Tunnel Extraction Machine (TEM)

A tunnel extraction machine 5 to extract and excavate material from ground, the machine 5 comprising:

• a ring cutter head 210,
• a plurality of cutter head pans 215 including a plurality of plasma torches 216 or water jet nozzles or microwave antenna that are rotatably mounted on said ring cutter head 210,
• a plurality of plasma torches 226 or water jet nozzles or microwave antennas mounted on a plurality of sliding pans 225 on a plurality of sliding rails 228,
• a central rail holder 295 positioned at axial center of said machine 5 which said sliding rails 228 are rotatably mounted,
• wherein tunnel face is only excavated at location of said ring cutter head 210 circumferentially and at location of said sliding pans 225 longitudinally while said machine 5 moves forward and concurrently unexcavated and untouched part of tunnel enters into spaces between said ring cutter head 210 and said sliding pans 225,
• whereby said drum cutters 225 will be rotated around central axis of said machine 5 for transversal excavation at their location when needed,
• wherein unexcavated parts of tunnel are extracted without necessity of digging them.

A tunnel extraction machine 5 to extract and excavate material from ground, the machine 5 comprising:

• a hollow ring cutter head 10 with a plurality of openings 20 and a plurality of cutting tools 15 on its external face that is rotated around central axis of said machine 5 for excavation,
• a cylindrical forward shield 35 which said ring cutter head 10 is rotatably mounted,
• a plurality of drum cutters 325 with a plurality of cutting tools on their external faces that are rotated axially for excavation,
• a cylindrical middle shield 36 at extension of said cylindrical forward shield 35,
• a muck frame 21 comprising a central frame 92 located at central axis of said machine 5, a cylindrical muck external frame 90 and a plurality of muck internal frame 91 that is connecting said central frame 92 and said external frame 90,
• a plurality of axial drum drives 350 that are rotatably mounted within said internal muck frame 91, wherein said drum cutters 325 are rotated axially by axial shaft 351 connected between said drum cutters 325 and said axial drum drive 350,
• wherein said muck internal frame 91 are located behind said drum cutters 325 during moving forward of said machine 5,
• wherein tunnel face is only excavated at location of said ring cutter head 10 circumferentially and at location of said drum cutters 325 longitudinally while said machine 5 moves forward and concurrently unexcavated and untouched parts of tunnel 81 enter into spaces between said ring cutter head 10 and said drum cutters 325,
• whereby said axial drum drive 350 will be rotated axially within said internal muck frame 91 to rotate said drum cutters 325 during transversal excavation of the rock,
• wherein unexcavated parts of tunnel 81 are extracted without necessity of digging them.

A horseshoe shape tunnel extraction machine 550 to extract and excavate material from ground, the machine 550 comprising:

• a plurality of sliding or rotating rails 328 with a horseshoe shape in perimeter matching with shape of said machine 550 and a plurality of internal vertical and horizontal members,
• a plurality of plasma torches 216 on perimeter of said rails 328 to cut circumferential of the horseshoe shape section,
• a plurality of internal plasma torches 226 on internal members of said rails 328,
• wherein tunnel face is only cut at perimeter of said machine 550 circumferentially and at location of said internal members of rails 328 longitudinally while said machine 550 moves forward and concurrently unexcavated and untouched parts of ground 481 and 482 enter into spaces within perimeter and internal members of said rails 328,
• whereby horizontal or vertical members of said rails 328 are rotatable axially and radially and slidable for transversal cutting of the ground,
• wherein unexcavated parts of ground 481 and 482 are extracted without necessity of digging them.