AU2012391717B2

AU2012391717B2 - Projection device

Info

Publication number: AU2012391717B2
Application number: AU2012391717A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Antonio ALONSO CEPEDA; Felipe Barrigon Tabuyo; Enrique Gomez Cisneros; Ignacio Rouco Rodriguez; Francisco Javier Tormo Lopez
Original assignee: Acciona Infraestructuras SA
Current assignee: Acciona Construccion SA
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2012-10-01
Publication date: 2017-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-01
Also published as: WO2014053669A1; BR112015007277B1; ES2534030A1; AU2012391717A1; NO20150507A1; BR112015007277A2; ES2534030B1

Abstract

A projection device that continuously projects the free interior cross section of a tunnel to be excavated, in which the projector device (11) comprises: a measuring device (12) that acquires data on distances from the physical location of the actual measuring device to the surface where excavation of the transverse section of the tunnel is taking place; an orienting device that geographically positions the measuring device in accordance with a predetermined topographic reference system; and a projector laser (13) that provides a laser beam corresponding to the transverse section of the tunnel to be excavated, supplied from a controller module.

Description

PROJECTION DEVICE PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to a projection procedure of a predetermined profile of the free interior cross section of a section of a tunnel to be excavated, jointly with the firing plan as appropriate and a device for executing said method.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] When opening a tunnel it is important to maintain a predetermined profile of a cross section in addition to a direction selected as accurately as possible in order to keep the work of construction of the tunnel to the minimum level possible.

[0003] This problem is particularly important when commencing work on the tunnel, that is, when making the boreholes on the external surfaces of the terrain in which the tunnel is to be built. There are specific conditioning factors in the first metres of tunnel which complicate its execution. As these areas are closest to the surface of the terrain it is not always possible to trace on the tunnel excavation front the cross section and the firing plan in a blasting excavation scenario, in addition to the borehole on the outer slope when it is necessary to carry out work associated with the work of initial surveying.

[0004] The predetermined profile designed for the cross section of the excavation front of the tunnel is drawn in a continuous and permanent line on the surface wherein the tunnel is located.

[0005] The tunnel boring work is complicated, for example, requiring the creation of a frontal slope on which the tunnel borehole will be drawn, and subsequently the free interior section of the tunnel. This type of work can lead to deviations from the predetermined profile initially designed on a plan.

[00061 The possible deviations made derive for example from the appearance of the surface where the borehole of the tunnel is located, and as a result it is difficult for personnel excavating the tunnel to visualise and locate the tunnel borehole on the external surface of the terrain.

[00071 Therefore, there is a need to resolve the aforementioned problems by using a boring procedure or by determining the free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated which will reduce or minimise deviations from the predetermined profile of the cross section of a tunnel to be excavated.

SUMMARY

[0007al According to an aspect the present invention provides a projection device which continuously and permanently projects a continuous line of a free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated; wherein the projection device comprises a measuring device adapted to acquire data over distances from the physical location of the measuring device itself to the the excavation front of the cross section of the tunnel; an orienting device adapted to geographically position the measuring device in accordance with a predetermined topographic reference system; a controller module configured to modify a predetermined stored pattern of a cross-section of tunnel based on the measurements taken by the measuring device; and a projector laser configured to project a corrected, continous and permanent laser beam of the cross-section of tunnel on the excavation front.

[0007b] According to an aspect the present invention provides a continuous projection method of the free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated; wherein the method comprises the stages of geographical positioning of a projection device through an orienting device based on a topographic reference system; acquisition of distances through the measuring device from the position of the projection device to an excavation front of a cross-section of the tunnel; modification of a predetermined stored pattern of the cross-section of the tunnel through a controller module based on the distances aquired by the measurement device; and projection by means of a laser projecting a corrected, continuous and permanent laser beam of the cross-section of tunnel on the excavation front.

[0007c] According to an aspect the present invention provides a computer programme uploaded in an internal memory of a computer with input and output units, and a processing unit, where the computer programme comprises executable codes configured to carry out the stages of the projection method according to the preceding aspect.

[0008] This invention seeks to mitigate resolve one or more of the disadvantages explained above by means of a projection device which projects the free interior cross section of a tunnel to be excavated, as claimed in the claims.

[0009] One purpose of an embodiment is to provide a method for continuously and permanently projecting the continuous line of a cross section or free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated through direct excavation and/or through blasting according to a predefined firing plan in order to reduce the costs incurred when the free interior section of the tunnel is over or under excavated.

[0010] Another aspect of the embodiment is to provide a continuous reference of the geometry of the cross section of the tunnel irrespective of the type of surface on which the projection is made, that is, on the external surface on which the tunnel boring will be carried out or on the surface that represents the excavation front of the tunnel itself.

[0011] Yet another aspect of the embodiment is to provide a projection method for carrying out the work of surveying and definitive location of the borehole of the tunnel, irrespective of the lie of the land on the external surface where the tunnel is to be located, permitting personnel excavating the tunnel to visualise the tunnel opening and prepare the frontal slope in a simple manner, avoiding complicated execution problems in a short time and at a reduced cost.

[0012] A further aspect of the embodiment is that of supplying a projection device that projects continuously from the free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated; which comprises a measuring device that acquires data on distances from the physical location of the actual measuring device to the surface where excavation of the transverse section of the tunnel is taking place; an orienting device that geographically positions the measuring device in accordance with a predetermined topographic reference system; and a projector laser that provides a laser beam corresponding to the transverse section of the tunnel to be excavated, supplied from a controller module.

[0013] The controller module is configured to modify a cross section of the tunnel based on the measurements made by the measuring device. Furthermore, the controller model includes an information data input-output interface.

[0014] The projection device also comprises an information data memory adapted to store different cross sections of the tunnel template and the measurements carried out by the measuring device; and the projection device also comprises transmitter-receiver equipment which transmits and receives communications signals via cable or radio on a communications channel established on a communications network to and from a projection application server; and an audiovisual display screen and a data input- output port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] A more detailed explanation of the invention is given in the following description based on the attached Figures: [0016] Figure 1 shows an elevation and top plan view of an interior free section of a tunnel in excavation: [0017] Figure 2 shows an elevation view of the firing plan and the corresponding theoretical section of a tunnel in excavation and [0018] Figures 3a and 3b show a perspective view of the borehole of a theoretical tunnel between two different surfaces and the same borehole corrected according to the external surface of the land where the tunnel is to be constructed.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0019] In relation to Figures 1 and 2, the projection device 11 shown is adapted to continuously and permanently project on the tunnel excavation front both the explosive firing plan and the free internal cross section, as well as the tunnel boreholes on the external surface of the terrain where the tunnel is to be built.

[0020] Specifically, Figure 2 shows the projection device 11 positioned on the top part of the free internal cross section of the tunnel which projects onto the excavation front the line of the tunnel section to be excavated and the firing plan for blasting excavation.

[0021] The projection device 11 of the continuous line of the cross section of the tunnel comprises a measuring device 12 adapted to acquire data on distances, among other data on the total station, range finder type, etc.; an orienting device which physically locates the measuring device in accordance with a predetermined topographic reference system; a projection laser which supplies a laser beam in accordance with a predetermined projection template supplied from the controller module which includes a data input-output interface and a memory unit for storage of information data; transmitter -receiver equipment which transmits and receives communication signals via cable or radio on a communications channel established in a telecommunications network to and from a projection application server; an audiovisual display screen and a data input-output port [0022] The projection device 11 is positioned at or on a surface by means of a support 14 adapted to position the projection device 11 on a surface.

[0023] The measuring device 12 acquires remote data from the physical location of the actual measuring device to the surface where the excavation of the free internal cross section of the tunnel is to be carried out, that is the excavation front. The measuring device 12 is adapted to carry out topographical maps, 3D maps of the surface of the tunnel, etc.

[0024] The transmitter-receiver equipment is configured for example as a communications module.

[0025] The projection procedure comprises the phases of location by means of a projection device 11 support 14 in a geographic position facing the surface of the terrain in which the excavation advance front is located, that is the borehole and or excavation front of the tunnel; acquisition of distances from the geographic position of the projection device 11 to the projection surface by means of a range finder, for example transmitting remote data to the memory unit of the controller module; it downloads from a predetermined cross section template associated with the internal free section designed initially on plan through a data input-output port and/or the data input-output interface with the cross section template stored in the memory unit; the controller model is adapted, based on the remote distance data acquired by the measuring device 12 to modify the previously stored cross section template and supply a corrected cross section of excavation to the laser projector 13; and projection of a continuous and permanent line associated with the corrected cross section on the surface of the advance front of excavation of the tunnel by means of a laser projector 13.

[0026] It should be noted that the advance front of the tunnel excavation refers both to the tunnel borehole and the free internal section of the tunnel.

[0027] The phase of modification of the cross section template is carried out by the controller model with modification a function of the remote distance data currently acquired by the measuring device 12.

[0028] In a scenario wherein the surface of the advance front of the tunnel excavation is not contained in a same cross section plane as the line of advance of the excavation. The controller model is adapted to modify the cross section template stored in order to geometrically compensate the deviation in the distances between different existing planes on the advance front of the excavation. The different distances between planes of the attack front would cause aberrations in the projection of the cross section projected on the advance front of the excavation.

[0029] A result of the opening of the laser beam projected is the generation of an extended cross section which would lead to over excavation of the free interior section of the tunnel.

[0030] The laser projection 13 projects a laser beam with a continuous and permanent line associated with a cross section template of the desired tunnel, where the part of the laser beam of the cross section projected on the transversal plane which is furthest from the excavation front is corrected by the controller module based on the distance data acquired by a range finder for example.

[0031] In relation to Figures 3a and 3 b which show the projection device 11 positioned on an external location at a certain distance from the position perpendicular to the tunnel excavation section and at a certain distance from the same excavation section on the external surface of the terrain where the theoretical borehole of the tunnel is to be made or projected between the two small mountains that make up the draft, with both sides being non coplanar, aberrations occur which distort the attack front of the excavation of the initially designed cross section. The projector device 11, based on the distances acquired, is able to modify the initially designed tunnel borehole and adapt and project a borehole adapted to the external surface of the terrain.

[0032] In some circumstances it is no easy task to gain an accurate idea in the field of how a tunnel borehole falls on the external surface of the land.

[0033] To summarise, the controller module calculates the cross section of the excavation and the corrected firing plan for the explosives associated at any given moment with the advance front of the excavation based on the remote distance acquired through the range finder and the geographical or physical position of the projection device 11.

[0034] Returning to Figure 2, which shows how the form of the corrected cross section of the tunnel on the excavation front is formed. In addition, the controller module is adapted to supply data on the arrangement of the drills to the projector laser 13, which projects said positions on the excavation front. The explosive charges are housed in the drills carried out through perforation using a Jumbo in a scenario where the tunnel excavation is made through blasting.

[0035] Returning to Figure 1, it should be noted that the projection device 11 does not necessarily need to be situated on the central axis of the free interior section of the tunnel, but it can also be in proximity of a gable, in the key etc. of the free section of the tunnel. Therefore, the projection device 11 avoids interfering in the development of the tunnel excavation and, consequently the number of displacements to which the projection device 11 must be subjected is reduced, and moreover, it permits the laser projector 13 to emit a continuous and permanent laser beam of the corrected cross section.

[0036] The projector laser 13 emits a single laser associated with the corrected cross section. It is necessary for the local laser coordinates to be associated with the topography coordinates which in reality are those that control the excavation. For this purpose the orienting device cooperates with the range finder which supplies distance data to the controller module.

[0037] When the tunnel is excavated through blasting, the projection device 11 is protected by means of an armoured casing which protects the laser equipment and the range finder. When images need to be projected, the casing will automatically retract and fold itself up, as otherwise the laser beam would collide with the casing making it impossible to view the corrected cross section of the tunnel. The need for protection is due to the violence of the expansive wave and through rocks being projected like shrapnel.

[0038] The data input required for viewing the section to be excavated may take various forms. Firstly, it can be entered manually through a graphic GUI interface included in the controller module. Another method is to use the input-output port through which a file is downloaded which includes the geometry of the cross section template and a third method is that of a communications transmitter-receiver through which the cross section template is received from the projection server.

[00411 Due to the extremely hostile working conditions of the excavation the projection device 11 includes a protective casing which protects the projection device 11 from dust and water in the tunnel excavation. The casing prevents any damage resulting from environmental factors.

[0042] The projection procedure can be carried out by a computer uploaded within an internal memory of a computer with input and output units and also with processor units.

[0043] For this purpose the computer programme comprises codes configured to execute the steps of the aforementioned process when this is done by computer. Moreover, the executable codes can be recorded by a legible carrier medium within a computer.

[0043a] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0043b] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A projection device which continuously and permanently projects a continuous line of a free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated; wherein the projection device comprises a measuring device adapted to acquire data over distances from the physical location of the measuring device itself to the the excavation front of the cross section of the tunnel; an orienting device adapted to geographically position the measuring device in accordance with a predetermined topographic reference system; a controller module configured to modify a predetermined stored pattern of a cross-section of tunnel based on the measurements taken by the measuring device; and a projector laser configured to project a corrected, continous and permanent laser beam of the cross-section of tunnel on the excavation front.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the controller module comprises an information data input-output interface.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the projector device also comprises a data memory unit adapted to store different cross sections of a standard tunnel and the measurements taken by the measuring device.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projection device also comprises a transmitter-receiver that transmits and receives communications signals via cable or radio on a communications channel established an a telecommunications network to and from a projection application server; and an audiovisual screen and a data input-output port.
5. A continuous projection method of the free interior section of a tunnel to be excavated; wherein the method comprises the stages of geographical positioning of a projection device through an orienting device based on a topographic reference system; acquisition of distances through the measuring device from the position of the projection device to an excavation front of a cross-section of the tunnel; modification of a predetermined stored pattern of the cross-section of the tunnel through a controller module based on the distances aquired by the measurement device; and projection by means of a laser projecting a corrected, continuous and permanent laser beam of the cross-section of tunnel on the excavation front.
6. Method according to claim 5 wherein the method also comprises the stage of storaging a set of cross-sections of standard tunnel and distances acquired in adata memory unit.
7. A computer programme uploaded in an internal memory of a computer with input and output units, and a processing unit, where the computer programme comprises executable codes configured to carry out the stages of the projection method according to claims 5 to 6.