ITVR20100209A1 - EQUIPMENT FOR SPRAYING LIQUID SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS PAINT OR WATER, ON THE INTERNAL WALLS OF TUNNELS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

attached to a patent application for industrial invention entitled:

EQUIPMENT FOR SPRAYING LIQUID SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS PAINTS OR WATER, ON THE INTERNAL WALLS OF TUNNELS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels.

This equipment was created in the first place to allow the automation of the painting operations of the internal walls of the tunnels.

In recent times, in fact, especially with the aim of increasing the brightness inside the tunnels and therefore decreasing the energy consumption associated with their lighting, the need to paint the interior of the tunnels with colors is becoming more and more widespread. clear, usually white. Currently, the interior painting of the tunnels is mainly done by hand by operators equipped with spray guns. It is easy to understand how this operating mode is disadvantageous both in terms of the quality of the coating that can be obtained and, above all, in terms of processing times. In fact, manual painting of tunnels requires extremely long working times with a consequent negative impact on vehicular traffic, especially in the case of repainting of existing tunnels, an operation which always involves the closure of the tunnel itself.

Furthermore, the use of spray guns is also disadvantageous as regards the pollution of the working environment. In fact, part of the sprayed paint does not adhere to the tunnel wall, but is dispersed in the air, especially if the distance between the guns and the wall differs from the ideal distance for correct painting.

Secondly, the present invention arises in relation to the need to wash existing tunnels. This need is particularly felt in the case of painted tunnels where smog, in a short time, tends to cover the underlying color with a blackish patina.

Currently, the washing of the tunnels can be carried out either by hand or by using the means normally destined to the washing of the streets suitably modified. In this second case, the rigid water spraying bar, normally placed horizontally in front of or behind the vehicle, is in fact mounted laterally to the vehicle itself, positioned vertically and facing the tunnel wall; the driver then proceeds to travel through the tunnel keeping the bar itself as close as possible to the internal wall.

Also in this case the result that can be obtained is certainly not ideal.

In fact, for obvious structural reasons, it is not possible to bring the spray bar closer to the tunnel wall. Furthermore, only the skill and attention of the operator can allow to keep this distance constant over time.

In addition to this, it is currently not possible to recover the dirty washing water, with consequent pollution of the surrounding environment.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels which remedies the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, the technical task of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels which allows the substances to be sprayed more reliably than with currently known solutions. A further technical task of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels which guarantees greater productivity than known systems.

It is still the technical task of some embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels which allows to minimize the dispersion of polluting substances into the environment.

The technical task and the indicated aims are substantially achieved by an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels realized in accordance with what is described in the attached claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows in a schematic side view, with some parts removed to better highlight others, a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention mounted on a truck with trailer which, depending on the embodiments, may or may not be part of the equipment itself;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic side view, with some parts removed to better highlight others, a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention mounted on a road semi-trailer and towed by a tracked tractor which, according to the embodiments , it may or may not be part of the equipment itself;

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a first part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view from behind the part of the apparatus of Figure 3;

- figure 5 shows a schematic side view with some parts removed to better highlight others a second part of the apparatus of figure 1;

Figure 6 is a rear view of a variant of the second part of the apparatus of Figure 5, schematically showing a plurality of movable arms in respective working positions corresponding to tunnels of maximum diameter and minimum diameter;

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the detail of a movable arm of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 8 is a rear view of the detail of the portion for fixing the movable arm to the support structure;

figure 9 shows the detail IX of figure 7 enlarged;

- figure 10 schematically shows the projection on a plane of the mutual arrangement of the operating heads 14 of three arms of the apparatus of figure 6, in working condition in the case of a tunnel with a maximum diameter;

- figure 11 schematically shows the projection on a plane of the mutual arrangement of the operating heads 14 of three arms of the apparatus of figure 6, in working condition in the case of a tunnel of intermediate diameter;

- figure 12 schematically shows the projection on a plane of the mutual arrangement of the operating heads 14 of three arms of the apparatus of figure 6, in working condition in the case of a tunnel with a minimum diameter;

Figure 13 shows an enlarged, more detailed and partially transparent view of the operating head of the arm of Figure 7;

- figure 14 shows the operating head of figure 13 sectioned along the XIV-XIV plane;

- figure 15 is an enlarged and partially transparent view of an operating head of a different arm of the apparatus of figure 6; And

- figure 16 shows a hydraulic diagram of the spraying circuit of the liquid substance object of the present invention.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the reference number 1 globally indicates an apparatus for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls 2 of tunnels, made according to the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus 1 first of all comprises at least one support structure 3 which, during use, can be moved along the length of a tunnel to be treated.

As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, depending on the embodiment, both a single support structure 3 (figure 2) and several independent support structures 3 for different parts of the equipment 1 can be provided (as in the case of figure 1 where the support structures 3 are two).

In both these figures, moreover, the support structures 3 are in turn positioned on vehicles: in the case of figure 2 on a single road semi-trailer 4; in the case of figure 1 it part on the back of a truck 5 and part on a road trailer 6.

Depending on the requirements, these vehicles can be used exclusively for transporting the equipment 1 to the work area, or they can also be used during the operation of the equipment 1 to move it along the length of a tunnel. In this regard, however, it should be noted that, in accordance with the present invention, the transport vehicles of the support structures 3 can also be part of the equipment 1. In some cases, then, the vehicle chassis can be part integral part of the support structures 3.

In the most complete embodiments, in fact, the support structure 3 can comprise at least one transport wagon equipped with wheels that allows it to move on the ground (such as the semi-trailer 4 in figure 2), as well as the equipment 1 can also comprise at least one drive unit 7 connected to this wagon to make it move on the ground (such as the tracked vehicle in figure 2).

Further details on these aspects will however also be provided below.

In accordance with the present invention, then, the apparatus 1 comprises at least one movable arm 8 which has a first end 9 connected to the support structure 3 and a second cantilevered end 10 (figures 5 and 7). The arm 8 is movable with respect to the support structure 3 between a rest position in which the second end 10 is close to a central axis of the apparatus 1 (axis not shown), and a plurality of operating positions in correspondence with the which its second extremity 10 is instead distanced from this central axis. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, in the rest position the arm 8 is arranged mainly parallel to the central axis of the equipment 1 and falls within the overall dimensions defined by the support structure 3, while in the operating positions it protrudes laterally from the support structure 3 itself. The movement of the arm 8 between the various positions is ensured by suitable handling means which, advantageously, can comprise one or more linear actuators (for example hydraulic or electric). In the accompanying figures, in particular, they comprise a first actuator 11 mounted between a bracket 12 integral with the arm 8 and a fixing portion 13 of the arm 8 to the support structure 3. The arm 8, in fact, is in turn preferably fixed to the support structure 3 by means of a fork-shaped fixing portion 13 (figures 7 and 8) in which it is hinged.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the arm 8 has a fixed length, in other embodiments it is also provided that it can be extendable (for example by means of a telescopic mechanism).

On the second end 10 of the arm 8, at least one operating head 14 is then mounted, equipped with at least one sprayer 15 suitable for spraying the liquid substance on the walls 2 of the tunnels. In the preferred embodiments, however, each head 14 is equipped with a plurality of sprayers 15 arranged side by side and mutually spaced as can be seen for example in Figures 7 and 13-15. Preferably, then, the sprayers 15 (one or more that are) are arranged and / or shaped in such a way as to create a spray pattern 16 that is not axially symmetrical (in figure 7 each spray pattern 16 is schematized by two lines drawn point-point which diverge starting from each sprayer 15). Advantageously, in fact, the spraying fan 16 has an elongated section along its own main development direction which, in Figure 7, is parallel to the plane of the drawing. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment each fan 16 has a substantially rectangular section (increasing as the distance from the sprayer 15 increases). As shown in Figure 7, moreover, the nozzles 15 of an operating head 14 are reciprocally arranged in such a way that the respective spraying fans 16 partially overlap in correspondence with the wall 2 of the tunnel (the distance of which from the nozzle 15, as better explained in the following, it is advantageously kept within a predetermined range).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the operating head 14 is in turn movable with respect to the second end 10 of the arm 8 to which it is fixed. Advantageously, in fact, the head 14 is hinged to the second end 10 of the arm 8 by means of a shaped connection element 17 interposed between the two. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinging axis of the element shaped to the arm 8 is perpendicular to the movement plane of the arm 8 (plane determined by the hinging axis of the arm 8 to the fixing portion 13). Preferably, there are also provided means for orienting the head 14 with respect to the arm 8. More in detail, to ensure the controlled rotation of the connection element 17 with respect to the arm 8, the orienting means comprise first rotation means 18 which determine the rotation of the connection element 17 between a rest position (illustrated in solid line in figure 7) and an operative position (shown partially and in discontinuous line in figure 7), and which are advantageously constituted by a second linear actuator 19 (for example hydraulic or electric), which, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, is in turn hinged, on one side, to the fixing portion 13 and, on the other, to an appendix 20 of the element connection 17 shaped. As can be seen in figure 7, moreover, in order to allow the movement of the arm 8 on the one hand, and on the other hand to keep the shaped connection element 17 always parallel to itself during operation, when the element connection 17 is in its operating position, the hinging points of the arm 8 (respectively to the fixing portion 13 and to the connection element 17) and of the second actuator 19 (respectively to the fixing portion 13 and to the appendix 20) constitute the vertices 21 of an articulated parallelogram. In this way, the first rotation means 18 allow the head 14 to be kept parallel to itself during the movement of the arm 8. This situation is schematically illustrated in figure 5 where the apparatus 1 shown is equipped with a single arm 8 movable in the vertical plane: the arm 8 represented in solid line corresponds to the arm 8 in the rest position with the connection element 17 also in the rest condition, while the two hatched diagrams indicate two different working positions of the arm 8 corresponding to internal walls 2 of tunnels of different radius (both with the connection element 17 arranged in its operating position).

In the light of the above, it is therefore clear that, with the arm 8 in the rest position, each head 14 can be positioned in such a way that both the arm 8 and the head 14 fall within a road traffic encumbrance of the € ™ equipment 1.

Advantageously, then, regardless of the presence or absence of the first rotation means 18 (if the embodiment allows it), the orientation means can allow to vary in use the inclination of the main direction of development of the spray fan 16 with respect to the surface of the inner wall 2 of the tunnel (the different orientation of the head 14 is visible three-dimensionally in the three positions of the arm 8 illustrated in figure 5).

For this purpose, as can be seen in Figure 9, the orientation means preferably comprise second means 22 for rotating the head 14 on itself (in the embodiment illustrated with respect to the shaped connection element 17). In the preferred embodiment, in fact, the operating head 14 is fixed to the connection element 17 by means of an annular bearing 23 (in other embodiments the fixing method described here can in any case be provided directly between the operating head 14 and arm 8) . The head 14 is also equipped with a toothed wheel 24 coaxial to the bearing 23, connected (by means of a chain not shown in the accompanying figures for clarity) to a pinion 25 driven by a motor 26 integral with the connection element 17. Between the motor 26 and pinion 25 are advantageously interposed both a reducer 27 and a brake 28. The latter has the purpose of keeping the head 14 stationary once the predetermined angular position has been reached. Coaxially with the bearing 23 and the toothed wheel 24, an annular cam element 29 is also mounted which, interacting with a mechanical limit switch 30 integral with the motor 26, determines the angle of possible rotation of the head 14.

Said second rotation means 22 have the purpose of adapting the apparatus 1 to tunnels of different diameters in the case in which several movable arms 8 are provided, as better described below.

It should also be noted that, in the illustrated embodiment, the shaping of the connection element 17 is designed in such a way that, when it is in the operative position and the head 14 is therefore connected to the support structure 3 by means of a parallelogram articulated, the axis of rotation of the head 14 on itself lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the apparatus 1 along the tunnel (therefore also to a longitudinal axis 31 of the apparatus 1). In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 further comprises suction means 32 operatively associated with the operating head 14. These suction means 32 have the task of sucking, during operation, at least part of what is sprayed in correspondence with the portion of the tunnel affected by the spraying of the liquid substance. In particular, in the case of equipment 1 intended for painting or similar applications, the suction means 32 have the function of sucking, as far as possible, the nebulized paint which does not deposit on the wall 2 of the tunnel. The illustrated embodiment refers to this application. On the other hand, in the case of apparatus 1 intended for washing, the suction means 32 can have the task of recovering, as far as possible, the dirty water.

As can be seen in the accompanying figures, the suction means 32 comprise a suction mouth 33 mounted on the operating head 14 (figures 13, 14), a suction and filtration cabin 34 mounted on the support structure 3 (figures 1 and 2; being the cabin 34 per se of known type is not described further here) and at least one tube 35 extending between the suction cabin 34 and the suction mouth 33 (figures 7 and 8; in the latter figure only the overall dimensions of the tube 35 in correspondence with a through hole 36, obtained in the fixing portion 13, which allows communication with the interior of the suction cabin 34). Advantageously, the tube 35 is at least partially inserted inside the movable arm 8 which is specially hollow.

More in detail, the operating head 14 is overall shaped like a suction hood; consequently, the suction mouth 33 is defined by the entire open side of the head 14 which in use faces the tunnel wall 2. Advantageously, at least in correspondence with the main sides of the suction mouth 33, the head 14 is then provided with flexible cantilevered bulkheads 37 which, during operation, delimit the suction area. As can be seen in figure 14 (where only two bulkheads 37 are provided on the main sides of the suction mouth 33), preferably the bulkhead 37 which in use is placed upstream with respect to the forward direction of the apparatus 1 in the tunnel, protrudes more than the other. In this way, in fact, the bulkhead 37 upstream can also be placed in contact with the wall 2 so as to better close the suction space, while the one located downstream remains in any case spaced from the wall 2, preventing it from ruining the paint as soon as applied. Furthermore, the bulkheads 37 can preferably have an arched outer edge so as to get as close as possible to the tunnel wall 2 (advantageously, the radius of curvature of this edge can be an average radius between the various possible radii of the tunnels in which the ™ equipment 1 is able to operate).

It should also be noted that the flow of the sucked air moves against the current of the spray. Inside the head 14, then, the sucked air is made to pass through filtration means 38 (two panel filters in the accompanying figures). In particular, the inside of the operating head 14 shown is divided in such a way as to create a path for the air (indicated by the arrow in figure 14) mainly grazing the external panels of the head 14 from the suction mouth 33 up to filters, and substantially central to the head 14 downstream of the panel filters. The latter are instead crossed by the air in a direction transversal to the first two. In this way, while keeping the thickness of the head 14 limited (dictated by the size of the spraying fans 16), it is possible to considerably increase the filtering section and therefore reduce the consequent pressure drops with the same filtering effect.

In the case of apparatus 1 intended for washing, on the other hand, the suction mouth 33 will be advantageously shaped in such a way as to be able to collect at least most of the water that is sprayed. For this purpose, for example, the mouth can be equipped with flexible bulkheads designed to rest on the tunnel along its entire lower part. Alternatively, however, in other embodiments, the water collection means can also be made independent of the operating heads 14. Furthermore, in the case of equipment intended for washing, it is also provided that inside the suction 33 can be fitted with a motorized rotating brush sized in such a way as to protrude from the suction mouth 33 itself in such a way as to be able to interact with the wall of the tunnel to maximize the cleaning effect.

According to the present invention, then, the apparatus 1 comprises means 39 for feeding the liquid substance to be sprayed, to the sprayer 15 or to the sprayers 15 (means described below with reference to Figure 16), and detection means 40 to detect, during operation, the position of the operating head 14 with respect to the wall 2 of the tunnel.

As schematically illustrated in Figures 7 and 13, the detection means 40 can comprise at least one distance detector 41 (for example laser or ultrasound) operatively coupled to the operating head 14 to determine its distance from the wall 2 from the tunnel. Alternatively, the detection means 40 can comprise a laser detector 42 of the type described below, as well as means for controlling the position of the head 14 with respect to the rest of the apparatus 1, to determine the distance indirectly.

Finally, the apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises a control unit 43 operatively connected at least to the handling means, to the feeding means 39, to the detection means 40 and advantageously, if present, to the orienting and to the suction means 32.

The control unit 43 is programmed in the first place to control the actuation of the handling means according to the position detected by the detection means 40. Advantageously, however, the control unit 43 is operatively connected to all the devices of the € ™ equipment 1 to check its operation.

In particular, the control unit 43 is programmed to maintain, during operation, the distance of each operating head 14 from the inner wall 2 of the tunnel, within a predefined range. Consequently, when through the detection means 40 the control unit 43 receives the indication that the distance has left, or is about to leave, the predetermined range (due to variations in the section of the tunnel, deviations in the direction of advancement along the tunnel with respect to the ideal direction, â € ¦) controls the activation of the handling vehicles to bring the distance back appropriately within the foreseen range.

In the illustrated embodiment, then, before moving the arm 8 from the rest position, the control unit 43 checks whether the connection element 17 is in its operating position or not. In the negative case it activates the first rotation means 18 until it reaches it, so as to form the aforementioned articulated parallelogram.

Advantageously, moreover, as anticipated, the detection means 40 can also comprise at least one laser detector 42 mounted on the support structure 3 to detect in use the internal conformation of the tunnel and / or the presence of obstacles inside it. In particular, the laser detector 42 (known per se and therefore not described in detail here) can emit either a beam of coplanar laser beams, arranged in a plane P substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 31 of the apparatus 1, to simultaneously detecting the shape of the entire wall 2 of the tunnel of interest, or a single mobile beam with a predetermined frequency in said perpendicular plane. In this way, the control unit 43 is able to determine both the position of the appliance 1 with respect to the wall 2 (information which, combined with an identification of the position of the arms 8 with respect to the rest of the appliance 1, can allow also to do without the aforementioned distance detector 41), and the possible presence of fixed obstacles such as road signs, service columns, etc ... Consequently, knowing the position of the obstacles, the control unit 43 is able to automatically command the retraction of the arms 8 which could collide with them.

The knowledge of the shape of the entire section of the tunnel then by means of a special laser detector 42 with an action angle of at least 180 ° (but preferably greater) allows, in the most complete embodiments equipped with drive unit 7, to the control unit 43 of also check the advancement of the equipment 1 along the tunnel, by means of a direct control of the driving unit 7 itself, which can therefore be an automatic unmanned unit as shown in figure 2.

As already mentioned, in its preferred embodiment the present invention provides that the apparatus 1 is equipped not with a single arm 8 and a single head 14, but with a plurality of movable arms 8, as illustrated in figure 6. To this First of all, it should be noted that the arrangement of the arms 8 illustrated in figure 6 is foreseen to be applied also to the apparatuses of figures 1 and 2. Only for the sake of simplicity of presentation in these figures only one arm 8 has been represented.

Advantageously, each arm 8 of figure 6 is structurally similar to the single one described up to now. Furthermore, each arm 8 is movable with respect to the support structure 3 so that the respective operating head 14, during operation, can spray the liquid substance in correspondence with an area of the tunnel surface at least in part distinct from those involved. from the other operating heads 14. In other words, following the advancement along the tunnel, each head 14 sprays the liquid product on a longitudinal strip of the tunnel wall 2 partially overlapping those affected by the other heads.

This situation is schematized in figure 6 where the road surface, the internal walls 2 of two tunnels of different radius (maximum and minimum), the support structure 3 and the fixing portions 13 of the various arms 8 are illustrated in a continuous line. The latter, on the other hand, are shown only schematically in a dashed line in correspondence with the operating position they assume in the case of a tunnel with a maximum radius. In correspondence with the wall 2 of the tunnel of minimum radius, on the other hand, only the extreme edges of each operating head 14 in the corresponding operating position are indicated in broken lines. As can be seen, in the operating position corresponding to the tunnel with minimum radius, the apparent width of the operating heads 14 is less than the apparent width in correspondence with the tunnel with maximum radius. This is due to the fact that the heads, in order not to interfere with one another and to ensure correct overlapping of the respective spray fans 16, are arranged differently inclined with respect to the plane of the design (inclination obtained by means of the second rotation means 22 ).

For explanatory purposes only, figures 10 and 12 schematically show a plan view of the projection, on the tunnel wall 2 of maximum diameter and minimum diameter respectively, of the suction openings 33 of three operating heads 14 adjacent to the apparatus 1 in figure 6. Figure 11 instead shows the analogous case for an intermediate diameter tunnel.

As can be seen, in all cases the inclination of the heads 14 is such as to maintain a similar reciprocal alignment (horizontally in the figures) of the upper and lower ends of the various heads. In this way, the same overlap is also guaranteed between the spraying fans 16 of the various heads during the advancement of the equipment 1 along the tunnel.

As can also be seen in Figure 6, then, in the preferred embodiment the arms 8 (with the exception of the last one described below) are each movable in a different radial plane substantially passing through a longitudinal axis 31 of the apparatus 1 itself . This longitudinal axis 31, during the operation of the apparatus 1 is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tunnel. In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, moreover, it is preferably provided that during operation, the longitudinal axis 31 of the apparatus 1 is made to coincide as much as possible with the longitudinal axis of the tunnel.

Figure 6 also shows the positioning of the various operating heads 14 when the relative arm 8 and the relative connection element 17 are in the rest position: the relative rectangular shapes are in fact drawn in broken lines above the fixing portions 13 and they extend radially towards the longitudinal axis 31 until they almost touch. Precisely to avoid any accidental contact of the heads 14 in the rest position, due to any unwanted oscillations of the arms 8 during the transfer of the apparatus 1, it can then be provided that each arm 8 in the rest position is inserted with slight interference into a respective containment saddle integral with the support structure 3 in proximity to the second end 10 of the arm 8 itself (solution not shown). Advantageously, to avoid damage to the arm 8, the saddle is covered in self-lubricating material.

As anticipated, the single arm 8 which in the embodiment illustrated differs from the others is the one positioned lower down which is intended for spraying in correspondence with the lower base 44 of the wall 2 of the tunnel and any sidewalk 45. This arm 8 is in fact movable in a horizontal plane. The relative head 14, illustrated in figure 15, also has some differences with respect to the others as regards the number and positioning of the nozzles 15. In fact, instead of four nozzles 15 facing the wall 2, it has only two, but has added an auxiliary sprayer 46 placed outside the suction hood and facing the sidewalk 45. For the rest, although its shape is different from that of the other heads 14, structurally it is completely similar to them and is therefore not further described in detail. According to the embodiments, however, the number of auxiliary sprayers 46 can be even greater than one, so as to allow spraying even on relatively wide sidewalks. Moreover, in some preferred embodiments not illustrated, it is also provided that, in the event of the presence of several auxiliary sprayers, both that they can be activated independently of one another, and that their distance can be varied in such a way to adapt the equipment to sidewalks of different sizes.

Finally, the embodiment of figure 6 represents the case of an apparatus 1 capable of spraying the liquid substance on half a tunnel with a single pass. In this embodiment, therefore, the arms 8 move substantially like the slats of an umbrella. In other embodiments, however, a different number of arms 8 can be provided so as to involve a greater or lesser portion of the tunnel. In this regard, it should be noted that if the number of arms 8 is such that it does not cover at least half a tunnel, it is advisable that they can also be moved around the longitudinal axis 31 of the equipment 1 so that they can be facing each other. from time to time to the portion of wall 2 of the gallery of interest.

As regards the control unit 43 (which is operatively connected to all the arms 8) it can independently control the actuation of the movement means in relation to each arm 8, as well as the orientation means, the power supply means 39, suction means 32 and detection means 40. In particular, the control unit 43 is operatively connected to the orientation means of the various heads to vary their orientation so that in use, the the portion of the surface affected by each spray fan 16 during the advancement of the apparatus 1 is partially superimposed on those affected by the fans 16 adjacent to it.

In Figures 1 and 2 it is then seen how on the rear of the support structure 3 both a platform 47 for an operator and a relative access ladder 48 are provided. In correspondence with the area surrounded by the arms 8 in the rest position, the apparatus 1 then comprises both the control panels 49 and the pumps of the feeding means 39. Advantageously, the control panels 49 can comprise at least one interface ( not shown) connected to the control unit 43 and which allows the operator to set the operating parameters of the equipment 1 (such as the distance of the heads from the wall 2, the movement speed of the arms 8, the forward speed, etc ...). As regards the supply means 39, it should be noted that, in figures 1 to 15, to improve the comprehensibility of the drawings, no hydraulic or pneumatic piping has been shown, pipelines which are instead shown in figure 16 which shows the plant layout. relating to the embodiment of figure 6 (ie equipped with nine arms 8).

With reference to this figure it can therefore be seen how the feeding means 39 comprise a hydraulic circuit and a pneumatic circuit.

As regards the hydraulic circuit, it first of all comprises a plurality of tanks for the various liquid substances to be sprayed or in any case to be used. By way of example, it may include a first tank 50 for water, a second tank 51 for water-based paint (normally used to color the tunnel), a third tank 52 for a silosanic paint (usually transparent and used to cover with a protective layer a previous state of water-based paint), and a fourth tank 53 for a solution of water and solvent (for cleaning the feeding means 39).

Each of these tanks is connected to an initial duct 54 by means of a non-return valve 55 and a first shut-off solenoid valve 56. A first filter is also positioned along the initial duct 54, which is connected to a first centrifugal pump 57. 58, a first flow meter 59 and a non-return valve 55. The delivery of the first pump 57 is then connected through a first duct 60 to a main manifold 61 from which ten identical branches 62 branch off in parallel, each provided with a first shut-off valve 63, of a second pump 64 (advantageously with membrane) and of a second filter 65. The various branches 62, in groups of five, then flow into two second manifolds 66 which can be put in communication with each other by means of a second shut-off valve 67. It should however be noted that the two second manifolds 66 are put into mutual communication only in the event of failure of one of the second pumps 64 of one group so as to compensate for the lack by means of the second pumps 64 of the other group. The two second manifolds 66 are then destined to feed one of the sprayers 15, 46 of the five lower arms 8, the other the sprayers 15 of the four upper arms 8 (given that these sprayers 15 are placed at a higher altitude, the ™ use of a second pump 64 more than the number of arms 8 to be fed guarantees the necessary additional head compared to the other group of arms 8). In particular, except for the first arm 8, all the nozzles 15 of each single arm 8 are preferably fed through a relative second duct 68 which extends from the second manifold 66 and on which a third interception valve 69 is mounted. pneumatically operated. For the sake of simplicity, the accompanying figures show only one sprayer 15 per arm 8 to represent all four of those present which, therefore, are actually connected in parallel downstream of the third on-off valve 69. As regards the first arm 8 (corresponding to the second duct 68 higher up in figure 16), in order to make the painting of the sidewalk 45 independent from that of the walls 2, the feeding means 39 comprise two separate second ducts 68 intended to feed the sprayers independently auxiliaries 46 facing the sidewalk and the nozzles 15 facing the wall 2.

Furthermore, as can be seen, each second pipe 68, immediately upstream of the third shut-off valve 69 is connected to a fourth pipe 70, intercepted by a fourth pneumatically operated shut-off valve 71, which is connected to a tank. 72. It is in fact sufficient to close the third on-off valves 69, open the fourth on-off valves 71 and feed a washing liquid (pure water or solvent) to the first pump 57 to completely wash the supply means 39 except for the final section of the second duct 68 (which can instead be cleaned by making a short spray of water or water and solvent), almost entirely recovering the washing residues.

All this therefore constitutes washing means for the feeding means 39.

The recovery tank 72 is then also connected, through a fifth duct 73 and a sixth duct 74 also to the main manifold 61. In particular, the fifth duct 73 connects the main manifold 61, by means of a second solenoid valve 75, to a first way of a three-way valve 76, to another way of which the recovery tank 72 is also connected through the sixth pipe 74. The third way of the three-way valve 76 is finally connected to a drain 77.

Advantageously, then, each second pump 64 has its own secondary outlet connected, by means of a seventh duct 78 equipped with a fifth on-off valve 79, to a third manifold 80 in turn connected, by means of an eighth duct 81 to the initial duct 54 downstream. of the various tanks and upstream of the first pump 57. A ninth duct 82 equipped with a non-return valve 55 then connects the third manifold 80 to the fifth duct 73.

Also connected to the initial duct 54, through a tenth duct 83, is a fifth tank 84 for a possible catalyst. Mounted on the tenth duct 83 is a third pump 85, a second flow meter 86, a sixth on-off valve 87 and a non-return valve 55.

Coming to the pneumatic part of the feeding means 39, it first of all comprises a compressor 88 which feeds a first duct 89 on which a sixth tank 90 for pressurized air is mounted. A second pipe 91 then connects the sixth tank 90 to a first line 92 and to a second line 93. The first line 92 is divided into a third line 94 and a fourth line 95. The third line 94, intended for the control of the third valves shut-off 69, is in turn subdivided into as many fifth lines 96 as there are third shut-off valves 69 to be controlled. Each fifth line 96 is then equipped with a first two-stage solenoid valve 97 which can be switched between a first condition in which the third line 94 communicates fluidly with the respective third on-off valve 69, and a second condition in which the fifth one closes. line 96 putting the downstream section in communication with the environment (thus allowing the third interception valve 69 to close).

As regards the fourth line 95, intended for opening the fourth on-off valves 71, since the latter can be opened simultaneously, in the embodiment illustrated there is a single second two-stage solenoid valve 98 of the type described above. , connected in parallel to all the fourth on-off valves 71. In alternative embodiments, however, it is also provided that each fourth on-off valve 71 is controlled independently by a related second solenoid valve 98, similarly to what happens for the third shut-off valves 69 and the relative first solenoid valves 97. In this way, in fact, during the initial tooling phase of the equipment, it is possible to optimize the pre-charge of the liquid substance in the various second pipes 68 to be used (identification of the latter depends from time to time on which arms are actually to be used). Once the arms selected for processing and the related second ducts 68 have been identified, the pre-charge process involves the start-up of the first pump 57, the monitoring by means of the first flow meter 59 of the quantity of liquid fed to the main manifold 61 until its filling is verified, and the subsequent start-up of the second pumps 64 of interest with the simultaneous opening of the relative fourth on-off valve 71 by means of the second solenoid valve 98 dedicated to it. Finally, as regards the second line 93, it is connected, by means of a third three-stage solenoid valve 99 of the type described above, a pressure reducer 100 and a non-return valve 55, directly to the initial pipe 54 of the hydraulic part of the ™ implant. This second line 93 has in fact the purpose of allowing the recovery of at least part of the paint present in the feeding means 39 at the end of the work. In fact, by opening all the passages that lead to the drain 77 or to the recovery tank 72, it is possible to use pressurized air to drain the paint contained in the hydraulic circuit. All the various tanks described up to now are advantageously positioned on the portion of the support structure 3 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, where instead the various ducts are not illustrated, as mentioned. Also on this structure can also find a possible generator set 101 destined to the electrical power supply of the entire appliance 1. Alternatively, the appliance 1 can be powered either electrically through a direct connection to the external electrical network or via an external generator 101, or hydraulically by means of a possible external hydraulic motor (for example of a work vehicle intended for towing the equipment 1).

The operation of the apparatus 1 immediately follows from the structural description given above.

Once the equipment 1 has been placed in the conditions of being able to move along the length of the tunnel to be treated, it is positioned in the correct position (for example with the longitudinal axis 31 coinciding with the center of the tunnel section). At that point, the control unit 43 activates the first orientation means to form the articulated parallelogram and subsequently the movement means to bring the various operating heads 14 to the required distance from the wall 2 of the tunnel. At the same time, according to the radius at which the heads are found, the control unit 43 controls the second rotation means 22 to orient the heads in the most appropriate way to ensure the correct overlapping of the spraying fans 16. At that point, after having possibly loaded the hydraulic circuit, on the one hand the feeding means 39, the sprayers 15 and the suction means 32 if provided are activated, on the other hand the advancement of the apparatus 1 along the tunnel is activated (with speed of the order of a few kilometers per hour). Advantageously, the speed of advancement is varied according to the radius of the tunnel: the greater the radius, the lower the speed. In fact, the greater the radius, the less the spraying fans 16 are inclined and the lower is therefore the coating yield. Alternatively, it would also be possible to keep the forward speed constant and instead modify the capacity of the feeding means 39.

Furthermore, as mentioned, progress may or may not be directly managed by the electronic control unit 43 thanks to the laser detector 42.

Then, when the laser detector 42 detects the presence of some obstacle, the control unit 43 activates the movement means at the appropriate moment to make the arms 8 involved retract and subsequently return them to their operative position once the obstacle has been overcome.

At any time, however, the control unit 43 checks the distance of the heads from the wall 2 to keep it in the predetermined range.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

In the first place, thanks to the present invention it is possible to carry out the spraying of the liquid substances on the walls of the tunnels in a more reliable way than the currently known solutions.

Secondly, at least in the most complete embodiments, the present invention guarantees greater productivity with respect to known apparatuses.

Thirdly, at least the most complete embodiments of the present invention allow to reduce to a minimum the dispersion in the environment of any polluting substances.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to realize and that also the cost connected to its implementation is not very high compared to the benefits it allows to obtain.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterizes it.

All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones and the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may be any according to requirements.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS 1. Equipment for spraying liquid substances, such as paints or water, on the internal walls of tunnels, characterized by the fact of comprising: at least one support structure (3) movable along a tunnel; at least one arm (8) having a first end (9) connected to the support structure (3) and a second end (10); the arm (8) being movable with respect to the support structure (3) between a rest position in which the second end (10) is close to a central axis of the equipment (1) and a plurality of operating positions in correspondence of which the second end (10) of the arm (8) is spaced from this central axis; means for moving the arm (8) between the rest position and the operating positions; at least one operating head (14) mounted on the second end (10) of the arm (8); said operating head (14) being equipped with at least one sprayer (15); means (39) for feeding a liquid substance to be sprayed to the sprayer (15); detection means (40) for detecting during operation, the position of the operating head (14) with respect to the wall (2) of the tunnel; a control unit (43) operatively connected at least to the handling means, the feeding means (39) and the detection means (40), the control unit (43) controlling the actuation of the handling means according to the detected position by the detection means (40). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the control unit (43) is programmed to maintain, during operation, the distance of each operating head (14) from the inner wall (2) of the tunnel inside the a predefined range. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by the fact that the operating head (14) is movable with respect to the second end (10) of the arm (8) and by the fact that it comprises means for orienting the head (14) with respect to the arm (8), operatively connected to the control unit (43) to be controlled by it. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that the orienting means comprise first means for rotation (18) of the head (14) with respect to the arm (8) and / or second means for rotation (22) of the head (14) on herself. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that the first rotation means (18) are structured in such a way as to allow the head (14) to be kept parallel to itself during the movement of the arm (8). 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that the operating head (14) comprises one or more sprayers (15) arranged and / or shaped in such a way as to create a spray fan (16) having an elongated section along a main development direction, and by the fact that the orientation means allow to vary in use the inclination of the main development direction with respect to the surface of the tunnel. 7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the detection means (40) comprise at least one distance detector (41) operatively coupled to the operating head (14) to determine its distance from the surface from the tunnel. 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises suction means (32) operatively associated with the operating head (14) to suck, during operation, at least part of what is sprayed in correspondence with the portion of the tunnel affected by the spraying of the liquid substance. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that the suction means (32) comprise a suction mouth (33) mounted on the operating head (14), a suction and filtration cabin (34) mounted on the support structure (3 ) and at least one tube (35) extending between the suction cabin (34) and the suction mouth (33) and at least partially inserted inside the mobile arm (8). 10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said movable arms (8) each provided with a said operating head (14) and movable with respect to the support structure (3) so that the respective head (14) operator, during operation, can spray the liquid substance in correspondence with an area of the tunnel surface at least in part distinct from those affected by the other operating heads (14). 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized in that the control unit (43) can control the actuation of the movement means in relation to each arm (8) independently. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 characterized in that said arms (8) are each movable in a different radial plane substantially passing through a longitudinal axis (31) of the apparatus (1) itself; during operation, this longitudinal axis (31) of the apparatus (1) being arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 characterized by the fact: that each operating head (14) is movable with respect to the second end (10) of the respective arm (8); to comprise means for orienting each head (14) with respect to the relative arm (8), operatively connected to the control unit (43); that each operating head (14) comprises one or more sprayers (15) arranged and / or shaped in such a way as to create a spray pattern (16) having an elongated section along a main direction of development; that for each head (14) the orientation means allow to vary in use the inclination of the main direction of development with respect to the surface of the tunnel being treated; And that the control unit (43) is operatively connected to the orientation means of the various heads to vary their orientation so that in use, the portion of the surface affected by each spray fan (16) during the advancement of the equipment (1) is partially superimposed on those affected by the fans adjacent to it. 14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the detection means (40) comprise at least one laser detector (42) mounted on the support structure (3) to detect in use the internal conformation of the tunnel and / or the presence of obstacles inside. 15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the support structure (3) comprises at least one transport carriage equipped with wheels which allows it to move on the ground. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 characterized in that it further comprises at least one drive unit (7) connected to said wagon to make it move on the ground. 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterized in that the detection means (40) comprise at least one laser detector (42) mounted on the support structure (3) to detect in use the internal conformation of the tunnel and / or the presence of obstacles internally, by the fact that the drive unit (7) is operationally connected to the control unit (43) and by the fact that the control unit (43) controls the drive unit (7) on the basis of the findings of the survey means (40). 18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises washing means for the feeding means (39). 19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that with the arm (8) in the rest position, each head (14) can be positioned in such a way that both the arm (8) and the head (14) return to the Inside a road traffic encumbrance of the equipment (1).