Abstract
A mining tool for a drill head of a tunnel boring machine for mining in rock includes a roller cutter fastening device. The roller cutter fastening device is mountable on the drill head for accommodating and mounting a rotatable roller cutter. The roller cutter is interchangeably and rotatably received in the roller cutter fastening device. A sensor arrangement for detecting a mechanical load of the roller cutter is formed at least partially in the roller cutter fastening device and includes at least one load-sensitive element.
Claims
1. A mining tool for use with a drill head of a tunnel boring machine for mining in rock, the mining tool comprising: a roller cutter fastening device mountable on the drill head; a roller cutter interchangeably and rotatably mounted in the roller cutter fastening device; and a sensor arrangement for detecting a mechanical load of the roller cutter, the sensor arrangement formed as a sleeve mounted at least partially in a roller cutter mount of the roller cutter fastening device, the roller cutter mount mounting an axis of the roller cutter, the sensor arrangement including at least one load-sensitive element.
2. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the roller cutter fastening device includes a roller cutter receptacle, and at least one fastening element for fastening the roller cutter to the roller cutter receptacle and the roller cutter receptacle to the drill head, and wherein the at least one load-sensitive element of the sensor arrangement is provided separately from the at least one fastening element.
3. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the sleeve is formed as a hollow circular cylinder.
4. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein multiple load-sensitive elements are mounted separately from one another to an inner surface of a wall of the sleeve.
5. The mining tool of claim 4, wherein the multiple load-sensitive elements are mounted angularly offset in relation to one another to the inner surface of the sleeve wall.
6. The mining tool of claim 4, wherein the sleeve wall is elastically deformable to interface with the load-sensitive element under the influence of a mechanical load during a boring operation.
7. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the load-sensitive elements is mounted to a planar plate of the sleeve, the planar plate mounted in a hollow cylindrical section of the sleeve.
8. The mining tool of claim 7, wherein multiple load-sensitive elements are mounted to the plate angularly offset in relation to one another.
9. The mining tool of claim 7, wherein the plate is formed as a membrane.
10. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein two load-sensitive elements are mounted to an inner surface of a wall of the sleeve angularly offset in relation to one another and two further load-sensitive elements are provided separately from the inner surface.
11. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein four load-sensitive elements are mounted angularly distributed about a sleeve axis to a planar plate of the sleeve, wherein the plate is mounted to a hollow cylindrical section of the sleeve.
12. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein four load-sensitive elements are mounted to an inner surface of a wall of the sleeve angularly offset in relation to one another.
13. The mining tool of claim 1, having at least one further sleeve mounted at least partially to one of the roller cutter fastening device and to the roller cutter, the further sleeve having at least one load-sensitive element mounted thereon, and wherein the sleeve and the further sleeve are arranged at an orthogonal angle in relation to one another.
14. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is arranged in a roller cutter mounting block of the roller cutter fastening device.
15. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the roller cutter mount is a C-shaped part.
16. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is aligned with a roller cutter axis.
17. The mining tool of claim 1, having at least one sensor line for conducting sensor signals, wherein the at least one sensor line originates from the at least one load-sensitive element and extends through a lumen of the sleeve.
18. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one load-sensitive element is formed as a one of a strain gauge and a piezo element, and in a full bridge configuration.
19. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the roller cutter includes an axis, a cutting ring having a circumferential cutting edge, and a bearing.
20. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the roller cutter is formed as one of a disk and a tungsten carbide insert bit.
21. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein an interior cavity is disposed between a wall of the sleeve and the at least one load-sensitive element.
22. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed in one piece and from one material, with at least one of the roller cutter fastening device and the roller cutter.
23. The mining tool of claim 1, wherein the roller cutter mount clamps an axis of the roller cutter.
24. A system for detecting a mechanical load of a roller cutter of a mining tool of a drill head of a tunnel boring machine for mining in rock, the system comprising: the mining tool of claim 1; and an analysis unit that detects, based on sensor signals of the at least one load-sensitive element, an item of information which is indicative of the mechanical load which acts on the roller cutter of the mining tool.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor arrangement includes four load-sensitive elements; and the analysis unit detects, based on sensor signals of the tour load-sensitive elements, an item of information which is indicative of one or more of a contact pressure force (F.sub.N), a lateral force (F.sub.S), and a rolling force (F.sub.R), acting on the roller cutter.
26. A drill head for use with a tunnel boring machine for mining in rock, the drill head comprising: a drill body movable in a rotational and translational manner in relation to the rock, the drill body including a plurality of mining tool mounts for mounting mining tools; a plurality of mining tools of claim 1, the mounting tools interchangeably mounted in the plurality of mining tool mounts.
27. A tunnel boring machine for mining in rock and including a drill head of claim 26.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a tunnel boring machine with a drill head, which is equipped with multiple mining tools according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.
(3) FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 each show a three-dimensional view of a sensor sleeve, a corresponding bridge circuit as an electrical equivalent circuit diagram, and a top view of the sensor sleeve or a sensor plate on the sensor sleeve of sensor arrangements of mining tools according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.
(4) FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and shows in particular a suitable position of a sensor sleeve according to the invention in combination with fastening elements for fastening a roller cutter on a roller cutter fastening device of a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
(5) FIG. 6 shows the result of a finite element analysis with respect to the sensitivity of a sensor sleeve at different positions on a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
(6) FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein two sensor sleeves are arranged orthogonally in relation to one another and are arranged in a C-part of a roller cutter fastening device.
(7) FIG. 8 shows an exploded illustration of a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and illustrates in particular mounting positions and mounting directions of two sensor sleeves.
(8) FIG. 9 shows a diagram which shows an analysis of the linearity of the behavior and the hysteresis behavior and the sensitivity for the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 of sensor sleeves according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.
(9) FIG. 10 is a diagram which shows the significantly improved detection sensitivity of sensor sleeves according to the invention in relation to a sensor arrangement integrated in a fastening element.
(10) FIG. 11 shows a roller cutter of a mining tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention having a sensor sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention mounted on the roller cutter axis.
(11) FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a roller cutter mounted in a roller cutter fastening device and three force components acting thereon during boring operation.
(12) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, the embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) FIG. 1 shows a tunnel boring machine 180 for mining in rock 102, into which a borehole 182 has already been introduced. The boring is performed such that the borehole 182 is successively widened to the right according to FIG. 1. It is known to a person skilled in the art that a tunnel boring machine 180 has a plurality of components. For reasons of comprehensibility, however, only a drill head 150 having a plurality of (for example, 50 to 100) mining tools 100 is shown in FIG. 1. More precisely, the drill head 150 has a drill body 152, which is movable in a rotational and translational manner in relation to the rock 102 by means of a drive device 184, and on the frontal or rock-side end face of which a plurality of mining tool mounts or receptacles 154 are mounted. They are distributed over the circular end face of the drill head 152, which is only partially visible in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. Each of the mining tool mounts 154 is designed to mount a respective mining tool 100. In other words, one mining tool 100 can be mounted in each of the mining tool mounts 154.
(14) Each of the mining tools 100 has a disk fastening device 104, which can be mounted on the drill head 150, having a receptacle mount for accommodating and mounting a rotatable disk 106, which is also part of the mining tool 100.
(15) Each disk fastening device 104 has a disk receptacle 194, which can be designed as a type of cup, which is especially configured to accommodate a disk 106 as an interchangeable module. Fastening screws 110 form a further component of the disk fastening device 104. Each of the mining tools 100 accordingly has multiple fastening screws 110, with which the disk 106 including mount 126 and the disk receptacle 194 are fastened on the drill head 150. The disk 106 has an axis 120, a disk body 122, a cutting ring 124 having a circumferential cutting edge, and a bearing 126.
(16) When a disk 106 is mounted on a respective disk fastening device 104, a circumferential cutting edge 124 of the respective disk 106 can engage in the rotating state to mine the rock 102. The disk 106 is interchangeably accommodated in the receptacle mount of the disk fastening device 104, or more precisely in the disk receptacle 194.
(17) Each mining tool 100 contains a sensor arrangement 112 for detecting a mechanical load of the associated mining tool 100, more precisely the disk 106. The disk 106 is subjected to this mechanical load during the mining of the rock 102 by the disk 106. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sensor arrangement 112 is formed as a sleeve 177, which is mounted in the disk fastening device 104 (and in an alternative exemplary embodiment alternatively or additionally on the disk 106) having a load-sensitive element 108 mounted thereon in the form of a strain gauge. A strain gauge is thus integrated as a load-sensitive element 108 in the sleeve 177. An electrical sensor signal can be transmitted from the load-sensitive element 108 to an analysis unit 128 by means of a connecting cable or a sensor line 171. Exemplary embodiments of the sensor arrangement 112 according to FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.
(18) The analysis unit 128, which can be part of a processor or a controller of the tunnel boring machine 180, records the sensor data, which the load-sensitive element 108 measures, and detects therefrom the mechanical load which acts on the associated disk 106.
(19) FIG. 2 shows a sleeve 177, which is also referred to as a sensor sleeve, for a mining tool 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
(20) According to FIG. 2, the sleeve 177 is formed as a hollow-circular-cylindrical body having a continuous axial through hole, wherein strain gauges are glued offset radially by 90? in relation to one another as load-sensitive elements 108 to an inner wall 175 of the sleeve 177. These two load-sensitive elements 108 are used to record load signals during the operation of the tunnel boring machine 180, when the associated mining tool 100 is mounted on the drill head 150. During the operation of a tunnel boring machine 180, strong heating of the mining tools 100 occurs, in particular in the region of the disks 106. To make the sensor arrangement 112 independent of such temperature influences, the two load-sensitive elements 108 mounted (for example, glued) onto the inner wall 175 of the sleeve 177, which are identified with 1 and 3 in FIG. 2, are interconnected with two further equivalent load-sensitive elements 108 (not shown in the three-dimensional illustration of FIG. 2, but identified in the equivalent circuit diagram with R2 and R4 and shown separately in the top view to the right of the inner wall 175) to form a bridge circuit. These other two load-sensitive elements 108 are used in this case to record reference data, which are to enable a temperature compensation in a force-independent and/or load-independent manner.
(21) FIG. 3 shows a sleeve 177 of a sensor arrangement 112 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, a membrane-type and elastic planar plate 173 is provided in the interior of the hollow-circular-cylindrical inner wall 175 (for example, pressed in or worked out jointly with the hollow cylinder from a shared blank), on which four load-sensitive elements 108 are mounted approximately in an X shape or cross shape offset by 90? in each case in relation to one another in the radial direction. The plate 173 can in particular be formed in one piece and from the same material with the hollow-circular-cylindrical body of the sleeve 177 associated with the inner wall 175, for example, in that pocket holes, which are separated from one another in the axial direction by the plate 173, are formed on both sides in a solid-cylindrical body (for example, made of stainless steel). According to another embodiment, the plate 173 can be pressed as a separate component into the interior of a hollow-circular-cylindrical sleeve 175. According to FIG. 3, the four load-sensitive elements 108 can also be interconnected to form a full-bridge circuit for the purpose of temperature compensation. In the configuration according to FIG. 3, the load-sensitive elements 108 are arranged at a sensorially sensitive and mechanically stable position in the interior of the sleeve 177 and are therefore reliably protected from destruction during mounting or during the operation of the tunnel boring machine 180, while delivering high detection accuracy.
(22) According to FIG. 4, a sleeve 177 is shown, in which four load-sensitive elements 108 are all mounted to the inner wall 175 of the hollow-circular-cylindrical sleeve 177. The four load-sensitive elements 108 are also combined here to form a bridge circuit. Two of the four load-sensitive elements 108 are again used for the actual recording of measuring signals, while in contrast the other two load-sensitive elements 108 are formed for temperature compensation by means of a full-bridge circuit.
(23) FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a mining tool 100 for a drill head 150 of a tunnel boring machine 180 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows in particular that the disk fastening device 104 is formed here from a disk fastening block 504 for the drill head mounting and a C-part 500 for accommodating and mounting a disk axis 502 of a disk 106. FIG. 5 additionally shows a fastening screw 110, which is used for mounting the components on one another. A sleeve 177 of a sensor arrangement 112 of the mining tool 100 extends approximately in parallel to the fastening screw 506 and approximately, perpendicularly to the disk axis 502, wherein the sleeve 177 is pressed or screwed or hammered into a sleeve receptacle hole, which is formed in the disk fastening device 104. FIG. 5 shows that as a result of the solid formation of the disk fastening device 104, a high level of selection freedom exists for a mining tool designer for specifying the position and orientation of the sleeve 177. In particular the independence of the sleeve 177 from the fastening screw 110 increases this design freedom. Furthermore, by providing the sleeve 177 as a thin-walled elastic element, a cooperation of the sleeve 177 is possible even upon the detection of the load data, so that the sleeve 177 is itself part of the load-sensitive system and therefore cooperates synergistically with the load-sensitive elements 108 (not shown in FIG. 5).
(24) FIG. 6 shows the result of a finite element analysis, which has been carried out on a disk fastening device 104 of a mining tool 100. It is recognizable on the basis of FIG. 6 that a particularly high sensitivity and/or force peaks can be determined in specific regions of the disk fastening device 104, which increase the measurement accuracy when a sensor arrangement 112 is implemented at these points. Because, according to the invention, a sensor arrangement 112 can be provided and positioned independently of a fastening element 110 (to be mounted at predefined positions), a particularly high accuracy of a detected load is thus achievable.
(25) FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a mining tool 100 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7, sleeves 177, which are oriented essentially orthogonally in relation to one another, of a sensor arrangement 112 are inserted into the interior of the C-part 500 of the disk fastening device 104. The axes of the sleeves 177 extend in this case orthogonally in relation to a disk axis of rotation. It has been shown that sensor data can be recorded particularly sensitively using this configuration. The position of the fastening screws 110 is also shown in FIG. 7.
(26) FIG. 8 once again shows an exploded illustration of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 and shows in particular how the sleeves 177 can each be inserted into drilled sleeve receptacle holes 800. The hollow lumen of the sleeves 177 not only enables electrical cables to be fed through for the electrical supply of the load-sensitive elements 108 with energy and/or signals or for signal pickup from the load-sensitive elements 108, but rather also contributes to the elasticity of the sleeve 177 itself, which is advantageous for the accuracy of the sensory measurement. Furthermore, the hollow lumen, which is open on both sides, of the sleeve 177 can be used for the engagement of a tool if the sleeve 177 is to be replaced (for example, because of wear).
(27) FIG. 9 shows a diagram 900, from which the sensitivity of the sensor arrangements 112 shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 can be obtained. The diagram 900 has an abscissa 902, along which a recorded measuring signal is plotted. A force F acting on the respective load-sensitive element 108 is plotted along an ordinate 904. A curve 906 corresponds to the sensor arrangement 112 according to FIG. 2, a curve 908 corresponds to the sensor arrangement 112 according to FIG. 3, and a curve 910 corresponds to the sensor arrangement 112 according to FIG. 4. Firstly, it can be recognized that in all embodiments, the hysteresis, i.e., the area enclosed by the respective curve components, is particularly small. The hysteresis behavior is best with the configuration according to FIG. 3. Furthermore, a good linearity of a measuring signal obtained in reaction to an applied force can be recognized, which is outstanding in particular with the sensor arrangements according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Finally, the sensitivity of the measurement is very high, in particular with the sensor arrangements according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 9 shows that in particular the sensor arrangement 112 according to FIG. 3 enables the highest sensitivity with little hysteresis behavior and high linearity.
(28) FIG. 10 shows a diagram 1000, which again has the abscissa 902 and the ordinate 904. A first curve family is compared, which shows sensor arrangements 112 according to the invention with load-sensitive elements 108 mounted to a sleeve 177 (curve 1002 relates to a design corresponding to FIG. 3, while in contrast, curve 1004 relates to a design corresponding to FIG. 4). Measuring data for three conventional sensor arrangements are shown for comparison, in which load-sensitive elements have been integrated into a fastening element (curve family 1006). FIG. 10 impressively shows that substantially higher sensitivities can be achieved using the sensor arrangements 112 according to the invention (curves 1002, 1004) than with an integration of the load-sensitive elements in a fastening element, for example, a fastening screw or a fastening bolt (curve family 1006).
(29) FIG. 11 shows a top view of a disk 106 of a mining tool 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the sleeve 177 is guided (for example, pressed) through the disk axis and therefore records sensor data at a highly sensitive position. According to the embodiment shown, two load-sensitive elements 108 are arranged along a circumference of the disk axis 502.
(30) FIG. 12 schematically shows a disk 106, which is accommodated on a disk fastening device 104. During boring operation, the normal force F.sub.N acts on the disk 106, which is additionally subjected to a rolling force F.sub.R, with which the disk 106 rolls about the axis 120 while it abrades rock. A lateral force F.sub.S also acts on the disk 106. Using a sensor arrangement 112 according to the invention it is possible to detect each individual one of the force components F.sub.N, F.sub.R, and F.sub.S, and to do so with ultra-high precision.
(31) In addition, it is to be noted that has does not exclude other elements or steps and a or an does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it is to be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other above-described exemplary embodiments. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered to be restrictive.
(32) While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
