Patents Assigned to Soilmec S.p.A.
  • Patent number: 11965406
    Abstract: An excavating machine includes an actuation unit for moving the excavator, a main winch and secondary winch for lifting and lowering the actuation unit. A closed hydraulic circuit or an electric circuit drives the main winch. An open hydraulic circuit drives the secondary winch. A first pressure or current sensor measures fluid pressure or, electric current intensity in the hydraulic or electric driving circuit. A second pressure sensor measures fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit. A pressure regulator regulates fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit. A control unit executes a combined operating condition with the winches applying a force simultaneously and based on values sensed, controls the pressure regulator so the fluid pressure in the open hydraulic circuit, during the combined operating condition, has a target value that is a function of: the fluid pressure in the closed hydraulic circuit or the current in the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Antonelli, Alessio Zanichelli, Luigi Amoruso
  • Publication number: 20230323628
    Abstract: A machine and method utilize a tracked undercarriage including a frame with a central body, front and rear transverse assemblies connected to the central body and extending on opposite sides. Each of a pair of lateral tracks is connected, at the front and at the rear, to ends of the transverse assemblies. The base machine includes excavation equipment having different working positions/configurations. Each of a pair of front load cells of the tracked undercarriage is mounted between a lateral track and the front transverse assembly. Each of a pair of rear load cells is mounted between a lateral track and the rear transverse assembly. Each load detects force data indicating the reaction force exerted between the associated lateral track and the respective transverse assembly. A control system computes a barycentre planar position of the machine situated substantially at a reference plane computed as a function of the force data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mirco Armando Raffuzzi, Francesco Mantovani
  • Publication number: 20230313499
    Abstract: A support and guiding apparatus for feeder lines includes a feeding tube for a digging device, a support branch, and a plurality of crosspieces adapted for guiding the feeding tube and connected to the support branch. The support branch includes a single flexible traction element and a plurality of spacer elements coupled to the single flexible traction element. The flexible traction element defines a longitudinal axis X when the flexible traction element is in an extended configuration. The flexible traction element has a cross section S having a width B greater than a height H. Each one of the spacer elements has a first seat housing the flexible traction element and which is crossed by the flexible traction element. The first seat is shaped to prevent rotation of the spacer element. Each one of the spacer elements is arranged to allow rotation of the support branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo TIEZZI, Alberto PICCININI
  • Patent number: 11773652
    Abstract: Drilling machine (1) comprising: a supporting structure (3); a drilling string (12); a drilling head (11); a flexible tensile element (17); a moving device (21), mechanically connected to the supporting structure (3) and mechanically associated with the flexible tensile element (17) to hold and move the drilling string (12); at least one first electric motor (22) configured to, in a first operating mode, actuate the moving device (21) so as to lift the drilling string (12), and configured to, in a second operating mode, apply a braking mechanical power on the moving device (21) so as to brake in a controlled manner the lowering of the drilling string (12) to reach and maintain a desired controlled lowering speed (Vd), the at least one first electric motor (22) being also configured to produce an electric power (Pmot); a first bidirectional electric power converter device (23) configured to convert the electric power produced (Pmot) into converted electric power (Pregen); an electric energy transmission networ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Piraccini, Alberto Antonelli, Francesco Mantovani
  • Patent number: 11747182
    Abstract: A device measures the flow rate of a fluid, such as concrete, in a pumping plant connected to a drilling machine provided with a drilling tool. The pumping plant includes a motor pump and a connection pipe to lead fluid from the motor pump to the drilling tool. The device includes a transmitting module, for rigidly and removably mounted on the pumping plant and including an accelerometer and a receiving module, associated with the drilling machine. The transmitting module detects accelerations generated by vibrations of the pumping plant during the pumping of the fluid. The accelerations indicate flow rate of the fluid. The transmitting module wirelessly sends a signal, which is processed based on the detected accelerations, to the receiving module. The receiving module receives the signal from the transmitting module and sends a signal indicating the flow rate of the pumped fluid based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Corrado Collina
  • Patent number: 11746606
    Abstract: A method of mounting a kelly bar on a drilling machine includes a step of installing a mounting tool between the rod of a pull-down cylinder and a rotary carriage of the drilling machine. Once the mounting tool has been installed, the drilling machine can be set up with a kelly bar that is longer than the usual kelly bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Casadei, Primo Smeraldi
  • Patent number: 11473379
    Abstract: A single-pass type drilling machine includes a guide tower, a string of drilling rods, an extension element having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end being coupled with an upper end of the string of drilling rods, a rotary head slidably coupled with the guide tower, and a detection system. The rotary head and the extension element are mutually slidable and arranged to couple with each other in an upper end stop position, where the rotary head is coupled with the extension element substantially at the upper end of the extension element. The rotary head is coupled with the extension element at a lower position with respect to the upper end stop position in at least one locking position. The detection system detects the reaching of the at least one locking position by detecting at least the mutual axial position of the extension element and the rotary head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Ditillo
  • Patent number: 11459826
    Abstract: An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Macori, Matteo Amadori, Alessandro Ditillo
  • Patent number: 11401676
    Abstract: A drilling machine includes a main body, a mast to mount a drilling tool, a kinematic mechanism movably constraining the mast to the main body while allowing mutual rotation. The kinematic mechanism includes an elongated component hinged at two ends. When the drilling machine is in a drilling configuration, the elongated component performs a structural function to constrain the mast to the main body. An assembling and moving equipment includes a moving element movably mounted to the drilling machine and supporting the elongated component. A moving actuator controls the relative position between the moving element and a mounting portion of the drilling machine. When the drilling machine is in an assembling configuration, one end of the elongated component is released and the moving element acts upon the elongated component. Moving the moving element relative to the mounting portion of the drilling machine causes rotation of the elongated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Massari, Lucas Cecchini, Gianluca Vetricini, Daniele Villa
  • Publication number: 20220042382
    Abstract: A method of mounting a kelly bar on a drilling machine includes a step of installing a mounting tool between the rod of a pull-down cylinder and a rotary carriage of the drilling machine. Once the mounting tool has been installed, the drilling machine can be set up with a kelly bar that is longer than the usual kelly bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco CASADEI, Primo SMERALDI
  • Publication number: 20210189809
    Abstract: A single-pass type drilling machine includes a guide tower, a string of drilling rods, an extension element having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end being coupled with an upper end of the string of drilling rods, a rotary head slidably coupled with the guide tower, and a detection system. The rotary head and the extension element are mutually slidable and arranged to couple with each other in an upper end stop position, where the rotary head is coupled with the extension element substantially at the upper end of the extension element. The rotary head is coupled with the extension element at a lower position with respect to the upper end stop position in at least one locking position. The detection system detects the reaching of the at least one locking position by detecting at least the mutual axial position of the extension element and the rotary head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro DITILLO
  • Patent number: 11041282
    Abstract: An excavation tool for making ground excavations for panels and diaphragms includes at least one rotary excavation drum. At least one frame is adapted to support the excavation drum. At least one pump is adapted for suction of an excavation fluid. A brushless electric motor is adapted to put in rotation the at least one excavation drum. At least one mechanical reducer is operationally connected to the electric motor and the at least one excavation drum. The electric motor is installed in the frame and coaxial to the at least one excavation drum. The at least one mechanical reducer is coaxial to the electric motor and the at least one excavation drum. The at least one mechanical reducer is adapted to transfer rotary motion from the electric motor to the at least one excavation drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Laghi, Pietro Fontana, Jasmin Curic, Daniele Villa, Mirco Armando Raffuzzi, Francesco Mantovani
  • Publication number: 20210025236
    Abstract: Drilling machine (1) comprising: a supporting structure (3); a drilling string (12); a drilling head (11); a flexible tensile element (17); a moving device (21), mechanically connected to the supporting structure (3) and mechanically associated with the flexible tensile element (17) to hold and move the drilling string (12); at least one first electric motor (22) configured to, in a first operating mode, actuate the moving device (21) so as to lift the drilling string (12), and configured to, in a second operating mode, apply a braking mechanical power on the moving device (21) so as to brake in a controlled manner the lowering of the drilling string (12) to reach and maintain a desired controlled lowering speed (Vd), the at least one first electric motor (22) being also configured to produce an electric power (Pmot); a first bidirectional electric power converter device (23) configured to convert the electric power produced (Pmot) into converted electric power (Pregen); an electric energy transmission networ
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo PIRACCINI, Alberto ANTONELLI, Francesco MANTOVANI
  • Patent number: 10876392
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring an excavation site is described having a supporting frame, at least one profile measuring apparatus, associated with the supporting frame, facing a corresponding lateral wall of the excavation site. Each profile measuring apparatus has a feeler element arranged to remain in contact with the excavation site lateral wall. A sensor system associated with the supporting frame is provided having rotation sensors, and translation sensors. A data processing system, based on the rotation and translation data measured by the sensor system, is provided for calculating the actual profile of the lateral wall of the excavation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mirco Armando Raffuzzi, Pietro Fontana, Ivano Guerra
  • Publication number: 20200386052
    Abstract: An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio MACORI, Matteo AMADORI, Alessandro DITILLO
  • Patent number: 10690268
    Abstract: A support and guiding apparatus for feeder lines having a feed pipe for excavation devices is disclosed. The apparatus has a support branch and a plurality of crosspieces connected with the support branch which includes ring chain having a first and a second series of rings linked to one another in an alternate manner, defining a longitudinal axis (X); a plurality of spacer elements coupled to rings of the first series of rings so that they cannot slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mirco Armando Raffuzzi, Franco Visani
  • Patent number: 10533377
    Abstract: A system and method detect at least one mechanical locking position of a drill string in a soil drilling machine. According the system and method, there are: a sensor apparatus which is configured to detect first data indicating the position assumed by the top of the drill string and second data indicating the position assumed by the bottom of the drill string. A control unit calculates the estimated length of the drill string based on the data and to compare the estimated length with a reference length value. A pair of kelly rods is in a mechanical locking position; and a signaling apparatus is configured to signal when the estimated length corresponds to a reference length value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pietro Fontana, Ivano Guerra, Claudio Benzi
  • Patent number: 10458192
    Abstract: A drilling machine having: a string of telescopic rods provided with an excavation tool; a winch having a drum associated with a motor; a flexible pulling element connected on the one hand to the drum and on the other hand to the string of telescopic rods; a manual control element of the winch that can assume a first position, a second position and a third position; a control system configured for controlling the motor, in a first operating mode, so as to unwind the flexible pulling element from the drum when the manual control element is in the first position, wind the flexible pulling element on the drum in order to raise the string of telescopic rods when the manual control element is in the second position, stop the drum when the manual control element is in the third position; wherein it comprises a first manual selector adapted to select a second operating mode, and in that the control system is configured for controlling the motor, in the second operating mode, so as to wind the flexible pulling elemen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessio Zanichelli
  • Patent number: 10415207
    Abstract: A modular assembly for handling excavating equipment is disclosed. The assembly includes a first rotating table having a main body; one or more motors, each having a pinion, associated with the main body; a bearing having a fixed ring constrained to the main body and a movable ring that is coaxial and rotatable with respect to the fixed ring; a dragging sleeve integrally coupled with the movable ring coaxially to the bearing; a ring gear integrally and coaxially coupled with the dragging sleeve to engage with the pinion and be moved in rotation by the motors rotating integrally with the dragging sleeve and integrally with the movable ring. The assembly also has a second rotating table adapted to be coupled to a continuous excavating propeller; a plurality of accessories associated with the first rotating table so it can be coupled to a telescopic Kelly rod or to a continuous excavating propeller or to a casing and excavating pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Ditillo, Ezio Biserna
  • Patent number: 10364604
    Abstract: A device is provided for the movement and mutual assembly of segments of an excavation battery. The device includes four parts: an upper joint, a lower joint, a flexible element and a stop element. The upper joint is connectable to a driving tube. The lower joint is connectable to one segment of the excavation battery. The flexible element connects the upper joint to the lower joint so that the lower joint slides along the flexible element. The stop element limits the sliding of the lower joint away from the upper joint, and includes a ballast with a diameter that is less than a diameter of an inner duct in one segment of the excavation battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A
    Inventors: Ezio Biserna, Danilo Fusaroli, Francesco Mantovani