Excavation Machine Guide Flaps for Trench Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing excavation machines experience deflection during the excavation of ground portions with horizontal sections smaller than the leading surface of the excavation device, leading to trench damage and overconsumption of concrete, particularly when making arched screens or non-parallel trenches.

Innovation Solution

The excavation machine is equipped with guide flaps protruding from the lateral sides of the frame, inclined relative to the lateral sides, which bear against the trench faces to prevent deflection, allowing the machine to maintain orientation and prevent pivoting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the excavation device is used to excavate ground portions with horizontal sections smaller than the leading surface of the excavation device, then the machine can access confined spaces, but the machine deflects towards adjacent trenches causing trench damage and concrete overconsumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to excavate confined spacesVSAvoidtrench alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Guide flaps are introduced as intermediary elements between the excavation device and the trench walls. These flaps protrude from the lateral sides of the frame and bear against the trench faces to prevent deflection, allowing the machine to maintain precise orientation while accessing confined spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the excavation device operates without guide flaps, then the device complexity is reduced, but the machine experiences deflection and requires frequent orientation correction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe structure complexityVSAvoidexcavation productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented by adding separate guide flaps that protrude from the lateral sides, independent from the main frame structure. This segmentation allows the guide flaps to perform the orientation stabilization function without complicating the core frame design, maintaining productivity while preventing deflection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the machine regularly corrects its orientation to prevent deflection, then trench damage is reduced, but the operation time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrench integrityVSAvoidorientation correction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide flaps perform preliminary action by continuously bearing against the trench faces during excavation, preventing deflection before it occurs. This eliminates the need for frequent orientation corrections and maintains trench integrity throughout the operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12398534B2Excavation machine having a frame equipped with guide wings

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET SAS

AI summary

The disclosure concerns an excavation machine for making a trench into ground including a frame extending along a longitudinal direction, an excavation device disposed under the lower end part of the frame, the excavation machine further including at least a first guide device comprising at least a first guide flap protruding from a first lateral side of the frame outwardly of the frame, and wherein, considered in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the first guide flap is inclined relative to the first lateral side.