WO2004029413A2

WO2004029413A2 - Shield tunneling method and apparatus for excavating a tunnel of non-circular cross-section

Info

Publication number: WO2004029413A2
Application number: PCT/SK2003/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marián KRCÍK
Original assignee: Krcik Marian
Priority date: 2002-09-26
Filing date: 2003-09-26
Publication date: 2004-04-08
Also published as: SK13882002A3; WO2004029413A3; EP1552109A2

Abstract

The method and the driving shield for driving of non-circular cross-section consist of front cutting heads of the shield (2a till 2j) fixated to the bearing body that carry out the hole with the shape of conjuction of circles by rotating and moving in the direction of the tunnelling of the driving shield and just after that the final shape of tunnel cross-section is carried out by removal of rest of the face and by creating concave or concave and planar surfaces which are perpendicular to surfaces of the hole made by rotating of the finishing cutting heads (8a till 8k) of the driving shield. The axis of rotating of each finishing cutting head (8a till 8k) is non-intersectoral to axes of rotating of the front cutting heads (2a till 2j).

Description

The tunneling method for non-circular tunnel cross-sectin and appropriate driving shield

Technical Field

The invention is related to tunnel driving mainly in rocks and it solves the problem of tunnel excavation where tunnel cross-section is mouth-shaped, egg-shaped and shaped like these.-

Background Art

The initial shape of tunnel cross-section that allowed effective apllication of the driving shields for tunnel driving was a circular tunnel cross-section. The use of driving shields for circular tunnel cross-section is managable. The tunnel driving with circular cross-section is relaized by tunnel boring machine with one circular cutting head. There are tunnel boring machines that are able to drive tunnels up to diameter of 15 metres. The tunnel driving of larger cross-section increases financial expences and technical claims. Apart from that fact the parametres of circular area of tunel cross-section were not effectively used for installation of equipment.

The need of tunnel driving with larger cross-sections demanded to eliminate the disadvantages of tunnel driving of circular cross-section. This problem is solved by non- circular tunnel cross-section whereas the cross-section^'s shape depends on function and operating parametres of tunnel, building elements inside and tecnnology that was used.

The original tunneling method for non-circular cross-sections are tunnel boring machines containing two or more circular cutting heads. The cutting heads' faces are succesive or they are ordered in one line. The cutting heads^' diameter is the same or different. Abreast situated cutting heads with collinear faces create tunnel with shape that is similar to junction of circles. Succesive cutting heads create cross-section^'s shape that is similar to shape of circles^' conjuction. Machines that have just been mentioned and technological procesess are assumption for tunnel driving with larger parametres by using boring machines. It allows us to build the tunnels of various cross- sections^' shapes and we are able to use this profile effectively. The problem of this method is that in the area of cutting heads 'conjuction the rock is not destroyed. It is necessary to destroy them by using of non-shield machines. Solution of this problem is ambition of the method and equipment that is protected by US patent No. 5110188. The esence of this solution is based on the fact that the remaining parts of not destroyed rock that remains in the tangent parts of cross-section where the rock will be destroyed by using of swinging cutting bodies. These bodies rotate round the axis that is perpendicular to axis of driving.

Another method of tunnel driving is protected by Japanese patent No. 8-165894 and it is specific for oval-shaped tunnels. It is carried out by main circular cutting heads of driving machine that crerate two individual holes and emergent wall between these holes is removed by additional cutter situated and rotating between main circular cutting heads. It creates planar surfaces and tangent surfaces to surfaces that were created by main cuting heads. The axis of rotation of additional cuter is perpendicular to axes of main cutting heads^' rotation and it intersects these axes synchronically.

These days are preffered mouth-shaped elliptical or simiral cross-sections. Carrying out the tunnels of non-circular tunnel cross-section by using boring machines and existing methods is not completely provided. That is why we have to create original state of the cross-section, for example oval-shaped by using mentioned machine and then we have to complete the shape by using non- shield machine. It is toilsome and expensive.

Disclosure of Invention

To contribute to solving problems that relates to known methods of tunnel excavation of non-circular tunnel cross section is tha aim of the tunneling method that is object of protection. The disclosure of the method is based on the fact that rotating front cutting heads of sliding driving shield carry out the hole that has shape of circles^' conjuctions. After that the cross-section is completed by removal of remaianders of face and creating of concave or concave and planar surfaces that connects surfaces originally created holes, by rotation of finishing cutting heads of the driving shield. The axes of each fininshing cutting heads^' rotation are non-intersectorally to axes of rotation of front cutting heads^' rotation.

Disclosure of the invention is also appropriate driving shield that consist of bearing body, at least two front cutting heads that are able to create the shape of circles conjunctions by using mutually coupled rotary and shifting move are able to carry out the hole whose shape is similar to circles^' conjuction. Every front cutting head is joined with driving mechanism and it is equipped with replaceble cutters and it consists of equally scattered arms. Every arm of one front cutting head interlocks to appropriate gap between arms of adjacent front cutting head.

The driving shield also consists of two rotary finishing cutting heads which are situated behind the front cutting heads that are equipped with replaceble cutters connected with actuator mechanism. They are supposed to create surfaces that connects surfaces that were made by front cutting heads. Every finishing cutting head is either adapted for making concave surface or at least one finishing cutting head is adapted for making planar surface and one finishing cutting head is adapetd for making concave surface.

The esence of the driving shield that is the subject of protection is also possibility of construction of finishing cutting head adapted for creating concave surface by adding of actuator machanism that is situated in the space that is bounded by shell with cutters connected with the body. The actuator mechanism consists of set of engines with admission input of energetic medium. The appropriate one is hydraulic engine that is situated in the middle part of the finishing head and divided into two equal parts. Engines of one part are specular to engines of the second part. Actuating components are located on the shafts of each engine. The appropriate one is the winch of the gear. The driven component - intemal gearin wheel is mounted to shell that is bedded on the pivoted-pad bearing connected with the bearing body of the driving shield. The recommendable solution is the one where the actuator mechanism is on the shaft of every engine. Driven element of the actuator mechanism -geared wheel-is firmly embodied on the rotary shaft. The jacket of the finishing cutting head is firmly embodied on the rotary shaft whereas the rotary shaft is embodied in the bearing body of the driving shield. Joining of the solid shaft and the rotary shaft with the body of the driving shield allows changing the perpendicular distance between the axis of rotation of the finishing cutting head and the axes of rotation of the front cutting heads.

The proposal of the technological process and proposed design of the machine for tunnel driving of non-circular cross-section is the subject of protection. The realization provides the removal of the face^'s scraps by using circular front cutting heads, carrying out the final cross-section The possibility of conversion of the finishing cutting heads^' position allows driving various cross-sections by using the one machine. It also allows manipulating in the front of the machine in case of jam, damage and so on. Brief Description of Drawings

The machine for tunnel driving of non-circular cross-sections according to the invention the invention is described in details in schematic pictures. In Fig No. 1 , 2 is the front view of the face of the driving shield that is adapted to carry out mouth-shaped tunnels. Fig No. 3 displays sidelight of the driving shield and Fig No.4 displays axonometric side-view view on of longitudinal section of possible design of the finishing cutting head that destroys residual face and it creates planar and concave joining surfaces. In Fig No.7 there is an alternative of realization of the actuation of the lower finishing cutting head. Fig No.8 displays in axonometric view of the detail of the connecting node of the finishing cutting head and the driving shield. Fig No.9a till 9f represents examples of the driving shield design.

Best Mode for carrying Out the Invention

The tunneling method according to the invention provides creating of predefined non-circular tunnel cross-sections by the driving shield The non-circular cross-sectionis is the area bounded by the border that consist of arc lines or arc lines and planar lines. The cross-sections that are mouth-shaped, egg-shaped or similar are the subject of protection.

This method is possible to use for carrying out the tunnel cross-section shown in the pictures 9a till 9f.

Carrying out the mouth-shaped cross-sections is widely spread nowadys. The shapes like these are shown in the Fig 9a, 9b, 9e, 9f. Tunnel driving of mouth shaped croos sections as it is shown in the Fig No.1 is carried out by the method that will be described. At first the hole is carried out by using two front cutting heads 2a whose shape is similar to circles ^'conjuctions. Right after that the definite shape is finished by removal of the face^'s scraps and concave joining surfaces of originally driven tunel are carried out. Thes surfaces are more concave. The removal of the face's scraps is carried out by contrary rotation of the cutting heads 8a, 8b and by sliding of them in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tunnel 16 and opposite to the face. The rotation of the finishig cutting heads 8a and 8b is carried out round the axes 9a, 9b that arenon- intersectorally perpendicular to axis 10a of the rotation of the front cutting heads 2a.The machine according to Fig 1 or 9a consist of bearing body _ that is the jacket for shield^'s mechanisms and it is also the frame assigned for placing and fixing of the parts of the machine. The driving mechanism H is fixed to the bearing body _ through the conversion mechanism 12 with front cutting heads 2a and it provides coupled rotating move. The selection of the driving system and the way of its use depends on the axial distance between the front cutting heads 2a. If the axial distance between front cutting heads is 2a is less than the diameter of the cutting heads then the driving mechanism should contain the gear system.The systems like these are known and used nowadays and this solution that is the subject of the protection create constuction assumptions for carrying out this system.lt is possible to place the gear system behind the front cutting heads and to join it with driving mechanism-for example electric engine, hydraulic engine-that is situated on the outside border of the of the bounded inner space of the machine. If the axial distance between the front cutting head is bigger than the diameter of these heads then driving mechanism can be solved the way that that it is placed behind the finishing cutting heads 8a,8b. This solution allows connecting of the drive units directly to the front cutting heads or through the gear system.The shifting mechanism of the shield that is not shown is fixed to the bearing body 1. For providing of the shifting move of the mechanism are used systems like single or double gripper TBM.single or double shield TBM: It is also applicable using of the tandem with mechanism for extruded concrete - ECL - system (extruded concrete lining).The adjustable shield mechanism that is joined with the bearing body _ is not shown in the Fig. Kinetic functions of the driving shield are known and it is not necessary to desribe them.

The front cutting head 2a contains the centre 13. The arms 14 go out from the centre 13. These arms 14 are on the circumference of the centre 13 of the front cutting head 2a equally configured. The appropriate number of the arms is from 4 to 6. The arms 14 of the one front cutting head 2a fit to the blank between arms 14 of rotating adjacent front cutting head 2a.The arms 14 and the centres 13 of the front cutting heads 2a are equipped with replaceble cutters 15. Scapular construction of the front cutting heads 2a provides the possibility of tunnel driving of predefined shapes and it allows to transport smashed rock to the carrier 18 (Fig No. 4).

From the general point of view every construction set can be solved the way that one of the front cutting heads or more can be ejected (Fig No.9c to 9f.).

The driving shield also contains two rotating finishing cutting heads 8a, 8b. The ones contain replaceble cutters 19. The function of the finishing cutting heads 8a is a removal of scraps in the area of conjuction of circles^' surfaces and it also carry out joining concave areas in these places. After that a final shape of the tunnel is reached. The finishing cutting heads 8a, 8b are firkin-shaped.

The construction of the finishing cutting heads ___ 8b applicable for tunnel driving of mouth-shaped cross-secton is displayed in Fig No.6. Finishing cutting head 8a consist of the shell 20 equipped with replacable cutters 19. The jacket bounds the space, which is big enough to place the actuator mechanism 21 of this head. The actuator mechanism consists of the engines set 22 - hydraulic engines whose admissions 23 are joined with hydraulic distribution that is not shown. The set of engines 22 is divided in two equal parts. The engines are mirror-like arranged. On the shaft of each engine 22 there is an actuator mechanism - in this case it is geared wheel of the transmission 26 whose driven element 27 is the intemal gearing wheel. The driven element 27 is firmly joined with the jacket 20 and the one is bedded on the pivoted-pad bearing on the firm shaft 24. In the longitudinal axis of the firm shaft there is a continuous hole to place admission input line for media supply of engnes 22. The ends of the firm shaft 24 are placed on abutments 28 where it is possible to change the height. There is an hydraulic control. The advantage of the placing of winches ends 24 is possibility of adjustment of upper finishing cutting head 2a. Construction of fixation of the firm shaft 24 to the body 1 is displayed in Fig No.8.

When we use static bedding of the cutting heads it is possible to carry out the machine for tunnel driving of only cross-section. In case of adjustable bedding of one or both finishing cuting heads 8a in the basic body 1 with support of their parametres there is a more widely using of the driving shield. It means that it is able to drive various shapes using just one machine.

The lower finishing cutting head 8b removes lower scrap 6 of the face. If the mouth - shaped cross-section is the construction, parametres,and bedding of the lower finishing cutting head 8b can be the same as for the upper one 8a.

Bedding of the lower finishing cutting head is also without possibility of height adjustment. Then construction and operation costs are considerably lower. The actuation of such lower finishing cutting head is displayed in the Fig No.7. Construction can be solved the way that on the shaft 30 there is a firmly fixed lower finishing cutting head 8b and also the driven elements 33 are parts of the gear 32. The shaft 30 is bedded in not shown bearings that are fixed with the body l.Actuating elements 31 of the gear 32 are firmly bedded on the shafts of the engines 34 and these are fixed with the body _. In the Fig No.2,No.9 there is a scheme of the driving shield designed for mouth- shaped tunnel cross sections. The front cutting heads 2b are located abreast and the finishing cutting heads 8c,8d are firkin-shaped. The upper finishing cutting head 8c is moderate concave and it can be caster-shaped. The first and second finishing cutting head as well 8b,8c has the axis of rotation 9c,9d non-intersectoral perpendicular to axes of rotation 10b of front cutting heads 2b. The front cutting heads 2b drive the hole that is similar to the shape of conjuctions of the circles, the upper finishing cutting head 8c removes the upper rest of the face and it carry out the upper concave surface joining the surfaces caaried out by front cutting heads 2b and lower finishing cutting head 8d removes lower rest of the face and carry out lower moderate concave surface joining surfaces carried out by front cutting heads 2b.

Apart from shapes of cross-sections that has just been described it is possible to carry out different shapes as well shown in 9c till 9f.

The egg-shaped cross-secton is possible to carry out according to picture No.9c. The shape of the cross-section is like conjuction of two circles. It is done by the front cutting heads 2c, 2d. The rests of the face are removed by the finishing cutting heads 8e and concave surfaces are created between arc surfaces that were carried out by the front cutting heads 2c, 2d. From construction^'s point of view for this concrete kind of cross-section is suitable to use the finishing cutting head whose actuator mechanism is not situated in the space inside of the jacket of the head.

Carrying out of the tunnel with egg-shaped cross-section is possible to realize by the machine displayed in the picture 9d. This machine also consist of three front cutting heads 2e, 2f. Two of these are lower with axes of rotation lOd. They are situated abreast and they are in front of upper front cutting head 2e with axis of rotation 10e situated above the axes lOf of rotation of front cutting heads 2f. The rotating arms of one lower cutting head interlocks the gaps between arms of the second lower cutting head. The front cutting 2e,2f heads in concurrence create the original hole. The definite shape is carried out by side finishing cutting heads 8f and horizontally placed lower finishing cutting head __ that removes the face's rests. Finishing cutting heads are behind front cutting heads 2e,2f from direction of shield's point of view. The axis 9g of rotation of the lower finishing cutting head and the axes 1Of of rotation of the front cutting heads are mutually abeam. This machine is able to drive the tunnel where two finishing side cutting heads 8f creates concave surfaces and lower finishig cutting head 8g. carry out lower concave joining surface between arc surfaces that were done by front cutting heads 2f.

The tunnel cross-section shown in 9e, 9f is possible to carry out by using of machine that is subject of protection. It consist of three abreast situated front cutting heads. Two of them 2_ 2] with axes of rotation lOh, __ are the same and they are marginal and one front cutting head 2g, 2i with axis of rotation 1Qq, 10i is in the middle. The diameter of the front cutting head in the middle is bigger than the ones that are marginal. The one in the middle 2g, 2i is situated in front of two marginal ones 2h, 2j. According to the 9e it contains four finishing cutting heads, where two of them 8h are upper with axis of rotation 9h. It also contains two lower finishing cutting heads 8j with axis of rotation 9j. According to 9f it contains three finishing cutting heads. Two of them are upper 8j with axis of rotation 9j and one of them is lower finishing cutting head 8k with axis of rotation 9k. Function of front cutting heads 2g, 2h, 2j, 2k is to get an original hole. This hole is finished by using of finishing cutting heads 8h, 8j, 8j , 8j. They remove the rests of rock to finish the hole.

Examples that have been mentioned ilustrates possibility of using the machine when driving a non-circular cross-section.

Industrial Applicability

This method and the machine is possible to us mainly when driving is carried out in rock geological conditions especially in medium hard or hard rocks.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

I- bearing body 2a-2j- front cutting heads 8a-8k- finishing cutting heads

9a-9k- axes of rotation of the finishing cutting heads

10a-1 Oj- axes of rotation of the front cutting heads

I I- driving mechanism

12- gear mechanism

13- the center of the front cutting heads

14- the arms of the front cutting heads

15- replacable cutters

16- longitudinal axis of the arms 7- hydraulic caster - carrier - replacable tools of finishing cutting heads- jacket of finishing cutting heads- actuator mechanism - engines - engines supplies - winch of finishing cutting head- actuator element of the gear- gear - driven element of the gear - adjustable abutment - shaft - actuator element -, gear - driven element - engines

Claims

Claims The tunnelling method for non-circular tunnel cross-sectionis characterized by the fact that rotating cutting heads (2a till 2j) of sliding driving shield at first carry out the hole that is similar to shape of conjuction of circles and after that final shape of the hole is carried out by finishing cutting heads (8a till 8k) that remove rests of the face that creates concave or concave and planar surfaces of the hole that has been carried out by front cutting heads.

The driving shield according claim 1 characterized by the fact that it consist of the body (1), at least two front cutting heads (2a till 2j) that are able to carry out the hole whose shape is similar to conjuction of circles using mutually ganged rotating and shifting move of every front cutting head (2a till 2j) eguipped with replaceble knives (15) is joined with driving mechanism (11) and it also contains equally distributed arms (14), the driving shield also consist of at least two rotating finishing cutting heads (8a till 8k) ordered behind the front cutting heads (2a till 2j) that are equipped with replaceble knives (19) that are joined with the driving mechanism (21), two rotating finishing cutting heads (8a till 8k) are supposed to carry out surfaces that joins surfaces that were made by front cutting heads (2a til! 2j) where either each finishing cutting head (8a till 81) is adapted to carry out concave surface or at least one finishing cutting head 8a till 8k is adapted to carry out planar joining surface and at least one finishng cutting head (8a till 8k) is adapted to carry out concave surface.

The driving shield according to claim 2 characterized by the fact that each arm (14) of one front cutting head (2a till 2j) fits the particulalar space between the arms (14) of adjacent front cutting head (2a till 2j).

The driving shield according to claim 2 characterized by the fact that one or more front cutting heads are in front of next front cutting head.

The driving shield according to claims 2 till 4 characterized by the fact that at least one finishing cutting head (8a till 8k) is equipped with driving, mechanism (21) that is placed in the space bordered by the jacket (20) and it is joined with body (1 ). The driving shield according to claims 2 till 5 characterized by the fact that the driving mechanism (21 ) consist of the set of engines (22) - hydraulic engine - that is situated in the middle part of the finishing cutting head (8a till 8k) and divided in two parts where engines (22) from one part are mirror-like situated to engines (22) of the second part whereas there is the driving mechanism (25) on the winch (24) of each engine, the driven element (27) - an intemal gearing wheel of the driving mechanism (25) is mounted to the jacket (20) of the finishing cutting head (8a till 81) bedded on the pivoted-pad winch (30) joined with the body (1) of the shield or mounted driving element (31) whose driven element is fixed on rotating winch (30) where the fixed jacket (20) of the finishing cutting head (8a till 8k) is placed where the winch (30) is put in the bearing body (1) of the shield.

The driving shield according to the claims 2 till 6 characterized by the fact that connection of the firm winch (24) and rotating winch (30) as well with the bearin body (1) allows the change of perpendicular distance between axis (9a till 9j) of finishing head (8a till 8k) and axes )10a till 10j) of rotating of the front cutting heads (2a till 2j).

The driving shield according claims 2 till 7 characterized by the fact that placing of upper finishing cutting head 8a is height adjustable by hydraulic mechanism.