The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1996
David T Cass, Seattle, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A tunnel boring machine particularly adapted to operate at substantial depths below the earth's surface. The machine comprises a head section comprising a cutter head that is rotatably mounted to a support structure. There is a plurality of gripper shoes spaced circumferentially around the support structure, and these are operated to grip the tunnel wall and be selectively operated to advance the machine in the tunnel as the tunneling operation progresses. Also, there is a roof shield positioned immediately behind the cutter head. There is also a pair of support shoes supported from the support structure by links having curved bearing surfaces to maintain the machine at the proper distance above the tunnel invert. There is a beam structure having a forward end connected to the support structure by a universal connection, and the beam structure is supported by a rearwardly positioned gantry. There is also a positioning means to rotate the support structure relative to the beam structure so as to move the head section both laterally and vertically, and also to correct roll orientation.