EP1727964A1

EP1727964A1 - Advancement of pipe elements in the ground

Info

Publication number: EP1727964A1
Application number: EP05706512A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Trümpi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-19
Filing date: 2005-02-17
Publication date: 2006-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-17
Also published as: CN1973113A; CA2556370A1; KR101181882B1; AU2005214470B2; KR20060129484A; ATE388302T1; CN1973113B; WO2005080753A1; MXPA06009421A; EP1727964B1; AU2005214470A1; US8231306B2; US20070280786A1; HK1106812A1; JP2007523276A; DE502005003096D1; JP4767871B2; CA2556370C

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to advance pipe elements (18) for constructing an elongate structure in a soft, stony, rocky, and/or monolithic ground. Said aim is achieved by determining the force of advancement (40), the eccentricity (52) thereof in relation to the neutral axis (N), and/or the direction of advancement (28) with the aid of a pressing device (24) and extension elements (44) which are filled with fluid and are disposed on the face of the joints (70) of the tubing (14). The fluid pressure (p) is measured in at least one portion of the extension elements (44) which extends along the entire length of the tubing (14), and/or the deformation is measured in some of the joints (70). The force of advancement (40) and the eccentricity (52) are calculated from said parameters, and the values are stored and/or are compared to stored standard values. According to a variant, the eccentricity (52) is calculated, and the values are converted into control commands for the pressing device (24) and/or the individual fluid supply to or the individual fluid discharge from the extension elements (44).

Description

Driving pipe elements underground

The invention relates to a method for determining the driving force, the eccentricity with respect to the neutral axis and / or the direction of advance when driving pipe elements to create an elongated structure in a soft, stony and / or rocky subsoil, wherein a pressing device and in the joints of the front Pipe string arranged, fluid-filled expansion elements are used. The invention further relates to a method for controlling the driving force, the eccentricity and the feed direction, and an application of the method.

The classic laying of pipelines takes place in trenches, where they are laid piece by piece in a bed, sealed and covered again.

In a built-up, hilly Toggenburg or otherwise at the top of challenging ^'terrain offers itself as a known alternative to drive a shaft sunk a tubing string into the ground. A target path that is as straight as possible is planned for the pipe string, whereby all due obstacles are avoided in the largest possible curve radius.

The pipe string is pressed into the ground by successively laying pipe elements, with a controllable head piece pointing the way. The new pipe elements are lowered into a press shaft and driven forward with a press device until the next pipe section can be inserted. The pipe elements have a diameter of up to several meters, a pipe string of pipe elements of, for example, 1 to 4 m in diameter can reach a length of 1 to 2 km or more.

The head piece of the pipe string can be removed in a target shaft and the necessary termination devices and lines can be added. As the length of the jacking increases, the required pre-pressing forces increase due to the skin friction of the tubular elements. Depending on the length of the pipe string and the pressing force to be used, intermediate pressing stations or intermediate shafts can be created for further pressing devices, with which the range can be increased accordingly.

The earth material removed from the conveyor head must be discharged in the opposite direction to the mostly horizontal pipe jacking. This can be done in a manner known per se with conveyor belts, rubble wagons or the like. With appropriate soil, thin-current production in closed pipes is also possible.

The high driving forces have to be transmitted as evenly as possible and without local stress concentrations on the end face from tube element to tube element, which would not be possible without damage in direct contact. It is known to insert pressure transmission rings made of wood materials corresponding to the pipe cross section.

During press jacking, the tubular elements are subjected to heavy loads in both the axial and radial directions. The pre-compression forces must overcome the chest resistance and the friction between the pipe jacket and the soil. Directional corrections lead, in addition to an increase in the pre-pressing forces, above all to an uneven distribution of the compressive stresses of the pipe end faces and in the pipe element itself. B. constraining forces and dead weight, the tubes also stress in the radial direction.

CH 574023 A5 describes a joint seal for a pipe run that is produced by press jacking. An expansion element, which forms a closed cavity, is arranged between the end faces of the individual tubular elements. This is the case with a pressurized filler can be squeezed out so that the end faces of the adjacent components are pressed apart.

The inventor has set himself the task of creating a method of the type mentioned at the outset with which at least one of the three parameters of propulsive force, eccentricity with respect to the neutral axis and direction of propulsion is optimally determined and optionally stored and / or used for process control.

With regard to the determination of the parameters, the object is achieved according to the invention in that in at least a part of the expansion elements distributed over the entire length of the pipe string the fluid pressure and / or the joints measure the deformation, the propulsion force and the eccentricity are calculated from these parameters and the values are stored and / or compared with stored standard values. For process control, the deformation is measured in at least one part of the expansion elements distributed over the entire length of the pipe string, the deformation, the propulsive force and the eccentricity are calculated from these parameters, and the values in control commands for the pressing direction and / or the individual Fluid supply to or the individual fluid outflow from the expansion elements converted. Special and further developing embodiments of the method are the subject of dependent patent claims.

With the method according to the invention, a complete building documentation that can be reproduced at any time can be recorded and created.

The records can also be used for quality assurance, which is traceable qualitatively and quantitatively. The construction progress can also be compared at any time with a configured setpoint for the pipe path.

In the event of deviations, the variant according to the present invention, an ongoing process control can be used until the specified standard values again meet the setpoints for the planned pipe path. This is done in the sense of rolling planning of the process flow.

Of course, both processes according to the invention, the determination of the parameters and the control can run simultaneously.

The English expression fluid has also become common in the German language, meaning a fluid medium, in particular a gas, a liquid of low or high viscosity, a gel, a pasty mass or the like. *

An expansion element with a measuring device is preferably arranged in each joint. While - as mentioned - an expansion element must be arranged in each joint, the measuring elements can also be partially omitted, preferably periodically. For example, a measuring device for the pressure can be arranged in every 2nd, 3rd, 4th expansion element. Of course, a regular arrangement is not mandatory, but advantageous. The deformation can be measured in the same or different joints, this usually being done by measuring the expansion of the joints. However, the shear deformation and / or other parameters known per se can also be measured. This is preferably done at at least three points regularly distributed over the circumference, so in the case of the strain measurement, the geometry of the expansion plane of a joint can be determined.

The fluid pressure in the expansion elements is expediently measured using a manometer. If a deviation of the fluid pressure from the target value is determined on the basis of the measured parameters, a corresponding control command initiates a supply or an outflow of fluid, or the driving force is increased or decreased accordingly. The control commands can be given individually to a specific actuator, but also in groups to several actuators. ren.

The expansion element can assume any customary geometric shape with regard to the cross section. In the simplest case, this is circular. However, the cross-sectional shape can also be square, rectangular, with the same or different wall thicknesses. Elastic materials are suitable as materials, which can also be fiber-reinforced and whose mechanical properties can be adapted to the object-specific forces and geometric conditions.

With regard to the cross-section of circular, oval, elliptical or rectangular expansion elements, the geometrical property has that in the case of pre-upsets of the expansion elements that are produced without stress, their contact widths on the pipe end face are only slightly dependent on the compressions that occur under force. As a result, the specific forces transmitted by the expansion elements vary only slightly along the circumference of the pipe, even with strongly inclined expansion levels in the joints, and thus the eccentricities of the driving force with respect to the neutral axis of the pipes remain low, which is a strong contrast to the joints used most often from wood-based materials.

Furthermore, the ratio of the force K1 to the permissible force K2 can be monitored by periodically or continuously calculating the ratio. If the ratio reaches or exceeds 1, an alarm is automatically triggered and / or the relevant position is shown on a display, the operator can intervene immediately.

Finally, the expansion element inserted between the rearmost pipe element of the pipe string and the newly introduced pipe element is preferably pre-compressed and the parameters measured in the process are stored. In other words, the geometric cross-section of the expansion element is determined during pre-upsetting. As with all other measurements, the evaluation is preferably carried out in real time, that is, not with a time shift. The invention, in particular also the devices necessary for this, are explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent patent claims. They show schematically:

1 shows a vertical section through a press shaft with a pipe string, FIG. 2 shows the course of a pipe string below a street section, FIG. 3 shows an axial section through two pipe elements lying against one another on the end face, FIG. 4 shows a radial section through an expansion element, 5 shows a detail of a butt connection of two tubular elements with a measuring and filling device, according to V of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 shows different cross-sectional shapes of tubular elements, FIG. 7 shows different cross-sectional shapes of expansion elements, FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 3 with sectoral subdivision of the expansion element, and FIG. 9 shows a variant according to FIG. 3 with expansion measurement.

In the subsoil 10, from the soft soil to the monolithic rock, starting from a press shaft 12, a pipe string 14 is driven, which runs approximately parallel to the earth's surface 16 at a depth of a few meters. The individual tubular elements 18 are lowered into the press shaft 12 by means of a lifting device 20.

A pressing device 24, which is supported on an abutment 22, is aligned with the pipe string 14. These are hydraulic presses, but pneumatic presses or lifting spindles can also be used. A pressure ring 26 presses on the front onto the rearmost tubular element 18 and presses the entire tubular string 14 in the feed direction 28 by the length I. of a tubular element 18 forward. Then the pressure ring 26 is withdrawn, a new tubular element 18 is lowered and precisely placed with the interposition of an expansion element 44 (FIG. 3). Then insert another tube length I.

Simultaneously with the pressing of the pipe string 18 into the subsoil 10, the displaced soil is mined by a head piece 30 in a manner known per se. This is done, for example, by means of a built-in excavator 32, a milling machine or another working device known in mining. With a treadmill, not shown, the removed soil 34 is conveyed in the direction of the press shaft 24, that is against the direction of advance 28.

As mentioned, the advance is gradual. One step involves the insertion of a tubular element 18, the advancement of the tubular string 14 by the length I of the tubular element 18 in the advancing direction 28. The advancing force 40 (FIG. 3) is transferred from the tubular element to the tubular element 18 via the expansion elements 44 (FIG. 3) shown below transfer.

As mentioned, the pipe string 14 generally runs approximately parallel to the surface of the earth 16. However, the pipe string 14 can also run at any other angle.

For various reasons, eccentricities can occur during the advancement of a pipe string 18, as is shown in detail in FIG. 3.

The head piece 30 usually has a locating device 36, so the position can be determined at any time and any necessary corrections can be made. Furthermore, an auxiliary shaft can be lifted out precisely if a repair or replacement of the head piece 30 is necessary.

2 is an S-piece of a street 38 with a pipe string 14 underneath indicated. The pipe string 14 is guided through the S-piece with the largest possible bending radius, the planned pipe path runs as straight as possible. By measuring and process control according to the present invention, the pipe string 14 can largely follow the planned pipe path.

Fig. 3 shows the end faces 42 of two tubular elements 18, on which a driving force 40 is exerted. The two end faces 42 of the tubular elements 18 are pushed through an expansion element 44 designed as a hollow profile. The cavity of the expansion element 44 is filled with a pressure-resistant fluid 46, the pressure p can rise to far more than 100 bar.

The connection area of the two tubular elements 18 is covered with a sleeve 48, which has a guiding and sealing function. The sealing function is supported by an inserted O-ring 50.

Eccentricities 52 of the feed force 40 with respect to the neutral axis N of the pipe string 14 can occur during the feeding of a pipe string 14 made of pipe elements 18. The reasons for this lie in the different frictional relationships along the contact surface 54 of the tubular elements 18 and the base 10, but mainly in planned and unforeseen control movements and inaccurate dimensions in the tubular elements 18, in particular when using joint elements made of wood-based materials, which are pronounced non-linear, irreversible Have load-deformation characteristics. The eccentricities 52 mentioned generate torques about axes which lie in a plane perpendicular to the direction of advance 28. In order to maintain the equilibrium, the mobilization of torques which are opposed to these moments and are of equal magnitude by means of earth pressures acting at right angles to the direction of advance 28 is necessary. These earth pressures represent significant loads which, in extreme cases, lead to the breakage of tubular elements 18.

According to the invention, all cavities of the expansion elements 44 are all over Pipe string 14 connected via a pressure line 56, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This pressure line 56 is connected via a filling valve 58 to the fitting 60 of each connected expansion element 54. The filling tap 58 can be opened with a lever 62. The fitting 60 is also equipped with a pressure measuring device 64 and a vent valve 66, via which excess fluid can be drained into the interior of the pipe string 14.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the expansion element 44 is made of an elastomer tubular. The surrounding hose has no division into sections. Except for the geodesic difference, the pressure is therefore always the same all around, even with the greatest pressure application, which is shown in FIG. 5 with the dotted, deformed expansion element 44.

6 shows some possible cross sections of tubular elements 18. These can for example be round, square, rectangular, rectangular with a transverse wall or vaulted. The elements have a diameter or a corresponding linear dimension of one or more meters. They consist, for example, of concrete, fiber concrete or a metal.

Fig. 7 shows cross sections of expansion elements 44. These are circular, square, elliptical, rounded with a long rectangle, cassette-shaped and convex on both sides. There is a large variety of cross-sections, the walls can be partially reinforced.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 8, the circumferential expansion element 44 is divided into three sections A, B, C of the same size, which are not hydraulically connected to one another. Each section of the expansion element 44 can have a fitting with a filling tap 58 and a venting tap 66. An active change of direction can take place. With an appropriate arrangement, the guide head 30 (FIG. 1) can be controlled directly with an expansion element 44 according to FIG. 8. Three to six sectors are common. In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the elongation between the end faces 42 of the tubular elements 18 is measured with an extensometer 68.

The measurement data management of pressure and deformation, in particular the expansion, is carried out in the pipe string 18 or outside of it with a processor. The fill valve 58 and the vent valve 66 can also be controlled by a processor via corresponding actuators. The data transmission from and to the processor takes place via electrical or optical cables or via radio, also using the Internet. These electronic components, which are used as usual, are not drawn for the sake of clarity.

On the other hand, it is essential that the cavities of all actuatable expansion elements 44 can be communicatively connected to one another via the pressure line 56. The pressure line 56, which extends over the entire length inside the pipe string 14, can be connected to all of the expansion elements 54 or only a part thereof. Through the filling tap 58, the cavity of an expansion element 44 is expediently filled with a pressure-resistant liquid, also called fluid 46, before the propelling force 40 is applied, and at the same time vented through at least one vent tap 66. With these two cocks 58, 66 there is also the possibility of measuring the existing internal pressure of the fluid 46 with a pressure measuring device 64. The expansion plane in a joint 70 is determined with the aid of at least three point measurements of the expansion of joints 70 in the direction of advance 28. Due to the parameter pressure of the fluid 46 obtained and the geometry of the expansion plane in the joint 70, the size and eccentricity 72 of the resulting driving force 40 can be determined in place and amount with the aid of a reversible load-deformation law of the joint function described. From this, the magnitude and direction of the earth pressures transversely to the neutral axis N can be determined and thus knowledge of the magnitude of the risk of damage or even breakage of the tubular elements 18 in the transverse direction can be obtained. This provides a reliable and accurate method for monitoring and control of the driving forces 40 available, which manages with simple, economical and robust means. According to a variant not shown, the joint 70 can also run concentrically, spirally or according to a more complicated geometrical shape, which, however, does not generate any transverse forces.

By compressing the expansion element 44 in the joint 70, during which the described filling valve 58 and / or ventilation valve 66 are open and thus the fluid 46 can freely enter and exit into the cavity of the expansion element 44, the expansion element 44 is deformed without the pressure in the cavity of the expansion element 44 changes. By means of such pre-compression, the force-transmitting contact surface of the expansion element 44 on the end faces 42 of the tubular elements and thus also the driving force 40 can be increased. The deformation behavior of the expansion element 44 can thus be controlled within certain limits in accordance with the requirements by means of a specific pre-compression.

Divided into several sections, i. H. Sectioned expansion elements 44 represent independent hydraulic vessels which can have different internal pressures from one another. These sections only have the geometry of the strain plane as a common parameter. By controlling the pressure or the amount of fluid 46 present in the cavity of the individual sections of the expansion element 44, the position and amount of the resulting driving force 40 are influenced. With a targeted application of this property, the divided expansion element 40, the position and size of the eccentricity 52 of the driving force 40 can be precisely controlled and controlled.

If these subdivisions are absent in the case of an expansion element 44, the fluid pressure p in the cavity of the expansion element 44 is the same everywhere, and the size of the force transmitted via the expansion element 44 per unit length of the expansion element 44 measured in the circumferential direction is only dependent on the size of the contact width of the expansion element 44 dependent on the end faces of the elements and particularly independent of the rest of the geometry of the expansion element 44. Through a clever choice of properties and geometry, as well as pre-compression of the expansion element 44, it is possible to keep the dependency of the end-face joint support surface per unit length on the compression of the expansion element 44 small. The eccentricity 52 of the resulting propulsive force 40 can thus also be made independent of the expansion of the expansion element 44 or can be kept within small limits. This represents a significant improvement in the properties of the expansion elements 44 described.

After the advance has been carried out, there are essentially two possibilities for the further use of the expansion element 44 described:

- The internal pressure of the expansion element 44 is reduced and this expanded from the interior of the building created. The expansion element 44 can thus be used again.

- The expansion element 44 remains installed and is used as a structural seal for the final state.

The pressure of the fluid 46 within the expansion element 44 is further monitored and controlled, and thus the sealing performance of the expansion element 44 is controlled.

The fluid 46 in the expansion element can be exchanged with a hardening liquid, for example with a cement suspension. This is pressed into the cavity of the expansion element 44 under a certain pressure and, after hardening, is used for a permanent prestress and a sealing pressure.

In summary, it can be stated that, according to the invention, there is the possibility, with the described construction of the expansion element 44, of bridging or prestressing the entire structure in a simple manner, with all the advantages associated therewith.

Claims

claims

1. A method for determining the driving force (40), the eccentricity (52) thereof with respect to the neutral axis (N) and / or the direction of advance (28) when driving pipe elements (18) to create an elongated structure in soft, stony and / or rocky subsoil, a pressing device (24) and fluid-filled expansion elements (44) arranged on the end face in the joints (70) of the pipe string (14), characterized in that in at least one part distributed over the entire length of the pipe string (14) the expansion elements (44) the fluid pressure (p) and / or the joints (70) measured the deformation, the driving force (40) and the eccentricity (52) are calculated from these parameters and the values are stored and / or compared with stored standard values.

2. A method for controlling the driving force (40), minimizing its eccentricity (52) with respect to the neutral axis (N) and / or the direction of advance (28) when driving pipe elements (28) to create an elongated structure in soft, stony and / or rocky subsoil (10), a press device (24) and fluid-filled expansion elements (44) arranged on the end face in the joints (70) of the pipe string (14), characterized in that in at least one over the entire length of the pipe string (14) distributed part of the expansion elements (44) the fluid pressure (p) and / or the joints (70) measured the deformation, calculated from these parameters the driving force (40) and the eccentricity (52), and the values in control commands for the Press device (24) and / or the individual fluid supply to or the individual fluid outflow from the expansion elements (44) can be converted.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation, preferably the elongation or the shear deformation, is measured in all joints (70).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation, preferably the expansion in a joint (70) at least three locations, preferably distributed regularly over the circumference, measured and the geometry of the plane of expansion of the joint (70) is determined.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fluid pressure (p) in each section (A, B, C) of a sectorally divided expansion element (44) measured and with an appropriate control command, sections of an individual amount of fluid is dissipated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a head piece (30) is controlled with the foremost expansion element (44).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fluid pressure (p) is measured in an expansion element (44) filled with a pressure-resistant liquid.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fluid pressure (p) in a circular in cross-section, oval, elliptical or in the direction of at least one end face (42) of the tubular elements (18) round expansion element (44) is measured ,

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ratio of the force exerted (K-ι) to the permissible force (K ₂ ) perio- calculated or monitored continuously or continuously, and at -> 1 κ ₂ preferably alarm is triggered.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the parameters measured when pre-upsetting the expansion element (44) in the press shaft (12) are stored.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the evaluation takes place in real time.

12. Application of the method according to claim 1 for quality assurance.