Abstract: Disclosed is a tunnel excavating apparatus for excavating tunnels in earth. This tunnel excavating apparatus comprises shell bodies, an excavating mechanism disposed on front of the excavating portion shell body, and a propelling mechanism disposed within the shell body. The shell bodies include an excavating portion shell body, a front shell body, and a rear shell body disposed in order from the leading end side in the advancing direction of excavation. The propelling mechanism comprises a projection mechanism and an extension mechanism. The projection mechanism includes front circumferential jacks in the front shell body and rear circumferential jacks in the rear shell body, both of which are capable of extension and contraction in the outer circumferential direction.

Abstract: Boring apparatus for drilling laser guided microbore tunnels uses a liquid stream to remove soil as slurry and an airstream to conduct the slurry away from the bore head. The cylindrical head houses a drill shaft steered by a pair of remotely controlled rams according to the position of a laser spot on a target fixed close to the end of the drill shaft. Small arcuate steering movements shift the cutter up and down through a first ram alongside the shaft working through a linkage. Side to side steering is provided by a second ram acting directly on the shaft. The components are mounted on an axial base wall which gives repair access and camera view of the target. A drilling platform has rams for advancing the cylindrical head.

Abstract: A micro tunnelling machine has a tunnelling head with a boring bit which is forced in a horizontal direction by a hydraulic thruster. The direction of the head is laser guided. The beam strikes a target in the head and a camera relays an image of the target to an operator located at the tunnel entrance. The operator adjusts the direction by admitting water and draining water from a pair of rams inside the head which move the boring bit up and down or left and right. Water is introduced into the boring bit through the drive shaft of the boring bit. The water forms a slurry which is extracted by a vacuum pipe which enters the slurry as droplets and particles and conducts them away from the tunnelling head.

Abstract: The tunnel excavator (1) includes a cutter supporting body (3) provided with cutters (2) for excavating the earth. The tunnel excavator also includes crawlers (13) for moving backwards and forwards, and upper and side bearing frames (15, 16) which move radiantly until they contact an inner surface of the excavation (12). Forwards movement is accomplished by propelling the cutter supporting body (3) with the crawlers (13) while the bearing frames (15, 16) are in contact with the inner surface of the excavation (12). Forwards movement without lateral slippage can be achieved because the cutter supporting body (3) is guided through the excavation (12) by the bearing frames (15, 16). Backwards movement is achieved by radially withdrawing the bearing frames (15, 16) from the inner surface of the excavation (12) and reversing the crawlers (13). Tunneling can therefore be accomplished regardless of the state of the floor.

Abstract: A tunneling machine intended to stably carry out gripper replacement by restricting the load imposed on gripper jacks for the main gripper as much as possible during excavation of an inclined shaft. Such a tunneling machine comprises (1) a main beam that extends along a tunnel wall, (2) a nose gripper disposed in front of the main beam for gripping the main beam against the wall of a pilot shaft and a main gripper disposed behind the main beam for gripping the main beam against the wall of a reamed shaft, (3) a main frame supported by the main beam so as to be slidable back and forth and supporting a cutter head at the front portion thereof, (4) a holding gripper (composed of a roof support, side support, vertical support) for gripping the main frame against the wall of the reamed shaft, (5) thrust jacks coupling the main frame to gripper shoes for the main gripper, and (6) retaining jacks coupling the main frame to a carrier.

Abstract: A cutterhead is supported at the front part of a main frame so as to incline at a specified angle with respect to a vertical plane. The main frame includes (i) a roof support disposed at a position corresponding to where a reaction force acts in the direction of the periphery of a tunnel against a force caused by rotation of the cutterhead, and (ii) a pusher for pushing the roof support toward the cutterhead resisting the reaction force.

Abstract: The anchor shoes of a tunnel-boring machine arranged in a circular configuration are individually truncated by being tapered rearwardly so that the girth of the circular anchor shoe configuration can decrease progressively in order to accommodate convergence of superincumbent ground pressure. Preferably the anchor shoes are mounted for tilting of their aft portions to enable the degree of convergence or constriction to be altered. Chordal jacks connecting adjacent anchor shoes exert pressure on them resisting inward swinging of the aft portions of the anchor shoes resulting from superincumbent ground pressure.

Abstract: A travelling steel form system includes a three-dimentional framework mechanism with multiple faces crossing and coupling with one another. A set of form panels are fixed to the outer side of the framework mechanism on more than two faces thereof, and are capable of connecting to one another to form a predetermined shape and disconnect from one another to change the shape following expanding and retracting movement of the framework mechanism. A driving device is vertically or horizontally retractably mounted on the front end and or rear end of the framework mechanism for driving the latter to perform movements of expanding the outer diameter or reducing the outer diameter. The system is particularly suited for use in concrete placing work in civil engineering constructions.

Abstract: A disclosure is made of a subterranean connecting method and a connecting apparatus therefor which are suitable for use when two shield machines are used to excavate a pair of tunnel sections from both ends of a tunnel, and the tunnel sections are connected to each other in mid course. During underground connection, it is important to secure sealing and water retarding with respect to soil and water pressure exerted by the ground in the vicinity of the connecting section. For this purpose, in the connecting apparatus, a penetration ring is arranged in one of the shield machines, and a penetration chamber in which the penetration ring is accommodated is arranged in the other shield machine. Both the both shield machines face each other with a slight gap remaining therebetween and, subsequently, the penetration ring is moved forward and penetrates into the penetration chamber of the mating shield machine. By this penetration, the area between both the shield machines are closed by the penetration ring.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine includes a cutterhead having a plurality of cutting units and being rotatable on a machine frame. Two sets of three anchor shoes float relative to the frame and are disposed circumferentially, with the anchor shoes of the two sets alternating on the frame. The two sets of three anchor shoes allow continuous advance of the tunnel boring machine. Connection between the two sets of anchor shoes and the frame is provided by two sets of three thrust cylinder bipods. One set of three thrust cylinder bipods is connected to each set of three floating anchor shoes, with one bipod attached to each anchor shoe. All of the anchor shoes in each set are interconnected by three pairs of floating gripper cylinders, with each pair of gripper cylinders longitudinally spaced on the two anchor shoes that they connect. Each of the two sets of three anchor shoes is sequentially gripped and ungripped with the tunnel wall by the attached gripper cylinders and independently of the other set of anchor shoes.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing measurement by a resistivity method in order to detect the thickness of a sludge layer on the outer periphery of a shield machine. A Wenner electrode row (14) on the outer periphery of the machine is used to measure reference resistivities to thereby detect certain resistivities in the depth direction of the natural ground and the sludge layer thickness. At the same time, a dipole electrode row (16) is used to measure voltage distributions in the depth direction of the natural ground and in the direction of the arrangement of the electrodes. The ratios of the values measured by the measurement dipole electrodes to those measured by the reference Wenner electrodes are calculated, and their distribution is charted. When mutually equal values in the distribution map are connected together by continuous curves, a contour-pattern image is obtained, which enables a configuration of the collapse of natural ground to be determined.

Abstract: In a propulsion process of buried pipe, an endless pipe to be buried is formed by sequentially curving a pipe material of long hoop shape made of a plastic material, and this endless pipe is successively inserted and propelled into the burying hole while forming the burying hole by propelling a leader in the ground.

Abstract: Tunnel boring machine comprising a number of swingable arms (11,12,13,14) provided with boring tools (41,42,43,44) for the working of the tunnel wall outside its normal diameter. The arms may be swung outwardly into an active position or retracted into an inactive position. These tools may be independently actuated and facilitate the insertion of steel supporting arcs into the excavated area.

Abstract: Tunnel boring machine for reaming of a pilot tunnel (11). The machine housing (12) is provided with a projecting part in front of the boring head (13), said projecting part comprising a part (20) being fixed relative to the machine housing and a shield (19) being separable from the fixed part.This arrangement permits substantially uninterrupted excavation of the tunnel and prevents the excavated soil from becoming wedged between the boring head and the tunnel front.

Abstract: The invention falls within the art field of shields used in the excavation of tunnels for any given utility (rail, road, underground railway, sewers, pipelines, power cables etc.), and of all sizes. The plant disclosed provides a temporary support structure for tunnel walls, entirely self-propelled and extendible along the direction of excavation, the interior of which accommodates equipment used in digging operations and for the removal of spoil; accordingly, the structure acts as a temporary shoring facility during excavation works, moving forward through the bore and carrying within it the complete battery of excavation and auxiliary equipment while enabling installation immediately behind of the permanent pre-cast or cast in-situ tunnel lining.

Abstract: A system for boring a hole in the ground including an excavating machine provided with a tubular body; an excavating mechanism supported by the body; a mechanism for shifting the excavated substances to the periphery of the body; and a driving mechanism for operating the excavating mechanism.

Abstract: A bracing device for a self-advancing shield tunnelling machine for tunnel construction comprising a control shield within which is mounted a cutting unit, and at least two bracing shields each having a closed circumferential wall construction which are connected together by feed cylinders, the bracing shields being able to be radially braced with the tunnel wall independently of each other by bracing elements fixed thereon. The bracing elements are composed of elastic pressure hoses positioned around the closed circumferential bracing shield walls. The circumferences of the bracing elements can be continually enlarged by expansion, particularly by inflation. The invention furthermore relates to the use of such bracing elements for a self-advancing shield tunnelling machine in which the control shield and the first bracing shield arranged behind it as well as the first and second bracing shield engage in each other and overlap telescopically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying pipes of low bearing force like a polyvinyl chloride pipe and others in the ground with a propulsion pipe laying method, wherein an excavation device to excavate a tunnel to lay pipes therein is propelled into the ground by a propulsion force exerted on a propulsion shaft joined behind an excavation device while the pipes to be laid are run over the propulsion shaft and propulsion shaft bodies are joined one after another to propulsion shaft bodies and the pipes are joined one after another to pipes. The propulsion shaft bodies have a supporting device on the outer periphery thereof which rigidly supports the inside surface of pipes run over the propulsion shaft. With this supporting power, pipes to be laid are propelled into the tunnel in accordance with an advancement of the propulsion shaft.

Abstract: A tunneling machine body carrying a rotary cutterhead can be advanced continuously by exerting advancing thrust forces on it, first by top and bottom bipods reacting from top and bottom anchor shoes, respectively, in anchored condition against the tunnel wall and alternately by side bipods exerting advancing force on the tunneling machine body and reacting from side anchor shoes set in anchored condition against the tunnel wall. The anchor shoes are floating relative to the tunneling machine body and connected to it only by the bipods producing the thrust for advancing the tunneling machine body. The top and bottom anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of upright fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes. The side anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of transverse fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes.

Abstract: Telescopic tunnel boring machine including a front shield (10) and a rear shield (16) with a cutting head (14) at the forward end of the front shield. Rearwardly extending shutters can be moved out hydraulically by auxillary cylinders (54) from the rear end of the rear shield to bridge the gap (34) between this rear end and tunnel lining elements (32). Additionally expandable cuffs (70) and (72) may be provided on the front and rear shields respectively behind the cutting head (14) and radial tunnel wall grippers (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a plurality of pipes arranged in series comprises basic thrusting means for generating a thrust to be applied to the pipes and intermediate thrusting means for receiving the thrust from the basic thrusting means and applying the received thrust to one of the pipes. The intermediate thrusting means includes a press head provided with a portion displaceable to a position where the portion is capable of abutting against the rear end face of one of the pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is advanced while displaceable to another position where the portion does not interfere with the advance of the following pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is removed and an intermediate body extending rearward from the press head such as to receive the thrust from the basic thrusting means and apply the received thrust to the press head.

Abstract: Shield tunnelling method and assembling and disassembling apparatus for use in practicing the method. A shield having shield jacks is actuated for drilling a hole in the ground. Inner forms and outer forms are assembled into a plurality of tubular units coaxially jointed in the hole so that an annular concrete lining space is defined between the inner forms and the outer forms, the tubular units having a leading tubular unit.The shield jacks are applied against inner forms of the leading tubular units for thrusting the shield during actuating of the shield to further drill the hole. A concrete is injected into the annular concrete lining space to form a concrete lining. The concrete lining within a predetermined length of tubular units is set for providing adhesion to the inner forms, in contact with the concrete lining, against a reaction force of the jack thrust for the shield.

Abstract: To modify a given profile of an adit, tunnel, gallery or the like, particularly a circular profile so as to give it the shape of a vault, a sequence of individual recesses are made in the longitudinal direction in the wall of the adit by a boring head advanced in the direction of its axis of rotation and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the adit. The recesses preferably overlap one another. Apparatus for implementing the method comprises a heading device for moving in the direction of the wall of the adit a boring head provided at its front end with tools.

Abstract: A hydraulic trench support includes a piston and cylinder head supported within a cylinder such that the cylinder head is fixed at one end of the cylinder and the piston is moveable within the cylinder. A piston rod is coupled to the hydraulic piston at one end and extends outside the cylinder and beyond at the other end. A pair of load bearing bases having generally planar construction are attached to the piston rod portion extending beyond the cylinder and to the cylinder head. Means are provided for introducing a fluid under pressure into the cylinder between the inwardly facing surfaces of the cylinder head and piston to provide an outwardly expanding force there between which is coupled to the base members to provide a sidewall retaining force. In one embodiment, spring means are provided which bias the hydraulic trench support toward a contracted position in the absence of fluid pressure.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a trench shoring device of the type having rails which are forced against the sides of the trench by one or more fluid actuated, extendible and retractible braces connected to and extending between the rails. In one embodiment, the rails extend vertically within the trench, and the opposite ends of the braces are so connected to the vertical rails that they may be swung folded positions during lowering into and raising from the trench. In another embodiment of the invention, the rails extend horizontally of the trench, and the ends of the braces are connected thereto in such a manner as to prevent substantial movement of the braces out of perpendicular positions with respect to the rails.

Abstract: A manhole cover support ring adapted to be placed within an existing manhole frame for raising the height of a manhole cover. A circular ring is formed by a generally vertically extending flange having an annular bar welded on its lower end which provides an inwardly extending manhole cover support ledge. The flange and bar are split at a common point on their peripheries. An expansion mechanism is pivotally mounted on and extends between the spaced ends of the bar formed by the split in the ring. The expansion mechanism includes a pair of eyebolts pivotally mounted on the spaced ends of the annular bar. The eyebolts each have a threaded shaft which is engaged in a respective threaded end of a tubular member. One of the threaded shafts has a right-hand thread and the other shaft is formed with a left-hand thread, whereby rotation of the tubular member in one direction will contract the ring sufficiently to place it within the manhole frame opening.

Abstract: A shield assembly for installation in an underground roadway or tunnel comprises an articulated upper shield assembly, a lower shield assembly and a plurality of hydraulic rams for urging the upper shield assembly upwards relatively to the lower shield assembly, a telescopic arrangement being provided which guides the upper shield assembly in a direction along the roadway or tunnel but which allows the end margins of the upper shield assembly to move outwardly relative to the end margins of the lower shield assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a cylindrical retainer form spaced inwardly of the wall of the shaft by the desired thickness of the liner to be poured and having overlapping edges which seal against concrete flow but permit the form to be contracted to a smaller circumference after the liner has hardened and is self-supporting. A curb ring extends downwardly and outwardly toward the shaft wall from the bottom of the retainer form to define the bottom surface of each poured liner section. An inflatable toroid forms a seal between the curb ring and the shaft wall. A form support gripper ring having gripper shoes laterally extendable under hydraulic power to engage the shaft wall supports the retainer form, curb ring and liner until the newly poured liner section becomes self-supporting. Adjusting hydraulic cylinders permit the curb ring and retainer form to be properly aligned relative to the form support gripper ring.

Abstract: Herein described is an anchor for use in an open earth trench which is adapted for use with equipment performing construction functions within the trench. A cable is attached to a winch on the equipment and to the anchor. The equipment is moved along by the winch. The anchor is comprised of a pair of elongated concave sleeve sections each being hinged together at the bottom of the trench. A plurality of earth engaging blades are disposed on the outer periphery of the sleeve section. The blades are angled in the direction of pull. A pair of top ribs are placed longitudinally along the top of the sleeve sections form a channel for engaging the walls of the trench to prevent upward movement of the anchor. A first arm has one end thereof pivotally mounting to the interior side of one of the sleeve sections. A second arm has a first end pivotally mounted to interior side of the second sleeve section.

Abstract: A drive shield of a tunnelling apparatus employs composite drive members or poling plates supported and guided for advancement in the driving direction on a frame. Each drive member has a front part pivotably connected to a rear part. The connection between the front and rear parts of each drive member is additionally designed to enable the rear part to be positionally adjusted as a whole in relation to the front part to bring their outer surfaces defining and supporting the tunnel wall, into exact alignment.

Abstract: Tunnel excavating apparatus comprises a hollow cylindrical shield adapted to be axially forced through subterranean material and having a circular cutting edge at a leading end portion. An inclined baffle and guide member has a central opening spaced upwardly from a lower edge of the baffle and guide member and an auger-like member extends across the shield adjacent the opening. Sections of the auger-like member extending on horizontally opposite sides of the baffle opening have oppositely directed flutes and subterranean material dislodged by the cutting edge and deposited atop and about the auger is urged inwardly toward the opening in the baffle and guide member for deposition on a conveyor having a receiving end beneath the opening. The conveyor extends rearwardly and upwardly and deposits the material in a receptacle. Horizontal and vertical breasting plates also serve to cut and dislodge material and support the shield.

Abstract: A tunnel-excavating machine comprises an excavating head, preferably a full-cut head, adapted to excavate the full-cross-section of the tunnel to be formed, which is slideably mounted for movement relative to a pair of support frames. Means is provided to relatively displace the support frames axially and the support frames are surrounded by a blade shield made up of a multiplicity of individual blade segments, each of which can be individually advanced by hydraulic means connected to the support frames. The individual blade members, which span both frames, can be urged against the wall of the tunnel by respective fluid pressure means in each of the frames.

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.