Abstract: The present application provides a semi-submersible immersed tube transportation and installation integrated ship and a construction process; the integrated ship includes: a deck structure; two floating structures, ballast water being able to be injected therein; and upper portions or top surfaces of the two floating structures are connected by the deck structure; and two support mechanisms, disposed on opposite sides of the two floating structures respectively; and each support mechanism is disposed at a lower portion or a bottom of the floating structure. The integrated ship can reduce the draught of the integrated ship carrying an immersed tube and realize the transportation requirements of shallow waterway.

Abstract: A water repellent sand layer that is made of water repellent sand and serves as a water shield layer is provided to be slanted between upper and lower soil layers, a water conveying belt portion is provided to include at least one or both of gravel and a culvert that are provided between the water repellent sand layer and the upper soil layer, and a water shield wall is provided at a slant downstream side. Water falling and permeating from a ground surface into the soil layer is blocked by the water repellent sand layer, flows downward in the water conveying belt portion located above the water repellent sand layer to the slant downstream side, and is blocked by the water shield wall at the slant downstream side, so that the collected water is recovered from a drain hole in the culvert that penetrates the water shield wall.

Abstract: A tunneling apparatus includes a drill head and a steering shell. The drill head includes a main body having a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end. The steering shell is disposed at the distal end of the drill head and is movable relative to the main body of the drill head. The drill head includes structure that assists in maintaining a precise line.

Abstract: A tunnel is built in successive sections by a machine suitable for operating at the surface and in immersion that is displaced in the water on the sub-sea soil. This machine includes a fluid-tight working space (6) for accommodating the personnel and equipment required for construction. Further, this space has a rearward-facing opening for building and erecting a section at the rear of the machine. The forward section of the machine includes a ballastable chamber (7) which prepares and grades the soil for erection of a section.

Abstract: A portable drilling device for use in horizontal boring through a substrate beneath an impediment includes a motor mounted on an inclined stabilizer bar. The inclined stabilizer bar includes a handle for use by the operator of the drilling unit which allows the operator to guide the unit during operation. A shaft is operatively mounted on the motor and is rotatably carried by the stabilizer bar. The shaft is in turn attached to an auger which is rotatably carried within a bearing housing assembly that is attached to the inclined stabilizer bar at a predetermined angle. A skid shoe is mounted underneath the shaft-auger attachment point and is attached to both the housing and the inclined stabilizer bar, whereby, when the motor is engaged the shaft and the auger are rotated in order to bore a horizontal opening through the substrate beneath an impediment such as a sidewalk or driveway.

Abstract: In order to avoid the time-consuming transport by road or rail vehicles, in many cases, overburden is pumped to the outside of a tunnel under construction, where it is dumped onto dump-hills. In order to avoid such dump-hills as well as extended transport distances, according to the invention it is disclosed that the overburden is transported, dumped or stored, via channels drilled into the wall of the tunnel, inside of the mountain surrounding the tunnel, and also to transport the overburden, in case of a tunnel to be constructed under a waterway, by means of a pipe into the waterway or to the surface of the waterway.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for bringing a body of water into communication with a tunnel extending under the bed of the body of water. A cavity is excavated under the end of the tunnel adjacent the body of water, to a depth such that the volume of the cavity is at least equal to the volume of the ground forming the roof of the cavity and between the cavity and the bed of the body of water. The roof of the cavity is then collapsed and is received in the cavity.The invention is particularly useful in the connection of a pipe placed in the tunnel to an installation or pipe which is eventually immersed. For example a pipe may be provided on the bed of the body of water to be connected to a pipe in the tunnel, the connection being made after the cavity roof has been collapsed by introducing a pipe portion between the ends of the immersed and underground pipes.

Abstract: In a tunnelling method, a completely submerged caisson is received in a recess in the floor of a body of water. The caisson includes a pressurized bell-type work chamber that is open at the bottom and closed at the top to trap breathable gas inside it. An access passage extends from the upper end of the caisson which, during the initial excavation stage, communicates with the work chamber below the water level in the chamber. Excavation workers swim down through the access passage to the work chamber and excavate the body floor underneath the work chamber while breathing the gas contained in it. The caisson as lowered progressively further down into the recess formed below the work chamber as excavation proceeds until the desired tunnelling depth is reached. Then the chamber is sealed from the water body and the chamber pressure reduced to atmospheric so that tunnelling in a generally horizontal direction to land beyond the water body can proceed at that pressure.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved apparatus and process for manufacture of tunnel modules and tunnel sections used to build underwater tunnel tubes. A collapsible fixture is used to roll up a steel plate into a cylindrical shell. Cables wrapped around channels on the outer ends of fixtures are used to roll up the fixture along the plate. After the fixture with the shell on it is placed on pedestals for further fabrication, cables placed in the channels are used to rotate the shells. After the fixture is collapsed within the shell, it is raised up by pedestal lifting mechanisms, and wheels provided on the fixture are lowered into place to aid in removal of the fixture from the shell, and onto a roll-out table. Roller mechanisms are also used to aid in the removal of the fixture from the shell. The roll-out table is situated between two sets of pedestals and used in the removal of fixtures from single modules or sets of modules.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved apparatus and process for manufacture of tunnel modules and tunnel sections used to build underwater tunnel tubes. A collapsible fixture is situated to roll up flat steel plate into a circular shell for the tunnel modules. A hydraulic cylinder is utilized to adjust the diameter of the fixture without collapsing it, in order to close any gaps between the ends of the plate when it is rolled into a shell.

Abstract: An improved collapsible fixture for fabrication of tunnel modules and tunnel sections for building underwater tunnel tubes is provided. The fixture has a series of shell-like support members along its length, each member having a stationary base portion, two rotatable side portions and a connecting foldable linkage portion. A common truss is connected to each of the foldable linkage portions and is activated by a plurality of hydraulically operated cylinders connected to the wheel core member of the fixture. In order to collapse the fixture, moveable radial spoke members in the shell-like support members are connected to sliding plate members which are moveably attached to hub plates on the wheel core member.

Abstract: A method of creating a cold water conduit for use with an ocean thermal energy conversion plant by drilling and blasting at least one passageway completely through an underwater land formation.