments 32 and the central strip 34, respectively, there are shoulders 40 that protrude with a projection V, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] 2 and 3, the shoulders 40 are formed on both the top and bottom of the transverse band 30, so that the total thickness G of the central band 34 of the transverse band 30 is calculated by adding twice the protrusion amount V of the shoulders 40 to the height H of the connecting segment 32. As a result, the height H of the connecting segment 32 is smaller than the total thickness of the central band 34 of the transverse band 30, and a step region is provided in the connecting segment 32.

[0029] The advantages of this embodiment of the invention can be seen in particular in the diagram shown in FIG. 4, which shows a cross section of a winding layer or turn 18 constituting a supply belt 10 according to the invention.

[0030] Due to the stepped area of ​​the joining segments 32 of the transverse bands 30, the height of a single turn is determined solely by the height of the segments 22 or solely by the height of the joining segments 34. The overhanging portion of material in the central band 34 can protrude into the adjacent spaces of adjacent turns 18. The spaces of adjacent turns 18 are defined by a predetermined overhang of the height H of the segments 22 or joining segments 32 relative to the maximum line diameter D of the feed line 12.

[0031] The advantages provided by the embodiments of the present invention are particularly apparent when contrasted with conventional supply belts constructed using a continuous transverse band 30' having no laterally offset portions, as shown in FIG.

[0032] A conventional supply belt with a continuous transverse strip 30' of this type may have, for example, a height H of 80 mm. This height H of the transverse strip 30' also determines the height of the other segments of the lateral guide strands and thus the height of each turn. If such a supply belt is wound on a normal belt drum with a typical hub diameter of 1450 mm and a typical outside diameter of 3550 mm, the number of layers obtained with this height H of 80 mm is 13 layers, and the maximum winding length of the supply belt 10 is 100 meters.

[0033] On the other hand, with the supply belt 10 according to the invention, in the region of the joining segments 32 of the transverse strip 30, the thickness of each side of the transverse strip 30 is reduced by 2.5 mm, so that the height of the segments 22 and thus the height of each turn or layer is 75 mm. With the supply belt 10 according to the invention on a belt drum of the same design, the total belt length of 109 meters can be wound up into a total of 14 layers.

[0034] Furthermore, if a step of 5 mm is provided on each side of the transverse band 30 in the region of the connecting segment 32 so as not to impair the strength of the central band portion 34 of the transverse band 30, a belt drum of the same configuration can achieve 15 layers of the supply belt 10 of the present invention, and thus a maximum winding amount of 117 meters.

[0035] The supply belt 10 according to the invention therefore allows a very high storage capacity of the supply belt 10 with the same design of the belt drum. Thus, a high storage capacity, in particular a larger processing depth, can be achieved without changing the external dimensions of the earthmoving machine according to the belt drum, in particular in the case of earthmoving machines. Also, with a given line length, the drum diameter and therefore the travelling dimensions can be reduced.

[0036] 6 shows an example of a construction machine 50 configured with a mobile transport device 52. The mobile transport device 52 may be configured with a crawler chassis on which a rotatable upper carriage may be mounted.

[0037] The belt drum 60 of the supply belt 10 according to the invention can be rotatably mounted on top of the transport device 52. The supply lines 12 of the supply belt 10 are connected in the area of ​​the hub of the belt drum 60 to corresponding line connections 58 of the transport device 52.

[0038] A construction machine is connected to the opposite end of the feed conveyor 10, which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is configured as a trench cutter 51. The illustrated trench cutter 51 can be equipped with an upper grinding wheel 53 and a lower grinding wheel 54. A trench cutter 51 can also preferably be used which only includes the lower cutting wheel 54. The feed belt 10 is preferably guided by a deflection roller 63 held at the upper end of a boom or mast 64 to guide the trench cutter 51. The boom 64 can be adjusted by an adjustment piece 66. The feed belt 10 can be connected to the trench cutter 51 via a connection device 56.

Claims

1. A supply belt, in particular for a construction machine (50), at least two supply lines (12) arranged side-by-side to form a belt-like line assembly (14), the diameter of each supply line (12) not exceeding a maximum line diameter (D); two side guide strands (20) extending along opposite edge portions of the line assembly (14), each side guide strand (20) being composed of a plurality of segments (22) having the same dimensions, the plurality of segments (22) being arranged overlapping each other when the supply belt (10) is wound up, and the height (H) of each segment (22) exceeding the maximum line diameter (D) by a predetermined protrusion amount in order to protect the supply line (12); a transverse strip (30) disposed separately along the supply belt (10), the transverse strip (30) extending transversely from a joining segment (32) of a first side guide strand (20) to a joining segment (32) of an opposite second side guide strand (20) in the belt longitudinal direction, connecting them; Including, The height of the connecting segment (32) is equal to the height of the other segments (22) of the guide strand (20); in the region of the line assembly (14) of the supply line (12), a transverse band (30) projects with a predetermined projection relative to the height of the connecting segment (32); Supply belt.

2. 2. The supply belt according to claim 1, a value of the predetermined projection (V) of the transverse band (30) in the region of the line assembly (14) is equal to or less than the predetermined projection of the plurality of segments (22) of the guide strand (20) relative to the supply line (12); Supply belt.

3. 3. The supply belt according to claim 1 or 2, in the region of the line assembly (14) of the supply line (12), the transverse band (30) projects on both sides from the height of the connecting segment (32) by a predetermined projection (V); Supply belt.

4. A supply belt according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The transverse band (30) is configured as a frame having spaced apart passages (36) for receiving and retaining the supply lines (12); Supply belt.

5. 5. A supply belt according to claim 1, said transverse strip is provided with a fixing device, in particular a line clamp, said fixing device being configured to fix said supply line (12) to said transverse strip (30); Supply belt.

6. 6. A supply belt according to claim 1, the at least two supply lines (12) being configured as hose lines for conveying liquid or gas and / or as energy lines and / or as data lines, Supply belt.

7. 7. A supply belt according to claim 1, When the supply belt is wound around the belt drum (60), in the wound state, the windings of the side guide strands (20) are arranged overlapping each other. Supply belt.

8. 8. The supply belt according to claim 7, The transverse bands (30) are spaced apart along the supply belt (10) in the longitudinal direction of the supply belt so as not to overlap each other in a wound state. Supply belt.

9. 9. A supply belt according to any one of claims 1 to 8, At least one steel cable or suspension cable extends along each guide strand (20), said steel cable or suspension cable passing through said segments (22).

10. A construction machine (50) fitted with a supply belt according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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