METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUNNELS FOR TRANSPORT ROUTES

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a tunnel structure at a relatively shallow depth from the surface, which tunnel can be used as a replacement or additional transport route to an existing transport route (2) which is already formed on the surface. The method comprises the steps of forming two spaced apart access tunnels, installing piles (15), installing slide tracks (17) in each of the tunnels, removing a part of the tunnels (hatched portion) to expose the tracks, introducing units (22) comprising side walls portions (26, 28) and a roof section (30) by moving the units along the tracks while excavating the soil in which the tunnel is to be formed is in advance of the leading edge of the units.

Claims

1: A method of forming a tunnel structure which once formed can be used instead of, or in addition to, an existing transport route, said method comprising the steps of forming at least two spaced apart access tunnels along a length, forming at least one guide surface along each of the access tunnels, introducing a plurality of units from at least one end of the said length and successively sliding the said units along the said at least one guide surface of said access tunnels, said units successively introduced and moved along a linear path as the material in which the tunnel structure is to be formed is excavated in advance of the leading one of the said units with respect to the direction of movement of the units, until the required length of tunnel structure is formed and wherein the path along which the tunnel structure is formed is located under or adjacent to said existing transport route.

2: A method according to claim 1 wherein the tunnel structure is formed along a path which is substantially parallel with the said existing transport route.

3: A method according to claim 1 wherein the existing transport route continues to be usable during at least the majority of time of forming the said tunnel structure.

4: A method according to claim 1 wherein the said units are formed to provide at least the roof section of the tunnel structure and the access tunnels are positioned to form at least part of the side walls of the tunnel structure.

5: A method according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of piles are formed downwardly from the access tunnels and spaced along the said access tunnels.

6: A method according to claim 5 wherein the tunnel structure is formed by the said units, access tunnels and piles, in combination.

7: A method according to claim 1 wherein the tunnel structure is formed with at least one intermediate wall which is substantially parallel to the side walls.

8: A method according to claim 7 wherein the intermediate wall acts as a barrier and splits the tunnels structure into two transport portions.

9: A method according to claim 1 wherein first and second tunnels structures are formed side by side.

10: A method according to claim 1 wherein the tunnel structure is formed at a depth of between 2 and 10 metres from the surface.

11: A method according claim 1 wherein a first access ramp is formed at a first end of the tunnel structure and an access ramp is located at a second end of the tunnel structure.

12: A method according to claim 11 wherein the said access ramps allow the tunnel structure to be linked to existing transport routes at each end and the passage of trains or vehicles between the existing transport routes through the tunnel structure.

13: A method according to claim 1 wherein at at least one end of the tunnel structure, a portion of the existing transport route is used as a means of gaining access to the end of the tunnel structure.

14: A method according to claim 1 wherein a shielded or enclosed area is provided in advance of the leading unit and within which excavation works occur in order to form space into which the units can be advanced.

15: A method according to claim 1 wherein the units are moved into position successively by jacking apparatus which is provided at the end from which the tunnel structure is formed and which progressively moves the successive units into position.

16: A method according to claim 1 wherein the said access tunnels are initially formed along the path of the tunnel structure and tracks are then prepared in and along the access tunnels for the receipt of the units therealong.

17: A method according to claim 1 wherein the units are formed from concrete which is re-enforced to form the structural requirements of the tunnel structure.

18: A tunnel structure including a plurality of units, at least two spaced access tunnels including a track along which successive units are slid into position and supported thereby, wherein said units and access tunnels, in combination, form at least part of the side walls and roof of the tunnel structure and a plurality of piles depend downwardly from, and are spaced along, the access tunnels and said tunnel structure is formed in parallel with an existing transport route so as to provide, once the said tunnel structure is formed, a transport route therealong for use in addition, or alternatively, to the said existing transport route.

19: A tunnel structure including a plurality of units, at least two spaced access tunnels including a track along which successive units are slid into position and supported thereby, wherein said units and access tunnels, in combination, form at least part of the side walls and roof of the tunnel structure and a plurality of piles depend downwardly from, and are spaced along, the access tunnels and said tunnel structure is formed in parallel with an existing transport route so as to provide, once the said tunnel structure is formed, a transport route therealong for use in addition, or alternatively, to the said existing transport route.

Description

[0023] Specific embodiments of the invention are now defined with respect to the accompanying drawings wherein;

[0024] FIGS. 1a and b illustrate two examples of existing transport routes;

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section along line A-A of the transport route of FIG. 1b, the surface and soil underneath through which the tunnel in accordance with the invention is formed;

[0026] FIGS. 3a-c illustrate the formation of the access tunnel and use of the same in accordance with the invention; and

[0027] FIGS. 4a-e illustrate embodiments of tunnels formed in accordance with the invention.

[0028] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1a and b there are illustrated two forms of conventional transport routes with which the current invention is particularly effective. In FIG. 1a there is shown a transport route in the form of a dual carriageway road 2 on a surface 4 and which has two lanes which allow traffic to travel in direction 6 and two lanes which allow traffic to travel in direction 8. A central reservation barrier 10 is provided between the two sets of lanes for safety purposes.

[0029] FIG. 1b illustrates a second form of transport route 2 which could again be road transport but in this case is a rail track 12 which is supported on a base 14 which in turn is raised from the surface by a series of spaced support formations 16 and which effectively renders the surface 4 under and adjacent to the support structure unusable. Although one track 12 is shown, a number of tracks may be provided in parallel. In both examples it will appreciated that a considerable amount of surface area 4 is taken up and used by the transport route itself as is the case in FIG. 1a or by the support structure for the transport route as is the case in FIG. 1b.

[0030] The present invention allows the transport routes to continue to be provided, or indeed have an increased capacity, whilst making the previously required surface area available for other uses and does so whilst having no, or relatively minimal, impact on the continued use of the existing transport route whilst the new transport route is formed.

[0031] The initial steps by which the transport route can be formed in accordance with the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 3a-b. The first steps are for the access tunnels 11, 13 to be formed along the new tunnel route and at a spaced apart distance under the surface 4. The route is typically under the existing transport route and/or substantially parallel to the existing transport route. These access tunnels can be formed using boring techniques as they are relatively small in diameter. Once the access tunnels are formed, piles 15 are formed progressively along the access tunnels and downwardly therefrom, as illustrated in FIG. 3a, to provide the support for the access tunnels, and structure in general.

[0032] Once the access tunnels have been formed and before or after the piles have been completed, the access tunnels are prepared for the movement of units therealong and this preparation includes the formation of guide surfaces such as slide tracks 17 along the length thereof. The next stage is for part of the access tunnels to be removed, as illustrated by the hatched portion 19 illustrated in FIG. 3b, in order to expose the tracks and allow the tunnel units 22 to be successively moved along the tracks 17 from one end and is indicated by the arrow 21.

[0033] The structure 20 is formed from a series of units 22 which are successively moved along the slide tracks 17 formed in each exposed access tunnel 11, 13. In this embodiment the units each comprise side wall portions 26,28, and a roof section 30 which, in conjunction with remaining portion of the access tunnel and pilings 15 define the tunnel cavity 34 along which the new transport route 36, such as the new road will pass.

[0034] In order to be able to advance the units 22, then, as shown in FIG. 3c, at the leading edge 37 of the line of units in the direction of movement 38 there is provided a shielded portion 39 within which the soil and/or other material 41 can be excavated in order to make a sufficient space to accommodate the leading unit 22′ and subsequent units 22. New units 22″ are added in the direction indicated by arrow 45 to the line of units from the other end 43 of the line of units at jacking area 47 at the opening into the tunnel and this process continues with successive until the tunnel of required length has been formed.

[0035] As the tunnel structure is formed in the manner described, the tunnel has its own integral strength and therefore can be formed and positioned at a significantly shallower distance from the surface 4 than when using conventional tunnel boring techniques. This in turn means that the distance 18 which has to be dealt with by access roads down to and up from the tunnel to the surface 4 can be significantly shorter in length and thereby reduce the amount of land which is required to be provided in order to form the tunnel structure.

[0036] In FIG. 2 there is illustrated a sectional end elevation of the conventional transport route shown in FIG. 1b.

[0037] The tunnels are formed under existing transport routes 2 and FIGS. 4a-d, illustrate examples of that where it is shown that under the transport route 2, there is formed a tunnel structure which runs parallel with the existing transport route at a spaced distance 18 under the surface 4. FIGS. 4a and d illustrate the formation of the tunnel structure 20 under and parallel with the existing transport route 2. They also show how the existing transport route 2 can still be used at this stage and may continue to be used afterwards if the purpose of the new tunnel structure 20 has been to increase transport capacity. Alternatively, if the aim is to provide a replacement transport route, the tunnel structure 20, with its new transport route 36, can now act as the only transport route as illustrated in FIG. 4e and existing surface mounted structures such as the structure 14,16 can be removed from the surface 4. Equally, the existing transport route can be decommissioned along the length of the tunnel and the surface 4 put to new, and more environmentally and/or economically useful purposes, such as parkland 46. The newly available surface land can be used for other purposes such as building, parks or the like which, when the land may be in a relatively built up area in a city is of major benefit.

[0038] In certain cases the tunnel formed in accordance with the invention can be used in conjunction with open cut sections so that along the length of at least a portion of the road there are provided tunnelled sections and open cut sections, with new road being under the surface and not visible from the surface.