Device and method for driving a tunnel

Abstract

An apparatus for excavating a tunnel includes a cutting wheel equipped with measuring modules of sensor means on its cutting wheel face in order to directly sample the consistency of the material present between the cutting wheel face and a tunnel face by recording different types of measured values characteristic of this.

Claims

1. An apparatus for excavating a tunnel, comprising: a rotatable cutting wheel (109), with which an existing geology can be excavated in an excavation direction at the front on a tunnel face (118), excavation tools (115) arranged on a cutting wheel face (112), an excavation chamber (121) arranged on the back of the cutting wheel face (112) in the excavation direction, into which excavation chamber material excavated at the tunnel face (118) can be conveyed, a discharge unit (127, 136), with which material present in the excavation chamber (121) can be removed, and at least two measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged on the cutting wheel face (112) and configured to record measured values characteristic of the consistency of material excavated at the tunnel face (118) and in that measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged on the cutting wheel face (112) are configured to record different types of measured values for conditioning the material between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118) accordingly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring modules arranged on the cutting wheel face (112) have, in pairs, a multi-measuring module (151), a spindle measuring module (154), a ram measuring module (157), an earth pressure measuring module (160), a temperature measuring module (163), and a moisture measuring module (503), or combinations with three or more measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) are configured to record different types of measured values for the consistency of material in the excavation chamber (121).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the the measuring modules are connected to an operating data acquisition module (169).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein there is an image acquisition module (166) connected to the operating data acquisition module (169), with which image acquisition module material removed from the excavation chamber (121) can be recorded in images.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein there is a control circuit comprising the operating data acquisition module (169), with which control circuit the consistencies of the material between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118), on the one hand, and in the excavation chamber (121), on the other hand, is adjustable via the conditioning elements, based on the types of measured values.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the measuring modules extends through the cutting wheel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the measuring modules is exposed through the cutting wheel in the excavation direction.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the measuring modules is downstream of the excavation chamber.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising conditioning elements arranged between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118) for producing specific consistencies in the material between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118).

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising conditioning elements arranged between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118) for producing at least two zones of different consistencies in the material between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118).

12. A method for excavating a tunnel comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a rotatable cutting wheel (109), with which an existing geology can be excavated in an excavation direction at the front on a tunnel face (118), excavation tools (115) arranged on a cutting wheel face (112), an excavation chamber (121) arranged on the back of the cutting wheel face (112) in the excavation direction, into which excavation chamber material excavated at the tunnel face (118) can be conveyed, a discharge unit (127, 136), with which material present in the excavation chamber (121) can be removed, and at least two measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged on the cutting wheel face (112) and configured to record measured values characteristic of the consistency of material excavated at the tunnel face (118) and in that measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged on the cutting wheel face (112) are configured to record different types of measured values, recording of the measured values by the at least two measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged on the cutting wheel face (112), and conditioning the material present between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118) based on different types of measured values.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein conditioning elements arranged in the region between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118) are configured to produce at least two zones of different consistencies through the appropriate addition of conditioning means, and in that these zones are each sampled with at least one measuring module (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein measured values are recorded by measuring modules (151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503) arranged in the excavation chamber (121) and in that conditioning means are added for adjusting the consistencies of the material present between the cutting wheel face (112) and the tunnel face (118), on the one hand, and in the excavation chamber (121), on the other.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein measured values are recorded when the cutting wheel (109) is stationary.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein measured values are recorded when the cutting wheel (109) is rotating.

17. A method for excavating a tunnel, comprising: providing an apparatus for excavating a tunnel that includes a rotatable cutting wheel for excavating material in an excavation direction at a tunnel face and at least two measuring modules arranged on the cutting wheel face for recording at least two different measured values characteristic of the consistency of the material excavated at the tunnel face; recording of the different measured values during excavation; and conditioning the material present between the cutting wheel face and the tunnel face based on the different types of measured values recorded.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the measuring modules extends through the cutting wheel.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the measuring modules is exposed through the cutting wheel in the excavation direction.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the measuring modules is downstream of the excavation chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an apparatus for excavating a tunnel in the form of a tunnel boring machine configured for earth-pressure-balanced excavating;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a multi-measuring module of sensor means;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a spindle measuring module of sensor means;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a ram measuring module of sensor means;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a moisture measuring module of sensor means;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a refinement of a helical screw of a screw conveyor unit;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a front view of a cutting wheel face with a number of measuring modules; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control circuit for adjusting consistencies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a schematic, simplified side view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for excavating a tunnel according to the invention in the form of a tunnel boring machine 103 configured for earth-pressure-balanced (EPB) tunneling. The tunnel boring machine 103 has a cutting wheel 109 which can be rotated via a cutting wheel drive unit 106, with a number of excavation tools 115 being arranged on the cutting wheel face 112. The excavation tools 115 can be used to excavate material on a tunnel face 118 in front of the cutting wheel 109 in the excavation direction. Material excavated on the tunnel face 118 can be conveyed into an excavation chamber 121 arranged on the back of the cutting wheel face 112. The excavated material can be moved from the excavation chamber 121 to a discharge opening 133 via a discharge unit with a screw conveyor unit 124 which has a helical screw 130 which can be rotated in a cladding tube 127.

(11) One end of a discharge belt 136 of the discharge unit is arranged at the discharge opening 133, with which discharge belt the discharged material can be removed through a tunnel space 139.

(12) The tunnel space 139 is lined with segments 142 on the back of the cutting wheel 109, wherein excavation presses 145 abut against on the end faces, facing the cutting wheel 109, of the segments 142 that were last installed, with which excavation presses a machine frame 148 supporting the cutting wheel drive unit 106 and thus the cutting wheel 109 can be pressed against the tunnel face 118.

(13) In addition to the excavation tools 115, the tunnel boring machine 103 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with at least two measuring modules of sensor means on the cutting wheel face 112 for recording different types of measured values, which measuring modules, in one exemplary embodiment, in at least one paired combination, comprise at least one multi-measuring module 151, at least one spindle measuring module 154, at least one ram measuring module 157, at least one earth pressure measuring module 160, or at least one temperature measuring module 163. As explained in more detail below, the measuring modules 151, 154, 157, 160, 163 of the sensor means are configured to record measured values when the cutting wheel 109 is stationary or when the cutting wheel 109 is rotating, from which measured values characteristic measured variables can be set, overall for the consistency of the material present between the cutting wheel face 112 and at the tunnel face 118, for a control circuit unit for the controlled, largely automated conditioning of the material present between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 via conditioning elements, which are not shown in FIG. 1.

(14) At least some ram measuring modules 157 are expediently dimensioned in such a way that they can be installed at positions of excavation tools 115 if required.

(15) The or each soil pressure measuring module 160 can be used to determine the soil pressure acting on the cutting wheel face 112, which is related to the consistency of the material present. For example, when there is a possibility of relieving the pressure, such as by allowing more flowable material to flow away, lower pressures and more pasty material exert higher pressures on the earth pressure measuring module 160, which is reflected in the measured values output by the earth pressure measuring module 160.

(16) The temperature measuring module 163 in turn can be used to determine the temperature of the material present between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 in the vicinity of the temperature measuring module 163, wherein the temperature is related to the consistency of the material. Typically, a relatively high temperature is characteristic of high friction and thus of a relatively viscous to pasty consistency of the material, and a relatively low temperature is characteristic of a more flowable consistency of the material that generates little frictional heat. The measured value output by the temperature measuring module 163 is therefore also characteristic of the consistency of the material.

(17) Provision is advantageously made for conditioning elements arranged in the region between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 to be configured by adding conditioning elements accordingly to produce at least two zones of different consistencies. Each of these zones can be sampled by at least one measuring module 151, 154, 157, 160, 163 in order to obtain measured values that are characteristic of the respective consistency.

(18) Furthermore, the illustration according to FIG. 1 shows that, on the machine frame 148 on its side adjacent to the excavation chamber 121, further measuring modules of sensor means are arranged, in particular in the form of spindle measuring modules 154, which are each connected to the cladding tube 127 via a bypass line 155, an approximately centrally arranged ram measuring module 157, earth pressure measuring modules 160, and temperature measuring modules 163. Various types of measured values characteristic of the consistency of the material present in the excavation chamber 121 can also be recorded with these sensor means, in order to ensure proper operation of the screw conveyor unit 124, in particular by adding conditioning means to the excavation chamber 121 by means of conditioning elements, which are not shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the consistencies of the material between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118, on the one hand, and, as explained in more detail below, preferably also in zones in the radial direction, and in the excavation chamber 121, on the other hand, are optionally adjustable and, if necessary, also noticeably different, for example in order to obtain a relatively firm consistency for the material discharged onto the discharge belt 136.

(19) The screw conveyor unit 124 is also equipped with at least one sensor means, here in the form of at least one ram measuring module 157, in order to record measured values characteristic of the consistency of the material being discharged.

(20) As a further measuring module of the sensor means, the tunnel boring machine 103 according to FIG. 1 has an image acquisition module 166, which can record images of the material being discharged from the excavation chamber 121 at the discharge opening 133.

(21) The tunnel boring machine 103 is also equipped with an operating data acquisition module 169 and a display module 172. With the operating data acquisition module 169, the different types of measured values recorded by the measuring modules 151, 154, 157, 160, 163 and the images of the image acquisition module 166 can be stored to obtain further measured values based on automated image analysis and processed as input variables for a control circuit unit for optionally separate conditioning of the material between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 and in the excavation chamber 121. The display module 172 is used to display typical operating parameters for operating personnel so they can intervene manually to condition the material if necessary.

(22) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a multi-measuring module 151 of the tunnel boring machine 103 explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 2 further shows that the multi-measuring module 151 in this embodiment has a plunger receptacle 203, closed on the back, which can be closed off to the material present between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 by a closure slide 206 in the region of the cutting wheel face 112. The multi-measuring module 151 is also equipped with a sensor carrier plunger 209 which, when the closure slide 206 is open, can be displaced out of the plunger receptacle 203 via displacement elements, which are not shown in FIG. 2.

(23) The sensor carrier plunger 209 is equipped with at least one bend sensor 212, for example in the form of a strain gauge, with at least one earth pressure sensor 215, facing the tunnel face 118 and arranged on the front, and with at least one temperature sensor 218, with which sensors the deformation of the sensor carrier plunger 209, the pressure exerted on the sensor carrier plunger 209 by the material, or the temperature prevailing in the material in the region of the sensor carrier plunger 209 can be recorded as measured values when the cutting wheel 109 is rotating.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a spindle measuring module 154 of the tunnel boring machine 103 explained with reference to FIG. 1. The spindle measuring module 154 has a rotatable sampling screw 303 which is mounted in a guide tube 306 arranged on the back of the cutting wheel face 112 in the excavation direction. The guide tube 306 can be closed off against the material present at the tunnel face 118 on its side facing the cutting wheel face 112 via an inlet slide 309, while a sampling tube 312 is flanged on its side facing away from the cutting wheel face 112, into which sampling tube material present on the cutting wheel face 112 can be conveyed when the sampling tube 303 is rotated after the inlet slide 309 is opened. Moisture sensors 315 and a sound transmission unit with a sound generator 318 and with a sound sensor 321 are attached to the sampling tube 312. With the moisture sensors 315, the moisture can be determined as a measured value and sound transmission parameters can be determined as further measured values which are characteristic of the consistency of the sampled material.

(25) There is an outlet slide 324 on the side of the sampling tube 312 facing away from the guide tube 306; after the outlet slide is opened, the material present in the sampling tube 312 can be discharged into the excavation chamber 121.

(26) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a ram measuring module 157 of the tunnel boring machine 103 according to FIG. 1. The ram measuring module 157 is equipped with a material receptacle 403 which is open on the cutting wheel face 112 and which is closed at the back by an ejector ram 406 which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the material receptacle 403. A sound transmission unit with a sound generator 318 and with a sound sensor 321 is arranged on the material receptacle 403, with which measured values characteristic of the consistency of the material present in the material receptacle 403 can be recorded. In order to eject material present in the material receptacle 403, the ejector ram 406 can expediently be displaced in the direction of the cutting wheel face 112, at least flush thereto, to enable new material to enter the material receptacle 403 after a certain time, after pushback, and then to record measured values characteristic of the consistency thereof upon the next noise transmission.

(27) Furthermore, the ram measuring module 157 is configured to measure distance force values both when extending beyond the cutting wheel face 112 and also when retracting, i.e. to absorb the force required to move along a certain distance during extension and/or during retraction, which values are characteristic of the consistency of the material in question.

(28) In a simplified side view, FIG. 5 shows a moisture measuring module 503 as a further measuring module of the sensor means, which module is equipped with a material receptacle 506 open on the cutting wheel face 112. A number of moisture sensors 315 are arranged on the side walls of the material receptacle 506, with which moisture sensors the moisture of the material present in the material receptacle 506 can be determined as measured values. At the end of the material receptacle 506 facing away from the cutting wheel face 112, the moisture measuring module 503 has a flow meter 512, with which a volume flow of liquid pressed out of the material present in the material receptacle 506 due to the prevailing pressure can be recorded as a further measured value characteristic of the consistency of the material.

(29) FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a refinement of a helical screw 130 of a screw conveyor unit 124 which is designed in accordance with the screw conveyor unit 124 explained with reference to FIG. 1 with a helical screw 130 rotatably arranged in a cladding tube 127. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the helical screw 130 is designed with a first helical section 603 and with a second helical section 606, which are arranged at a distance from one another, so that a helical-free open space 609 is formed therebetween. At least one moisture sensor 315 and a sound transmission unit with a sound generator 318 and a sound sensor 321 are arranged in the region of the open space 609, with which the material transported through the cladding tube can be sampled when the helical screw 130 rotates.

(30) FIG. 7 shows a front view of a cutting wheel face 112 of a cutting wheel 109 of a tunnel boring machine 103, shown hatched with main arms 703 and auxiliary arms 706, as well as with intermediate openings, with a number of measuring modules, here in the form of multi-measuring modules 151, spindle measuring modules 154, ram measuring modules 157, earth pressure measuring modules 160, and temperature measuring modules 163, as well as, if required, moisture measuring modules 503, which are not shown in FIG. 7, which are arranged at different distances from a center 709 of the cutting wheel and thus on radially differently routed circumferential tracks when the cutting wheel 109 rotates. With this arrangement of the measuring modules 151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503, as already explained above, radially different zones can be sampled separately and the consistencies of the material between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 can be specifically conditioned with appropriately arranged conditioning elements.

(31) FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control circuit for adjusting consistencies in a region with existing geology 803 between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118. FIG. 8 shows that the measuring modules 151, 154, 157, 160, 163, 503 record different types of measured values from the region with the existing geology 803 and supplies them to the operating data acquisition module 169. Furthermore, the images from the image acquisition module 166 are transferred to the operating data acquisition module 169 for evaluation. On the basis of the data that is supplied to the operating data acquisition module 169 and can be displayed visually via the display module 172 in the form of measured values and images, the operating data acquisition module 169 generates output data that can be supplied to a conditioning system 806, which comprises the aforementioned conditioning elements and conditioning means. The output data are configured in such a way that the consistency or consistencies in the region with the existing geology 803 between the cutting wheel face 112 and the tunnel face 118 can be adjusted with the conditioning system 806 optionally to obtain the desired consistency or consistencies.