Abstract: Apparatus for, and a method of, driving a tunnel utilizes a drive shield to support the forward end of the tunnel where debris material is removed. At the rear end of the drive shield, a lining is created to cover the exposed tunnel wall. This lining is produced by simply spraying concrete rearwardly directly between the space between multi-part formwork and the tunnel wall itself. The formwork may overlap with the drive shield. The formwork is advanced to follow the progress of the drive shield by removing part of the formwork from the rear and re-siting this part at the front end.

Abstract: Tunnel driving apparatus incorporates a cutter shield with a plurality of drive members or cutters arranged side-by-side in a cylindrical array. The drive members are supported and guided for individual longitudinal displacement on a cylindrical continuous cowl or casing forming at least part of a support frame. Rams which serve to shift the drive members and the frame are coupled therebetween and extend through sealed openings in an end wall of a recess formed on the exterior of the cowl and open towards the drive members.To facilitate the creation of a concrete lining for the tunnel behind the cutter shield, a rear shield is formed by reduced rearwardly extending tails of the drive members. A further cylindrical casing locates within the rear shield and supports a pair of annular rings. One of these rings combines with a sheathing extending inside the further casing and the rear shield to form a concrete reception space.

Abstract: A tunnel drive shield comprises a cylindrical shell supported by two axially-spaced frames. The two frames are movable, relative to one another, in the direction of tunnel advance. In order to guide the two frames accurately, guide means interconnect the two frames, the guide means permitting movement only in the direction of tunnel advance. The guide means may be constituted by a plurality of telescopic guide devices. A knife shield may constitute the drive shield.

Abstract: Shield apparatus for tunnelling comprises a framework supporting drive members advanced individually or in groups as known per se. The framework and its drive members are carried by a pair of elongate floor beams arranged at the sides of the tunnel wall. Each floor beam has a longitudinal slot or groove therein which is open to the rear end of the beam. This slot or groove receives anchoring pins fitted in situ into the floor of the tunnel working so that the beams can slide along the pins in the direction of advancement.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving and lining tunnels utilizes a knife shield for driving a tunnel and shuttering for forming a concrete lining behind the knife shield. The shuttering is constituted by a plurality of shuttering elements, each of which is connected to, and inwardly off-set from, a respective knife. The shuttering elements are, therefore, advanced together with their knives and concrete is forced into the space between a shuttering element and the tunnel wall as that element is advanced.

Abstract: A tunnel drive shield is provided with a plurality of bracing units spaced around its periphery. The bracing units are expansible against the surrounding tunnel wall to control the direction of shield advance. A bracing unit is provided in each of the four shield quadrants defined by the vertical and horizontal center planes of the shield. Each of the bracing units is expansible in a non-radial direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving tunnels or the like employs a drive shield known per se, with drive members supported and guided on a frame. Rear extension members are linked to the drive members, preferably through units permitting relative displacement therebetween and these rear members form a rear shield for receiving supports and reinforcements for a permanent lining for the tunnel. A concrete spraying nozzle or the like applies a strip of concrete to the tunnel wall each time a rear member is shifted in the advancing direction. In this way a series of strips, preferably shape locked together at their ends, can be built up stage by stage to create the lining.

Abstract: A drive shield for use in tunnelling operations includes a generally cylindrical cutting edge supported by a frame. A knife shield is telescoped together with the cutting edge, the knife shield having a plurality of elongate members (or planks). Each of the planks is extensible relative to the cutting edge in the direction of tunnel advance. In use, all the planks are advanced relative to the cutting edge which is then advanced in a follow-up sequence.

Abstract: Pipe-laying apparatus employs an advanceable shield with a set of elongate cutter planks supported for longitudinal displacement by a frame. Rams interconnect the planks and the frame and enable the shield to advance to form an open trench. Behind the shield is an open stabilizing frame connected with further adjusting rams to the frame of the drive shield. The frame serves to receive a pipe section which is to be aligned and connected to a previously-installed pipe section to extend the pipe line. A set of long follow-up planks are pivotably connected to the cutter planks and lie between the open frame and the trench walls.

Abstract: A drive shield for use in a tunnel driving operation has an inner frame with hollow rings interconnected in a rigid fashion. A plurality of sharp-ended drive members combine to form a cylindrical shell contacting the tunnel wall. Rams serve to advance the drive members in the advancing direction either individually or in groups and to draw up the inner frame. Support devices of circuate shape form a second shell inside the drive members and support and guide the latter. Piston and cylinder units are interposed between the rings and the support devices and serve to displace the latter radially so that selected members can be forced against the tunnel wall with a greater or lesser pressure.

Abstract: Tunnel-driving apparatus utilizes a plurality of elongate drive or knife members arranged side-by-side and supported and guided for longitudinal movement on a frame. The members and the frame are advanced in succession during the driving process. Some or all of the drive members are hollow and accommodate telescopically extendible and retractible devices, conveniently of tubular form, used for treating the working face, for example, by conveying fluid to or from the face. The devices each have a series of cam-like projections engageable with spring-biased stops supported on the frame and the drive members. These stops serve to lock the devices in various positions and to automatically extend the devices from the members when the frame is shifted.The stops can be displaced however to generally engage the projections in such manner as to allow or prevent movement of the devices inwardly or outwardly of the drive members.

Abstract: A shield for tunnel driving operations comprises a plurality of elongate drive members supporting the tunnel wall at a forward region and carried by a frame. Rams serve to advance the members individually, or in groups, and to shift up the frame. Each drive member has a rear extension plate or tail extending rearwardly of the tunnel driving direction. Lining elements are assembled within a chamber defined by the tails and a space between the assembled elements and the inner surfaces of the tails is filled as the tunnel advances to create a permanent lining. The space is sealed off with the aid of seals effective between the longitudinal edges of the tails and with a radial seal or the like between the lining elements and the tails.

Abstract: Tunnel driving apparatus has a shield with a plurality of cutter planks arranged side-by-side around the tunnel axis. The planks are supported and guided by two frames connected via a rigid bracing structure. One of the frames is provided with adjustable means capable of expanding or contacting the frame radially of the tunnel axis. The planks are advanced in known manner individually or in groups and the adjustable frame can be used to make the axes of the planks converge rearwardly of the tunnel driving direction when desired. Such control permits steering of the apparatus by making the reactive forces on the advancing planks cant the shield within a tapered gap between the planks and the tunnel wall. In addition the tendency of the frames to become jammed in the planks when being shifted up can be precluded.

Abstract: Apparatus for constructing an underground tunnel employs a drive shield composed of elongate drifting cutters disposed side-by-side in a circular configuration around a support frame. Hydraulic rams serve to advance the cutters and to shift up the frame when all the cutters have been advanced. The cutters have rear end portions which engage on a follow-up ring behind the drive shield.A platform is supported by the frame within the shield and carries some form of working appliance for detaching and removing the debris material. The platform also carries a rotatable concrete spraying device which serves to seal and secure the tunnel wall exposed when the follow-up ring is shifted up to the shield.

Abstract: A tunnel driving apparatus and method which utilizes a drive shield preferably composed of a series of cutter planks arranged side-by-side around the tunnel axis and supported by a frame. The shield is advanced in relation to the frame by displacing the individual planks, and the frame is subsequently drawn up by means of hydraulic rams. To support the rear section of the tunnel wall a rear shield is provided which is connected to the frame preferably through further rams. This shield is a shaped sheet metal structure open towards the floor and contacting the tunnel wall over the roof and sides. In performing the method, lining elements of circular or arcuate form are installed inside the rear shield prior to its shifting up. These elements can be disposed on a floor lining constructed in situ. As the rear shield is moved up fluid concrete is sprayed or otherwise introduced over the exposed tunnel wall in one or more layers to consolidate the lining elements into the support lining thus formed.

Abstract: Tunnel-driving apparatus has a drive shield which can be composed of a series of planks arranged side-by-side around the tunnel and supported by a frame. The drive shield is advanced to penetrate the working face by operating hydraulic rams. To control and guide the shield and to inhibit rotary motion thereof a drifting cutter is positioned radially externally of the drive shield to cut a channel in the wall and preferably in the floor of the tunnel. In the latter case the channel can also be useful for drainage purposes. The drifting cutter is of elongate form guided for shifting parallel to the tunnel axis in advance of the drive shield. The axis of the cutter can be adjusted slightly by pivoting, for example, to control the guidance imparted by the drifting cutter.