Excavation Apparatus Extension Element Verticality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing excavation apparatuses face challenges in maintaining vertical excavation means, leading to reduced efficiency and accuracy, especially when deep excavations are required, due to limitations in arm size and extension methods that compromise extraction force and pipe stress alignment.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an extension element and articulation means to maintain verticality, allowing longer flexible pipes and increased vertical travel, while keeping the arm length unchanged, and utilizes inclination detection to correct positioning and reduce transverse stresses, ensuring accurate and deep excavations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the arm length is increased to achieve deeper excavations, then the excavation depth is improved, but the bulk and costs of the apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into a main arm portion and a separate extension element that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows the excavation means to reach greater depths without permanently increasing the bulk of the main apparatus, as the extension is only deployed when needed for deep excavations.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension element is positioned along the vertical axis rather than extending the arm horizontally. This dimensional change allows the excavation means to achieve greater vertical travel and depth while keeping the horizontal footprint and overall bulk of the apparatus unchanged.
2Length of moving object
If the arm extension is used to increase excavation depth, then the excavation depth is improved, but the extraction force capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extension element is designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed. It can be dynamically positioned to optimize the balance between excavation depth and extraction force, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and maintain adequate force capacity even when extended.
3Manufacturing precision
If the arm position is adjusted to correct working interaxis, then the verticality of excavation means is improved, but the range and extraction force are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The function of correcting arm inclination is extracted from the main arm and transferred to the movable extension element. This allows the main arm to maintain its optimal position for maximum range and extraction force, while the extension element independently adjusts to ensure the excavation means remains vertical.
4Length of moving object
If the flexible pipes are extended to support deeper excavations, then the excavation depth is improved, but the transverse stresses on excavation means increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable extension element acts as an intermediary that supports the flexible pipes at multiple positions along its length. This distributed support system reduces the transverse stresses on the pipes and excavation means by providing intermediate bearing points, allowing longer pipes to be used without excessive stress.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Excavation apparatus (10) comprising excavation means (15), first support means (21) able to support and move the excavation means (15) in a substantially vertical direction, a mobile arm (14) extending upward and having a lower end (14a) connected to a cab or turret (12) and an upper end (14b) on which said first support means (21) are disposed, flexible pipes (26) comprising means to suck up and/or remove detritus and/or means to drive said excavation means (15), winding/unwinding means (25) for said flexible pipes (26), second support means (24) provided to support and move said winding/unwinding means (25) in said vertical direction. The excavation apparatus (10) comprises at least an extension element (22), oblong in shape, extending upward and provided with a lower end (22a) connected to the upper end (14b) of said mobile arm (14) and with an upper end (22b) in substantial correspondence with which said second support means (24) are disposed and supported, said extension element (22) being normally positioned in a substantially vertical direction. The distance between the upper end (14b) of the mobile arm (14) and the upper end (22b) of the extension element (22) that supports said second support means (24) defines a supplementary vertical travel of said winding/unwinding means (25) such that said flexible pipes (26) are able to extend in height to a greater extent than the extension in height of said mobile arm (14), so as to increase the depth of excavation that said excavation means (15) can achieve. Articulation means (30) are provided to connect rotatably said extension element (22) to said mobile arm (14) so that said extension element (22) is selectively mobile in order to displace said second support means (24) in a manner coordinated with the displacement of the mobile arm (14), so as to keep said excavation means (15) vertical substantially in every operating condition, even when the depth of the excavation is increased.