Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-10-17
AUTOMATIC
TUNNEL DIGGER
new INVENTION
Makes Hole, Lines Sides
With Concrete--Machine
Put in Place, Nose Point
ed, 1t Does Rest.
lHy International News soivice)


Philadelphia, Oct. ia ma
chine which can tunnel under
ground in any desired direction, re-
moving the earth in its path Gnd
leaving behind It q finished conduit.
with concrete lined walls, IS the
| !ates. thing in subterranean con-
struction work. The new device is
the Invention OF Milton r. Sheen
i,af Philadeirtlia. and was given its
| first practical demonstration recent
lly, when Il dug o tunnel under
Fifth and Grange streets here IN
record time.
In four hours the machine con-
lstructed eighteen feet eight Inches
Of perfectly lined conduit, fifty-two
Inches in diameter. Its best record
lin the test was,fiye feet eight inches
Of finished tunnel in an hour. 81.
The beauty OF the invention lies
lin the fact that any amount Of
sewer main, water main and conduit
construction can he carried on be-
meath streets without causing any
Interruption to surface traffic. The
machine can construct tunnels up
TO twelve feet In diameter. t,ngi-
Il GERS. contractors and officials CON
lnGcted With the Philadelphia Dopary
5nent OF Public Works predict that
present lay methods OF engineering
underground will be Tevolutionized
with the broad adoption OF this de-
VICE /.
The, machine itself consists OF q
'steel drum into which Is fitted
a revolving cutting head, back. Of
zHhioa is an earth conTeyor, and
a he!ical lining constructor. The
power is supplied BY electricity from
Ia portable generator.
as the cutting head sreyolTes,
tearing and cutting into the earth in
front, the arms Of the cutter throw
Tho earth into buckets, from which
lit is carried Off on conVeEor belt
land dumped into cars brought UP on
tracks laid IN the finished tube be-
'hind the machine.
The motor and gearing are il the
'conter OF the steel drum, also the
controls which direct the operation.
Electric lights and seats for the
operators are provided. Directly ybe-
hInd tho motors and gearing Is a
Ihelioal-faced cam. which places the
Especially constructed lining blocks.
The blocks, when pushed Into place
by the machine. cause an expansion
which brings all the heads Of the
blocks directly behind into close
contact ana advances the steel drum.
The lining is. thus fitted into the
surrounding earth without distur:
baace> us though it We're 4 part
OF it. Mortar may be used or the
lining may be laid dry, Gs desired
The blocks are placed in a spraa
Ia order to give the necessary foy-
ward motion, which Keeps the cut
hing head In contact with the earth.
Special controls permit the ma
china to tie raised, lowered, Or shift
cd from side to side, enabling Il 90
tcnnel In straight or curved course
Indicators end t1aDsits are set ug
ar the rear Of the tunnel III order
10 Insure an accurate course for
she tore.
! Tho only excavation work in con.
neCtion with the operation OF the
device is the digging OF a hole large
enough 60 lower the machine to ,the
required level OF the projected tun-
mel. Once set, the current is turned
on, ana the steel drum leaves the
reservation and starts on its UNDER
ground Journey. without causing any
disturbance on the surface Of the
ground.