JP2008296315A - Underwater excavating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an underwater excavating apparatus which does not contaminate circumferential water even if an underwater excavator is used. <P>SOLUTION: The underwater excavating apparatus is composed of the underwater excavator 1, an air compressor 2 for feeding driving air to the underwater excavator 1, and a suction pump 3 for discharging air used in the underwater excavator. Air compressed by the air compressor 2 is fed via an air feeding hose 21 to the underwater excavator 1 and used for driving a tool 5. The underwater excavator 1 is provided with a cover 6 for covering an excavator main body, and a discharge hose 31 is connected to the cover 6 and also to the suction pump 3. The air having driven a driving mechanism and discharged from the excavator main body is discharged to the inside of the cover 6, then sucked to above water via the discharge hose 31 communicating with the cover 6. Not only the air but also water infiltrated into the cover 6 is sucked via the discharge hose 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater excavator for driving a tool using compressed air to perform drilling or rock drilling.

  Conventionally, an underwater rock drilling device or an underwater drilling device (hereinafter collectively referred to as an “underwater excavation device”) is a device for performing operations such as rock drilling or drilling in water such as a reservoir, water tank, or sea. Are known. This underwater excavator includes an underwater excavator for excavating or drilling underwater rocks or concrete by reciprocating a tool in water, and an air compressor and an air supply hose for sending compressed air for driving the underwater excavator. ing.

Moreover, in order to prevent the exhaust from being hindered by water pressure, an exhaust hose is attached to the discharge port of the underwater excavator, and the air used to drive the tool is discharged onto the water surface by the exhaust hose. It is possible to use an underwater excavator in Japan (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-166784

  By the way, although the air used for driving the underwater excavator is mainly exhausted from the discharge port of the underwater excavator, a part of the air is also exhausted from the tool mounting portion. As this exhaust is released into the water, convection occurs in the water in the work area, and the situation that the water is polluted and the visibility is disturbed due to the sediment being rolled up.

  In addition, excavators (so-called hammers and drills) used underwater among the underwater excavators are designed to lubricate and rust prevent moving parts because the metal members slide and slide repeatedly. When using an underwater excavator, this oil may be dispersed in the water and contaminate the water.

  In particular, when working in a water storage tank where drinking water is stored, contamination by this oil becomes a problem, so when using an underwater excavator in a water storage tank, a watertight mechanism is provided. Considering that the water is not contaminated by the oil even if it is used underwater by using an underwater excavator or by disassembling the underwater excavator and wiping off the oil on the surface and inside.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater excavator that does not contaminate surrounding water by convection due to exhaust or oil.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an underwater excavator comprising an underwater excavator and a gas supply device that supplies a driving gas to the underwater excavator. A cover for covering the excavator main body in which the drive mechanism is housed is provided, and a suction device for sucking fluid in the cover is connected to the cover. The excavator body in which the drive mechanism is accommodated is covered with a cover, and the fluid that has entered and discharged into the cover is sucked by a suction device.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the cover is composed of a plurality of cover members, and in a state where the joining surfaces formed on the plurality of cover members are overlapped and joined, the excavator main body can be accommodated therein, The cover is detachable from the excavator body so that the excavator body can be removed from the cover in a state where the cover member is divided. Since the cover is constituted by a plurality of cover members, the cover of the underwater excavator can be easily attached and detached.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the cover is sized to form a space between the cover and the excavator body. Since the gas discharged into the cover is accumulated in the space between the excavator body and the cover, it is difficult for the gas to be discharged outside the cover due to overflow.

  The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the suction device sucks both the gas discharged into the cover and the liquid present in the cover. Since the liquid can be sucked together with the gas, the water or the like that has entered the cover can be sucked and collected.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the suction device has a suction capacity larger than an air supply capacity from the gas supply device to the submersible excavator. Thus, the suction device can suck the liquid that has entered the cover together with the total amount of gas used in the underwater excavator.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can be set as the underwater excavation apparatus which does not pollute surrounding water with the exhaust, oil, etc. from an underwater excavator.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of an underwater excavator embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The underwater excavator of the present embodiment is mainly an underwater excavator 1, an air compressor 2 as a gas supply device that is disposed on the water surface and supplies compressed air as a driving gas to the underwater excavator 1, and similarly on the water surface And a suction pump 3 as a fluid suction device that collects air discharged from the underwater excavator 1 and water as an infiltrated liquid (FIG. 1).

  The underwater excavator 1 performs excavation work such as drilling and rock drilling in the water. As shown in FIG. 2, the underwater excavator 1 includes an excavator body 4 and a tool 5 attached to the tip thereof. The substantially whole is covered with an excavator cover 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as “cover”). The excavator body 4 is provided with a handle 9 including a gripping portion 7 and cylindrical support portions 8 formed at both ends thereof on the base end side (upper side in the drawing). The underwater excavator 1 is fixed by gripping the grip portion 7 of 9 and excavation work or the like is performed. In addition, an operation switch (not shown) of the underwater excavator 1 is disposed on the side of the handle 9, and the operator can turn the operation switch on and off while holding the handle 9.

  An air inlet 10 and an air outlet 11 are formed on the side surface of the excavator body 4, and an air supply hose 21 is connected to the air inlet 10. This air supply hose 21 is connected to an air compressor 2 as a gas supply device installed on the surface of water such as on land or on a ship, and the air compressed by the air compressor 2 passes through the air supply hose 21 to the air inlet 10. To the inside of the excavator body 4.

  A drive mechanism (not shown) is provided inside the excavator body 4, and this drive mechanism is driven by compressed air sent from the air compressor 2. Further, the tool 5 attached to the tip of the excavator body 4 via the locking hook 12 is directly connected to the drive mechanism, and when the drive mechanism is driven, the tool 5 is in the axial direction with respect to the excavator body 4. Reciprocate. Therefore, in the underwater excavator 1, the driving mechanism and the connecting portion between the driving mechanism and the tool 5 serve as a driving portion, and the lubricating oil is used because it is also a portion where the mechanical elements slide and slide. Most of the air used to drive the drive mechanism is discharged from the air discharge port 11 to the outside of the excavator body 4, and a part of the air is, for example, a connection portion between the excavator body 4 and the tool 5. It is discharged also from places other than the air discharge port 11.

  The cover 6 has a structure that covers most of the submersible excavator 1. When the submersible excavator 1 is covered with the cover 6, a handle 9 of the submersible excavator 1 is provided outside the cover 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Only a part of each of the tool 5 and the air supply hose 21 is exposed (the illustration of the air supply hose 21 is omitted in FIG. 3). That is, the entire excavator body 4 including the drive mechanism is covered with the cover 6. This cover 6 is made of resin and is formed in a hollow shape, and a space S is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cover 6 and the trunk of the excavator body 4. Accordingly, the cover 6 is sized to accommodate the excavator body 4 with the space S interposed around the excavator body 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cover 6 can be divided into two from the center along the extending direction of the gripping portion 7 of the handle 9 and the second cover member. 14, and the storage space for the excavator body 4 is formed inside the cover 6 by assembling the first cover member 13 with the second cover member 14 facing each other. The joining surface 13a formed on the peripheral edge of the first cover member 13 is formed with a certain width so as to be able to come into surface contact with the joining surface 14a formed on the opposing second cover member 14, Further, packings 13b and 14b made of rubber or the like rich in elastic force are attached to the joint surfaces 13a and 14a over the entire circumference. Further, screw holes 13c are formed at a plurality of locations (six locations in the present embodiment) of the joint surface 13a of the first cover member 13, and the thumbscrews 15 can advance and retreat with respect to the joint surface 13a. Are screwed together.

  A U-shaped groove 14 c is formed in the second cover member 14 at a position corresponding to the screw hole 13 c of the first cover member 13 that faces the second cover member 14. The position where the screw hole 13c can be seen through the U-shaped groove 14c when the joining surface 13a of the first cover member 13 and the joining surface 14a of the second cover member 14 are overlapped is an appropriate position. Further, when the thumbscrew 15 is screwed into the screw hole 13c from above the U-shaped groove 14c, the joint surfaces 13a and 14a are pressed against each other through the packings 13b and 14b to be in a watertight state. Inflow of water is prevented. On the other hand, since the underwater excavator 1 is arranged with the handle 9, the tool 5 and the air supply hose 21 partially exposed to the outside of the cover 6, the first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14 are provided with these. Openings for leading out to the outside of the cover 6 are formed.

  The joint surfaces 13a and 14a on the proximal end side of the first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14 are semicircular curved portions 13d having a size corresponding to the support portion 8 at two locations corresponding to the support portion 8 of the handle 9. , 14d are formed, and when the curved portions 13d, 14d are overlapped, a circular handle opening 16 is formed. Similarly, the semi-circular curved portion 13e corresponding to the diameter of the air supply hose 21 at the position corresponding to the air supply hose 21 on the joint surfaces 13a, 14a of the side surfaces of the first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14; 14e is formed, and when overlapped, a circular air supply hose opening 17 is formed. Furthermore, semicircular curved portions 13f and 14f that are slightly larger than the diameter of the tool 5 are formed at the positions corresponding to the tool 5 on the joint surfaces 13a and 14a on the distal end side of the first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14. When these are superposed, a circular tool opening 18 is formed.

  Packing 13b, 14b is attached to each curved part 13d, 14d etc. along the inner peripheral surface, and a portion of the underwater excavator 1 exposed to the outside of the cover 6 and the cover by the packing 13b, 14b. 6 is closed. Further, since the tool 5 has a plurality of sizes and the tool 5 reciprocates with respect to the excavator body 4, the diameter of the tool opening 18 is formed to be large, and the inside of the tool opening 18 A packing (not shown) that protrudes greatly toward the inside of the curved portions 13e and 14e is disposed on the peripheral surface. This packing is formed by a member resistant to friction because it is in sliding contact with the reciprocating tool 5 during operation of the underwater excavator 1. The closing of the tool opening 18 by packing is not strict, and water may flow from the tool opening 18 into the cover 6.

  A mounting hole 19 penetrating the first cover member 13 is formed on the distal end side of the first cover member 13, and a discharge hose 31 can be detachably connected to the mounting hole 19. The discharge hose 31 has a length that can reach the surface of the water, and a discharge port (not shown) at the tip is connected to a suction pump 3 as a suction device. The suction pump 3 is connected to the discharge hose 31 and sucks air and water existing inside the cover 6 to which the discharge hose 31 is communicated by making the inside of the discharge hose 31 have a negative pressure.

  The suction pump 3 capable of sucking both water and air as described above includes a self-priming pump. As this self-priming pump, for example, a self-priming fugal pump (PSPZ series) manufactured by Three Phase Electric Co., Ltd. ) There are a plurality of models with different suction capacities, and as a performance required for the suction pump 3 of the present embodiment, the entire amount of air sent to the submersible excavator 1 can be recovered. In addition, it is necessary to have a suction capacity capable of sucking water that has entered the cover 6 together. For this reason, it is preferable that the suction capacity of the suction pump 3 used in this embodiment has a larger capacity than the air supply capacity of the air compressor 2.

  On the water surface, a tank 32 is provided adjacent to the suction pump 3, and a discharge port of the discharge hose 31 is connected to the inside of the tank 32. For this reason, when the suction pump 3 sucks the air and water inside the cover 6 through the discharge hose 31, even if the air is discharged from the discharge port of the discharge hose 31, the air is not collected in the tank 32 but released into the atmosphere. However, the water is collected in the tank 32 after being discharged.

Next, a specific method of using the underwater excavator having the above-described configuration will be described.
An air compressor 2 and a suction pump 3 are installed on the ship 40 on the water surface. An air supply hose 21 is already connected to the air compressor 2, and the other end of the air supply hose 21 is connected to the air inlet 10 of the underwater excavator 1. On the other hand, the discharge hose 31 is already connected to the suction pump 3, but the other end of the discharge hose 31 is not yet connected.

  First, the underwater excavator 1 is placed on the ship 40 with the joint surface 13a of the first cover member 13 facing upward. The support portion 8 of the handle 9, the air supply hose 21, and the tool 5 are positioned on the curved portions 13d, 13e, and 13f formed on the joint surface 13a, respectively, and the second cover member 14 is faced to face the second cover member 14 from above. The surfaces 13a and 14a are overlapped. The U-shaped groove 14c formed in the second cover member 14 is positioned in the screw hole 13c formed in the first cover member 13, and the thumbscrew 15 is screwed into the screw hole 13c from above the U-shaped groove 14c. By being tightened, the joint surfaces 13a and 14a of the first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14 are in close contact with each other in a watertight state. The handle 9, the air supply hose 21, and the tool 5 are positioned and fixed with respect to the cover 6. Then, the discharge hose 31 is attached to the attachment hole 19 formed in the first cover member 13 and the preparation work is completed.

  When the water is lowered from above the ship 40, the tool 5 of the underwater excavator 1 is lowered so as to face downward, and is moved to the excavation point B as it is. Prior to excavation at the excavation point B, the operation of the air compressor 2 on the ship 40 is started, and the operation of the suction pump 3 is started. When the operator O turns on the operation switch while holding the handle 9, the drive mechanism is driven by the compressed air sent through the air supply hose 21, and at the same time, the reciprocation of the tool 5 is also started. Thereby, the worker O can perform excavation work at the excavation point B.

  The air sent from the air compressor 2 to the underwater excavator 1 through the air supply hose 21 is used as the driving force of the drive mechanism, and then discharged from the air discharge port 11 to the outside of the excavator body 4, and part of the air. Is also released from the vicinity of the connecting portion between the excavator body 4 and the tool 5. Here, since the excavator body 4 is covered with the cover 6, the air is discharged to the inside covered with the cover 6 and stays inside the cover 6. Further, a discharge hose 31 communicates with the mounting hole 19 formed in the cover 6, and the suction pump 3 is connected to the discharge hose 31 to suck the fluid in the cover 6. For this reason, the air discharged from the excavator main body 4 is sucked onto the ship 40 through the discharge hose 31 and released from the discharge port to the atmosphere.

  Since the tool opening 18 of the cover 6 where the tool 5 is exposed is a downward opening, as long as the air pressure inside the cover 6 and the water pressure outside the cover 6 are balanced, water will flow from the tool opening 18. There is no intrusion into the cover 6. However, the air used in the excavator body 4 is discharged into the cover 6 from the air discharge port 11 and sucked from the discharge hose 31 from the cover 6 inside the cover 6. For this reason, the pressure inside the cover 6 may fluctuate, and the tool 5 reciprocates, so that water may enter the cover 6 from the tool opening 18 due to the movement and vibration. However, since the water that has entered the cover 6 is sucked together with the air by the suction pump 3 onto the ship 40 through the discharge hose 31 and collected in the tank, the water that has entered the cover 6 enters the drive mechanism of the excavator body 4. The cover 6 does not return to the outside even if it is contaminated by the lubricating oil used.

According to the underwater excavator of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the cover 6 that covers the underwater excavator 1 is provided, and the air released from the underwater excavator 1 is retained inside the cover 6 and collected by the discharge hose 31. Therefore, air is not discharged to the outside of the cover 6 and water convection due to exhaust does not occur at the excavation point B.

  (2) The suction pump 3 is used to suck not only the air released into the cover 6 but also water that has entered the cover 6. For this reason, for example, even when water that has entered the cover 6 from the tool opening 18 comes into contact with the lubricating oil or the like used in the excavator body 4 and is contaminated, the water goes out of the cover 6. There is no spillage.

  (3) By setting the suction capacity of the suction pump 3 to be larger than the compressed air supply capacity of the air compressor 2, the entire amount of air sent to the underwater excavator 1 by the air compressor 2 can be recovered, and the cover It is also possible to suck water that has entered the inside of the battery 6 together. Further, since the water sucked by the suction pump 3 is collected in the tank 32, the contaminated water can be easily treated.

  (4) The cover 6 is formed of a first cover member 13 and a second cover member 14 that can be divided into two from the center, and packings 13b, 14b are attached to the joint surfaces 13a, 14a. Therefore, when the bonding surfaces 13a and 14a are overlapped with each other, a watertight state is obtained, and water can be prevented from entering from the bonding surfaces 13a and 14a.

  (5) The first cover member 13 and the second cover member 14 have curved portions 13d, 13e for fitting the support portion 8 of the handle 9 exposed to the outside of the cover 6, the air supply hose 21, and the tool 5, 13f, 14d, 14e, and 14f are formed, and packings 13b and 14b are attached to the inner peripheral surface thereof. For this reason, even if the underwater excavator 1 has a member exposed to the outside of the cover 6, it is possible to prevent water from entering.

  (6) The second cover member 14 is overlapped by fitting the support portion 8 of the handle 9 to the curved portion 13d formed on the first cover member 13 or the like. For this reason, when attaching the cover 6 to the underwater excavator 1, both positioning is also attained.

  (7) The discharge hose 31 communicates with the inside of the cover 6 through the mounting hole 19 formed at the tip of the cover 6. On the other hand, when water enters the inside of the cover 6, there are many from the tool opening 18, and even when it enters from other places, the water moves below the cover 6 by its own weight. For this reason, the water that has entered the cover 6 can be recovered without staying inside the cover 6 regardless of the place of entry.

  (8) The cover 6 is formed to cover the drive mechanism of the excavator body 4. For this reason, all the air discharged from other than the air discharge port 11 when the underwater excavator 1 is driven is also collected in the cover 6 and does not leak into the water outside the cover 6. In addition, the lubricating oil or the like used in these drive units does not leak to the outside of the cover 6 as well.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the situation where almost no water enters the cover 6, the air supply capacity of the air compressor 2 and the suction capacity of the suction pump 3 may be the same capacity.

  The suction pump 3 sucks the water that has entered the cover 6 together with the air present in the cover 6, but may suck air and water separately. For example, two suction pumps may be used, or two discharge hoses 31 may be used for air and water.

  A space S is formed between the cover 6 and the excavator body 4, but this space S is not limited to a physical configuration as long as air and water can exist. For example, even when a porous material such as sponge having excellent air permeability and water permeability is disposed between the excavator body 4 and the cover 6, the space S is formed in the porous material, so the excavator body A space S is formed between the cover 4 and the cover 6.

  O Although the cover 6 was comprised from the 1st cover member 13 and the 2nd cover member 14, it is not restricted to this, You may comprise from 3 or more members as a cover formed integrally. Further, the dividing direction of the cover member is not limited to the above embodiment.

Explanatory drawing of the use condition of the underwater excavator concerning this embodiment Front view of an underwater excavator covered with a cover according to the present embodiment Side view of an underwater excavator covered with a cover according to the present embodiment FIG. 4 is a development view of a cover according to the present embodiment, in which (a) is a first cover member (b) is a second cover member.

Explanation of symbols

1 .... submersible excavator, 2 .... air compressor, 3 .... suction pump, 4 .... main body of excavator, 5 .... tool, 6 .... cover, 9 .... handle, 10 .... air inlet, 11 .... -Air discharge port, 13 ... first cover member, 13a ... (joining surface of first cover member), 14 .... second cover member, 14a ... (joining surface of second cover member), 21 ... Air supply hose, 31 ... Exhaust hose, S ... Space, B ... Excavation point.

Claims (5)

In an underwater excavator comprising an underwater excavator and a gas supply device that supplies a driving gas to the underwater excavator,
An underwater excavator comprising a cover that covers an excavator main body in which the drive mechanism of the underwater excavator is housed, and a suction device that sucks fluid in the cover is connected to the cover.   The cover is composed of a plurality of cover members, and the excavator body can be accommodated in the state where the joining surfaces formed on the plurality of cover members are overlapped and joined, and the excavator is divided in the state where the cover member is divided. The underwater excavator according to claim 1, wherein the cover is detachable from the excavator main body so that the main body can be removed from the cover.   The underwater excavator according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a size that allows a space to be formed between the cover and the excavator body.   The underwater excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction device sucks both the gas discharged into the cover and the liquid present in the cover.   The underwater excavation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the suction device has a suction capacity larger than an air supply capacity from the gas supply device to the underwater excavator.

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