Patent GB-365044-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to methods and apparatus for driving tunnels
IPC: E21D9/06
Filed: 1930-10-06
Abstract: 365,044. Tunnelling. HALLINGER., G., 11, Wittekindstrasse, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Oct. 6, 1930, No. 29921. Convention date, Sept. 16. [Classes 68 (i) and 85.] In driving tunnels by means of a tunnelling- shield, two or more auxiliary galleries are driven wholly or mainly outside the section of the tunnel and receive foundations which support the tunnelling shield during the driving of the main tunnel. Galleries a, Figs. 1 and 2, are first driven, spaced transverse beams 2, carrying longitudinal guides 3, are mounted on their linings, and concrete is filled in the galleries to the level of the guides, leaving a working space above ; recesses 4, 5 are left in the concrete and when the latter has set the parts of the beams 2 within the recesses are burnt away and the recesses 4 filled with clay. The main tunnelling shield b is then mounted on the guides 3 by means of rollers &c. 6 and has depending walls 10 within the clay-filled recesses 4 to prevent passage of water etc.; scrapers 8, Fig. 7, on the front of the shield also engage the guides and may be divided so as to be expansible by wedges 9. In a modification, Fig. 3, the auxiliary galleries are driven by a shield 1<1> and progressively filled during driving with concrete e<1> supplied through a passage c<2>, concrete plates 3<1> carrying the guides 3 being first mounted on supports 2<1> within the shield ; a clay layer c<3> is provided inside and outside the concrete c<1> and a trough 32 on the plates 3<1> is, with all the upper space, filled with clay, the trough 3<2> being engaged by a lateral foot 10<1> on the main shield. The main tunnelling shield preferably contains in the air pressure space only mechanical excavating means and spoil bunkers. In Fig. 12, endless bands 11, carrying knives, dig the whole face, resilient tongues 13 providing a seal ; walls 17 define the pressure space and the spoil passes to a bunker 16 with doors 15, 19. In Fig. 13, knife drums 25 remove the whole of the face, spring &c. rollers 26 forming a seal ; the drums have manholes 25<1> permitting removal of obstructions. In a further form, superposed cutting discs remove the spoil, the discs carrying pivotally-mounted knives so arranged that while they allow the spoil to pass when cutting, the pressure of the earth forces them against the discs to form a tight closure when the discs are at rest. In these forms, the walls of the shield may have water jetting means. In soft ground, the front of the shield is closed and provided with lower air-jetting means and upper water-jetting means to force the earth aside, or the vet earth may be removed by separate pumps or by the pumps supplying the water jets. The shield may be arranged to facilitate interchange of the excavating means. In all cases, the shields contain chambers 22 filled with clay through passages 20, the clay being forced below the shield by rams 21 ; the rear of the shield bottom may swell to compress the clay. The auxiliary galleries may be driven by similar shields. As the tunnel progresses, upright lining struts 33, Figs. 10 and 11, are erected in the shield tail and have rounded feet 33<L> engaging the groove in the guides 3, the floor of the shield being cut away to facilitate the engagement ; roof supports ,34 are then erected, and wedges 37 inserted, the parts 34 being then riveted together. Base supports 38 are secured to the struts 33. Clay 35, Fig. 9, covered if desired with basket work or woven material, is provided outside the parts 33, 34, for packing ; soft metal sealing strips may also be provided. Further auxiliary galleries for foot traffic &c. may be provided beside or below the main tunnel as by a shield d, Fig. 1, guided by rollers 40 engaging the recesses 5.