Abstract: A dual belt conveyor having a pair of long plates provided with a plurality of edge rollers brought into contact with both lateral belt edges. The long plates are arranged against both lateral belt edges of two superimposed conveyor belts, along the direction of belt travel in the vertical part, so that both long plates are opposite each other. Two link plates are rotatably attached to the long plates on one side of each link plate, and connected with each other through a central pin on the other side of each link plate. A pair of the long plates are engaged with each other through the two link plates in at least three points. The central pins are rotatably attached to an apparatus frame in at least two points. An adjusting member provided on the apparatus frame is connected with one of the central pins at the remaining point.

Abstract: A vertical hole excavating machine having a cutter head comprising: a first head supported rotatably about the axis of a cylindrical shield body at the lower end of the cylindrical body and having a central space vertically extending therethrough; at least one first cutter mounted on the first head to excavate earth under the first head; a second head disposed coaxially in the central space so as to be mounted or dismounted from above, and having a cylindrical portion for receiving matter excavated by the first cutter therein and a bottom plate for closing the lower end of the cylindrical portion; and at least one second cutter mounted on the second head to excavate earth under the second head. It is characterized in that the second head is further provided with a notch to receive matter excavated by the second cutter into the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A shield excavator for constructing a tunnel, a hole, a groove and the like having a polygonal, preferably, square section. The excavator (10) comprises: a cylindrical shield body (12) having a polygonal sectional shape; a cutter assembly (18) disposed at a front end portion of the shield body (12) so as to be reciprocatingly movable in a first direction intersecting at least the axis of the shield body (12); and a driving mechanism (16) for driving the the cutter assembly (18). The cutter assembly (18) includes: a plurality of serrated cutters (66) disposed at the front end of the shield body (12) at intervals in a second direction intersecting the axis of the shield body (12) and the first direction and extending in the first direction, or a plurality of plate-shaped cutters (68) disposed at the front end of the shield body (12) at intervals in the first direction and extending in the second direction.

Abstract: A conduit comprised of double-wall pipes A is laid in the ground by the pipe-jacking method. Each of double-wall pipes A comprises inner pipe 1 and outer pipe 2 and is provided with sheath pipe 4 between inner pipe 1 and outer pipe 2 and with check valve 7. Winch 11 is mounted in tunneling machine 6. Wire 12 wound on winch 11 is inserted into sheath pipe 4 and the forward end of wire 12 is sent to start vertical shaft C through sheath pipe 4, and connected with cleaning member 24, injecting member F, and supply pipe 14. Cleaning member 21, injecting member F, and supply pipe 14 are moved in sheath pipes 4 by driving winch 7. When injecting member F is opposed to check valve 7, packing means 19, 20 are inflated to be brought into contact with the inside of sheath pipe 4 by which injecting member F is fixed to sheath pipe 4.

Abstract: When a shield tunneling machine is deviated from the scheduled line while being propelled, the deviation of the shield tunneling machine from the scheduled line is detected and according to the data obtained on the deviation of the shield tunneling machine from the scheduled line, the propelling direction of the shield tunneling machine is automatically controlled.

Abstract: When laying a conduit comprised of double-wall pipes A, each of which comprises inner pipe 1 and outer pipe 2, the smooth propulsion of double-wall pipes is possible by injecting lubricant into a space between the outside of double-wall pipes and the ground on a scheduled line along which conduit B to be laid is divided into section, each having a given length based upon the distance over which the effect of the lubricant can be maintained. Lubricant is injected from the double-wall pipes which is to be positioned at the heads in the respective sections 1 to n of supply pipes 3 which are provided between inner pipe 1 and outer pipe 2 of double-wall pipe A. Supply pipes of double-wall pipe A which has been propelled are connected with supply pipes of a new double-wall pipe, wherein the number of supply pipes connected with each other is determined for the respective sections. Lubricant is supplied from the upstream side and from the downstream side of the propelling direction to double-wall pipes.

Abstract: An abutment area is formed in which two belts 5, 6 are in contact with and confront each other. Link chains 23 carrying carrier rollers 24 are arranged in such a manner that carrier rollers 24 are disposed alternately on the back face of belt 5 and the back face of belt 6, in zigzags. The upper end is connected to winch 25, while the lower end is connected to weight 29. Link chains 23 are wound by winch 25, and link chains 23 are connected to the upper frame 17. When link chains 23 are stretched by weight 29, a force is given to respective belts 5, 6 through carrier rollers 24. Link chains 23 are released from upper frame 17, then link chains 23 are lowered and folded so that carrier rollers are positioned to be convenient for maintenance. Corridor for maintenance is unnecessary, and so cost is reduced.

Abstract: A shield tunneling machine comprises a shield body having a soil chamber, an inside chamber and a partition wall. The soil chamber has a conical peripheral surface converging gradually rearward. A crankshaft having an eccentric portion is rotatably supported by the partition wall at the center of the partition wall corresponding to the axis of the shield body. A cutter disc with roller bits is secured to a front end of the crankshaft, and a conical rotor is rotatably mounted on the eccentric portion of the crankshaft behind the cutter disc. Since the cutter disc is rotated at an increased rotary velocity by five to ten times as many as that of a cutter disc in a conventional shield tunneling machine, crushing of gravel can be efficiently carried out by the cutter disc with roller bits in cooperation with the conical rotor mounted on the crankshaft.

Abstract: A shielding apparatus comprises a cylindrical shield body, a crankshaft supported by the shield body rotatably around the axis of the shield body, a plurality of rotors successively provided in the direction of the axis in a front region ahead of the shield body and a driving mechanism for rotating the crankshaft around the axis, wherein the rotors define the outer surface of an approximately conical or truncated conical shape in conjunction with each other, and the adjoining rotors are made eccentric with respect to the axis of the shield body in the different directions from each other.

Abstract: A method for water leakage prevention in a portion connecting a first pipeline to a second pipeline having one end thereof in communication with a portion of the first pipeline is provided. This method includes the steps of passing elastically deformable drawing means from the other end of the second pipeline to one end of the first pipeline; engaging an impermeable cut-off member, having an expandable hose portion and a flange portion provided integrally with one end of the hose portion, with the drawing means at one end of the first pipeline at the hose portion; drawing the cut-off member into the first and second pipelines by drawing back the hose portion of the drawing means toward the other end of the second pipeline; and disposing the cut-off member in the first and second pipelines, so that the flange portion is positioned within the first pipeline and the hose portion extends within the second pipeline.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for easily controlling the advancing direction of an excavating machine without causing the excavating machine to largely trace in a zigzag way. The direction control is done by the steps of mounting a reflector on a head portion of a shield body so as to receive a light beam directed along an imaginary reference line, mounting a target on a tail portion of the shield body so as to receive the reflected light beam from the reflector, controlling means for correcting the direction so that the reflected light beam may be irradiated at an objective position within the target, and thereby controlling the advancing direction of the excavating machine so that a subjective portion at the front end of the head portion may follow along the reference line.

Abstract: A cut-off material is provided, which includes an impermeable cutoff member (10, 70) provided with an expandable hose portion (18, 72) and a flange portion (20, 74) formed integrally with one end of the hose portion. The cutoff member is disposed in first and second pipelines, so that the flange portion is positioned within the first pipeline (12) and that the hose portion is positioned within the second pipeline (14). The cut-off member is maintained, for example, by a base (24,54,82) that is wound to be radially expandable, so that the flange portion is brought into liquid tight contact with the inner surface of the first pipeline and the hose portion extends within the second pipeline.

Abstract: First and second frame assemblies (18, 20) are respectively provided with a pair of plate-like earth retainers (24, 36) and are alternately advanced by propulsion jacks (22). While the first and second frame assemblies are alternately advanced, the ground (14) is excavated to form a channel (16). A reaction force acting on the first frame assembly (18) when the second frame assembly (20) is advanced and a reaction force acting on the second frame assembly (20) when the first frame assembly (18) is advanced are respectively transmitted to the ground defining the channel by the action of first and second position maintaining force transmitting members and jacks (32, 52). When the first and second frame assemblies (18, 20) are advanced by required distances, a new pipe (12) is placed in the channel and connected to a pipe (12) already installed.

Abstract: A rectangular shield excavating machine comprises a quadrangularly tubular shield body having a space for receiving an excavated matter at the front end, a rotor disposed in the space so as to be capable of being rotated onward and backward angularly around an axis extending in the direction orthogonal to a pair of facing exterior portions of the body, and excavating means disposed in the body, drive means for rotating onward and backward the rotor angularly around the axis, and for driving the excavating means. Large gravels contained in the excavated matter are crushed by being put between the rotor and a member defining the space with the rotationally reciprocating motion of the rotor.

Abstract: A shield tunnelling apparatus is provided that includes a first tubular shield body in which a cutter assembly for excavation and a drive mechanism for driving the cutter assembly are disposed; a second shield body connected to the rear of the first shield body so as to have a common axis therewith; a target disposed in the first shield body so as to receive a light ray directed along the axis; first optical path changing means disposed in the second shield body and capable of changing the optical path of the light ray directed toward the target such that the light ray travels along an optical path displaced away from the axis; and second optical path changing means disposed in the second shield body and capable of changing the optical path of the light ray passing through the first optical path changing means such that the light ray is again directed along the axis.

Abstract: A shield tunnelling machine is provided. Such shield tunnelling machines include a tubular shield body; an excavating cutter assembly disposed on a front end of the body; a partition wall for defining the interior of the body into a front region and a rear region; a rotor having an outer diameter gradually increasing toward the rear; a drive mechanism for turning the rotor around a first axis and rotating the rotor around a second axis eccentric to the first axis; an annular member mounted to the rotor to be turned and rotated together with the rotor and extending around the first axis; and a discharging mechanism for discharging the excavated matter to the rear region.

Abstract: A shield tunnelling machine is provided that includes a cylindrical shield body; a rotary cutter head disposed on a front end of the shield body and provided with a face plate having one or a plurality of slits extending in the radial direction; and intermediate support member for supporting a plurality of cutter bits respectively having forward bit portions and backward bit portions in each of the slits; a support structure for supporting the intermediate support member swingably around an axis extending in the radial direction; a member for movably guiding the support structure in the axial direction of the shield body; and a cylinder device and a piston for moving the support stucture in the axial direction of the shield body to move the cutter bits toward and away from the front face of the face plate, the face plate and the guide member sharing the excavation force exerted against the cutter bits.

Abstract: A method for preventing water leakage into and out from a pipeline utilizes an injection material and a liner. The injection material exhibits fluidity and hardenability. The liner includes an elastically deformable sleeve having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe and a plurality of elastically deformable and successively circumferentially extending projection portions formed at axial intervals on the circumferential surface of the sleeve; a sheetlike base placed inside the sleeve in a radially expandable, wound cylindrical form; fixing means for maintaining the base in a substantially cylindrical form when the base is radially expanded inside the sleeve; and check valve means defined by the sleeve and the base when the base is radially expanded. The check valve means permits the injection material to flow from the inside of the base into the space between the projection portions in the axial direction.

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 direction correcting device for a shield tunnelling machine having a shield body provided with a head portion and a tail portion following the head portion corrects the direction of the head portion relative to the tail portion. The device includes three jacks, each jack having two connecting portions relatively displaced in the axial direction of the tail portion, and a connecting body for interconnecting the head portion and the tail portion to permit the head portion and the tail portion to swing and to prevent the head portion and the tail portion from relatively displacing in the axial direction of the tail portion. Each of the jacks is connected at one connecting portion to the head portion and connected at the other connecting portion to the tail portion. The jacks and the connecting body are disposed around the axis of the tail portion at angular intervals.