Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cutting device and method for removing soil material
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a cutting device and a method for removing soil
material. Fur-
thermore, the invention relates to a cutting rig having a mast or crane
framework.
A device of the above-stated type has at least one cutting wheel which can be
set into
rotation and by means of which soil material can be removed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From DE 1 812 879 a method for working the bottom of bodies of water can be
taken, in
particular for producing plane surfaces, gradations, recesses, depressions or
the like at or
in the bottom of the body of water. For this purpose drillings are introduced
into the bottom
of the body of water. The tool employed for this comprises a casing tube and a
drilling
assembly guided in the latter.
From EP 0 819 819 B 1 a cutter head, a drilling device and a device and method
for sea
bed drilling is known. The drilling device described therein comprises a
cutter head and a
tube arranged above the cutter head, whose cross-section corresponds
approximately to
the drilling cross-section. The cutting wheels are designed such that a
circular drilling
cross-section is achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the invention provides a device and a method, with which soil
material can
be removed easily and effectively and even as far as into great depths.
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The cutting device according to the invention is characterized in that a
support and
guide frame is provided, on which at least two cutting units having at least
one cutting
wheel each are supported, of which at least one cutting unit is movably guided
on the
support and guide frame along a sinking direction, and in that for movement of
the cut-
ting unit at least one hydraulic lifting means is arranged, which is connected
on the one
hand to the support and guide frame and on the other hand to the cutting unit.
A fundamental idea of the invention resides in the fact that instead of a
single cutting
unit use is made of several cutting units which can be lowered independently
of each
other in the sinking direction. To this end the at least two cutting units are
arranged on a
common support and guide frame. At least one of the cutting units is supported
in a dis-
placeable manner on the support and guide frame. By preference, the cutting
units are
of the same design and arranged parallel to each other.
In an advantageous embodiment all cutting units are supported on the support
and
guide frame by being parallelly displaceable to each other.
By way of the cutting device according to the invention trenches bordering on
each oth-
er can be produced in successive steps in the ground. For this purpose a first
cutting
unit can be lowered initially and a first trench can be produced through the
removal of
soil material. Afterwards, a second cutting unit can also be lowered, and in
doing so a
second trench is produced. By preference, the two cutting units are arranged
in such
close proximity that the trenches produced also border on each other in such a
way that
no material remains between the trenches.
The cutting units can each be lowered individually by a hydraulic lifting
means, prefera-
bly a hydraulic lifting cylinder. In this, the trench produced first can serve
as a guidance
and abutment during the production of the second trench.
In order to achieve the best possible guidance of both cutting units the said
cutting units
are preferably guided in an upper as well as in a lower area on the support
and guide
frame.
In principle, the cutting device according to the invention can be employed
both on land
and under water. However, the cutting device is especially suitable for the
removal of
soil material, in particular hard rock such as kimberlite, under water. More
particularly,
by way of the cutting device according to the invention kinnberlite funnels,
determined
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beforehand through tests, can be defined and removed in an economical and
almost
complete manner without producing unnecessary spoil, whereby depths of up to
250
meters can be reached. Likewise, it is possible to remove smaller funnels
located under
water in an economical way.
For movement of the cutting device under water it is especially advantageous
for at
least one underwater drive means, in particular a steering and driving screw,
to be pro-
vided on the support and guide frame. If the cutting device is to be moved
under water
to a defined point of cutting, precise positioning by means of a mechanical
guide struc-
ture proves to be difficult especially when water current are present. In
particular, the
positioning may be insufficient if the mechanical guide structure is not a
stationary mast
or beam but a rope or a chain, on which the cutting device is suspended. By
means of
the underwater drive means the cutting device can be brought in a defined
manner into
a desired position and alignment. The underwater drive means can basically
have any
known type of ship's propulsion. Especially preferred are propellers or jet
propulsions.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention resides in the fact that the at
least one
underwater drive means is linked in a pivotable manner to the support and
guide frame.
The pivotable underwater drive means enables the cutting device to be driven
in several
spatial directions. By preference, a plurality of underwater drive means, in
particular
steering and driving screws, are arranged in different alignment and in each
case in a
pivotable manner on the support and guide frame. As a result, a very precise
positioning
and alignment of the cutting device can be attained.
In order to be able to bring the cutting device in a defined manner into a
desired position
it is preferred that a position detecting means is provided, which is coupled
with the at
least one underwater drive means. The position detecting means can be a
satellite-
based position determination system for example. However, other technologies
for posi-
tion detection, for example by means of acceleration sensors, are conceivable,
too. The
position detecting means is coupled in a technically controlled manner with
the under-
water drive means and controls the latter.
For guidance of the cutting units it is preferred that the support and guide
frame has a
guide beam which extends in the sinking direction and along which at least one
of the
cutting units is guided. By preference, two guide beams are provided on the
support and
guide frame or on the guide beam at least two cutting units are guided in a
displaceable
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manner. The guide beam preferably has an elongate shape with at least one
guide rail
that is clasped by corresponding guide claws of the cutting units.
An advantageous embodiment of the cutting device resides in the fact that the
cutting
units each have a retaining frame, on which a hydraulic drive means is
arranged for
driving the at least one cutting wheel in a rotating manner. The at least one
cutting wheel
is preferably arranged below the retaining frame on a bearing shield and has a
horizon-
tally extending axis of rotation. The cutting wheel is provided on its
periphery with several
cutting tools, such as cutting teeth, with which the actual cutting process
takes place. The
hydraulic drive means, e.g. a hydraulic motor, employed for driving the at
least one cut-
ting wheel is preferably arranged in a lower area of the retaining frame above
the cutting
wheels.
Another advantageous embodiment of the cutting device resides in the fact that
the cut-
ting units each have two cutting wheel pairs, in which case the said cutting
wheel pairs
have axes of rotation offset parallel to one another and each cutting wheel
pair has two
cutting wheels with coaxial axes of rotation. Hence, each cutting unit
comprises four
cutting wheels. All cutting wheels are preferably arranged below the retaining
frame, with
a cutting wheel pair each being supported on a bearing shield. The two cutting
wheels of
a cutting wheel pair are arranged on different sides of the bearing shield.
The cutting
cross-section of the unit formed by two cutting wheel pairs, i.e. four cutting
wheels, in
substance preferably corresponds to the cross-section of the retaining frame
arranged
above the cutters. The individual cutters can in each case be driven by
separate drive
motors. However, a single hydraulic drive means is preferably provided for
driving all
cutting wheels of a cutting unit.
To suck off the removed soil material at least one suction means is
advantageously
provided. The suction means preferably comprises at least one suction box
arranged in
the area of the cutting wheels and at least one suction line which is guided
upwards along
the retaining frame. By preference, the suction line is guided within a cross-
section de-
limited by the retaining frame.
The cutting rig having a mast or crane framework according to the invention is
charac-
terized in that a cutting device according to the present invention is
suspended on the
mast or crane framework. The cutting device can be guided on the mast or crane
framework along a defined axis, for example a rail-like guide. However,
especially for
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the production of drill holes of great depth it is preferred that the cutting
device is sus-
pended via at least one rope or chain on the mast or crane framework.
The method in accordance with the invention for removing soil material is
characterized in
that a support or guide frame is lowered together with two cutting units
mounted thereon,
in that in a first cutting step a first cutting unit is lowered and soil
material is removed and
in that in a second cutting step a second cutting unit is lowered and soil
material is re-
moved. By the method according to the invention the advantages set out in
conjunction
with the cutting device are achieved. In particular, with this two-stage
cutting method a
good support of one cutting unit on the respective other cutting unit and
therefore a good
support of the cutting device in its entirety can be attained.
An especially great cutting depth can be achieved in that following the second
cutting step
the support and guide frame is lowered and subsequently the first and second
cutting
steps are repeated. Alternatively, it is also possible to lower the support
and guide frame
together with or substantially simultaneously with the first or the second
cutting unit.
On reaching a final depth the cutting device is preferably raised, withdrawn
from the
produced trench and moved by means of an underwater drive means to a further
starting
point for cutting. For this purpose the cutting device is moved in a
substantially horizontal
manner by means of the underwater drive means. As soon as the desired position
has
been reached, soil material is removed again, which is initially effected by
the first cutting
unit and then by the second cutting unit, and in doing so the first cutting
unit serves as a
guide and abutment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following the invention will be described further by way of a preferred
embodiment
illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings, wherein show:
Fig. 1 a perspective view of a cutting device according to the invention;
Fig. 2 a side view of the cutting device of Fig. 1 and
Fig. 3 an abstracted schematic illustration of a cutting device with a
hydraulic lifting
means.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a cutting device 10 according
to the
invention with a support and guide frame 20 and two cutting units, namely a
first cutting
unit 30 and a second cutting unit 40.
The support and guide frame 20 has a substantially vertically extending guide
beam 24,
which is designed in the illustrated embodiment as an H-shaped girder. The
guide beam
24 comprises four guide rails 26 that run parallel to a longitudinal direction
of the support
and guide frame 20. Two guide rails at a time are arranged opposite each other
so that a
respective cutting unit 30, 40 can be guided thereon.
The cutting units 30, 40 substantially have the same design and are each
arranged lat-
erally on the support and guide frame 20. The first cutting unit 30 comprises
a first re-
taining frame 36 which has a substantially cuboid outer shape. The first
retaining frame
36 is designed as a frame-like structure that substantially delimits four of
the six outer
cuboid surfaces. On the side facing towards the support and guide frame 20
guide claws
37 are designed on the first retaining frame 36, which are in engagement with
or re-
spectively clasp the guide rails 26 of the guide beam 24. The second cutting
unit 40 has a
second retaining frame 46 which substantially corresponds to the first
retaining frame 36.
In an upper area of the support and guide frame 20 a steering head 12 is
designed, on
which several underwater drive means are arranged. In the illustrated
embodiment pro-
vision is made for four underwater drive means that are designed as steering
and driving
screws 16 and are each arranged on a lateral side of the steering head 12. Two
opposite
lying underwater drive means or steering and driving screws 16 are in each
case ar-
ranged parallel to each other.
Above the steering head 12 a fastening head 14 is arranged, which is pivotably
linked to
the steering head 12. By means of the fastening head 14 the cutting device 10
can be
fastened or suspended on a support element, as for example a rope, a chain
and/or a
mast.
Below each retaining frame 36, 46 two cutting shields 35, 45 are arranged in
each case,
and on each cutting shield 35, 45 two cutting wheels 31, 41 are supported at a
time.
These constitute a cutting wheel pair 32, 33, 42 in each case. The cutting
units 30, 40
therefore have four cutting wheels 31, 41 each, of which two cutting wheels
31, 41 are
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supported in pairs on a cutting shield 35, 45. The axes of rotation of the
cutting wheels
31, 41 each run horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the
support and
guide frame 20.
For the removal of soil material the cutting wheels 31, 41 are set into
rotation. The cut-
ting wheels 31, 41 run in pairs in opposed directions, namely in such a manner
that the
inward lying flanks of the cutting wheels 31, 41 rotate in the upward
direction and the
outward lying flanks rotate in the downward direction.
The cutting units 30, 40 each have a pump 60 with a suction means, with which
re-
moved soil material can be sucked off and conveyed from the area of the
cutting wheels
31, 41. The suction means substantially have the same design.
A first suction means is adapted for sucking off soil material that has been
removed by
the first cutting unit 30. The first suction means comprises a first suction
box, which is
arranged in the area of the cutting wheels 31 of the first cutting unit 30,
and a first suc-
tion line 38. The first suction line 38 is connected to the first suction box
and, starting
from the said first suction box, substantially runs vertically and parallel to
the longitudin-
al axis of the support and guide frame 20 in the upward direction. In this,
the said suc-
tion line is guided within the cross-section of the first cutting unit 30,
which is delimited
by the first retaining frame 36. Via the first suction line 38 the removed
soil material can
be conveyed upwards. The second suction line is provided in a corresponding
manner
on the second cutting unit 40 and comprises a second suction line 48.
Each of the cutting units 30, 40 is movable along the support and guide frame
20. To
this end a hydraulic lifting means 50 is assigned to each of the cutting units
30, 40, with
a first hydraulic lifting means 50 being assigned to the first cutting unit 30
and a second
hydraulic lifting means being assigned to the second cutting unit 40. The
hydraulic lifting
means 50 each comprise a lifting cylinder 52 and a lifting piston 54. The
lifting cylinders
52 are linked to the support and guide frame 20 and the lifting pistons 54 are
linked to
the retaining frame 36, 46 of the respective cutting unit 30, 40.
From Fig. 3 it can be taken that the support and guide frame 20 has laterally
protruding
plates 28 for linking the lifting cylinders 52. These plates are each provided
with an eye,
to which the lifting means 50 can be linked e.g. by means of a bolt. The
plates 28 are
arranged on the guide beam 24 in a substantially central manner with respect
to the
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longitudinal direction of the support and guide frame 20. Consequently, the
lifting means
50 are linked centrally to the support and guide frame 20. They extend
substantially ver-
tically and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support and guide frame
20.
The lifting means 50, more particularly the lifting pistons 54 of the lifting
means 50, are
each linked to a lower area of the respective retaining frame 36, 46. In an
extended
state the lifting means 50 have a length that substantially corresponds to the
length of
the guide beam 24 as well as the length of the retaining frames 36, 46. In a
retracted
state the length of the lifting means 50 substantially corresponds to half the
length of the
guide beam 24 as well as the length of the retaining frames 36, 46. The length
of stroke
of the lifting means 50 therefore corresponds to approximately half the length
of the
guide beam 24. With the hydraulic lifting means 50 a downward directed force
can be
applied, through which the cutting wheels can be pressed against a soil
surface.
For the removal of soil material under water the cutting device 10 is moved by
a carry-
ing means, as for example a crane, to a desired place. The carrying means can
be ar-
ranged on a ship or a floating platform for example. The cutting device is
lowered for
example via a rope from the carrying means into the water. There it can be
positioned
precisely above the place to be worked on by means of the steering and driving
screws
16.
With a hydraulic drive means the cutting wheels 31 of the first cutting unit
30 are set into
rotation and soil material is removed. For this purpose the first cutting unit
30 is moved
downwards by the first hydraulic lifting means 50 assigned to the former and
by doing
so a first cut trench is produced. When the first hydraulic lifting means 50
has reached
its maximum extended position, the cutting process of this cutting unit is
interrupted.
Afterwards, the cutting wheels 41 of the second cutting unit 40 are set into
rotation by a
second hydraulic drive means. By means of the second hydraulic lifting means
the
second cutting unit 40 is moved downwards while a second cut trench is
produced the-
reby. During the production of the second cut trench the first cutting unit 30
positioned in
the first cut trench functions as an abutment and guidance for the second
cutting unit
40. The two cut trenches are located in such close proximity that
substantially there re-
mains no material between them. The cutting units 30, 40 can have such a great
weight
that in order to avoid extreme pressing force acting in the downward direction
the lifting
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means 50 can bring about a weight relief during the downward movement. In
individual
cases, however, a downward directed force can be applied, too.
When the second hydraulic lifting means 50 has also reached its maximum
extended
position, the support and guide frame 20 is moved downwards through retraction
of both
hydraulic lifting means 50. Subsequently, a further cutting process is carried
out first
with the first cutting unit 30 and then with the second cutting unit 40 or
vice versa. Then,
the support and guide frame 20 is moved downwards again. The method steps are
re-
peated until the desired final depth is reached.
On reaching the desired final depth the cutting device 10 is withdrawn from
the pro-
duced cut trench and moved by the carrying means and the steering and driving
screws
16 to a position, at which a further cutting process is carried out. There,
the above out-
lined process steps are repeated.
All in all, the cutting device according to the invention enables the removal
of soil ma-
terial, in particular below a water surface, in an especially effective and
economical way
with a comparatively simple construction of the device.
