Abstract: An apparatus for excavating a tunnel includes a cutting wheel equipped with measuring modules of sensor means on its cutting wheel face in order to directly sample the consistency of the material present between the cutting wheel face and a tunnel face by recording different types of measured values characteristic of this.

Abstract: A sealing unit (115) for sealing an annular gap (109) formed between a seal wear ring (106) and a seal carrier (112) has a sealing ring holder (118) which is U-shaped in a receptacle region and which, together with the receptacle region, encloses a fixing region (209) of the sealing ring (121).

Abstract: In a tunnel boring machine with a shield skin (106) extending in a longitudinal direction, a sensor unit (118) for detecting convergences has a number of hydraulic distance sensors (121) equipped with an extendable probe (124) with extension path measurement. By virtue of the distance sensors (121), the distance between the shield skin (106) in the area of the relevant distance sensor (121) and the surrounding rock mass (103) can be detected as a distance value, so that the thickness of an annular gap (115) can be determined. The distance sensors (121) are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shield skin (106) at a measuring distance which corresponds to a typical ring width of a tubbing (112). A central unit evaluates the distance values of the distance sensors (121) to determine convergences.

Abstract: In a device and a method for continuously driving a tunnel along a desired setpoint trajectory there is provision to influence pressing forces which are applied to installed tubbing segments by compactors using a control circuit, wherein, during the driving and during the installation of tubbing rings, an actual trajectory of the device remains in a region which is permissible for maintaining the desired set point trajectory.

Abstract: In a device and a method for continuously driving a tunnel along a desired setpoint trajectory there is provision to influence pressing forces which are applied to installed tubbing segments by compactors using a control circuit, wherein, during the driving and during the installation of tubbing rings, an actual trajectory of the device remains in a region which is permissible for maintaining the desired set point trajectory.

Abstract: A device and method for sinking a shaft during a sinking cycle, in which a support unit is moved once and a boring unit is moved at least twice by means of support cylinders and displacement cylinders. Due to such configuration, an efficient sinking operation is obtained.

Abstract: A method and device for transporting overburden away during tunneling includes a seal that separates a first portion and a second portion of a transporting screw arrangement. As a result, in open tunneling or in earth-pressure-assisted tunneling, when the seal is closed, overburden can be transported out of a first opening, arranged ahead of the seal in the direction of removal and, in fluid-assisted tunneling, when the first opening is closed and the seal is open, the overburden can be transported into the second portion.

Abstract: A device and method for sinking a shaft during a sinking cycle, in which a support unit is moved once and a boring unit is moved at least twice by means of support cylinders and displacement cylinders. Due to such configuration, an efficient sinking operation is obtained.

Abstract: A device for excavating a shaft in which a suction line extends between a mining tool and a single intermediate storage container. During the continuous operation of the mining tool, the intermediate storage chamber can be filled via the suction line to a predetermined filling level, and when said level is reached, in the event of a lack of pressure in the suction line, an ejector door can be opened to fill at least one of the conveyor containers. Based on the arrangement of the opening area of the suction line in the immediate vicinity of the mining tool, the degraded material produced when there is no pressure in the suction line can be easily evacuated after restarting the suction line.

Abstract: A cutting ring for quarrying, including a number of cutting inserts which are arranged in cutting insert grooves which extend continuously in an axial direction, allowing the cutting ring to be produced in a relatively simply manner and to have a long service life.

Abstract: A method and device for transporting overburden away during tunneling includes a seal that separates a first portion and a second portion of a transporting screw arrangement. As a result, in open tunneling or in earth-pressure-assisted tunneling, when the seal is closed, overburden can be transported out of a first opening, arranged ahead of the seal in the direction of removal and, in fluid-assisted tunneling, when the first opening is closed and the seal is open, the overburden can be transported into the second portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing a vertical shaft underground and to a shaft driving machine set up particularly for performing the method, wherein a cutting wheel is rotated solely about a horizontal axis until a penetration trough having a predetermined penetration depth is formed, and the cutting wheel is then also rotated about a central vertical axis until a shaft foot is dug out to the penetration depth. A relatively high sinking rate is thereby achieved for the shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing a vertical shaft underground and to a shaft driving machine set up particularly for performing the method, wherein a cutting wheel is rotated solely about a horizontal axis until a penetration trough having a predetermined penetration depth is formed, and the cutting wheel is then also rotated about a central vertical axis until a shaft foot is dug out to the penetration depth. A relatively high sinking rate is thereby achieved for the shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing a vertical shaft underground and to a shaft driving machine set up particularly for performing the method, wherein a cutting wheel is rotated solely about a horizontal axis until a penetration trough having a predetermined penetration depth is formed, and the cutting wheel is then also rotated about a central vertical axis until a shaft foot is dug out to the penetration depth. A relatively high sinking rate is thereby achieved for the shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing a vertical shaft underground and to a shaft driving machine set up particularly for performing the method, wherein a cutting wheel is rotated solely about a horizontal axis until a penetration trough having a predetermined penetration depth is formed, and the cutting wheel is then also rotated about a central vertical axis until a shaft foot is dug out to the penetration depth. A relatively high sinking rate is thereby achieved for the shaft.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the state of rotation of cutting rollers (2) of a shield tunneling machine has at least one cutting roller (2) comprising a generator unit (12) that generates electrical energy when the respective cutting roller (2) is rotating, a signal-generating unit (16) connected to the generator unit (12), and an antenna unit (17) connected to the signal-generating unit (16). The signal generating unit (16) serves to generate transmission signals characteristic of the state of rotation of the respective cutting roller (2). An antenna (20) of the antenna unit (17) is disposed over at least one outer circumferential portion of the respective cutting roller (2) and is equipped for the wireless transmission of the transmission signals. The arrangement further comprises a receiving unit equipped to receive the transmission signals and interpret them regarding the state of rotation of the respective cutting roller (2).

Abstract: Present in a tail shield (1) for a shield tunneling apparatus are a number of grouting lines (3) that are open to a tail shield end (4) and that can be supplied with filling material for grouting a ring gap (7) with the filling material, such as mortar, for example. In addition, additive material lines (8) that can be supplied with additive material are present, which empty into the grouting lines (3) in an end segment (12) of said grouting lines (3). As a result, an additive material, such as a solidification accelerator, for example, can be added immediately before the mixture is discharged into the ring gap (7), so that the risk of a blockage in the grouting lines (3), which are not accessible in the region of the tail shield end (4), is relatively low.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the state of rotation of cutting rollers (2) of a shield tunneling machine has at least one cutting roller (2) comprising a generator unit (12) that generates electrical energy when the respective cutting roller (2) is rotating, a signal-generating unit (16) connected to the generator unit (12), and an antenna unit (17) connected to the signal-generating unit (16). The signal generating unit (16) serves to generate transmission signals characteristic of the state of rotation of the respective cutting roller (2). An antenna (20) of the antenna unit (17) is disposed over at least one outer circumferential portion of the respective cutting roller (2) and is equipped for the wireless transmission of the transmission signals. The arrangement further comprises a receiving unit equipped to receive the transmission signals and interpret them regarding the state of rotation of the respective cutting roller (2).

Abstract: Present in a tail shield (1) for a shield tunneling apparatus are a number of grouting lines (3) that are open to a tail shield end (4) and that can be supplied with filling material for grouting a ring gap (7) with the filling material, such as mortar, for example. In addition, additive material lines (8) that can be supplied with additive material are present, which empty into the grouting lines (3) in an end segment (12) of said grouting lines (3). As a result, an additive material, such as a solidification accelerator, for example, can be added immediately before the mixture is discharged into the ring gap (7), so that the risk of a blockage in the grouting lines (3), which are not accessible in the region of the tail shield end (4), is relatively low.

Abstract: A process system, for example a storage-programmable control, having a central unit (1) and a number of peripheral devices, for instance I/O assemblies, controller assemblies, etc., which are connected to the central unit (1) via a bus system (7). The central unit (1) includes two processor systems (2, 4) which are separate from each other, one processor system (2) processing real-time tasks and one processor system (4) processing tasks which are not time-critical. The bus system (7) is split into two separate, individual buses (7′, 7″) which are associated with the processor systems (2, 4). In this way, the processor systems (2, 4) are uncoupled from each other upon access to the bus system (7).