Patent ID: 8172334

Claim:
An apparatus for monitoring a tunnel boring machine during operation, wherein the tunnel boring machine comprises a plurality of cutter assemblies having a rotatable portion mounted on a cutter head, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of instrument packages, each instrument package being associated with one of the plurality of cutter assemblies, each instrument package comprising i) a distal end that is in contact with the associated cutter assembly, the distal end of the instrument package containing a plurality of sensors for monitoring the associated cutter assembly, ii) a sensor control board operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the sensor control board further comprising a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit data detected by the plurality of sensors to a remote receiver, and iii) a power supply connected to provide power to the sensor control board; wherein each instrument package further comprises a mounting bracket configured to fixedly attach the instrument package to a housing mount for the associated cutter assembly, and wherein the instrument package includes a removable portion that includes the plurality of sensors.