GB2364721A

GB2364721A - Tunnel end-face support

Info

Publication number: GB2364721A
Application number: GB0017418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur St John Devine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-14
Filing date: 2000-07-14
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0017418D0

Abstract

A tunnel end-face support apparatus (10) includes hinged supporting portions (1, 3), preferably in the form of steel plates, that are moveable relative to each other and which can be connected to a vehicle (20) via a connector (4). The support apparatus (10) can be removed from the vehicle (20) and is free-standing, which would allow the vehicle (20) to be used for drilling into the tunnel end face (30). The vehicle (20) may have a number of rams (7, fig 4) with which the tunnel roof and sidewalls can be supported.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> SUPPORT APPARATUS The invention relates to support apparatus and, in parti.cular, to support apparatus for use in constructing tunnels and an associated method. Common types of tunnel construction methods involve excavating material from the face of a tunnel using a vehicle and transporting the material away from the tunnel end face for discharge. When tunnel construction workers occupy an area immediately adjacent the tunnel end face, some kind of temporary support for supporting the tunnel end face so as to prevent movement of debris and loose material from the tunnel end face towards the adjacent area of the tunnel is desirable. Temporary supports are generally cumbersome, difficult to construct and laborious to set up and, as a result, time consuming to use. For this reason such temporary supports may not be used which endangers the tunnelers. One solution to this problem is to apply shotcrete concrete onto the tunnel end face to provide stability thereto whilst workers are working adjacent the tunnel end face. In a typical tunnel construction method, a roadheader machine weighing approximately 300 tonnes drills a trench approximately 1/2 metre in width and 2 metres in depth around the perimeter of the tunnel end face. The machine is then manoeuvred away from the tunnel end face to one side of the tunnel so that an excavating machine can be manoeuvred in front of the tunnel end face for machining and removing material from the tunnel end face to a depth corresponding to the trench made by the roadheader. Then so called shotcrete comprising sprayed concrete is applied to a thickness of about 100mm to the tunnel end face and to portions of the tunnel adjacent the tunnel end face so as to provide stability whilst workers fix lattice beams, reforcement mesh and/or reforcing support bars in position. To carry out this work workmen stand on mechanical platform

machinery. When the reforcernent is in position the walls of the tunnel are shotcreted to a required thickness and then the roadheader machine is used to start the next cycle. A disadvantage of shotcreting the tunnel end face to provide temporary support is that concrete has to be applied to the tunnel end face after each excavation cycle and then removed before each drilling cycle.

There is a need for a tunnel end face support apparatus for use in excavation which is simple in construction and which may be set up in a convenient manner. Furthermore, there is a need for a tunnel end face support apparatus which can be used to support various areas of a tunnel end face and which can be simply manoeuvred into and out of a supporting position.

According to one aspect, the present invention consists in a tunnel end face support apparatus comprising hinged supporting portions adapted and arranged for connection to a vehicle so as to support temporarily the end face of a tunnel under construction.

According to another aspect, the present invention consists in a method of excavating a tunnel including the step of connecting tunnel end support apparatus including hinged supporting portions to a vehicle and manoeuvring the vehicle so that the supporting portions support an end face of the tunnel.

One advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the need to apply shotcrete concrete to the tunnel end face after each excavation cycle and then remove the concrete therefrom prior to each drilling cycle.

In one embodiment, the method includes the step of detaching the support apparatus from the vehicle when tunnel end face support is not required and using the vehicle for drilling into the tunnel face. The method may include the step of installing tunnel sidewall or roof support means from

the support apparatus when the supporting portions are supporting the tunnelface.

Preferably, adjacent hinged support portions can be moved relative to each other to facilitate manoeuvring of the support apparatus. The tunnel support apparatus may be adapted to be removable from the vehicle and may be adapted to stand up in a self-supporting manner when not connected to the vehicle. This allows the supporting portions to be temporarily stored away from the tunnel end face in a safe and convenient manner without the need for additional storage or support apparatus.

Additionally, the support apparatus preferably include support securing means for securing the hinged support portions in a supporting position which may conveniently comprise rams and may also include ramming means for pushing tunnel sidewall or roof support means, towards tunnel sidewall or roof areas adjacent to the tunnel end face.

Preferably, the ramming means includes at least one ram which is repositionable so as to be directed towards different sidewall or roof areas and a load distributing member is attached to a free end of the ramming means for distributing a pushing force from the ramming means to the sidewail or roof support means. The apparatus may include support means extending at a location remote from the supporting portions for engaging a floor of the tunnel.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinged supporting portions comprise steel plates and the supporting portions are interconnected by a substantially vertical hinge.

Additionally, the support apparatus may include interconnection means for interconnecting the supporting portion and an associated vehicle which interconnection means is adapted to facilitate working on areas of tunnel sidewall or roof adjacent to the tunnel end face.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the support apparatus includes strut means of adjustable length interconnecting adjacent hinged supporting portions and the strut means may be accommodatable in recesses of tunnel end face supporting surfaces of the adjacent hinged supporting portions.

The vehicle may have drilling means for drilling into the tunnel face. A typical drilling vehicle used for drilling into a tunnel end face has a large mass and normally stands idle during tunnel end face, sidewall and roof stabilisation work. The use of such a vehicle to hold the support apparatus accordingly provides an efficient and highly effective double use of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the tunnel end face support apparatus according to the invention with hinged supporting portions in a partially opened state; Figure 2 is a side view showing the hinged supporting portions of Figure 1 in a fully opened state supporting a tunnel end face with the supporting portions directly fixed to a vehicle; Figure 3 is a front perpspective view of the hinged supporting portions of Figure 1 standing up in a self supporting manner with a strut between the tunnel end face supporting surfaces of the supporting portions; Figure 4 is a side view of the hinged supporting portions of Figure 1 attached to an interconnecting frame with ramming means for installing sidewall and roof support means and a vehicle attached thereto; and Figure 5 is a rear end view of the arrangement of Figure 4 without the vehicle attached to the interconnecting frame and showing different positions of the ramming means.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, figure 1 depicts a rear perspective view of a tunnel end face support apparatus 10 which includes supporting portions 1,3 having respective tunnel end face engaging surfaces 17, 18 which are attached to a hinge 2. In figure 2, one of the hinged supporting portions 1, 3, is directly attached to a vehicle 20 and both supporting portions are in a fully opened state supporting the end face 30 of a tunnel. A connection means 4 is provided on each supporting portion 1, 3 in the vicinity of the hinge 2 so that either of the supporting portions 1,3 is connectable to the vehicle 20 and comprises bolts for screwing into fittings mounted on the front of the vehicle 20. The connection means may however only be provided on one of the supporting portions and is adapted so that the vehicle is capable of pivoting the supporting portions 1, 3 into any required position so as to support the tunnel end face. This pivoting may be achieved using pivoting means normally used to adjust the position and/or orientation of a drill. which drill is removed from the vehicle after drilling and prior to deploying the supporting portions. The supporting portions 1, 3 are hinged so that the supporting portions 1, 3 are movable relative to each other and extend substantially vertically. Securing means 5 is provided in the form of rams which are attachable between recesses or lugs in/on the rear surfaces of the supporting portions 1, 3 and the sides of the vehicle 20 and which are adjustable in length. The rams 5 further stabilise the supporting portions 1, 3 and provide a means of anchoring, in a desired supporting position, the supporting portion 1, 3 which is not directly fixed to the front of the vehicle 20. The supporting portions 1, 3 are preferably in the form of plates and span a substantial area of the temporary tunnel face 30 when in a fully opened state and in the supporting position. Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 standing up in a self-supporting manner. The hinged supporting portions 1, 3

are adapted so that the supporting portions 1, 3 stand up in a stable self- supporting manner when the supporting portions 1, 3 are in a partially opened state. Strutting means 15 which conveniently comprises an adjusting ram is accommodatable in recesses 16 in the tunnel end face supporting surfaces 17, 18 of the supporting portions 1, 3 for interconnecting the supporting portions 1, 3 and holding them juxtaposed relative to each other and for providing further stability when the supporting portions are standing in a self-supporting manner. In the present embodiment, the plates are made of steel having a thickness of 20 to 25 mm. In applications where further stiffness of the supporting portions 1, 3 is required, the rear faces of the plates are stiffened using steel rods or beams (not shown).

The method of excavating a tunnel using the tunnel end face support apparatus 10 will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. When the tunnel end face 30 is to be supported temporarily after material has been excavated from the tunnel end face 30, the apparatus 10 is connected to the front of the vehicle 20 by means of one of the supporting portions 1,3 using the connection means 4. The other free supporting portion 1,3 can be closed onto the fixed supporting portion 1, 3 which has the advantage of making the tunnel end face support apparatus 10 more compact for transportation and manoeuvring purposes. After the vehicle 20 has been manoeuvred to the area immediately adjacent the tunnel end face 30, the free supporting portion 1, 3 is moved to a supporting position so that the supporting portions 1, 3 substantially span the entire area of the tunnel end face 30 which is to be supported. Once the supporting portions 1, 3 are in a desired supporting position, the securing means 5 is adjusted to an appropriate length so that it can be attached between the rear surfaces of the supporting portions 1, 3 and the vehicle 20

in order to stabilise the supporting portions 1,3 and anchor the free supporting portion 1,3 in the desired supporting position. Alternatively if the securing means comprise rams 5 they may be used to move one or both of the supporting portions into the desired position. The vehicle 20 is then manoeuvred so that the supporting portions 1, 3 support the selected area of the tunnel end face 30 and loose material is accordingly prevented from moving into the area immediately adjacent the tunnel end face. Construction workers may then occupy and work in the area immediately adjacent the tunnel end face as required without the need to apply shotcrete concrete to the tunnel end face 30 and adjacent portions of the tunnel, sidewalls 13, roof 14 and floor. Further excavation of the tunnel end face area which is not supported by the supporting portions 1,3 may be conducted whilst the hinged supporting portions 1,3 remain in the supporting position if space therearound so permits. However, if a substantial section of the tunnel end face 30 is being supported by the supporting portions 1, 3, the supporting portions 1, 3, must be manoeuvred away from the tunnel end face 30 so that the tunnel end face 30 may be subsequently excavated. This is achievable by one of several methods. For example, by manoeuvring the vehicle 20, with the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 attached thereto, entirely away from the area adjacent the tunnel end face 30; or by manoeuvring the vehicle 20 away from the tunnel end face 30 to an area immediately adjacent thereto, detaching the securing means 5 so as to free the supporting portion which is not directly connected to the vehicle 20 by the connection means 4 and closing the free supporting portion 1,3 onto the other supporting portion 1, 3 so as to gain access to the tunnel end face 30. Alternatively, the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 are detached from the vehicle 20 by disconnecting the connection means 4 and the securing means 5 are detached from the hinged supporting portions

1, 3 so that the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 can be placed away from the tunnel end face 30. When the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 are removed from the vehicle 20, the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 can be closed together so as to make them more compact and facilitate their transportation. Once the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 have been moved to a suitable place away from the tunnel end face 30, the hinged supporting portions are partially reopened and the strut means 15 is placed in the recesses 16 in the tunnel end face supporting surfaces 17, 18 of the supporting portions 1, 3 so as to interconnect the supporting portions 1, 3 together and allow the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 to stand up self supported in a stable manner. This allows the hinged supporting portions to be stored temporarily in a convenient and safe manner without the need for additional storage or support apparatus.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tunnel end face support apparatus 100 includes an interconnecting means 11 for interconnecting the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 to the vehicle 20 and comprises an interconnecting frame 11 one end of which is bolted to the vehicle 20 and the other end of which provides fixings to which is connected the hinged supporting portions 1, 3 using the connection means 4. The supporting portions 1, 3 and interconnecting frame 11 are arranged so that the supporting portions 1, 3 stand upright in a self-supporting manner irrespective of the relative positions of the supporting portions 1, 3. The securing means 5 may be attached between the frame and the supporting portions.

Mounted on the interconnecting frame 11 is a ramming means comprising rams 7 for pushing a tunnel sidewali or roof support means 9, such as metal mesh, towards the tunnel sidewall 13 or roof 14 adjacent to the tunnel end face 30 when the tunnel end face support apparatus 100 is

attached to the vehicle 20. The rams 7 comprise rams or jacks the free ends of which are fixed by known means to load distributing members 12 for distributing a pushing force from the rams 7 to the sidewall or roof support means 9 possibly comprising arcuate tunnel lining segments or mesh for connection to the sidewall or roof by means of sprayed concrete. The rams or jacks are of known construction which are operated manually or automatically using hydraulics or the like and which are adapted so that each ram is repositionable within a vertical plane to allow the sidewall or roof support means 9 to be rammed towards selected parts of the tunnel roof 14 and sidewall 13 in the vertical plane. Rotating means 21 is provided. on the interconnecting frame together with locking means (not shown) which are arranged so that the rams or jacks may be swung into a ramming position and then locked therein prior to exerting an outward ramming force. Support means 8 comprising an adjustable ram extends downwardly from beneath the frame and engages a floor 25 of the tunnel in order to stabilise the tunnel end face support apparatus 100 by resisting the resulting force from the rams 7 pushing the tunnel sidewall or roof support means 9 upwardly. The interconnecting frame 11 may be adapted to provide a suitable platform 22 on which persons working on the construction of the tunnel may be supported and which enables such persons to gain access and work on areas of the tunnel sidewall 13 or roof 14 immediately adjacent the supported tunnel end face 30.

The method of excavating the tunnel end face 30 using the tunnel end face support 100 of the latter described embodiment will now be described. The rear end of the interconnecting frame 11 is connected to the vehicle 20 and the supporting portions are set up in a manner corresponding to that described in the previous embodiment. When the supporting portions 1, 3 are supporting the tunnel end face 30, the rams 7 are rotated and

locked into a desired ramming position using rotating means 21 and the rams 7 with the load distributing members 12 connected thereto are then operated so that they ram the tunnel sidewall or roof support means 9 towards selected sections of the tunnel sidewall 13 or roof 14 where they are fixed. Workers may use the platform 22 to gain access to the tunnel sidewalls 13 or roof 14, or alternatively, use separate platforms as is known in the art. When required, the hinged supporting portions may be detached from the vehicle 20 by disconnecting the connection means 4 from the front of the interconnecting frame 11, or alternatively, the entire tunnel end face support apparatus 100 including the interconnecting frame 11 and ramming means 7 is detached from the vehicle by disconnecting the rear of the frame 11 from the front of the vehicle 20.

Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is not intended that the invention be restricted to the construction and arrangement of the hinged supporting portions, connection means, strutting means and securing means described herein. It would be known to a skilled man in the art that the support apparatus may be connected to a vehicle or interconnecting frame by means of both supporting portions using the connection means. Alternatively, a hinge or some other rotating means may be fixed to adjacent supporting portions and the apparatus may be connected to a vehicle or interconnecting frame by means of the rotating means using the connection means so that both supporting portions are free to move relative to each other even when the apparatus is connected to the vehicle or the interconnecting frame. It would also be recognised that securing means and strutting means other than rams may be used to perform the same basic functions as the rams.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A tunnel end face support apparatus comprising hinged supporting portions adapted and arranged for connecting to a vehicle so as to support temporarily the face of a tunnel under construction.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein adjacent hinged support portions can be moved relative to each other to facilitate manoeuvring of the support apparatus.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support apparatus is adapted so that when the support apparatus is connected to the vehicle the supporting portions are pivotable into any required position so as to support the tunnel end face.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the support apparatus is adapted to be removable from the vehicle.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support apparatus is adapted to stand up in a self-supporting manner when not connected to the vehicle.
6. An apparatus as claimed in-any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support apparatus includes support securing means for securing the hinged support portions in a supporting position.
7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including ramming means for pushing a tunnel sidewall or roof support means towards tunnel sidewall or roof areas adjacent to the tunnel end face.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ramming means includes at least one ram which is repositionable so as to be directed towards different sidewall or roof areas.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, including a load distributing member which is attached to a free end of the ramming means for

<Desc/Clms Page number 12>

distributing a pushing force from the ramming means to the sidewall or roof support means.
10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including support means extending at a location remote from the supporting portions for engaging a floor of the tunnel.
11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, the hinged supporting portions comprise steel plates.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the supporting portions are interconnected by a substantially vertical hinge.
13. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including interconnection means for interconnecting the supporting portion and an associated vehicle which interconnection means is adapted to facilitate working on areas of tunnel sidewall or roof adjacent to the tunnel end face.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including strut means of adjustable length interconnecting adjacent hinged supporting portions.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the strut means is accommodatable in recesses of tunnel end face supporting surfaces of the adjacent hinged supporting portions.
16. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle has drilling means for drilling into the tunnel end face.
17. A method of excavating a tunnel including the step of connecting tunnel support apparatus including hinged supporting portions to a vehicle and manoeuvring the vehicle and the supporting portions so that the supporting portions support an end face of the tunnel.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 including the step of detaching the support apparatus from the vehicle when tunnel end face support is not required and using the vehicle for drilling into the tunnel end face.

<Desc/Clms Page number 13>
19. A method according to claim 17 or 18 including the step of installing tunnel sidewall or roof support means from the support apparatus when its supporting portions are supporting the tunnel end face.
20. An apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of excavating a tunnel or supporting a face thereof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.