ES2657796T3 - Washing tower for concrete vats, which includes centering skates of the inclined faces of these vats - Google Patents

Abstract

Washing tower intended to receive a concrete tank (2), in order to wash it, the body of the tank having lower faces (6) inclined downwards towards the center and ending at the bottom by an outlet opening of the concrete closed by a trapdoor controlled by a lever (8), said washing tower comprising a carrier structure formed by metal tubes and having on the upper part a support means of the tank, characterized in that it comprises two floors (38 , 42), and because the floor of the second floor (42) has an opening (58) framed by horizontal lateral support tubes (46) that receive guide skates (48) provided to surround the tank (2) constituting the support of two of the inclined faces (6) and guaranteeing a support and a fit of this tank.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Washing tower for concrete vats, which includes centering skates of the inclined faces of these vats.

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing station for construction vats intended to receive concrete. Technological background of the invention

It is known from patent application US-2006/277783-A1, which describes a tower according to the preamble of claim 1, a hopper-shaped object support structure that provisionally contains liquid or solid products that will later be evacuated. of the hopper when the opening of a trapdoor arranged at the bottom of the hopper takes place.

This support structure is constituted by four pillars joined two by two near their bases by horizontal crossbars, the vertex of each one of said pillars comprising a means suitable for cooperating with a complementary means arranged along a vertical edge of The hopper to bear.

Although this support structure is suitable to accommodate an object that weighs a few kilograms, even several tens of kilograms, it is evident that instead it is not appropriate to support an object that weighs several quintals, even several tons, and this for two reasons:

- under such a load, the pillars of said structure will be separated and the object will fall on the ground, even tilt and empty its contents if at the same time one or more of the pillars of the structure is laid down,

- Regular cleaning of the supported object is almost impossible to perform since, since the object is heavy, but also hollow due to its container function, its height will obviously be important and the washing of its interior will be possible for operators only if these The latter use a lifting device located next to the object to be washed that carries them above the upper opening that has been used for filling with liquid or solid products.

Therefore, such a support structure cannot be suitable for washing concrete vats whose weight is often several tons and whose height frequently reaches two meters, if not more.

Some works that use concrete, in particular with a view to the construction of buildings or works of art, do indeed use vats that comprise a wide upper opening, which receives the concrete, and lower shapes that have inclined interior surfaces that allow that the concrete slide towards a central trapdoor that supplies the concrete at a precise point.

The concrete vats also comprise, generally at the top, some hooking means that allow them to be suspended from a crane, to be presented successively to the device that supplies the concrete, which can be a concrete mixer truck or a concrete plant installed in the work, and present them above the formwork that this concrete receives.

On the other hand, in order to clean containers that receive concrete, such as concrete tanks, a known type of washing facility, presented in particular by document FR-A1-2942417, comprises a top platform that receives the containers, which allows an operator to rinse them with a water jet. This washing installation also includes, below it, treatment and recycling basins for washing waters.

It is also known to carry out washing towers of the concrete vats, which comprise a metal carrier structure that has support means in the upper part of the tank.

In particular, a type of known concrete tank adapted for these washing towers comprises in the upper part of its body two lateral horizontal bars arranged along the same axis that passes substantially through the center of the tank, horizontal bars that are welded in the outside the body of the tank in order to protrude on each side and thus form projections that fit in cradles arranged in the upper part of the wash tower. Horizontal bars of this type are added in the standard vats.

The cradles of the washing tower have a large open upward shape that narrows downwards in order to center the two bars and precisely position the concrete tank.

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It seems clear that this means of positioning the tanks on the washing tower raises in particular some problems of more important occupied space, and security. The two bars that protrude outside these vats, in effect, form excrescences that can be dangerous for personnel circulating around the vats. In addition, since this means of positioning the tanks on the washing tower for the commercialized tanks is not standard, the problem of modifying the existing tanks for use in the washing towers is raised.

General Description of the Invention

The present invention aims in particular to avoid these drawbacks of the prior art.

To this end, it proposes a washing tower intended to house a concrete tank, in order to wash it, the body of the tank presenting lower faces inclined downwards towards the center and ending at the bottom by an outlet opening of the concrete closed by a trapdoor controlled by a lever, said washing tower comprising a carrier structure formed by metal tubes and having on the upper part a support means of the tank, said tower being further characterized by comprising two floors and why the floor of the second floor has an opening framed by horizontal lateral support tubes that receive guide skates provided to surround the tank constituting the support of two of the inclined faces and guaranteeing a support and a fit of this tank, according to claim one.

An advantage of this washing tower is that the skates constitute simple and effective means of centering the tank that descends on the tower, sliding the inclined lower faces of this tank on the skates to perform its centering, which allows to obtain at the end of the descent a precise position of the tank that is stably supported on the skates that surround it.

When using the tank only its lower inclined faces for centering and support, and not being equipped with bars turned outward to perform these functions, it is understood that it imposes a reduced occupied volume and presents less danger to personnel who circulates around

Another advantage of this washing tower is that the set of existing standard tanks can be used without modification, the positioning of these tanks being carried out on their existing external surfaces.

The concrete tank washing tower according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which can be combined with each other.

Thus, advantageously, the washing tower can comprise in each horizontal lateral support two separate skates.

Preferably, each skate comprises a rolling element provided for rolling on an inclined lower face of the tank.

In particular, each skate can comprise a roller mounted on a horizontal axis, held parallel to the lateral support tube by two legs fixed to this tube.

According to another preferred embodiment, the washing tower also comprises a channel disposed below the central opening of the floor of the second floor, said channel allowing to receive the washing water from the lower hatch of the tank in the process of being washed and for direct them down without running the risk of spraying the outside of the wash tower.

Advantageously, the washing tower comprises at least one clean water inlet intended for washing the concrete tank.

In particular, it can be provided with two distributions of clean water arranged respectively on the first floor and on the second floor of this tower.

Preferably, the washing tower comprises treatment and recycling tanks for its washing waters.

Also preferably, the washing tower comprises a gondola arranged on the second floor, behind the opening.

Advantageously, the carrier structure of the washing tower is formed by a welded monobloc assembly intended to be manufactured in the workshop and transported in one piece to the site.

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Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages will appear more clearly upon reading the following description provided by way of example and not limitation, in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a modified concrete tank by adding two lateral horizontal bars at the top of its body and consequently adapted for a washing tower according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 shows a standard concrete tank adapted for a washing tower according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a washing tower according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a detail view of a skate of this washing tower;

- Figure 5 is a side view of this same washing tower according to the invention, which receives a concrete tank; Y

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of this washing tower that receives a concrete tank. Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 shows an example of a concrete tank 2 constituted by the assembly of welded sheets and bars that thus form a receptacle comprising a body whose upper part has four vertical flat faces 4 that form a square or a top view rectangle, extending each of these faces downwards according to a face (6) that is inclined in the direction of the center.

The inclined faces 6 are terminated in the lower part by a lower opening closed by a trapdoor controlled by a lever 8. A lower channel 10, arranged below this trapdoor, registers the descent of the concrete towards a circular central outlet.

A tubular frame 12 comprises two tubes that rest on one side of the concrete tank 2, called by the front side, said tubes descending in a rounded way to reach below the lower channel 10 in order to form a frame that surrounds this channel as well as the control device of the trapdoor 8, and whose role is to protect them from impacts.

Two sides of the concrete tank 2, called lateral sides by agreement, are extended above by a triangular plate 14 comprising a central tip turned upwards, each tip receiving a lifting ring 16 of the bowl 2. These two central tips they are joined together by a crossbar 18 that guarantees a stiffening preventing the rings 16 from approaching in a lift by means of a loaded vat crane.

A horizontal bar 22 of square section protruding outwardly is fixed at the top of each side side of the tank body, and the two bars 22 thus applied are aligned on the same axis that passes substantially through the center of the tank. 2. Above each bar 22, two triangular reinforcing boards 20 rest on the triangular plate 14 in order to allow a bearing of the tank by those bars.

The two lateral outer bars 22 constitute very outstanding shapes comprising living edges that, when the vats are placed on the ground, standing or lying down, are at the height of the personnel circulating in the work. There are then, due even to the existence of these external bars 22, risks of accidents caused by vats placed on the ground or in the process of handling by cranes, in particular when approaching a workstation where there are operators arranged around.

Another drawback of such vats is that their outer occupied volume is more important and therefore they need a larger storage space.

Figure 2 shows, still by way of example, a traditional tank 2, similar to the previous one except that it does not however include outer bars 22. The lateral sides of this other tank are substantially smooth, in the sense that they do not have any part outstanding outward.

Figure 3 shows a washing tower comprising a carrier structure formed by metal tubes of square section welded together, which facilitates their assembly.

The washing tower has a floor at floor level 32 which comprises a first staircase on one side

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34 giving access to a first floor 38 comprising a floor provided with an access hatch 36 disposed at the top of this ladder. The first floor 38 comprises, on the opposite side side, a second staircase 40 which gives access to a gondola 44 which occupies the entire rear part of a second floor 42.

The floor at the front of the second floor 42 has a large rectangular central opening 58 framed by two horizontal lateral support tubes 46 each receiving two separate guide skates 48.

Each guide skate 48 detailed in Figure 4 comprises a roller 60 mounted on a horizontal axis 62 held parallel to the side support tube 46 by means of two plates 64 forming welded legs perpendicular to this tube. In this way, skates comprising rollers 60 can be obtained in a simple and economical manner, which can rotate on its axis while supporting significant loads.

A washing water recovery channel 50, disposed below the central opening 58 of the floor of the second floor 42, extends upward, according to a front part 52 and two small-sided protection flanks, and ends at the lower part by a fin of orientation of the residual waters.

The first floor 38 and the second floor 42 each comprise a clean water inlet 56, as well as a winding support for an irrigation hose that receives this clean water.

In particular, clean water can come from an outside water inlet. The clean water can also come from buckets for treating the wash water produced by this same tower, as indicated in the document cited in the prior art presented above. The washing tower then forms a complete cleaning installation comprising an internal recycling of its water, then consuming said washing tower with little outside water and which is therefore more ecological.

Advantageously, the washing tower is constituted by a compact monoblock structure welded in the workshop, which receives its equipment to be ready for use, and which is then deposited in a truck to be transported to the works. This avoids assembly manipulations in the work, which are always the source of errors as well as the risks of incidents.

It is noted that since the concrete tank 2 does not comprise any lateral outer bar 22 protruding from the sides 4, the width of the washing tower according to the invention can be reduced with respect to a type of known tower designed to receive such equipped vats. with outer bars.

Figures 5 and 6 present in side view, and respectively in perspective view, the washing tower according to the invention in which two operators treat the concrete tank 2. When it is placed by the crane, said tank 2 has been arranged in such a way that its inclined lower side faces 6 come to rest on the rollers 60 of the skates 48 as it descends, which prevents friction. In this way, by means of this roller bearing 60, a permanent lateral guidance of the concrete tank 2 is obtained.

When fully placed, stabilized and sandwiched between the skates 48, the concrete tank 2 is wedged in position on its support and therefore can no longer be moved. Operators 70 can then work on both floors 38, 42 of the washing tower with total safety, to wash both the bottom part, which comprises the exit hatch and the bottom channel 10 of the tank, with the water jet, as the upper and inner part of your body 2.

As is evident, the invention is not limited only to the preferred embodiments described above.

On the contrary, it encompasses all possible variants of realization, provided that the latter do not leave the framework defined by the appended claims that define the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. Washing tower intended to receive a concrete tank (2), in order to wash it, the body of the tank having lower faces (6) inclined downwards towards the center and ending at the bottom by an opening of concrete exit closed by a trapdoor controlled by a lever (8), said washing tower comprising a carrier structure formed by metal tubes and having in the upper part a support means of the tank, characterized in that it comprises two floors (38, 42), and because the floor of the second floor (42) has an opening (58) framed by horizontal lateral support tubes (46) that receive guide skates (48) provided to surround the tank (2 ) constituting the support of two of the inclined faces (6) and guaranteeing a support and a fit of this tank. 2. Washing tower according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises in each horizontal lateral support (46) two separate skates (48). 3. Washing tower according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each skate (48) comprises a rolling element (60) provided for rolling on an inclined lower face (6) of the tank (2). 4. Washing tower according to claim 3, characterized in that each skate (48) comprises a roller (60) mounted on a horizontal axis (62), held parallel to the side support tube (46) by two legs (64) fixed to this tube. 5. Washing tower according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it also comprises a channel (50) disposed below the opening (58) provided on the floor of the second floor (42), allowing said channel (50) receive the wash waters from the treatment on the upper floor and forward them to the lower floor. 6. Washing tower according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one inlet (56) of clean water intended for washing the concrete tank (2). 7. Washing tower according to claim 6, characterized in that it is provided with two distributions (56) of clean water arranged respectively on the first floor (38) and on the second floor (42) of this tower. 8. Washing tower according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises treatment and recycling tanks for its washing waters. 9. Washing tower according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a gondola (44) arranged on the second floor (42), behind the opening (58). 10. Washing tower according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that its carrier structure is formed by a welded monobloc assembly intended to be manufactured in the workshop, and transported in one piece to the work.