Abstract:
A device for guiding bundles of parallel ropes, cables, or pipes according to a three-dimensional (or non-planar) path in an earth-digging machine of the type in which provided downstream of the winder assembly ( 9 ) for the ropes are at least two sets ( 5, 7 ) of guiding sheaves; at least one ( 7 ) of the two sets is made up of sheaves of different diameters.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Forming the subject of the present invention is a device for guiding bundles of parallel ropes, cables, or pipes according to a three-dimensional path in an earth-digging machine. 
     One of the problems frequently encountered in the sector of earth-digging machines consists in supplying a piece of equipment set within the excavation itself with a source of hydraulic power, external to the excavation. 
     In some cases, numerous flexible pipes are envisaged to be arranged possibly in orderly bundles that have to run out of and into the excavation and are to be gathered on winding drums. 
     In a similar way, there can be provided steel cables for suspension and maneuver and electric cables for control and/or transmission of data, with an arrangement and movements similar to those of flexible pipes or hoses. 
     In a particular case, which in what follows will form the preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment as reference for the description and the drawings, the excavation is vertical and requires at least one bundle of parallel pipes set in a plane, which descend vertically into the excavation as far as the piece of earth-digging equipment and are unwound from and wound onto individual winding drums set on the earth-moving machinery. 
     The most obvious solution is for each individual pipe to have a path that lies in a vertical plane, which passes through the axis of the pipe in the excavation and constitutes the median plane of the sheave and of the winder. In this way, parallel pipes have paths in parallel planes, and the vertical pipes can be in a single plane perpendicular to the aforesaid parallel planes. 
     Likewise obvious is the solution according to which different pipes converge towards the axis of excavation with paths in vertical planes that are different and convergent. 
     The European patent No. EP-0843050 describes one of these cases in which a piece of equipment is provided with winding drums having a horizontal axis and guiding sheaves with an axis closely parallel to that of the drums, in a way similar to a winch and the respective sheaves. 
     In the case where there are parts of the machine that interfere with the path in a plane, or if it is necessary to provide various bundles of pipes with different paths that can interfere with one another, a solution proves useful that enables three-dimensional paths and arrangements of co-planar bundles that are not orthogonal with respect to the planes of the path, with a wide freedom of choice. 
     This type of approach affords a good degree of flexibility of solution to various problems of arrangement and path of flexible elements, such as hydraulic pipes, steel cables, electric cables, and the like, set in planar bundles of parallel elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is aimed at this type of solution and, in particular, is based upon the creation of a set of parallel sheaves, set on the same axis of rotation but of different diameters; the primitive diameters of the sheaves are preferably arranged on a conical surface of envelope. 
     By means of the solution proposed by the invention, parallel and co-planar pipes reach the sheaves according to a plane that is tangential to the cone and exit according to another tangential plane. The directions of entry and exit, to enable proper winding on the sheave, must lie in the median plane of the sheave; however, the planes of the incoming and outgoing bundles, unlike the case of sheaves of the same diameter, are not parallel to the axis of the sheaves. 
     By varying the angle of aperture of the cone, the angle of winding, and the position of the axis, it is possible to create arrangements as desired. By combining two sets of sheaves, at least one of which of different diameter, three-dimensional paths are obtained that are useful for preventing any interference, for following structures of the machine, and so forth. 
     To obtain the above and further advantages that will be understood more clearly from what follows, the invention proposes provision of a device for guiding bundles of parallel ropes, cables, or pipes according to a three-dimensional (or non-planar) path in an earth-digging machine, said device being characterized in that it envisages at least two sets of parallel sheaves, at least one of which is made up of sheaves of different diameters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       There now follows a description of the device according to the invention, with reference to the annexed plates of drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a set of sheaves of diameters that increase according to a cone, in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a set of sheaves of different diameters enveloped by a barrel shape, according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is the top-plan view of an arrangement for guiding pipes according to a three-dimensional path, with a “conical” set and a “cylindrical” set; 
         FIG. 4  is the perspective view from above of the same arrangement; and 
         FIG. 5  is the preferred arrangement in an excavating machine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , by means of the solution proposed by the invention, parallel and co-planar pipes  1  arrive at the sheaves  7  according to a plane  2  tangential to the cone and exit according to another tangential plane  3 . The entry and exit directions, in order to enable proper winding on the sheave, lie in the median plane of the sheave; however, the planes  2  and  3  of the incoming and outgoing bundles, unlike the case of sheaves of the same diameter, are not parallel to the axis of the sheaves. 
       FIG. 2  shows a similar solution, in which the diameters of the sheaves  7  are enveloped by a toric (barrel-shaped) surface so that the incoming and outgoing bundles of pipes  1 ′ lie on cylindrical surfaces  2 ′ and  3 ′ tangential to the toric surface. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  and to the case of vertical excavations, a vertical bundle of pipes  4  is guided by a cylindrical set of sheaves  5 , in a plane close to the horizontal in a direction  6  orthogonal to the plane of the bundle  4 . Next, a conical set of sheaves  7  guides in a desired skew direction  8 , keeping the bundle in a plane oriented according to the position of the winder assembly  9 . 
     From a comparison of  FIGS. 3 and 4  with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the set of sheaves of different diameters is always designated by  7 , the bundle of pipes  1  and  1 ′ of  FIGS. 1 and 2  corresponds to the bundle  6  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , whilst the bundle of pipes  3  and  3 ′ of  FIGS. 1 and 2  corresponds to the bundle  8  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     It may be noted that the plane that contains the bundle of the vertical pipes  4  is oriented in a different manner with respect to the plane of lie at exit from the winder assembly  9  and to the common axis of the sheaves of the two guiding assemblies. 
     The machine frequently causes convergence on the axis of drilling of various bundles of pipes having winder systems set in different positions on the excavating machinery.  FIG. 5  represents two bundles of vertical pipes in two planes parallel to one another, and a central pipe. 
     With reference to the diagrams of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there may be noted the bundle of vertical pipes  4  that is wound on the winder  9  after being run over the guide assembly  5  and the guide assembly  7 . 
     In addition, on the machine of  FIG. 5  there may be noted a vertical bundle of pipes  12 , which is wound on the winder  42  after being run over the guide assembly  22 ; finally, there may be noted a central pipe  13 , which is wound on the winder  43  after being run over the guiding sheave  23 . 
     The above arrangement prevents any interference with the lattice arm  51 , its stays  52 , the stand  53 , the maneuvering ropes  54 , and between the pipes of the system itself. 
     Hence, the subject of the invention is a set of sheaves set parallel to one another but of increasing diameters so that the primitive diameters are set on an imaginary surface of a conical shape. 
     Thus, by way of example, in the case where the bundle of pipes is deviated through ninety degrees, said bundle of pipes, which are horizontal and parallel as they enter, comes off as a bundle of parallel vertical pipes that lie in a plane inclined with respect to the initial direction of the pipes by an angle equal to the half-aperture of the cone. 
     With reference to the geometry of  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the common axis of the sheaves of a conical set is neither horizontal nor parallel to that of the winding drums, whilst that of the cylindrical set is horizontal but not parallel. 
     Without departing from the scope of the inventive idea underlying this invention, the sheaves with different diameters may not be coaxial but have parallel axes, or else the bundle of incoming or outgoing pipes may not lie in a single plane, or again the sheaves of different diameters may not be enveloped by a cone-shaped imaginary surface as in  FIG. 1 , but rather a barrel-shaped surface as in  FIG. 2  (convex toric surface), or else saddle-shaped surface (concave toric surface).