Loading patent…
AssigneePhoenix Boring, Inc.
InventorsRoberto Zillante, Thorin Tobiassen, Thomas Egan
Estimating the term…
Novel hybrid tunnel boring methods, systems, and apparatuses are described. Example hybrid methods integrate (a) thermal processing, e.g., preconditioning and/or thermal spallation (which may be used as pre-treatment), and (b) mechanical processing while boring tunnels in rock and other formations. Thermal processing and mechanical processing may be used alternatively or simultaneously. For example, the preconditioning may use thermal energy to induce thermal shock and weaken the rock (e.g., cause expansion stress, micro-fractures, thermal spallation, etc.). This preconditioning changes the relevant properties of the rock relative to the additional (e.g., mechanical) excavation, including, among other things, effective compressive stress, abrasion properties, and hardness. This preconditioned rock can therefore be efficiently removed using mechanical drilling tools, resulting in, for example, faster boring speeds, reduced tool wear, enhanced precision, and longer deployment lengths (e.g., in comparison to conventional TBM and especially MTBM approaches).
A hybrid boring head defined by a primary axis and configured for boring an underground tunnel through ground comprising both soil and rock using different ones of multiple operating modes of the hybrid boring head, the hybrid boring head comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.