An excavation status monitoring system for a tunneling machine that includes a detecting portion mounted on a cutter head of the tunneling machine, including an accelerometer that detects a vibration or an acoustic sensor that detects a sound wave and a sound output portion that outputs a signal detected by the detecting portion as sound.

A method for monitoring overburden during excavation in soil, in which the soil pressure exerted by the soil (10) on an excavation device driven through the soil (10) is monitored by means of a pressure control element (5) extended from the circumference (3) of the driving device. An excavation device for carrying out the method has a pressure control element (5) which is arranged on the circumference (3) of the excavation device and can be extended beyond the circumference (3) of the excavation device.

A system and method for simultaneous excavation and segment erection of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) by Thrust shell system is an invention in tunnelling industry which will provide possibility of erection of the segmental ring while TBM is excavating and advancing forward with minimum interruption which will result in significantly increasing of the tunneling speed. The increased speed of the tunnelling will be reducing cost of the construction expressively. At this system and method, the TBM thrust cylinders will be pushing against previously installed segmental ring via combination of a thrust shell and an expandable ring while a new segmental ring is being built by TBM's segment erector within the Thrust shell's provided inner space.

A system for folding and deploying liners within tunnels includes a mobile conveyor device having a base frame including a plurality of wheels supporting a support frame. The mobile conveyor device also includes a folding assembly mounted upon the support frame at a position adjacent a first end of the base frame and a conveyor assembly mounted upon the support frame at a position adjacent a second end of the base frame.

A tunnel seal including a body, inflatable from a folded position to an inflated position, multiple positioning straps coupled to the body, an inflow port fluidly connected to the body, a pressure relief valve fluidly connected to the body, and a hot stab receptacle fluidly connected to the inflow port.

The invention relates to a foam generator (14) for an earth-pressure-balance-shield tunnel-boring machine comprising: a mixing chamber, which has a first inlet opening (22) for a foamable liquid and a second inlet opening (23) for a gas and a foam outlet opening (24); a liquid-feeding device connected to the first inlet opening (22); and a gas-feeding device connected to the second inlet opening (23). The mixing chamber contains a tubular flow chamber (28) having the first inlet opening (22) at one end and the foam outlet opening (24) at the other end. A segment of the flow chamber (28) is designed as a gassing section having a gas-permeable porous wall (26) and adjoins a pressure chamber (29) having the second inlet opening (23) in such a way that the gas fed through the second inlet opening (23) under a pressure enters the flow chamber (28) through the porous wall (26) and, in the flow chamber, mixes with the liquid in such a way that foam is formed. The gas-feeding device and the liquid-feeding device are designed in such a way that the pressure of the fed gas can be set in such a way that the pressure of the fed gas is greater than the pressure exerted on the porous wall (26) by the liquid and that a desired ratio of fed gas to fed liquid is achieved. In a method for conditioning removed soil material as a supporting medium for an earth-pressure balance shield, removed soil is fed to an excavation chamber. Depending on the soil quality, foam is provided in that a foam generator having a gassing section of a specified length, of a specified flow cross-section, and of a specified pore size and pore density is provided and the ratio of fed gas to fed liquid is set in such a way that a desired structure and size of the foam bubbles result. The exiting foam is fed to the excavation chamber and mixed with removed soil.

The invention relates to a foam generator (14) for an earth-pressure-balance-shield tunnel-boring machine comprising: a mixing chamber, which has a first inlet opening (22) for a foamable liquid and a second inlet opening (23) for a gas and a foam outlet opening (24); a liquid-feeding device connected to the first inlet opening (22); and a gas-feeding device connected to the second inlet opening (23). The mixing chamber contains a tubular flow chamber (28) having the first inlet opening (22) at one end and the foam outlet opening (24) at the other end. A segment of the flow chamber (28) is designed as a gassing section having a gas-permeable porous wall (26) and adjoins a pressure chamber (29) having the second inlet opening (23) in such a way that the gas fed through the second inlet opening (23) under a pressure enters the flow chamber (28) through the porous wall (26) and, in the flow chamber, mixes with the liquid in such a way that foam is formed. The gas-feeding device and the liquid-feeding device are designed in such a way that the pressure of the fed gas can be set in such a way that the pressure of the fed gas is greater than the pressure exerted on the porous wall (26) by the liquid and that a desired ratio of fed gas to fed liquid is achieved. In a method for conditioning removed soil material as a supporting medium for an earth-pressure balance shield, removed soil is fed to an excavation chamber. Depending on the soil quality, foam is provided in that a foam generator having a gassing section of a specified length, of a specified flow cross-section, and of a specified pore size and pore density is provided and the ratio of fed gas to fed liquid is set in such a way that a desired structure and size of the foam bubbles result. The exiting foam is fed to the excavation chamber and mixed with removed soil.

The present invention discloses a movable visual inspection device for shield machines, comprising a rail and an inspection platform. The rail is installed on a shield tail, and the inspection platform includes a bottom plate, a shell, a cleaning mechanism, a power storage control system, and a traveling mechanism. Inside the shell is a visual inspection mechanism with a camera box, a camera, and a stabilizer component. The traveling mechanism drives the bottom plate along the rail. The cleaning mechanism, consisting of a glass sheet, a reel driving part, and a cleaning film, keeps the camera lens clear. The reel driving part rotates the cleaning film, which slides against the glass sheet on the camera box. This invention enables multi-faceted and multi-angle visual inspection of shield machine segments, ensures a clear camera lens, facilitates automatic cleaning and inspection position adjustment, and enhances working efficiency and inspection effectiveness.

Long tunnels of many kilometres are likely to pass through a range of geologies which may cause problems. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by: drilling a first bore 10 along a first predetermined path, the first bore having a length of at least 25 m; drilling a plurality of second bores 20 along respective second predetermined paths, each substantially parallel to the first predetermined path in order to define a substantially prism-shape region therebetween; and excavating material within the substantially prism-shape region to form a tunnel. In this way, data from drilling the first bore 10 and the plurality of second bores 20 can be recorded and used to inform operators as to the types of material through which they will be excavating. Thus, a more complete view of the underlying geology can be achieved before beginning excavations.

Long tunnels of many kilometres are likely to pass through a range of geologies which may cause problems. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by: drilling a first bore 10 along a first predetermined path, the first bore having a length of at least 25 m; drilling a plurality of second bores 20 along respective second predetermined paths, each substantially parallel to the first predetermined path in order to define a substantially prism-shape region therebetween; and excavating material within the substantially prism-shape region to form a tunnel. In this way, data from drilling the first bore 10 and the plurality of second bores 20 can be recorded and used to inform operators as to the types of material through which they will be excavating. Thus, a more complete view of the underlying geology can be achieved before beginning excavations.