Multifunctional articulated drilling machine with improved stability

Abstract

A multifunctional articulated drilling machine, particularly but not exclusively adapted for excavation and drilling operations in galleries and tunnels, includes a vehicle equipped with tracks and a drilling member, a connection arm adapted to connect the drilling member to the vehicle, a first constraining system constraining the lower end of the arm to the vehicle, and a second constraining system constraining the guide of the drilling member to the upper end of the arm. The tracks can be translated crosswise in order to vary the distance between them.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) comprising:
 a self-propelled motor vehicle ( 1 ), with a chassis ( 11 ) equipped with at least one pair of tracks ( 61 ,  62 ) for a forward movement of the drilling machine in at least one advancement direction (X); and   at least one drilling member ( 3 ) comprising a drilling head ( 32 ) mounted and translating (G) on a respective guide ( 31 ),   further comprising:   at least one arm ( 2 ) configured to connect said drilling member ( 3 ) to said motor vehicle ( 1 );   a first constraining system ( 5 ) adapted to constrain a lower end ( 2   a ) of said arm ( 2 ) to said vehicle ( 1 ), wherein said first constraining system ( 5 ) comprises:
 at least one first pin ( 51 ) with vertical axis of rotation (Z 1 ), adapted to enable a rotating movement (A) of an entire arm ( 2 )—drilling member ( 3 ) assembly on said vertical axis (Z 1 ) 
 at least one first hinge ( 52 ) which directly or indirectly connects to said first pin ( 51 ) and to which said lower end ( 2   a ) of said arm ( 2 ) is hinged, said first hinge ( 52 ) being adapted to enable a rotating movement (C) of said arm ( 2 ); and 
 a drilling member ( 3 ) assembly around a horizontal axis (Y 1 ), which is orthogonal to the advancement direction (X) of the machine; 
   a second constraining system ( 4 ) adapted to constrain the guide ( 31 ) of the drilling member ( 3 ) to an upper end ( 2   b ) of said arm ( 2 ), wherein said second constraining system ( 4 ) comprises:
 at least one second hinge ( 41 ) mounted at an upper end ( 2   b ) of the arm ( 2 ) and enabling a rotating movement (D) of said guide ( 31 ) around an axis (Y 2 ), which is parallel to the axis (Y 1 ) of said first hinge ( 52 ) at the opposite end ( 2   a ) of the arm ( 2 ); 
 at least one second pin or ring bearing ( 42 ) connected to said second hinge ( 41 ) and adapted to enable a rotating movement (E) of said guide ( 31 ) around a rotation axis (Z 2 ) which is orthogonal to said second hinge ( 41 ); and 
 at least one third hinge ( 43 ) connected to said second pin or ring bearing ( 42 ) and adapted to enable a rotating movement (F) of said guide ( 31 ) around an axis (Y 3 ), which is orthogonal to the rotation axis (Z 2 ) of said second pin or ring bearing ( 42 ), 
   wherein said tracks ( 61 ,  62 ) of said chassis ( 11 ) selectively translate in a direction (Y) which is substantially orthogonal to the advancement direction (X) and in an opposite direction, thereby increasing or reducing a distance ( 63 ) therebetween, in a symmetric or asymmetric manner with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the drilling machine (M).   
     
     
         2 . The multifunctional articulated machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a translation of each track ( 61 ) is substantially opposite and equal to a translation of an opposite track ( 62 ) with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the drilling machine (M). 
     
     
         3 . The multifunctional articulated machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one control or safety system which, according to data regarding position and movement of the drilling machine (M) and of the drilling member ( 3 ), indicates a most appropriate position for said tracks ( 61 ,  62 ). 
     
     
         4 . The multifunctional articulated machine according to  claim 3 , wherein said control or safety system authorizes or prevents the movement of said drilling member ( 3 ) according to data regarding a position of said tracks ( 61 ,  62 ) and to data regarding position and movement of said machine (M) and of said drilling member ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . The multifunctional articulated machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first constraining system ( 5 ) further comprises at least one front ring bearing ( 53 ) constrained to said first pin ( 51 ) and rotating on a plane on which said first pin lies, a horizontal rotation axis (X 1 ) of said pin being orthogonal to said vertical rotation axis (Z 1 ) of the pin ( 51 ), said front ring bearing being adapted to enable a rotary movement (B) of said arm ( 2 )—drilling member ( 3 ) assembly around said horizontal axis (X 1 ), wherein said front ring bearing ( 53 ) rotates by an angle included at least between +90° and −90° with respect to a vertical direction (Z). 
     
     
         6 . The multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) according to  claim 5 , wherein said arm ( 2 ) is orientable in any direction on a vertical half plane orthogonal to the advancement direction (X) of the drilling machine through said first constraining system ( 5 ), and wherein said half plane is rotatable on the vertical axis (Z 1 ) of said first pin ( 51 ) and becomes inclined by way of said first hinge ( 52 ). 
     
     
         7 . The multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) according to  claim 6 , wherein said head ( 32 ) is adapted to be inclined with respect to said half plane (P) and rotated around the rotation axis (Z 2 ) of said second pin ( 41 ) through said second constraining system ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said second constraining system comprises a connection element ( 45 ) hinged to said arm ( 2 ), a coupling element ( 46 ) constrained to the drilling member ( 3 ) and hinged to said connection element ( 45 ) with one pair of superimposed hinges ( 47 ) having the same rotation axis (Z 2 ), and one pair of pistons or actuators ( 44 ) each hinged to said connection element ( 45 ) and to said coupling element ( 46 ) and configured to rotate said coupling element ( 46 ),   wherein said superimposed hinges ( 47 ) are spaced from each other so as to enable a passage of the piston ( 44 ) during an extension thereof, in order to enable said coupling element ( 46 ) and consequently said drilling member ( 3 ) to be rotated around said rotation axis (Z 2 ).   
     
     
         9 . The multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) according to  claim 1 , wherein said drilling member ( 3 ) is mounted on a front part ( 14 ) of said vehicle ( 1 ) with respect to the advancement direction (X). 
     
     
         10 . The multifunctional articulated drilling machine (M) according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm ( 2 ) comprises one or more hydraulic cylinders ( 21 ,  22 ) or other member adapted to control the movements of said arm ( 2 ).