Apparatus for forming an underground tunnel
AssigneesHilary Leith Lumb, James Edward Morgan, Leith Norma Morgan
InventorMatthew Lumb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for forming an underground tunnel. The apparatus comprises a cutting head for removing material from a wall portion of the tunnel and thereby forming a portion of the tunnel. Further, the apparatus comprises a support structure for supporting a previously formed portion of the tunnel. The support structure is arranged to provide a supporting force against a surface of the tunnel when stationary and when being moved along the tunnel. Further, the apparatus comprises a conveyor for conveying removed material from the cutting head to a location remote from the cutting head during formation of the portion of the tunnel.
Claims37
An apparatus for forming an underground tunnel, the apparatus comprising:
- a cutting head for removing material from an end-face of the tunnel and thereby forming a further portion of the tunnel;
- a member coupled to the cutting head and arranged to push the cutting head against the end-face of the tunnel during removal of the material;
- a support structure for supporting a previously formed portion of the tunnel by providing a supporting force against a surface of the tunnel, the support structure being arranged to move along the tunnel while maintaining the supporting force during formation of the further portion of the tunnel;
- and
- a conveyor for conveying removed material to a location remote from the cutting head during formation of the further portion of the tunnel;
- wherein the cutting head is movable during removal of the material in a direction into the tunnel and the support structure is arranged to move into the tunnel in response to and during progression of the tunnel.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the member is arranged so that the cutting head is movable independently from the support structure in a direction along the underground tunnel.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claim wherein the apparatus is arranged so that in use the support structure, or a portion thereof, during removal of the material by the cutting head, is movable to a position immediately behind a coupling of the cutting head without restricting movement of the cutting head in a direction that is transversal to a direction of movement of the support structure or the portion thereof.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the conveyor is arranged to enable conveying of the removed material along the tunnel to a suitable location in a manner such that inhibiting of formation of the portion of the tunnel, or the entire tunnel, due to accumulated removed material is avoided.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is arranged so that in use removed material is continuously conveyed away from the cutting head.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the support structure comprises a void area through which in use the removed material is transported and wherein a portion of the conveyor is positioned within the void area.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of supporting parts each of which is arranged to exert a supporting force and move along the surface in a manner such that the supporting force is maintained during movement relative to the surface of the tunnel.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claim comprising a device for placing support bolts and wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the formation of the tunnel does not have to be interrupted for the placement of the bolts.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is arranged for formation of non-straight sections of the tunnel.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the conveyor comprises conveyor elements that are movable relative to each other.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims comprising a series of conveyor elements and each conveyor element has a portion that is overlapped with a portion of an adjacent conveyor element.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein comprising machinery for operating the cutting head and wherein the apparatus is arranged so that at least a portion of machinery for operating the cutting head is in use positioned at the location remote to the cutting head.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the member comprises a hydraulic arrangement for pushing the cutting head against the wall during removing of the material and wherein the a device for generating the hydraulic pressure for operating the hydraulic arrangement is in use positioned at the position remote from the cutting head.
The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the member comprises an interior that is enclosed at side and top portions and wherein the member is arranged for conveying cut material away from the cutting head through the interior portion.
A method of forming an underground tunnel, the method comprising:
- pushing a cutting head against an end-face of the underground tunnel;
- removing material from the end-face of the underground tunnel using the cutting head and thereby forming a further portion of the underground tunnel;
- moving the cutting head into the tunnel as formation of the tunnel progresses;
- supporting a previously formed portion of the underground tunnel using a support structure, the support structure being arranged to provide a supporting force during movement of the support structure along the tunnel;
- moving the support structure along the tunnel during removal of the material by the cutting head;
- and
- conveying removed material to a location remote from the cutting head during formation of the underground tunnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.