EP0269136B1 - Device for paving roads and vehicle having such a device for laying sets of paving stones - Google Patents

Abstract

The method is for laying road surface stones in oblique-elbow bond. The stone pack is supplied in front of where the road surface is to be enplaced. Grippers are positioned above the top layer of the packet, movable in the direction of the road, for picking up the stones. The grippers are movable in three mutually perpendicular directions, one parallel to the road. The grippers move the top layer of stones 'en bloc', turning uneven rows 45 deg. one way and even layers 45 deg. the other way. The grippers then move the stones in a direction parallel to the road and finally place them on a prepared sand bed.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a vehicle provided with such a device.

EP-A-0102999 discloses a method and a device for laying a road surface in alternating or herringbone form.

According to the method described in this patent, paving stones in quantities of at least one group (layer) are removed from a stack, placed a short distance apart, then brought into the desired pattern (for example according to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 of the present patent application) and moved to each other and finally placed in their place on the ground and this method is characterized in that the paving stones of the said rows are clamped individually and simultaneously and then immediately in the desired pattern in the said second pattern (e.g. in a herringbone bandage, see Fig. 1 of this patent application) are placed on the ground.

EP-A-0102999 also describes a device for laying paving stones according to the method mentioned.

The heart of the known device consists of a frame with at least one with a Vacuum source connected suction head is provided, wherein the frame is provided with a number of paving stones to be installed corresponding to the number of longitudinally and transversely movable suction heads, the device being characterized in that the suction heads are also connected to one another in the direction of rotation.

Further characteristics of this device can consist of the fact that each suction head is attached to a hollow guide sleeve, the sleeves are grouped in relatively movable guides for performing a sliding movement, and each guide sleeve is attached to a guide plate and the guide plates attached to one and the same guide two slotted coupling elements arranged diametrically opposite the guide bushing are connected to one another.

Furthermore, it is described in the cited patent specification that the stone layer formed and sucked in by the device is deposited on a prepared sand bed by means of a mobile and rotatable crane, whereby the device can also be rotatable, for example by a servo motor, specifically around the vertical center line of the Frame of the device.

Moreover, it is not apparent from the description of the driving and rotating means of this known device that, based on the information, a device can be constructed with which a stone layer can be converted from a stack into a stone field in the herringbone formation with practically sufficient accuracy.

In the known device, the displacements of the paving stones lying in a row are carried out by strips with slots, the latter determining the mutual distance between the stones. The rotations are carried out by a single strip with a slot, which strip is connected to the frame and to a spring. Since the slots become dirty during operation, it can be expected that the displacement path of the first stone in a row will deviate significantly from the displacement path of the last stone in this row. By coupling the displacement means with the rotation means, the same can be expected with respect to the angle of rotation of the first stone in a row compared to that of the last stone.

The object of the invention is now to create a device with which a layer of paving stones (or a part thereof) can be converted from a stack in a modular structure to a corresponding layer in the herringbone structure or in the runner structure with practically sufficient accuracy. (In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle, which will be described in more detail below).

In this patent application, a stack of paving stones in the modular system is understood to mean a stack whose paving stones are layered in layers, as shown in FIG. 2. A stone layer in the herringbone bandage is indicated in Fig. 1. In the group of runners not shown in more detail in a figure, the paving stones lie side by side in the width direction and are shifted from each other by about half a stone length.

With the device according to the invention, dressing patterns of the stones can be formed, which, starting from the pattern according to FIG. 2, are given in succession in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 1. This order of dressing patterns is known per se. See also, for example: EP-A-0102999.

The device according to the invention has a rectangular support structure, in which there are grippers rotatably arranged in slide blocks for clamping and placing the stones, these slide blocks being displaceable and connected to slide bars, the slide bars being displaceable over the two opposite sides of the rectangular support structure and are connected to the same, the said sides being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding beams and the device having means with which the sliding blocks can be displaced relative to one another on one and the same sliding beam, and means with the aid of which the grippers arranged in the sliding blocks can rotate and means for displacing the sliding beams relative to each other by means of a displacement construction and also means with which the device is brought over a layer of paving stones or a layer removed from the stack to a bottom can be parked. This combination of elements is known per se.

• a) Antriebsmitteln zum Verschieben der Gleitbalken und Antriebsmitteln zum Verschieben bzw. Drehen der in den Gleitblöcken angeordneten Greifer längs bzw. in den Gleitbalken, die unmittelbar oder mittelbar an Seiten der Tragkonstruktion angreifen, die senkrecht aufeinander stehen;
• b) Mitteln zum gruppenweisen Verschieben der in den Gleitblöcken angeordneten Greifer an den Gleitbalken entlang, wobei diese Mittel aus einem oder mehreren Laufbalken bestehen, der bzw. die in einer Richtung parallel zu der Längsrichtung der Gleitbalken verschiebbar ist bzw. sind und zwar durch Antriebsmittel, die an zwei einander gegenüber liegenden Seiten der rechteckigen Tragkonstruktion angreifen und senkrecht auf dem genannten Laufbalken stehen;
• c) Mitteln, die gleitende Verbindungsteile (Gleitstücke) zwischen Gleitbalken und Laufbalken bilden und die mit an unterschiedlichen Pegeln vorhandenen zueinander senkrechten Gleitprofilen versehen sind, die Gleitprofilen in den Gleitbalken und Laufbalken entsprechen;
• d) Mitteln zum in Abstand Bringen der in den Gleitblöcken angeordneten Greifer an den Gleitbalken entlang bzw. zum Drehen der Gleitblöcke, wobei diese Mittel aus Streifen aus einem biegsamen und dehnungsfesten Werkstoff bestehen, wobei diese Streifen längs der Gleitbalken Verbindungen zwischen einem (den) Laufbalken und den Gleitblöcken bilden;
• e) Mitteln zum Drehen der in den Gleitblöcken angeordneten Greifer, wobei diese Mittel aus um eine Achse senkrecht zu der Ebene der Tragkonstruktion symmetrisch drehenden Schwenkteilen bestehen, deren Schenkel mittels Streifen aus einem biegsamen und dehnungsfesten Werkstoff mit entsprechenden einander diametral gegenüberliegenden Befestigungspunkten an den in den Gleitblöcken angeordneten Greifern verbunden sind und wobei die Schwenkteile mit dazu vorgesehenen Antriebsmitteln versehen sind, die an der Tragkonstruktion angreifen.

The invention is based on the finding that an improvement over the device known from EP-A-0102999 can be achieved by a group of funds consisting of:

• a) drive means for displacing the slide beams and drive means for displacing or rotating the grippers arranged in the slide blocks longitudinally or in the slide beams, which act directly or indirectly on sides of the supporting structure which are perpendicular to one another;
• b) means for moving the grippers arranged in the sliding blocks along the sliding beam in groups, said means consisting of one or more running beams which can be displaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sliding beam and by drive means, which engage on two opposite sides of the rectangular support structure and stand vertically on the said beam;
• c) means which form sliding connecting parts (sliding pieces) between the sliding beam and the walking beam and which are provided with sliding profiles which are perpendicular to one another at different levels and correspond to the sliding profiles in the sliding beams and moving beams;
• d) means for spacing the grippers arranged in the slide blocks along the slide beam or for rotating the slide blocks, these means consisting of strips made of a flexible and stretch-resistant material, these strips along the slide beam connections between a run beam (s) and form the slide blocks;
• e) means for rotating the grippers arranged in the sliding blocks, these means rotating symmetrically about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the supporting structure There are pivoting parts, the legs of which are connected by means of strips of a flexible and stretch-resistant material with corresponding diametrically opposite fastening points on the grippers arranged in the sliding blocks, and the pivoting parts are provided with drive means provided for this purpose, which act on the supporting structure.

The device according to the invention is primarily directed to a device with which a paving stone layer in the modular structure can be converted into a stone layer in a herringbone structure.

The device has the sub z, b, c and d mentioned slide bars, slide blocks with grippers, strips made of a flexible and stretch-resistant material, one or more run bars and swivel parts located on run bars or slide bars and the slide blocks, and the parts to be moved necessary displacement and drive means.

However, the device according to the invention can also be designed in such a way that it is intended to convert a paving stone layer in the modular assembly to a stone layer in the runner assembly.

In this case, the rows of stones only need to be shifted alternately in the longitudinal direction of the stones in relation to each other. To reach the group of runners, it is sufficient if the strips serve to keep the stones in a row in the longitudinal direction of the same when the rows are alternately shifted with the short side pressed against one another or at most be kept a short distance apart. One or two moving bars then move the rows alternately. The pivot parts can be omitted in this embodiment. So that friction is avoided as much as possible when the rows are displaced with respect to one another, it is desirable that the rows of stones be brought into a certain distance from one another by displacing the sliding beams with respect to one another.

In the two embodiments of the invention, however, the combination of walking beams with strips of flexible and stretch-resistant material forms the essence of the invention.

When working with the two devices according to the invention, it is further desirable that the orientation of the stones with respect to the sliding beam is taken into account when gripping a stone layer in the modular system. To convert to the herringbone bandage, it is desirable that the longitudinal direction of the stones picked up is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sliding beams; when converting to a bunch of runners, it is desirable that the longitudinal direction of the stones extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sliding beams.

The characteristic elements of the device according to the invention can be explained in more detail as follows:
to a) The means for displacing the slide beams relative to one another and those for displacing the slide blocks over the slide beams act perpendicularly to one another and each engage on mutually perpendicular sides of the supporting structure. In the device according to EP-A-0102999 however, the forces are all exerted on two parallel sides of the supporting structure. With the device according to the invention, a better distribution of the forces exerted on the supporting structure is achieved.
to b) Basically, only one walking bar is sufficient, but it is better to use two walking bars. A running beam is preferably driven by a piston-cylinder system which is connected to a liquid pressure line, not shown, with a liquid pump. Basically, a walking beam can be driven by a piston-cylinder system acting in the middle; however, it is better to use two piston-cylinder systems for this, so that any displacement errors due to the large forces required for the displacement are avoided as far as possible; Of course, these piston-cylinder systems then attack as far as possible at the ends of the running beam in question.
To achieve the desired accuracy of the displacements, however, it is advantageous to provide the device according to the invention with two running beams, each of which is driven by two drive systems, for example piston-cylinder systems. In the device according to the invention, the drive systems act in the vicinity of a main axis of the device on two mutually opposite sides thereof and act symmetrically against each other on each running beam, specifically perpendicular to the main axes of the running beams. To move the walking bar over the opposite sides mentioned, it is advantageous if at the end of the walking bar Means are located by which the movement of the walking beam over the opposite sides is facilitated, for example a slide construction or a roller system. Such means also promote the accuracy of the shifts. It should be noted that, according to a particular aspect of the invention, it is of particular importance for the accuracy of the displacements that the running beams and the sliding beams are displaced two and two in opposite symmetry with respect to the two main axes of the device according to the invention.

The use of walking beams together with flexible, stretch-resistant strips according to the invention has the advantage that the suction cups with the stones attached to them can be moved in groups at the same speed over a predeterminable required distance at the same time, these displacements due to the stretch-resistant strips due to the operation of the Sand or dust whirling up the device are not impaired and can therefore be carried out very precisely in the outflow. After the required rotation of the gripper with the stones attached to it, the stones are then clamped in groups by the running beam construction in the return line, whereby the flexibility of the strips means that they do not cause any nuisance.
to c) It is advantageous if a running beam is slidably connected to the sliding beam by means of sliding pieces, the sliding pieces being located at the crossing of the moving beam and the sliding beam. These sliders help maintain the displacements of a walking beam and the sliding beam perpendicular to each other. For this purpose, the sliding pieces have sliding profiles at different levels, which are perpendicular to each other and correspond to matching sliding profiles on the running beam and the sliding beam. Furthermore, the sliding pieces can advantageously be effective as fastening elements for the strip connection between a running beam and the closest sliding blocks on the sliding beam and can be designed in such a way that when a moving beam returns, they clamp the sliding blocks and the stones or hanging in the gripper or ensure that the sliding blocks are returned to their original position.
to d) The strips for spacing the grippers arranged in the sliding blocks and for adjusting the angle of rotation can be in the form of strips, strips, wires, cables or ropes made of durable material. A very suitable material is steel wire or spring band steel; excellent results have been obtained with twisted steel wire composed, for example, of 7 strands with a diameter of 3.0 mm, each strand consisting of 7 strands of 0.3 mm. There were also good results with twisted steel wire consisting of 6 strands with a diameter of 2.1 mm, each strand consisting of 7 wires each with a cross section of 0.2 mm and the twisted steel wire having a core made of stranded plastic fiber. These materials are known from sailing. The effective length of the strip between the sliding blocks is the one between the attachment points provided on it. These lengths depend on the dimensions of the stones and can easily be calculated by an expert. The strips can be easily attached with the help of a screw clamp, which also serves to set the exact distance. Instead of individual strip connections, strips extending over or along the sliding beam can advantageously be used. When using spring band steel, it is advantageous to punch the fastening openings in it at the required intervals. Furthermore, a slider according to a further aspect of the invention is the cheapest element for arranging the swivel parts. This ensures that the swivel parts are moved along with the slide beam and with a running beam, which means that the required angle of rotation of each gripper can be set correctly. Although basically only one swivel part would be sufficient per slide beam, it is better if the device according to the invention is provided with a swivel part at each end of a slide beam, preferably by means of a slide piece. In the state of the device, in which the paving stones attached to the gripper have not yet been rotated, the legs of a swivel part two and two form an angle of + 22.5 and - 22.5 degrees with the longitudinal axis of a walking beam. The legs of a swivel part are by means of strips, preferably continuous strips, at fixed mutual intervals with one another in the sliding blocks rotatably arranged tube connected to the underside in a gripping device and which is fixedly connected to the top with a structure which can also be effective as a rotating leg for the gripping device. In one embodiment, this construction is in the form of a plate, the cross section of which corresponds to that of the stones. In this embodiment, the plate is effective as a teaching for clipping the paving stones into a herringbone bandage and as a teaching for bringing the device back to the state in which it is ready to remove a new layer of stones from the stack after laying the stones. This embodiment of sliding blocks with a gripper arranged therein, which is firmly connected at the top with a plate-shaped gauge, is to be preferred according to the invention. In such a case, the strips are preferably attached to ends of a diagonal of the gauge. In a particular embodiment, the gauges are chamfered from one fastening point in the direction of the fastening point of the following corner, so that the downwardly curved strips are given space when the gauges are clamped in place.

However, it is also possible for the gripper, which is rotatably arranged in the sliding blocks via a tube, to end on the upper side in a leg which is firmly connected to the tube and whose center lies on the axis of the tube. The legs are connected in a position parallel to the swivel part on one and the same sliding beam with the help of strips at the same distance from each other.
In such a case, however, it is important that To provide legs with outstanding parts, which are effective as a stop to the width of the paving stones, so that the correct clamping of the stones and the return to the original position of the device can be guaranteed.

To lay a road surface using the device according to the invention, a suitable lifting device should be used, which is provided with the necessary means for the proper functioning of the above-mentioned displacement means of the device according to the invention, this device being provided with hooks or eyes for lifting the device.

• a) die Oberseite des Fahrzeugs mit Führungsmitteln sowie einer Laufkatze versehen ist, die über die Führungsmittel verschiebbar ist, wobei an diese Laufkatze eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung aufgehängt ist und zwar derart, dass diese über die Länge und Breite des Fahrzeugs bewegt werden kann und zwar in einer Richtung parallel und quer zu der Fahrrichtung des Fahrzeugs.
• b) das Fahrzeug auf der von der Fahrrichtung desselben abgewandten Seite mit einer Ladebühne zum in Empfang Nehmen eines Pflastersteinestapels versehen ist, wobei diese Bühne sich derart weit bis unter die Führungsmittel erstreckt, dass von einem darauf abgelegten Stapel eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung eine Steinlage abnehmen kann,
• c) das Fahrzeug, in der Fahrrichtung desselben gesehen, folgend auf die Ladebühne mit einem Formiertisch nahezu parallel zu der zu verlegenden Strassendecke versehen ist, wobei dieser Formiertisch mindestens so gross ist, dass darauf ein mit Hilfe der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung aus einer Steinlage eines Stapels formiertes Feld von Pflastersteinen abgelegt werden kann,
• d) das Fahrzeug, in der Fahrrichtung desselben gesehen, folgend auf den Formiertisch einen bodenfreien Raum aufweist, der sich bis unter die Führungsmittel zum Ablegen des mittels der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung formierten Steinfeldes in dem Sandboden der Strasse erstreckt.

According to a second main aspect of the invention, this consists of a drivable vehicle, which is characterized in that

• a) the top of the vehicle is provided with guide means and a trolley which is displaceable via the guide means, a device according to the invention being suspended from this trolley in such a way that it can be moved over the length and width of the vehicle, in one Direction parallel and transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
• b) the vehicle is provided on the side facing away from the direction of travel of the latter with a loading platform for receiving a stack of paving stones, this platform extending so far below the guide means that a device according to the invention can remove a layer of stones from a stack placed thereon,
• c) the vehicle, seen in the direction of travel of the vehicle, following the loading platform, a forming table is provided almost parallel to the road surface to be laid, this forming table being at least large enough to be able to place a field of paving stones formed from a stone layer of a stack using the device according to the invention,
• d) the vehicle, viewed in the direction of travel thereof, has a floor-free space following the formation table, which extends below the guide means for depositing the stone field formed by the device according to the invention in the sandy bottom of the street.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mobile vehicle is designed with a forming table in which a sorting table is accommodated. In the sorting table there is a system of interlocking conveyor belts, the direction of which is preferably perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The conveyor belts can move independently of each other in both directions. According to a special embodiment of the invention, from a position of paving stones placed on the sorting table, only a part of the stones are held in the form of a closed block by the grippers by opening a number of taps in the vacuum lines, after which the others are switched on by switching on the conveyor belts or the conveyor belt Stones are removed laterally. Then the formation is continued with the held part to the desired dressing.

It should be noted that the device according to the invention enables the forming to the desired dressing can be carried out without the paving stones touching a firm surface (forming table).

• Fig. 1 die Draufsicht einer Lage von 4 zu 11 Beton-Pflastersteinen im Fischgrätverband mit Abmessungen im Schnitt von 105 x 211 mm und mit einer Dicke, die zwischen 50 und 120 mm variieren kann, nach der Norm N.E.N. 7000. Die in der Zeichnung angegebenen Kreuze bezeichnen je die Mitte eines Steines,
• Fig. 2 die Draufsicht eines Stapels der obengenannten Art im Baukastenverband,
• Fig. 3 eine Darstellung eines aus drei Teilen bestehenden Förderbandes zum Gebrauch in einem Sortiertisch in einem Fahrzeug nach Fig. 7b,
• Fig. 4, 5 und 6 eine schematische Darstellung der aufeinander folgenden Positionen von Pflastersteinen in einer Steinlage bei der Umwandlung einer Steinlage nach Fig. 2 in die nach Fig. 1,
• Fig. 7a, 7b und 7c eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht, einer Seitenansicht bzw. einer Ansicht von hinten eines fahrbaren Fahrzeugs nach der Erfindung,
• Fig. 8 eine schematische Draufsicht einer Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung zum Gebrauch in dem Fahrzeug nach der Erfindung. Letzteres ist in den Fig. 7a, 7b und 7c auf schematische Weise dargestellt,
• Fig. 9a bis 9e je einen Schnitt in verschiedenen

Höhen durch einen in einem Gleitblock angeordneten Greifer.An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

• Fig. 1 is a top view of a layer of 4 to 11 concrete paving stones in a herringbone bandage with dimensions on average of 105 x 211 mm and with a thickness that can vary between 50 and 120 mm, according to the NEN 7000 standard. The indicated in the drawing Crosses denote the middle of a stone,
• 2 shows the top view of a stack of the above-mentioned type in a modular assembly,
• 3 shows a three-part conveyor belt for use in a sorting table in a vehicle according to FIG. 7b,
• 4, 5 and 6 a schematic representation of the successive positions of paving stones in a stone layer during the conversion of a stone layer according to FIG. 2 into that according to FIG. 1,
• 7a, 7b and 7c is a schematic representation of a top view, a side view and a rear view of a mobile vehicle according to the invention,
• Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus according to the invention for use in the vehicle according to the invention. The latter is shown schematically in FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c,
• 9a to 9e each have a section in different

Heights through a gripper arranged in a sliding block.

In the following description of the figures, reference is made to the three-digit reference symbols given in the figures. The first digit of each reference number is the number of the figure designation.
8, 800 is the frame of the rectangular support structure of the device according to the invention. It should be dimensioned and constructed in such a way that it can carry 40 to 80 paving stones. For this reason, it is preferably made from quiver-shaped profiles. In a practical embodiment of the invention, it is suspended from a trolley which can be moved over rails on the top of the mobile vehicle according to the invention.
There are fasteners on the top of the frame for hanging the trolley.
The connection to the trolley is of variable length so that the device according to the invention can be raised or lowered. The connecting means are not specified, but they can consist, for example, of cylinders that can be actuated hydraulically or pneumatically, or they can consist of cables or chains that can be wound up or unwound with the help of winches.

The structure of the device according to the invention is essentially symmetrical about the center lines A-A and B-B. To explain the structure, reference is made to the top left corner in FIG. 8.

There are 801 rollers that are connected to the sliding beams 805 and 806. The slide bars are preferred double-sided, the sides being connected to one another by rigid connecting elements. The slide bars can be moved by the rollers over the short sides of the frame 800. The sliding beams are moved by simple displacement mechanisms 802 and 803, for example in the form of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, which are driven on both sides, or by spindles or racks. The displacement mechanisms can be set up in such a way that a sliding bar can only cover a certain distance in one direction and a certain distance in the other direction. In one position the position of the slide bars corresponds to the position according to FIG. 2, in the following position that according to FIG. 4 and finally to that according to FIG. 1. It should be noted that the displacement distances of the slide bars 805 and 806, starting from the Situation according to FIG. 2, are different in order to be able to arrive at the situation according to FIG. 4. To initiate a subsequent laying cycle, the slide bars should of course return to the position that corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

The displacement mechanism 802 forms a connection between the frame and the sliding beam 805. The displacement mechanism 803 can also form a connection between the frame and the other sliding beam 806, but it is easier to make the displacement mechanism 803 the connection between the two sliding beams 805 and 806 let the two shift mechanisms work in tandem. The slide bars are preferred double-sided because this forms a favorable starting position for a stable suspension of the grippers 900, of which a top view of the gauge 809 is shown in FIG. 8. The grippers 900 are arranged in sliding blocks (FIG. 9), which can be displaced in opposite directions between the sliding beams by U-shaped or tubular slides, which are fixedly connected to the sliding blocks on both sides. It is also conceivable for a continuous recess to be provided in the longitudinal direction on the inner sides of the double-sided sliding beams and for a strip on both sides to fit into the recess.

The walking beam 807 can be moved along the long side of the frame by means of rollers 808 connected to it by means of the displacement mechanism 804 which engages on the long side of the frame. The displacement mechanism is designed, for example, in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or in the form of a spindle or a toothed rack.

At the point where the axis of a walking beam 807 intersects the axis of a sliding beam, a pivoting part 810 rotatable at the intersection in a horizontal plane is rotatably fixed in the sliding piece 811. One end of each pivot member is connected to a corner of the top of a gauge 809 by means of a strip, such as a twisted steel wire 813. This corner is similarly connected to a corresponding corner of the top of a following lesson. The lengths of the strips between the gauges (and grippers) are on the Center distances matched, which correspond to the center distances of the paving stones in the final herringbone association.

In the situation in which the position of the grippers corresponds to that of FIG. 2, the strips hang limply. If, by means of the displacement mechanism 804, the walking beam 807 is moved over the long side of the frame to the short side thereof, the strips are first tightened one after the other and then the gauges are moved over the sliding beams with the grippers until the strips are all tightened . The length of the strips at the ends of the swivel parts, which form the connecting elements with the subsequent grippers, should be selected such that the displacements of the grippers over the odd-numbered sliding beam 805 are offset with respect to those of the even-numbered sliding beam 806. When the strips are tightened, the centers of the grippers 809 should correspond to those of the paving stones according to FIG. 5.

According to a special embodiment of the invention, the gauges with the grippers 809 are moved over the sliding beams by means of strips which are connected not only to the ends of the pivoting parts but also to the sliding pieces 811. The sliding movement takes place via projections or strips and associated recesses in the relevant directions of movement of the running beam, the sliding beam and the sliding pieces.
Furthermore, the sliders 811 can help bring the gauges into place with the grippers 809. With regard to the starting position, that of FIG. 2 This is easily done by moving the walking bars 807 in the direction of line AA, with the sliders pressing the gauges with grippers to the point of connection (after which the sliding bars are moved in the direction of line BB until the gauges with grippers move touch).

9 shows a gripper 900 in longitudinal section, arranged in a sliding block 904. The gripper 900 is mainly composed of a gauge 905, a round tube 903 and a suction cup 902. 901 is an imaginary axis of the gripper; 902 is the suction cup, which is connected in a vacuum-tight manner to a vertical round tube 903, this tube being rotatable in a sliding block 904. The suction cup can be single or multiple. The suction cup can have a circular, rectangular or slit-shaped cross section. The suction cups are made, for example, of rubber or a suitable plastic. The tube pierces a rectangular jig 905, which preferably corresponds in section to that of the paving stones to be moved. Incidentally, the gauge can have any shape in plan view, as long as this shape is suitable for bringing the gauges together over the sliding beams in the direction of the center line AA in FIG. 8 to bring the center line of the grippers over the centers of the paving stones according to FIG. 2 . In other words, if stones with a different cross-section are used when laying a subsequent road surface, the gauges should be adjusted accordingly. The pipe is fixed to the gauge and cannot rotate in it. The tube is on the top of a not shown System of vacuum lines connected, which in turn to devices for generating a negative pressure, such as a Vacuum pump, are connected.

The sliding block 904 is provided with U-shaped or tubular cross profiles which fit on the sliding profiles of the sliding beams 805, 806. 9a shows the sliding profile 812 of the sliding beam 805. 907 (Fig. 9d) are slip strips, e.g. Made of nylon, teflon or sintered bronze, specially designed to make the sliding movement easier. 908 denotes the fastening points of the strips connected to the ends of the swivel parts for the rotation and for any displacement of the gauges with the grippers over the sliding beam 806. For the sliding beam 805, the attachment points with the gauges are at the two other corners of the gauge. It is also recommended that the slide block 904 be replaced by e.g. 909 has means for fastening means for bringing the sliding blocks on a sliding beam at equal distances from one another by means of a tensile force, this tensile force being exerted by the two moving bars moving in opposite directions.

It is expedient to connect the gauges at the ends of a sliding beam with sliding pieces also located at the ends. The means to distance the gauges consist of strips of the same length desired.

The swivel parts 810 at the two ends of a sliding beam are arranged parallel to one another and preferably parallel to the diagonal of a gauge and in such a way that when the longitudinal direction of the gauges is perpendicular is the longitudinal direction of the slide bar, the pivot parts assigned to a specific slide bar are parallel to the one direction of the diagonal and, in the case of the adjacent slide bar, parallel to the direction of the other diagonal.

The pivoting parts - and thus the gauges and consequently the grippers - can be rotated in two opposite directions by connecting the legs to a respective displacement mechanism 814, these displacement mechanisms being displaceable in two opposite directions parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slide beam. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, spindles or racks, for example, can be used as such displacement mechanisms. These mechanisms also act on the sliders, in addition to the legs of the swivel parts.

Fig. 7 relates to the mobile vehicle according to the invention.

Figure 7a is a top view. Fig. 7b is a side view and Fig. 7c is a rear view. In these figures, 701 is a stack of paving stones, 702 the loading platform, 703 the installation room, 704 a trolley, 705 rails for the trolley and 800 the device according to the invention, 706 is the forming table and 709 is the sorting table. The space for the operator is indicated by 707, the conveying means of the vehicle are indicated by 708 and the laid road surface is indicated by 710.

There is a system of three in the sorting table interlocking conveyor belts constructed from V-belts housed, which are indicated by 301, 302 and 303 in a schematic manner in Fig. 3. The running directions of the conveyor belts are perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle according to the invention. The three conveyor belts can work independently in both directions. If a paving stone layer is fed from a stack to the middle part 302, it is possible, if necessary, to reduce the length of the rows by a number of stones by removing these stones to the left to the conveyor belt 301 or to the right to the conveyor belt 303. The method according to the invention can be continued with the remaining part of the stone layer on the conveyor belt 302. In this way it is possible to produce a road surface of a relatively arbitrary width.

3, 7, 8 and 9, neither the systems which actuate the displacement mechanisms, such as fasteners and hydraulic, pneumatic or vacuum lines, nor the control panels or control systems which serve to ensure that the relevant elements according to the invention function in good time .

Claims (16)

1. A device for taking a layer of paving bricks from a stack of bricks (701) for laying a road surface (710), which device comprises a rectangular supporting structure (800) having sliding beams (805, 806) which can be moved at right angles to their longitudinal direction over two oppositely located sides of the rectangular supporting structure (800) and in which gripping devices (900) with suction cups (902) which are accommodated and rotatable, respectively, in sliding blocks (904) can be moved over and along the said sliding beams (805, 806), as well as driving means (802, 803) rigidly connected to the supporting structure (800) for moving the sliding beams (805, 806) and for moving and rotating (814), respectively, the gripping devices (900) with suction cups (902) provided in the sliding blocks (904), connection means to move the device, as well as lines for maintaining a vacuum in the gripping devices (900) with suction cups (902), characterised in that the device comprises a group of means which consist of:

   a) driving means (802, 803) for moving the sliding beams (805, 806) and driving means (814) for moving and rotating, respectively, the gripping devices provided in the sliding blocks (904) along and in, respectively, the sliding beams (805, 806) which engage directly or indirectly sides of the supporting structure (800) extending at right angles to each other;

   b) means for the groupwise movement of the gripping devices (800) provided in the sliding blocks (904) along the sliding beams (805, 806), said means comprising one or several moving beams (807) which can be moved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sliding beams (805, 806) by driving means (804) which engage on two oppositely located sides of the rectangular supporting structure and extend at right angles to the said moving beams;

   c) means which form sliding connection parts (sliding members) (811) between sliding beams (805, 806) and moving beams (807) and which are provided with profiled sliding members (906) extending at right angles to each other and present at various levels and corresponding to profiled sliding members (812) in the sliding beams (805, 806) and moving beams (807);

   d) means for spacing apart the gripping devices (900) provided in the sliding blocks (904) along the sliding beams (805, 806) and for rotating, respectively, the sliding blocks (904), said means comprising strips (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material, said strips forming along the sliding beams (805, 806) connections between a (the) moving beam(s) (807) and the sliding beams (805, 806);

   e) means for rotating the gripping devices (900) provided in the sliding blocks (904), said means comporising swivelling members (810) rotating symmetrically about an axis which is at right angles to the plane of the supporting structure the limbs of which are connected to the gripping devices (900) provided in the sliding blocks (904) by means of strips (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material with corresponding diametrically oppositely located connection points (908), the swivelling members (810) comprising suitable driving means (814) which engage the supporting structure (800).
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the driving means (802, 803) for moving the sliding beams (805, 806) over the two oppositely located sides of the rectangular supporting structure (800) are divided in two groups which engage the oppositely located sides and the sliding beams (805, 806) in such a manner that the movements of the sliding beams per group with respect to the other group are antisymmetrical with respect to the axis of the rectangular supporting structure (800), said axis extending parallel to the sliding beams (805, 806).
3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that that one sliding beam of a group of sliding beams (805, 806) which is farthest remote from the point of application of the driving means on the rectangular supporting structure is moved by a piston-cylinder system and the other sliding beams of this group are moved by means of strips of a flexible and non-expandable material connected to the said beam and connected together.
4. A device as claimed in Claims 1-3, characterised in that the driving means (802, 803) consist of piston-cylinder systems which from sliding beam (805) to sliding beam (806) are connected together in tandem arrangement.
5. A device as claimed in Claims 1-4, characterised in that the rectangular supporting structure (800) comprises two moving beams (807) on both sides which are moved with respect to each other antisymmetrically with respect to that main axis of the rectangular supporting structure which extends parallel to themoving beams by means of piston-cylinder systems (804).
6. A device as claimed in Claims 1-5, characterised in that the sliding beams (805, 806) and the moving beam(s) (807) can be moved along the sides of the rectangular supporting structure (800) by rollers (801 and 808, respectively) provided at the ends thereof.
7. A device as claimed in Claims 1-5, characterised in that the sliding members are connected alternately per sliding beam (805, 806) by means of strips (813) of equal length of a flexible and non-expandable material to the gripping device (905) provided on a sliding beam (805, 806) and situated nearest in a sliding block (904).
8. A device as claimed in Claims 1-6, characterised in that the swivelling members (810) and the driving means (814) therefor are provided on the sliding members (811).
9. A device as claimed in Claims 1-8, characterised in that the strips (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material consist of twined steel wire.
10. A device as claimed in Claims 1-9, characterised in that a gripping device is formed at its top by a rectangular jig (905) the cross-section of which corresponds to that of the brick to be moved and which jig (905) is rigidly connected on the lower side with a suction cup (902) via a round pipe (903) which can be rotated in a sliding block (904).
11. A device as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the short sides of the jigs (905) are partly bevelled so as to accommodate the downwardly-bent strip (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material.
12. A device as claimed in Claims 1-9, characterised in that the top of a sliding block (904) is constructed in the form of a swivelling member (810) rigidly connected to the gripping devices, the sliding block (904) comprising abutments in order that the axes of the sliding blocks (904) in the starting position of the rectangular supporting structure (800) can be moved at the same distance as that of the axes of the bricks when these are provided with the long sides against each other, as in a layer of bricks in unit box bond (Figure 2).
13. A device as claimed in one or more of the Claims 1-12 for converting a layer of bricks in unit box bond (Figure 2) into a layer of bricks in herring-bone bond (Figure 1), characterised in that the device is constructed from a rectangular supporting structure (800) over the sides of which sliding beams (805, 806) and one or more moving beams (807) can be moved at right angles to the sliding beams, sliding members (811) at the crossings of the sliding beams (805, 806) and of the moving beam(s) (807) which are connected therewith so as to be slidable, gripping devices (900) which are provided in sliding blocks (904) so as to be rotatable and which can be moved along the sliding beams (805, 806), strips (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material for spacing apart mutually the gripping devices (900) provided in the sliding blocks (904) and for spacing apart with respect to the moving beam(s) (807), swivelling members (810) for rotating the gripping devices (900) provided in the sliding blocks (904), as well as driving means (802, 803, and 804, respectively, and 814) for moving the sliding beams and the moving beam(s) and for rotating the swivelling members.
14. A device as claimed in one or more of the Claims 1-7 and 9-11 for converting a layer of bricks in unit box bond (Figure 2) into a layer of bricks in stretcher bond, characterised in that the device is constructed from a rectangular supporting structure (800) over the sides of which sliding beams (805, 806) and one or more moving beams (807) can move at right angles to the sliding beams, sliding members (811) at the crossings of the sliding beams (805, 806) and of the moving beam(s) (807) which are connected thereto so as to be slidable, gripping devices (900) which are provided in sliding beams (805, 806) and which can be moved along the sliding beams, strips (813) of a flexible and non-expandable material for moving the gripping device (900) which is provided in the sliding blocks (904) along the sliding beams (805, 806),the said strips (813) being connected to the moving beam(s) (807), as well as driving means (802, 803, and 804, respectively) for moving the sliding beams (805, 806) and the moving beam(s) (807).
15. A wheeled vehicle (Figures 7a,b,c) for laying a road surface, characterised in that

    a) the top of the vehicle is provided with guide means (705) as well as a travelling crab (704) which can be moved over the guide means (705), the said travelling crab (704) comprising a device (Figure 8) as claimed in Claims 1 to 14 and that in such a manner that same can be moved over the length and the width of the vehicle and that in a direction parallel and at right angles to the direction of movement of the vehicle,

    b) the vehicle, on the side thereof remote from the direction of movement, comprises a loading platform (702) for receiving a stack of bricks, the said platform extending to below the guide means (705) in such a manner that a device as claimed in the Claims 1-14 can lift a layer of bricks from a stack laid thereon,

    c) the vehicle, viewed in the direction of movement thereof, comprises, after the loading platform (702), an assembly platform (706) substantially parallel to the road surface to be laid (710), the said assembly platform (706) being at least so large that a field of bricks formed from a layer of bricks of a stack can be laid thereon by means of the device as claimed in the Claims 1-14,

    d) the vehicle, viewed in the direction of movement thereof, comprises, after the assembly platform (706), a bottomless space which extends to below the guide means (705) for laying the field of bricks formed by means of the device as claimed in Claims 1-14 in the layer of sand of the road surface,

    e) means are provided for driving the vehicle, means for moving the travelling crab, for clamping and lifting as well as lowering the device as claimed in the Claims 1-14, as well as lines and actuating means for operating the said device.
16. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 15, characterised in that for the lateral transport of parts of a layer of bricks (701) into the assembly platform (706) a sorting platform (709) is incorporated which consists of a system of interlocking transport belts (Figure 3) the travelling direction of which is at right angles to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

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