GB2170244A

GB2170244A - A tunnelling method

Info

Publication number: GB2170244A
Application number: GB08601776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Foster; Alan Hunt
Original assignee: BOART
Current assignee: BOART
Priority date: 1985-01-24
Filing date: 1986-01-24
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: GB8501773D0; ZA86471B; DE3601985A1; GB8601776D0

Abstract

In tunnelling with the aid of a stage loader (10) which is an endless conveyor and which is extended from time to time and upon which broken rock is placed for removal, the conveyor has a frame which provides rails on which a drilling boom may ride towards and away from the face. The boom has a feeder beam carrier (14). An arch (12) for supporting the roof is partially assembled at the rear and then elevated. The drilling boom is then positioned for the arch to be lifted by the carrier. The boom is moved forward and the carrier elevated to place the arch against the roof. The arch is then completed under protection of the thus positioned partially assembled arch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A tunnelling method BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tunnelling method.

In underground development work tunnels are often driven through very bad ground. In such cases arch supports are installed close to the tunnel face as the tunnel advances. A drawback is that the personnel installing the arches are not protected while they are working.

Tunnelling is often conducted with the aid of a stage loader which is an endless coveyor and which is extended from time to time and upon which broken rock is placed for removal.

The conveyor sometimes has a frame which provides rails on which a drilling boom may ride towards and away from the face. Such a drilling boom is often equipped with a feeder beam carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention at least the head portions of arches are assembled behind the face under the protection of existing roof protection, the assembled heads are elevated and a drilling boom moved in position for the heads to rest on shaped brackets positioned on the feeder beam carrier, the boom is advanced towards the face carrying the heads, the boom is actuated to position the heads against the roof of the tunnel at the correct position and the arches are completed by workers under the protection of the thus positioned heads.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a rearward part of a tunnel, Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a section through a forward part of a tunnel, and Figure 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In the drawings the supporting base of a stage loader has been indicated by the numeral 10.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at a position spaced from the face and fully protected by arches 11 there is an arch head assembly station where the heads 12 of future arches are assembled together on lifting legs 13. After assembly the legs 13 are moved to a lifting position in which they have been marked 1 3a in Fig. 1. In the latter position the heads are so high above the loader 10 that a drilling boom can move to and fro under them.

if the drilling boom is at the rear it is now brought forward and the boom manipulated for the feeder beam carrier to lift the heads 12 off the legs 13a. The boom is now moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 3 first to the position where the carrier is marked as 14. By further manipulation of the boom controls the heads 12 are positioned against the hanging wall in which case the carrier is marked 14a in Fig. 3. The arches are now completed in relative safety. As soon as they are self-supporting the carrier 14a may be retracted and the drilling boom utilised for drilling operations.

CLAIMS:

1. A method of tunnelling involving the use of a stage loader having a frame on which a drilling boom having a feeder beam carrier may ride towards and away from the tunnel face and in which arches are installed as supports for the roof tunnel characterized in that at least the head portions of the arches are assembled behing the face under existing roof protection, the assembled heads are elevated and the drilling boom moved in position for the heads to rest on shaped brackets positioned on the feeder carrier, the boom is advanced towards the face carrying the heads, the boom is actuated to position the heads against the roof of the tunnel at the correct position and the arches are completed by workers under the protection of the thus positioned heads.

2. A method of tunnelling substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A tunnelling method BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tunnelling method. In underground development work tunnels are often driven through very bad ground. In such cases arch supports are installed close to the tunnel face as the tunnel advances. A drawback is that the personnel installing the arches are not protected while they are working. Tunnelling is often conducted with the aid of a stage loader which is an endless coveyor and which is extended from time to time and upon which broken rock is placed for removal. The conveyor sometimes has a frame which provides rails on which a drilling boom may ride towards and away from the face. Such a drilling boom is often equipped with a feeder beam carrier. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention at least the head portions of arches are assembled behind the face under the protection of existing roof protection, the assembled heads are elevated and a drilling boom moved in position for the heads to rest on shaped brackets positioned on the feeder beam carrier, the boom is advanced towards the face carrying the heads, the boom is actuated to position the heads against the roof of the tunnel at the correct position and the arches are completed by workers under the protection of the thus positioned heads. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a rearward part of a tunnel, Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a section through a forward part of a tunnel, and Figure 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In the drawings the supporting base of a stage loader has been indicated by the numeral 10. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at a position spaced from the face and fully protected by arches 11 there is an arch head assembly station where the heads 12 of future arches are assembled together on lifting legs 13. After assembly the legs 13 are moved to a lifting position in which they have been marked 1 3a in Fig. 1. In the latter position the heads are so high above the loader 10 that a drilling boom can move to and fro under them. if the drilling boom is at the rear it is now brought forward and the boom manipulated for the feeder beam carrier to lift the heads 12 off the legs 13a. The boom is now moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 3 first to the position where the carrier is marked as 14. By further manipulation of the boom controls the heads 12 are positioned against the hanging wall in which case the carrier is marked 14a in Fig. 3. The arches are now completed in relative safety. As soon as they are self-supporting the carrier 14a may be retracted and the drilling boom utilised for drilling operations. CLAIMS: