RU2270297C2 - Underwater transport tunnel system, tunnel section and tunnel section joining device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: underground or underwater structures, particularly underwater tunnels composed of separate sections, immersed in water or laid on water pool bottom and auxiliary joining devices to connect tubular sections at water surface or under water.

SUBSTANCE: tunnel system is adapted to connect the first and the second shores of opposite land zones separated by water body. The tunnel system comprises the first and the second watertight elongated inclined inlet and outlet tubular tunnel sections built in the first and the second shores correspondingly. The first and the second elongated tunnel sections pass into water body for predetermined depth and extend one towards another. The tunnel structure has a number of underwater elongated watertight intermediate sections provided with roadway members and roadway support means arranged inside the sections and extending between intermediate section ends. The tunnel structure comprises watertight joining devices to connect opposite ends of neighboring tunnel sections and remote ends of the first and the second tunnel sections with the first ends of adjacent intermediate sections so that longitudinal axes of the first and the second sections are longitudinally aligned with that of intermediate tunnel sections. At least one intermediate tunnel section is provided with at least one movable partition to be built in roadway in lower horizontal position. The movable partition in its upper position hermetically blocks through passage defined over roadway of intermediate tunnel section. The elongated tubular tunnel section includes roadway and roadway support means arranged inside it between ends thereof. The tunnel section is provided with at least one movable partition to be built in roadway in lower horizontal position. The movable partition in its upper position hermetically blocks through passage over roadway of intermediate tunnel section. Tunnel section joining device comprises thrust collar to be mounted on surface of one tubular tunnel sections having ends facing each other near tunnel section ends and coaxial to the surface. The joining device also has several drives installed on the thrust collar along periphery thereof and adapted to drive joining members to bring them into contact with another tunnel section along section periphery near end to be joined thereof. The device is adapted to connect tunnel sections. The joining members are made as bars having proximate ends hinged to thrust collar and remote ends directed from drives out of tunnel section and extending beyond longitudinal tunnel section dimension after the thrust collar has been assembled. The drives are formed so that remote bar ends may be moved to thrust collar axis and/or moved away from the axis. Power drive of the partition may be used as power drive to close joining area during tunnel section connection.

EFFECT: increased tunnel operational safety, simplified method and reduced cost of tunnel system construction.

17 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to underwater transport tunnels mounted from separate sections, immersed in water or laid at the bottom. The invention also relates to auxiliary devices for connecting tubular sections to or under water.

There are various designs of underwater tunnel systems consisting of separate prefabricated tubular tunnel sections, and methods for laying them. Initially, conventional auxiliary floating equipment was used to connect the tubular sections on the surface of the water, followed by their immersion [US patent 485983, publ. 11/08/1892], and for underwater assembly - the simplest mechanisms, for example with guides, tightening threaded rods [patent US 375464, publ. 12/27/1887], or using stepwise profiling of butt ends [patent US 629133, publ. 07/18/1899], while prior to assembly, the cavities of the sections were closed at the ends with watertight technological partitions and floating lifting mechanisms were used [patent US 1050320, publ. 01/14/1913]. However, such methods were quite laborious.

With the development of the prior art, the assembly technology has been improved. For example, for underwater assembly of a tunnel system with two transport tunnels in one tier of the finished section, special floating bridge cranes and special guiding docking devices were used, while technologically end plugs were also used to deliver the sections to the assembly site [US patent 3901038, publ. 08/26/1975]. It is known to use for joining the ends of tubular sections of a relatively complex device mounted with rings on one of the joined sections and containing a system of drives and guides [patent US 4832530, publ. 05/23/1989]. Known technologies are relatively complex and time-consuming.

Known submarine transport tunnel system [patent US 5899635, publ. 05/04/1999], while a later technical solution of such a system was selected as a prototype [patent US 6450734, publ. 09/17/2002], connecting the first and second coasts of opposite land sections separated by a water column, including two inclined tubular tunnel sections for entry and exit from the system, mounted on the banks and extending into the water column to a prescribed depth towards each other; and a plurality of underwater intermediate tubular tunnel sections, each of which extends between its opposite ends, has a longitudinal axis and contains a roadway with means of support inside it between its ends. The tunnel sections are connected to each other by means of waterproof connecting means. For laying the tunnel system, the technology of underwater assembly of sections manufactured on the shore was used. For joining the sections during assembly, a device is used that contains a thrust ring made with the possibility of mounting on the inner forming surface of one of the adjacent sections facing each other near the end face of the coaxially forming one, as well as several drives mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery, which drive butt elements for their contact with another section in places on the periphery near its butt end, as well as for closing the joint. The well-known system is thought out in sufficient detail both structurally and technologically, however, the safety of the system in case of emergency is insufficient and, in addition, the assembly of the system and preparatory operations before assembly can be simplified.

The technical task to be solved is to increase the operational safety of underwater transport tunnel systems, simplify and reduce the cost of their installation.

An underwater transport tunnel system is proposed that connects the first and second coasts of opposite land sections separated by a water column, including: the first and second waterproof elongated oblique tubular tunnel sections intended for entry and exit from the tunnel system, the first and second tunnel sections being mounted in the first and second the second coast, respectively, leaving the coastline in the water column to the prescribed depth towards each other; and a plurality of underwater elongated waterproof intermediate tubular tunnel sections, each of which extends between its opposite ends, has a longitudinal axis and contains a roadway with means of supporting it inside its ends; as well as waterproof connecting means connecting opposite ends of adjacent intermediate tunnel sections, as well as remote ends of the first and second tunnel sections with one of the ends of adjacent intermediate tunnel sections, so that the longitudinal axes of the first and second tunnel sections and intermediate tunnel sections are predominantly aligned longitudinal direction. What is new is that at least one intermediate tunnel section is provided with at least one movable partition that can be embedded in the roadway in a lowered horizontal position and hermetically block the through passage across the roadway of the intermediate tunnel section in its raised vertical position. This increases the safety of the system in the event of an accident.

It can be mounted near at least one end of the intermediate tunnel section and is configured to block through passage near this end.

It is better when the intermediate tunnel section is equipped with two movable partitions mounted near its opposite ends and is made with the ability to block the through passage near each of these ends. This allows you to raise the tunnel section to the surface of the water for replacement or repair.

The movable partition can be equipped with a drive and means for fixing it in a raised vertical position.

The intermediate tunnel section may contain two or more roadways arranged in tiers and dividing the cavity of the intermediate tunnel section into two or more airtight compartments located one above the other, while the movable partition is made with the possibility of blocking the through passage at least over one roadway. Such a solution, for example, allows in the event of an accident to ensure passage through an unfilled compartment, to isolate the flooded compartment for repairs, etc.

A tunnel elongated waterproof tubular section is also proposed, which extends between its opposite ends, has a longitudinal axis and contains a roadway with means for supporting it, stretched between these ends. What is new is that the tunnel section is provided with at least one movable partition made to be embedded in the roadway in a lowered horizontal position and hermetically across the space above the roadway of the intermediate tunnel section in its raised vertical position. T.O. the installation of movable partitions can be done ashore and use such ready-made tunnel sections for the construction of the tunnel system described above.

The movable partition can be mounted near at least one end and made with the ability to close the space above the roadway near this end.

It is better when the tunnel section is equipped with two movable partitions mounted near its opposite ends and is made with the ability to close the space above the roadway from both ends. This allows you to abandon the use of additional sealed end caps when transporting the tunnel section afloat to the assembly site, used, for example, in the prototype, and use movable partitions for this purpose in their closed position.

It is better to equip the movable partition with a power drive and means for fixing it in a raised vertical position.

A device for docking tunnel sections is also proposed, comprising a thrust ring made with the possibility of mounting on the forming surface of one of the adjacent tubular tunnel sections facing each other at the ends near its end face of such a forming surface coaxially, several actuators mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery and having the ability to drive the butt elements for their contact with another tunnel section in places on the periphery near its abutting end. New is that the device is designed to connect the tunnel sections, at least one of which is the claimed tunnel section, the butt elements are made in the form of rods, the proximal ends of which are pivotally connected to the thrust ring, and the distal ends are directed from the drives outside the tunnel section, its length in the mounted position of the thrust ring, the actuators are configured to reduce the distal ends of the rods to the axis of the thrust ring and / or their separation from such an axis. In this case, the power drive of the movable partition of the claimed section is made with the possibility of its use as a power drive closing the joint when connecting the tunnel sections.

The far ends of the rods can be bent towards the contact points and / or contact rollers and / or contact surfaces can be made on them which are equidistant to the surfaces of the other tunnel section at the contact points.

The thrust ring can be made with the possibility of mounting both on the inner forming surface of the tunnel section, and on its outer forming.

It is better when the actuators according to the number of rods are made in the form of power hydraulic cylinders pivotally mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery at one end, with drive rods at other ends, which, in turn, are pivotally connected at their ends to the rods.

Drives can be mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery evenly.

The invention is illustrated by drawings. Figure 1 shows the main view of the underwater transport tunnel system, figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of such a system, and figure 3 is a local sectional view near the junction of adjacent tunnel sections. Figure 4 and figure 5 in the main view and in cross section, respectively, illustrates the use of the device for docking tunnel sections, and Fig.6 in the main view is a possible variant of such a docking using another embodiment of the device. The dashed lines in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 respectively show the initial positions of the movable partition pos. 12 and rods pos. eighteen.

The invention is illustrated by examples.

Figure 1-3 shows a transport tunnel system with a shallow oval (in cross section) tunnel mounted at depths of 15-30 m

The system connects the shores 1 and 2, separated by a water column 3, and includes coastal waterproof tubular tunnel sections 4 and 5, designed to enter and exit the tunnel system through coastal structures 6, several underwater waterproof intermediate tubular tunnel sections 7 installed on the corresponding foundation plates 8 and containing two roadways 9 and 10, mounted in two tiers by means of support (not shown), waterproof annular connecting means 11.

The tunnel sections 7 contain four movable partitions 12 - two on each side of each roadway 9, 10, embedded in them in the lowered position and hermetically blocking the through passage, as shown in Fig. 3, using sealing elements 13, 14 due to hydraulic cylinders 15. Thus, the cavity above the roadway 9 and / or 10 can be hermetically sealed from two sides, which allows: a) to remove section 7 to the surface of the water for repair; b) ensure the isolation of the intact section 7 or its compartment; c) transport section 7 by surfacing to the assembly site.

For one of the operations of assembling the tunnel system, for example, docking two adjacent sections 7 to the rear, you can use the device shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, containing a thrust ring 16, fixedly mounted (with the possibility of subsequent removal after joining) on one of the sections 7 , four hydraulic cylinders 17, curved rods 18 with rollers 19. For the centering operation of the sections 7 (shown simplistically cylindrical), the rods 18 are parted as shown by the dashed line, the near end of the second abutting section 7 is brought between them and the rods 18 are brought together by means of hydraulic cylinders 17 until the rollers 19 are in contact with the surface of the joined section 7. After that, the joint between sections 7 is closed in such a fixed, centered position of the sections. To close the joint, a separate external power tool can be used to create a force along the axis of the sections, and in the case of a movable partition 12, such closure can be, for example, made using a cable (not shown), one end of which is attached to the butt end of one section 7 and the other end to the movable partition 12, while the required force on the cable will be created when lowering the movable partition 12 to a horizontal position.

There is another possible similar variant of such a device mounted inside, as shown in Fig.6, while the centering of the sections is carried out not by mixing, but by breeding the rods 18.

The above examples are used only to illustrate the possibility of carrying out the invention and do not limit the scope of legal protection presented in the claims, while a person skilled in the art is relatively easy to implement other ways of carrying out the invention according to any of the independent claims.

Claims (17)

1. An underwater transport tunnel system connecting the first and second coasts of opposite land sections separated by a water column, including the first and second waterproof elongated oblique tubular tunnel sections for entry and exit from the tunnel system, the first and second tunnel sections being mounted in the first and the second coast, respectively, leaving the coastline in the water column to the prescribed depth towards each other; a plurality of submarine elongated waterproof intermediate tubular tunnel sections, each of which extends between its opposite ends, has a longitudinal axis and contains a roadway with means of supporting it inside its ends; as well as waterproof connecting means connecting the opposite ends of the adjacent intermediate tunnel sections, as well as the remote ends of the first and second tunnel sections with one of the ends of the adjacent intermediate tunnel sections, so that the longitudinal axes of the first and second tunnel sections and intermediate tunnel sections are predominantly aligned in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that at least one intermediate tunnel section is provided with at least one movable partition made with the possibility embedded in the roadway in a lowered horizontal position and hermetically block the through passage across the roadway of the intermediate tunnel section in its raised position. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable partition is mounted near at least one end of the intermediate tunnel section and is configured to block through passage near this end. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate tunnel section is equipped with two movable partitions mounted near its opposite ends, and is configured to block the through passage near each of these ends. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable partition is equipped with a drive and means for fixing it in a raised position. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate tunnel section contains two or more roadways arranged in tiers and dividing the cavity of the intermediate tunnel section into two or more sealed compartments located one above the other, while the movable partition is configured to overlap through passage of at least one roadway. 6. The tunnel elongated waterproof tubular section, which extends between its opposite ends, has a longitudinal axis and contains a roadway with its support means, stretched between these ends, characterized in that it is equipped with at least one movable partition made with the possibility of integration into the roadway in a lowered horizontal position and hermetically transversely overlapping the space above the roadway of the intermediate tunnel section in its raised position and. 7. The section according to claim 6, characterized in that the movable partition is mounted near at least one end and is configured to close the space above the roadway near this end. 8. The section according to claim 6, characterized in that it is equipped with two movable partitions mounted near its opposite ends and configured to close the space above the roadway from both ends. 9. Section according to claim 6, characterized in that the movable partition is equipped with a power drive and means for fixing it in a raised position. 10. A device for docking tunnel sections containing a thrust ring made with the possibility of mounting on the forming surface of one of the adjacent tubular tunnel sections facing each other at the ends near its end face of such a forming surface coaxially, several actuators mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery and having the ability to drive the butt elements for their contact with another tunnel section in places on the periphery near its abutting end face, characterized in that it is intended for connection the insignificance of the tunnel sections, at least one of which is performed according to claim 9, the butt elements are made in the form of rods, the proximal ends of which are pivotally connected to the thrust ring, and the distal ends are directed from the drives outside the tunnel section, protrude beyond its length in the mounted position of the thrust ring , while the actuators are configured to reduce the far ends of the rods to the axis of the thrust ring and / or their breeding from such an axis, while the power drive of the movable partition walls according to claim 9 is made with the possibility of its use as forces Vågå closing drive interface when connecting the tunnel sections. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the distal ends of the rods are bent towards the contact points. 12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that at the far ends of the rods made contact rollers. 13. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that at the far ends of the rods are made contact surfaces that are equidistant to the surfaces of another tunnel section at the contact points. 14. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the thrust ring is made with the possibility of mounting on the inner forming surface of the tunnel section. 15. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the thrust ring is made with the possibility of mounting on the outer forming surface of the tunnel section. 16. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuators according to the number of rods are made in the form of power hydraulic cylinders pivotally mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery at one end with the drive rods at other ends, which, in turn, are pivotally connected at their ends to barbells. 17. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuators are mounted on the thrust ring along its periphery evenly.

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