Tunnelling machines
United States Patent 3905645
A tunnelling machine comprises a cutting head mounted on a cylindrical shield which has a sole plate adjacent its front end and at its lowest part. In use, the machine also comprises a sledge which slides behind the shield, the sledge being connected to the shield by a steering arm. Means are provided for altering the angle between the steering arm and the longitudinal axis of the shield to steer the machine by rocking or pivoting it about the sole plate.
US Patent References:
Tail section seals for shield tunneling machines
Winberg - November 1968 - 3410098
TUNNELLING MACHINE HAVING INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE CUTTING HEAD AND CIRCULAR SAW
Pentith - January 1969 - 3420577
EXCAVATION TYPE SHIELD WITH NO ROTARY CUTTERS
Matsushita - September 1969 - 3468133
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING TUNNELS IN ROCK HAVING ZONES DIFFERING IN STABILITY
Lauber - August 1970 - 3523426
TUNNEL-BORING MACHINE
Winberg - August 1971 - 3598445
Tail section seals for shield tunneling machines
Winberg - November 1968 - 3410098
TUNNELLING MACHINE HAVING INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE CUTTING HEAD AND CIRCULAR SAW
Pentith - January 1969 - 3420577
EXCAVATION TYPE SHIELD WITH NO ROTARY CUTTERS
Matsushita - September 1969 - 3468133
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING TUNNELS IN ROCK HAVING ZONES DIFFERING IN STABILITY
Lauber - August 1970 - 3523426
TUNNEL-BORING MACHINE
Winberg - August 1971 - 3598445
Application Number:
05/461924
Publication Date:
09/16/1975
Filing Date:
04/18/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Limited (London, EN)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
405/146, 299/33
International Classes:
E21D9/10; E21C29/00; E21D9/08
Field of Search:
61/84,85 299/31,33
US Patent References:
| 3830545 | SHIELD TUNNELING MACHINE WITH ORBITING CUTTERHEAD | August 1974 | Sugden |
Primary Examiner:
Gilliam, Paul R.
Assistant Examiner:
Corbin, David H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Connors, Edward F.
Claims:
I claim
1. A tunnelling machine for boring a circular tunnel in the earth comprising:
2. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixed means in the tunnel comprises a reaction ring, means being provided to expand the ring radially to grip the wall of the tunnel.
3. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the rams are operable to provide additional steering of the machine.
4. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting head has cutters which are readily interchangeable to facilitate conversion as the machine moves from hard to soft ground.
5. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 for tunnelling in soft ground, in which the cutting head is operable to cut a tunnel of a diameter not larger than the diameter of the shield.
6. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 for tunnelling in hard ground, in which the cutting head is operable to cut a tunnel of larger diameter than the shield.
7. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided to lock the steering arm to the sledge.
8. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the steering arm provides a support for a spoil removal conveyor.
9. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the steering arm provides a support for a segment erector.
1. A tunnelling machine for boring a circular tunnel in the earth comprising:
2. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixed means in the tunnel comprises a reaction ring, means being provided to expand the ring radially to grip the wall of the tunnel.
3. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the rams are operable to provide additional steering of the machine.
4. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting head has cutters which are readily interchangeable to facilitate conversion as the machine moves from hard to soft ground.
5. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 for tunnelling in soft ground, in which the cutting head is operable to cut a tunnel of a diameter not larger than the diameter of the shield.
6. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 for tunnelling in hard ground, in which the cutting head is operable to cut a tunnel of larger diameter than the shield.
7. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided to lock the steering arm to the sledge.
8. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the steering arm provides a support for a spoil removal conveyor.
9. A tunnelling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the steering arm provides a support for a segment erector.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to tunnelling machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are two main types of tunnelling machines. Soft ground machines operating from within a shield and rock machines operating without a shield for ease of steering.
This invention enables a tunnelling shield as used in soft ground tunnelling to be steered when in a rock environment thus creating a means for a single comprehensive all purpose tunnelling machine to be designed capable of dealing with both soft ground and hard rock conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a tunnelling machine comprising aa cutting head mounted on a cylindrical shield, the shield having a sole plate adjacent the front end of the shield and at the lowest part of the shield, in use, the machine also comprising a sledge which slides behind the shield, said sledge being connected to the shield by a steering arm and in which means are provided for altering the angle between the steering arm and the longitudinal axis of the shield to steer the machine, by rocking or pivoting it about the sole plate.
It is preferred that the steering arm is pivotally attached to the shield and there is jacking means to alter the said angle.
Preferably the steering arm is pivotally attached to the shield at or adjacent the longitudinal axis of the shield.
In one embodiment the steering arm also provides a support for a spoil removing conveyor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1, by way of example, is a vertical longitudinal cross-section through a specific embodiment of a tunnelling machine; and
FIG. 2 is a section through the machine along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As will be seen from the drawings the machine comprises a cylindrical shield 10 on which is mounted a cutting head indicated generally at 11 by means of a central bearing assembly 12. The cutting head forms no part of the present invention and will not be described in detail except to explain that the cutting head can be arranged to cut a tunnel having a larger diameter than the shield, when in a rock environment. When the machine is in a soft ground environment, the cutting head is arranged to cut a tunnel of a slightly smaller diameter than the shield, and the leading edge of the shield cuts out the remaining part.
The shield has a forward extension 14 and a sole plate 15 is attached to the forward edge of the part 14. The sole plate extends only around the lower part of the circumference of the shield and provides a rocking pad and also a rubble seal.
Immediately behind the shield there is an expanding ring assembly 16 which is expandable into contact with the wall of the tunnel. The shield is driven forwardly by means of hydraulic rams 17 spaced around the periphery of the shield and having pistons 18 which are engageable with the expanding ring 16.
Behind the machine there is a sledge 19 which is the furthest forward of a number of sledges which are conventionally used to carry services for the machine. A steering truss 20 is pivotally attached to the shield 10 on a mounting 21 adjacent the axis of the shield. The truss 20 is also supported on the forward end of the sledge 19. Two hydraulic jacks 23 one on either side of the centre line of the machine are arranged to be able to alter the angle between the steering truss 20 and the central axis of the shield 10. Each of the jacks 23 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 24 attached to the shield and to a link 25 which is in turn pivotally attached to a bracket 26 on the steering truss.
The steering truss also forms a mounting for a spoil removal conveyor 27 fed by a hopper 28 from the cutting head in conventional manner.
The sledge also forms a mounting for a conveyor 32 which is used to transport segments 33 which make up the tunnel lining. Each segment is transferred from the conveyor 32 to a support pad 34 of the segment erector which is then moved by means of rams 30, 31 to put the segment in position against the wall of the tunnel.
As the shield is moved forwards the tail end of the machine is kept in its correct attitude by means of the steering truss 20 resting on the sledge 19. The sledge 19 may either run along the bottom of the tunnel or on rails.
When the shield has advanced so far that the rams 17 are fully extended the next stage is to retract the rams and to move the expanding ring 16 forwards. In this case it may be necessary to lock the truss 20 to the sledge 19 and this may be done in any convenient manner. For instance a nut (not shown) held captive on the sledge can be engaged by means of a screw passing through any one of a series of holes (not shown) on the truss. When the expanding ring 16 has been moved forward, more tunnel lining segments 33 may be put in place.
It is of course possible to use the machine in soft ground as well as in hard ground in the manner just described. In this case the cutting head cuts a tunnel of the same size or slightly smaller than the diameter of the shield and the shield can be steered forwards either by using the rams 18 in conventional manner or the rams 23.
The rams 18 can also assist steering in hard ground, and furthermore in both soft and hard ground conditions the rams 18 and the rams 23 may be used in combination to facilitate steering of the machine.
Any type of cutter whether drag picks or disc, roller or button cutters may be mounted on the cutting head as appropriate to ground conditions and the cutters should be readily interchangeable to facilitate movement from one type of ground to another.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to tunnelling machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are two main types of tunnelling machines. Soft ground machines operating from within a shield and rock machines operating without a shield for ease of steering.
This invention enables a tunnelling shield as used in soft ground tunnelling to be steered when in a rock environment thus creating a means for a single comprehensive all purpose tunnelling machine to be designed capable of dealing with both soft ground and hard rock conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a tunnelling machine comprising aa cutting head mounted on a cylindrical shield, the shield having a sole plate adjacent the front end of the shield and at the lowest part of the shield, in use, the machine also comprising a sledge which slides behind the shield, said sledge being connected to the shield by a steering arm and in which means are provided for altering the angle between the steering arm and the longitudinal axis of the shield to steer the machine, by rocking or pivoting it about the sole plate.
It is preferred that the steering arm is pivotally attached to the shield and there is jacking means to alter the said angle.
Preferably the steering arm is pivotally attached to the shield at or adjacent the longitudinal axis of the shield.
In one embodiment the steering arm also provides a support for a spoil removing conveyor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1, by way of example, is a vertical longitudinal cross-section through a specific embodiment of a tunnelling machine; and
FIG. 2 is a section through the machine along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As will be seen from the drawings the machine comprises a cylindrical shield 10 on which is mounted a cutting head indicated generally at 11 by means of a central bearing assembly 12. The cutting head forms no part of the present invention and will not be described in detail except to explain that the cutting head can be arranged to cut a tunnel having a larger diameter than the shield, when in a rock environment. When the machine is in a soft ground environment, the cutting head is arranged to cut a tunnel of a slightly smaller diameter than the shield, and the leading edge of the shield cuts out the remaining part.
The shield has a forward extension 14 and a sole plate 15 is attached to the forward edge of the part 14. The sole plate extends only around the lower part of the circumference of the shield and provides a rocking pad and also a rubble seal.
Immediately behind the shield there is an expanding ring assembly 16 which is expandable into contact with the wall of the tunnel. The shield is driven forwardly by means of hydraulic rams 17 spaced around the periphery of the shield and having pistons 18 which are engageable with the expanding ring 16.
Behind the machine there is a sledge 19 which is the furthest forward of a number of sledges which are conventionally used to carry services for the machine. A steering truss 20 is pivotally attached to the shield 10 on a mounting 21 adjacent the axis of the shield. The truss 20 is also supported on the forward end of the sledge 19. Two hydraulic jacks 23 one on either side of the centre line of the machine are arranged to be able to alter the angle between the steering truss 20 and the central axis of the shield 10. Each of the jacks 23 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 24 attached to the shield and to a link 25 which is in turn pivotally attached to a bracket 26 on the steering truss.
The steering truss also forms a mounting for a spoil removal conveyor 27 fed by a hopper 28 from the cutting head in conventional manner.
The sledge also forms a mounting for a conveyor 32 which is used to transport segments 33 which make up the tunnel lining. Each segment is transferred from the conveyor 32 to a support pad 34 of the segment erector which is then moved by means of rams 30, 31 to put the segment in position against the wall of the tunnel.
As the shield is moved forwards the tail end of the machine is kept in its correct attitude by means of the steering truss 20 resting on the sledge 19. The sledge 19 may either run along the bottom of the tunnel or on rails.
When the shield has advanced so far that the rams 17 are fully extended the next stage is to retract the rams and to move the expanding ring 16 forwards. In this case it may be necessary to lock the truss 20 to the sledge 19 and this may be done in any convenient manner. For instance a nut (not shown) held captive on the sledge can be engaged by means of a screw passing through any one of a series of holes (not shown) on the truss. When the expanding ring 16 has been moved forward, more tunnel lining segments 33 may be put in place.
It is of course possible to use the machine in soft ground as well as in hard ground in the manner just described. In this case the cutting head cuts a tunnel of the same size or slightly smaller than the diameter of the shield and the shield can be steered forwards either by using the rams 18 in conventional manner or the rams 23.
The rams 18 can also assist steering in hard ground, and furthermore in both soft and hard ground conditions the rams 18 and the rams 23 may be used in combination to facilitate steering of the machine.
Any type of cutter whether drag picks or disc, roller or button cutters may be mounted on the cutting head as appropriate to ground conditions and the cutters should be readily interchangeable to facilitate movement from one type of ground to another.