EP1727964B1 - Advancement of pipe elements in the ground - Google Patents

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

The invention relates to a method for determining the propulsion force, whose eccentricity with respect to the neutral axis and / or the propulsion direction in the propulsion of tubular elements for creating an elongated structure in a soft, stony and / or rocky ground, wherein a pressing device and the front side in the joints of Tubing arranged, fluid-filled expansion elements can be used. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling the driving force, the eccentricity and the feed direction, as well as an application of the method.

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

In a superstructure that is overcrowded, or otherwise difficult in the upper area, the alternative known per se is to propel a pipe string out of a sunken shaft into the ground. It is configured as straight as possible Sollweg for the pipe string, with any obstacles are avoided in the largest possible radius of curvature.

The pipe string is pressed by successive application of tubular elements in the soil, with a controllable headpiece shows the way. The new pipe elements are lowered into a press shaft and propelled forward with a press device until the next pipe section can be used. The pipe elements have a diameter of up to several meters, a pipe string of pipe elements, for example, 1 to 4 m in diameter can reach a length of 1 to 2 km or more.

In a target shaft, the head of the pipe string can be removed and added the necessary termination devices and lines.

With increasing propulsion length, the required pre-pressing forces increase due to the skin friction of the pipe elements. Depending on the length of the pipe string and the pressing force to be applied intermediate pressing stations or intermediate shafts can be created for other pressing devices, with which the range can be increased accordingly.

The removed from the conveyor head earth material must be dissipated in the opposite direction to the usually approximately horizontal pipe jacking, this can be done in a conventional manner with conveyor belts, rubble cars or the like. Furthermore, in the case of appropriate soil, it is possible to produce thin-flow conveyance in closed pipes.

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

When press driving the pipe elements are heavily stressed both in the axial and in the radial direction. The prepress forces must overcome the chest resistance and the friction between the pipe jacket and the ground. Directional corrections lead, in addition to an increase of Vorpresskräfte, especially to a non-uniform distribution of the compressive stresses of the pipe end faces and in the pipe element itself. Other effects, such. As constraining forces and dead weight, the tubes also claim in the radial direction.

In the CH 574023 A5 is a joint seal for a pipe string is described, which is produced in the press drive. Between the end faces of the individual tube elements, an expansion element is arranged, which forms a closed cavity. This is the case with a pressurized filler pressed, that the front sides of the adjacent components are pressed apart.

The inventor has set itself the task of creating a method of the type mentioned, with which at least one of the three parameters driving force, eccentricity with respect to the neutral axis and propulsion direction 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 by measuring the deformation in at least one part of the expansion elements distributed over the entire length of the pipe string, calculating the propulsion force and the eccentricity from these parameters and storing the values and / or compared with stored defaults. For process control, in at least one part of the expansion elements distributed over the entire length of the pipeline, the deformation is measured, the driving force and the eccentricity are calculated from these parameters, and the values are entered into control commands for the pressing direction and / or the individual Fluid supply to or the individual fluid drain from the expansion elements converted. Specific and further developing embodiments of the method are the subject of dependent claims.

With the inventive method a complete, reproducible at any time building documentation can be recorded and created.

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

In case of deviations, at any time the variant according to the present invention, a running process control, are used until the specified default values again comply with the setpoint values for the configured pipe path. This takes place in the sense of a rolling planning of the process flow.

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

The English term fluid has also become common in the German language, so that a flowable medium is referred to, in particular a gas, a liquid of low or high viscosity, a gel, a pasty mass or the like.

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

The fluid pressure in the expansion elements is conveniently measured by means of a manometer. If a deviation of the fluid pressure from the target value is detected on the basis of the measured parameters, a corresponding control command causes a supply or outflow of fluid, or the propelling force is increased or decreased accordingly. The control commands can be made individually to a specific actuator, but also in groups to multiple actuators.

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

With respect to the cross-section circular, oval, elliptical or rectangular expansion elements have the geometric property that at stress-generated pre-ups of the expansion elements whose support widths on the Rohrstimfläche are only slightly dependent on the compression occurring under force. This has the consequence that even at very oblique stretching levels in the joints, the specific, transmitted by the expansion forces along the pipe circumference vary only slightly and thus the eccentricities of the driving force with respect to the neutral axis of the tubes remain low, which is a stark contrast to the previously mostly used joints of wood-based materials means.

Further, the ratio of the applied force K1 to the allowable 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, in the press shaft, 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 geometrical cross section of the expansion element is determined during pre-upsetting. As with all other measurements, the evaluation is preferably done in real time, so not time-shifted.

• Fig. 1 einen Vertikalschnitt durch einen Pressschacht mit einem Rohrstrang,
• Fig. 2 den Verlauf eines Rohrstrangs unterhalb eines Strassenabschnitts,
• Fig. 3 einen Axialschnitt durch zwei stirnseitig aneinanderliegende Rohrelemente,
• Fig. 4 einen Radialschnitt durch ein Dehnelement,
• Fig. 5 ein Detail einer Stossverbindung zweier Rohrelemente mit einer Mess- und Fülleinrichtung, gemäss V von Fig. 3,
• Fig. 6 verschiedene Querschnittsformen von Rohrelementen,
• Fig. 7 verschiedene Querschnittformen von Dehnelementen,
• Fig. 8 eine Variante von Fig. 3 mit sektorieller Unterteilung des Dehnelements, und
• Fig. 9 eine Variante gemäss Fig. 3 mit Dehnungsmessung.

The invention, in particular the necessary devices, will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. They show schematically:

• Fig. 1 a vertical section through a press shaft with a pipe string,
• Fig. 2 the course of a pipe string below a road section,
• Fig. 3 an axial section through two frontally adjacent tubular elements,
• Fig. 4 a radial section through an expansion element,
• Fig. 5 a detail of a joint connection of two pipe elements with a measuring and filling device, according to V of Fig. 3 .
• Fig. 6 various cross-sectional shapes of tubular elements,
• Fig. 7 various cross-sectional shapes of expansion elements,
• Fig. 8 a variant of Fig. 3 with sectoral subdivision of the expansion element, and
• Fig. 9 a variant according to Fig. 3 with strain measurement.

In the subsoil 10, from the soft earth to the monolithic rock, starting from a press shaft 12, a pipe string 14 is propelled, which extends in a few meters depth approximately parallel to the earth surface 16. The individual pipe elements 18 are lowered by means of a lifting device 20 in the press shaft 12.

An abutment 22 supporting pressing device 24 is aligned with the tubing string 14. In the present case are hydraulic presses, but it can also be used pneumatic presses or lifting spindles. A pressure ring 26 presses the front side on the rearmost pipe element 18 and pushes the entire pipe string 14 in the feed direction 28 by the length l a tubular element 18 forward. Then the pressure ring 26 is withdrawn, a new tubular element 18 is lowered and with the interposition of an expansion element 44 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) precisely. Then the insertion takes place by a further tube length I.

Simultaneously with the pressing of the tubing string 18 in the substrate 10, the displaced soil is reduced by a head piece 30 in a conventional manner. This is done for example by a built-in excavator 32, a milling machine or other known in mining equipment. With a treadmill, not shown, the excavated soil 34 in the direction of the press shaft 24, that is opposite to the propulsion direction 28, promoted.

The propulsion takes place as mentioned step by step. One step involves the insertion of a tubular element 18, the feed of the tubing string 14 by the length l of the tubular element 18 in the feed direction 28. The feed force 40 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) is applied via the expansion elements 44 (shown below) ( Fig. 3 ) transmitted from pipe element to pipe element 18.

As mentioned, the tubing string 14 generally runs approximately parallel to the earth's surface 16. The tubing string 14 may, however, also run at any other angle.

For various reasons, it can come during the advancement of a pipe strand 18 to eccentricities, as in Fig. 3 is shown in detail.

The headpiece 30 usually has a locating device 36, so the situation can be determined at any time and any necessary corrections are made. Next can be precisely excavated at a possibly necessary repair or replacement of the head piece 30, an auxiliary shaft.

In Fig. 2 is an S-piece of a road 38 with underlying tubing 14th indicated. The pipe string 14 is performed with the largest possible bending radius through the S-piece, the projected pipe path runs as straight as possible. By measuring and process control according to the present invention, the pipe string 14 can follow the projected pipe path as far as possible.

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 by a trained as a hollow profile expansion element 44. The cavity of the expansion element 44 is filled with a pressure-resistant fluid 46, the pressure p can rise to much more than 100 bar.

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

It can come during advancement of a tubing string 14 of tubular elements 18 to eccentricities 52 of the feed force 40 with respect to the neutral axis N of the tubing string 14. The reasons for this lie in the different friction conditions along the contact surface 54 of the tubular elements 18 and the substrate 10, but mainly in planned and unforeseen control movements and inaccuracies in the tubular elements 18, in particular when using joint elements made of wood materials, which is a pronounced non-linear, irreversible Have load-deformation characteristic. The mentioned eccentricities 52 generate torques about axes that lie in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propulsion 28 level. In order to maintain equilibrium, the mobilization of moments of magnitude equal in magnitude to torques which are equal in magnitude to those moments is necessitated by earth pressures acting at right angles to the direction of advance 28. These earth pressures represent significant loads, which in extreme cases lead to breakage of tubular elements 18.

According to the invention, all the cavities of the expansion elements 44 over the whole Pipe string 14 connected via a pressure line 56, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 and 5 will be shown. This pressure line 56 is connected via a filling cock 58 with the fitting 60 of each connected expansion element 54. With a lever 62, the filler cock 58 can be opened. The fitting 60 is also equipped with a pressure gauge 64 and a vent cock 66 through which excess fluid can be discharged into the interior of the tubing string 14.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 the expansion element 44 is formed from an elastomer tubular. The circulating hose has no division into sections. The pressure is, therefore, except for the geodesic difference, always the same around, even with the largest pressure application, which in Fig. 5 is shown with the dotted, deformed expansion element 44.

In Fig. 6 some possible cross sections of tubular elements 18 are shown. These may be, for example, round, square, rectangular, rectangular with a transverse wall or arched. The elements have a diameter or a corresponding linear mass 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 long rectangular, cassette-shaped and convex on both sides. There are a large variety of cross sections, the walls can be partially reinforced.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 8 is the circumferential expansion element 44 divided into three equal sections A, B, C, which are not hydraulically connected to each other. Each section of the expansion element 44 may have a fitting with a filler cock 58 and a vent cock 66. There can be an active change of direction. With an expansion element 44 according to Fig. 8 can with appropriate arrangement directly the guide head 30 ( Fig. 1 ) to be controlled. Usual are three to six sectors.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9 the elongation between the end faces 42 of the tubular elements 18 is measured with a strain gauge 68.

The measurement data management of pressure and deformation, in particular the elongation, takes place in the tubing 18 or outside thereof with a processor. The filler cock 58 and the vent cock 66 can also be controlled by a processor via corresponding actuators. The data transmission from and to the processor via electrical or optical cables or via radio, even using the Internet. These electronic components 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 connected to one another in a communicating manner via the pressure line 56. The pressure line 56 extending over the entire length in the interior of the tubing string 14 may be connected to all the expansion elements 54 or only a part thereof. By the filling cock 58, the cavity of an expansion element 44 before the application of the propulsion force 40 expediently with a pressure-stiff liquid, also called fluid 46, filled and vented through at least one vent cock 66 at the same time. About these two cocks 58, 66 is also possible to measure the existing internal pressure of the fluid 46 with a pressure gauge 64. With the help of at least three punctual measurements of the elongation of joints 70 in the advancing direction 28, the expansion plane in a joint 70 is determined. By the obtained parameter pressure of the fluid 46 and the geometry of the expansion plane in the joint 70, the magnitude and eccentricity 72 of the resulting propulsion force 40 can be determined in place and magnitude by means of a reversible load-deformation law of the joint function described. From this, in turn, the size and direction of the earth pressures can be determined transversely to the neutral axis N and thus the knowledge about the size of the risk of damage or even breakage of the tubular elements 18 in the transverse direction can be obtained. Thus, a reliable and accurate method of monitoring is available and control of the propulsive forces 40 available, which manages with simple, economical and robust means. The joint 70 may also run concentrically, spirally or according to a more complicated, but not transverse forces generating geometric shape according to a variant, not shown.

By a compression of the expansion element 44 in the joint 70, during which the described filling cock 58 and / or vent cock 66 are opened and thus the fluid 46 can freely enter and exit 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 such an upsetting, the force-transmitting bearing surface of the expansion element 44 on the end faces 42 of the tubular elements and thus also the propulsion force 40 can be increased. By a targeted pre-compression thus the deformation behavior of the expansion element 44 can be controlled within certain limits according to the requirements.

Divided into several sections, d. H. Sectioned expansion elements 44 represent independent hydraulic vessels which may have mutually different internal pressures. As a common parameter, these sections only have the geometry of the plane of elongation. 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 of the resulting driving force 40 is influenced in place and amount. With a purposeful application of this property, the divided expansion member 40 can accurately control and control the position and size of the eccentricity 52 of the driving force 40.

Absent in an expansion element 44, these subdivisions, the fluid pressure p in the cavity of the expansion element 44 is everywhere the same size, and the size of the force transmitted through the expansion element 44 per unit length of the expansion element 44 measured in the circumferential direction is only on the size of the support width of the expansion element 44th depending on the end faces of the elements and in particular independent of the remaining geometry of the expansion element 44. By a clever choice of properties and geometry, as well as pre-compression of the expansion element 44, it is possible to keep the dependence of the end-side joint support surface per unit length of the compression of the expansion element 44 small. Thus, the eccentricity 52 of the resulting propulsion force 40 can be made independent of the elongation of the expansion element 44 or kept within small limits. This represents a significant improvement in the properties of the expansion elements 44 described.

• Der Innendruck des Dehnelements 44 wird abgesenkt und diese vom Innenraum des erstellten Bauwerks her ausgebaut. Damit kann das Dehnelement 44 wieder verwendet werden.
• Das Dehnelement 44 bleibt eingebaut und wird als Bauwerksabdichtung für den Endzustand weiterverwendet.

After the drive has taken place, there are essentially two possibilities for the further use of the expansion element 44 described:

• The internal pressure of the expansion element 44 is lowered and removed from the interior of the created building ago. Thus, the expansion element 44 can be used again.
• The expansion element 44 remains installed and will continue to be 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, thereby controlling the sealing performance of the expansion element 44.

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

In summary, it can be stated that, according to the invention, it is possible with the described structure of the expansion element 44 to bridge the entire structure in a simple manner, or to prestress it, with all the advantages associated therewith.

Claims (12)

1. Method for determining

   - the propulsion force (40),

   - the eccentricity (52) of the propulsion force (40) in relation to the neutral axis (N) and/or

   - the advance direction (28)

   on advance of pipe elements (18) to produce a longitudinal structure in soft, stony and/or rocky ground, using a pressing device (24) and on the faces fluid-filled expansion elements (44) arranged in the joints (70) of the pipeline (14), characterised in that in at least a part of the expansion elements (44), which part is distributed over the entire length of the pipeline (14), the fluid pressure (p) and/or in at least a part of the joints (70), which part is distributed over the entire length of the pipeline (14), the deformation is measured, and from these parameters the propulsion force (40) and eccentricity (52) are calculated and the values stored and/or compared with stored standard values.
2. Method for controlling

   - the propulsion force (40),

   - minimising the eccentricity (52) of the propulsion force (40) in relation to the neutral axis (N) and/or

   - the advance direction (28)

   on advance of pipe elements (18) to produce a longitudinal structure in soft, stony and/or rocky ground, using a pressing device (24) and on the faces fluid-filled expansion elements (44) arranged in the joints (70) of the pipeline (14), characterised in that in at least a part of the expansion elements (44), which part is distributed over the entire length of the pipeline (14), the fluid pressure (p) and/or in at least a part of the joints (70), which part is distributed over the entire length of the pipeline (14), the deformation is measured, and from these parameters the propulsion force (40) and eccentricity (52) are calculated and the values converted into control commands for the pressing device (24) and/or the individual fluid supply to or individual fluid discharge from the expansion elements (44).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the deformation, preferably expansion or shear deformation, is measured in all joints (70).
4. Method according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the deformation, preferably expansion in a joint (70), is measured at least at three points preferably distributed regularly over the periphery and the geometry of the expansion plane of the joint (70) is determined.
5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the fluid pressure (p) of an expansion element (44) which are divided into sectors is measured in each section (A, B, C) and individual fluid quantities supplied or extracted in sections by corresponding control command.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that a header piece (30) is controlled with the front expansion element (44).
7. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the fluid pressure (p) is measured in an expansion element (44) filled with a pressure- resistant fluid.
8. Method according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the fluid pressure (p) is measured in an expansion element (44) which in cross-section is circular, oval, elliptical or round in the direction of at least one face (42) of the pipe element (18).
9. Method according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the ratio of force exerted (K1) to force permitted (KZ) is calculated and monitored periodically or continuously, and when $$\frac{K_1}{K_2}\ge 1$$

   

   preferably an alarm is triggered.
10. Method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the parameters which are measured on pre-compression of the expansion element (44) in the pressing shaft (12) are stored.
11. Method according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that analysis takes place in real time.
12. Use of the method according to claim 1 for a qualitatively and quantitatively comprehensible quality control on advance of pipe elements (18) for producing an underground structure.

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