The Robbins Company

Richard J Robbins

David T Cass

Barry A Spencer

Brent R Brown

Peter B Dowden

Hans A Adami

Aaron J Shanahan

Ian R Cahoon

James C Moore

Leif R Lindbergh

Timothy J Reilly

A tunnel boring machine () having a rotating cutter head () that rotatably supports a plurality of cutter assemblies (). A plurality of instrument packages () are attached to the rotating cutter head, each instrument package having a distal end in contact with an associated cutter assembly. The instrument packages include a plurality of sensors including an accelerometer (), magnetometer () and temperature sensor (), for monitoring the associated cutter assembly. The sensors are mounted in a distal end of the instrument packages that is biased to remain in contact with the cutter assembly. The instrument packages include a wireless transmitter, and they are interconnected in a mesh or peer to peer network. A power supply () such as a battery pack is provided for each instrument package. The data from the sensors may be used to control operation of the tunnel boring machine and/or to monitor the condition of the cutter assemblies.

Apparatus and method for monitoring tunnel boring efficiency

A tunneling machine convertible between a 'closed mode' and an 'open mode' of operation, having a rotatable cutterhead with muck openings communicating with a pressurizable cutterhead chamber and a pressure maintenance system to stabilize the tunnel workface when operating in the 'closed mode'. In the 'closed mode' low slurry flow is employed as a liquid pressure balance solely to support the unstable tunnel face. Low slurry flow is supplied through a pressure bulkhead sealing the cutterhead chamber and pressurized conveyor means through the bulkhead removes tunneled material from the cutterhead chamber. A pressure lock connected to the pressurized conveyor means transfers tunneled material to dewatering and reservoir/accumulator means operated at substantially atmospheric pressure. Slurry, with at least most of the solids removed, is recycled to the slurry inlet at a controlled low flow rate matching the rate of removal of tunneled material and slurry from the tunnel face so the otherwise unstable tunnel face is maintained stable. In the 'open mode' of operation, for use in boring a self-stabilizing tunnel face, the pressure bulkhead is removed and a second conveyor, such as a belt conveyor, is disposed adjacent to the 'closed mode' conveyor to withdraw cuttings from the cutterhead chamber.

Tunneling machine having liquid balance low flow slurry system

Front and rear shields are telescopically joined together. The front shield carries a power driven rotary cutterhead means. Thrust rams are provided between the two shields for pushing the forward shield forwardly relative to the rear shield while the cutterhead means is being operated to mine the tunnel face, and also to pull the rear shield forwardly relative to the front shield. The rear shield includes a gripper assembly for reacting thrust and torque and a plurality of auxiliary thrust rams which extend rearwardly from the rear shield to react against forward end portions of a tunnel lining which is erected under cover of a tail section of the rear shield. A pair of side placed torque cylinders are interconnected between frame portions of the two shields and serve to transmit counter-rotational torque from the cutterhead support of the front shield back to the rear shield. The torque cylinders are adapted to accommodate relative axial movement between the two shields and are operable to roll the shields back into proper position after they have been rolled out of position by the counter-rotational torque generated by rotation of the cutterhead means.

Double shield tunnel boring machine

A main frame includes an annular beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine for a rotation about an axis of rotation. A plurality of radial spoke beams extend generally vertically at the front of cutterhead and curve rearwardly to intersect with the annular beam. Each radial spoke beam is constructed from a pair of spaced apart side plate members which define spaces between them for receiving a plurality of roller cutter mounts therebetween. Roller cutters, including gauge cutters, can be installed and removed from their associated cutter mounts from the rear side of the cutterhead. A plurality of generally radially elongate cut-ground-material passageways extend through the cutterhead in the regions between the radial spoke beams. A plurality of concentric, substantially circumferentially continuous face-support-ring members are located forwardly of the cutterhead main frame but rearwardly of the peripheral cutting edges of the cutters in at least the radial region of cutterhead in which the cut-ground-material passage ways are located. During rotation of the cutterhead, face-support-ring members support fractured material against the face of the tunnel while the roller cutters cut concentric kerfs with such material.

Rotary cutterhead for an earth boring machine

A boring assembly is advanced upwardly by thrust rams acting on a column guided traveling cross frame connected to the power tunneler from below by a non-rotating sectional support column. The support column is anchored to a holding table situated underground above the thrust ram while sections are being added to or removed from it. The boring assembly is driven by either a hydraulic motor housed in the cross frame, via a sectional drill stem housed within the support column, or by a hydraulic motor housed directly within the boring assembly.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Richard J Robbins