A mobile tunnel boring unit is disclosed, comprising a support body driven by first drive means, the first drive means including a pair of spaced apart crawler tracks in contact with the tunnel floor and related track driving means to move the tracks. A cutter head drive means is located at an operatively front end of the boring unit, to which a rotatable cutter head can be fitted and rotatingly driven, in use, the cutter head comprising a full face cutter head fitted with cutters to bore a tunnel face. The cutter head is arranged to allow cuttings to pass through the cutter head for discharge into a muck hopper and onto a first conveyor arrangement, the cutter head drive means and a rear portion of the cutter head defining aligned central apertures to accommodate the muck hopper and a front part of the first conveyor arrangement. A telescopic shield arrangement is provided to shield the boring unit.

Systems and methods for installing pipe underground are disclosed. The system includes a pneumatic rammer configured to provide a percussive force to a section of pipe. The system also includes a main jacking frame coupled to the pneumatic rammer, the main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe. The system also includes one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a hydraulic force to the section of pipe. The system also includes a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide in a longitudinal direction. An independently displaceable soil-clearing system can be included to clear dirt coming inside the pipe during the installation and add extra jacking force as needed.

Systems and methods for installing pipe underground are disclosed. The system includes a pneumatic rammer configured to provide a percussive force to a section of pipe. The system also includes a main jacking frame coupled to the pneumatic rammer, the main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe. The system also includes one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a hydraulic force to the section of pipe. The system also includes a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide in a longitudinal direction. An independently displaceable soil-clearing system can be included to clear dirt coming inside the pipe during the installation and add extra jacking force as needed.

The application discloses a pipeline annular self-traveling guide apparatus and a pipeline annular self-traveling guiding method. The pipeline annular self-traveling guide apparatus includes an inner annular groove and an outer annular groove. A first pipeline fixing part is configured on the inner annular groove, a second pipeline fixing part is configured on the outer annular groove, an annular bracket which is configured to rotate freely along a circumferential direction is correspondingly configured between the inner annular groove and the outer annular groove, a pipeline supporting roller group is configured on the annular bracket, and gaps for laying pipelines are reserved between a circumferential surface of the pipeline supporting roller and inner bottom surfaces of the inner annular groove and the outer annular groove.

A tunnel boring device for laying a pipeline in the ground using a boring tool, having; a feed line for supplying a boring fluid to the boring tool; a section, arranged at the rear of the boring tool, for receiving the ground cuttings, wherein the region of the boring tool and the section are filled with boring fluid, with a pressure that corresponds to the pressure in the ground; at least a jet pump for removing the boring fluid mixed with the cuttings; at least one conveying line for removing the boring fluid mixed with cuttings, this line being connected to the delivery side of the pump connected to the section via a suction line. The jet pump is connected to a drive line via which a driving fluid is supplied to the jet pump; the pump is arranged outside then section; and the suction line contains a shutoff valve.

The invention relates to a device (10) for producing a cavity in a soil from a starting point to a target point along a drilling line for introducing timbering for holding the cavity open having a tunneling head (11), at the outer end of which at least one cutting element (12) for Stripping the soil is provided, wherein the tunneling head (11) has a receiving Chamber (15) which has an opening (16), to which a face conveyor line (17) is connected, and in which at least a first nozzle (21) for discharging a liquid for transporting the stripped soil away from the receiving Chamber is provided, which first nozzle (21) is provided in such a way that the discharge opening thereof is oriented substantially in the direction of the face conveyor line, wherein the advancing drive takes place via an advancing device. It is provided here that at least one second nozzle (23) is provided which is arranged in such a way that the discharge opening thereof is directed substantially onto the soil to be stripped.

The invention relates to a device (10) for producing a cavity in a soil from a starting point to a target point along a drilling line for introducing timbering for holding the cavity open having a tunneling head (11), at the outer end of which at least one cutting element (12) for Stripping the soil is provided, wherein the tunneling head (11) has a receiving Chamber (15) which has an opening (16), to which a face conveyor line (17) is connected, and in which at least a first nozzle (21) for discharging a liquid for transporting the stripped soil away from the receiving Chamber is provided, which first nozzle (21) is provided in such a way that the discharge opening thereof is oriented substantially in the direction of the face conveyor line, wherein the advancing drive takes place via an advancing device. It is provided here that at least one second nozzle (23) is provided which is arranged in such a way that the discharge opening thereof is directed substantially onto the soil to be stripped.

The disclosure belongs to the field of tunnel construction technologies, and more particularly, relates to a construction method for making a water-rich sand layer shield over cross an existing line and underneath cross a sewage push pipe at a close range. The method specifically includes the following steps of: S1) before construction, using MIDAS GTS NX software and FLAC3D to optimize a tunneling scheme antecedently by numerical simulation to determine a part of unfavourable stress; S2) tunneling a test section, the test section being a stratum crossing a front shield direction by 45 m to 60 m; and S3) performing shield crossing construction, wherein a shield crossing construction process includes the steps of: 1) controlling a soil pressure; 2) controlling a shield thrust; 3) performing synchronous grouting; 4) performing a ballasting measure in a tunnel; and 5) performing automatic monitoring in the tunnel.

The disclosure belongs to the field of tunnel construction technologies, and more particularly, relates to a construction method for making a water-rich sand layer shield over cross an existing line and underneath cross a sewage push pipe at a close range. The method specifically includes the following steps of: S1) before construction, using MIDAS GTS NX software and FLAC3D to optimize a tunneling scheme antecedently by numerical simulation to determine a part of unfavourable stress; S2) tunneling a test section, the test section being a stratum crossing a front shield direction by 45 m to 60 m; and S3) performing shield crossing construction, wherein a shield crossing construction process includes the steps of: 1) controlling a soil pressure; 2) controlling a shield thrust; 3) performing synchronous grouting; 4) performing a ballasting measure in a tunnel; and 5) performing automatic monitoring in the tunnel.

Systems and methods for detecting underground voids, comprising steps of: digging a tunnel to be the detection path; placing fluid dispensing means along the bottom part of the tunnel wherein said dispensing means further equipped with fluid pressure sensing means; partially sealing the tunnel as to allow a reasonable portion of the fluids dispensed from said fluid dispensing means to travel downwards, deeper into the ground; providing remote device in data or mechanical communication with said sensing means; on initial activation, allowing pressured fluid to be dispensed from said dispensing means until predefined constant pressure threshold in the system is met; maintaining predefined constant pressure range in the system by constantly or periodically dispensing fluid via said dispensing means; constantly or periodically monitoring said pressure sensing mean; and upon detection of abnormal low pressure in the system activating alert means.