# US 2024/0200449 A1 · Tunnel excavation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200449 A1 - Document ID: US20240200449A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/909,830 - Filed: 2021-02-26 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27 - Assignees: Komatsu Ltd. - Applicants: Komatsu Ltd. - Inventors: Naoki SEKIYAMA; Masahiro SUWANO; Hiroshi ASANO; Taku ARAKAWA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200449A1 ## CPC - E21D 9/1093: {Devices for supporting, advancing or orientating the machine or the tool-carrier (measuring devices for guiding machines E21D9/003; anchoring in the borehole E21B4/18)} - E21D 9/06: Making by using a driving shield {, i.e. advanced by pushing means bearing against the already placed lining (pushing prefabricated elements through the ground from an access pit E21D9/005)} - E21D 9/10: Making by using boring or cutting machines (E21D9/08 takes precedence; mining picks E21C35/18) - E21D 9/11: with a rotary drilling-head cutting simultaneously the whole cross-section, i.e. full-face machines - E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F) ## Abstract The tunnel excavation device includes a front body section and a rear body section. The front body section includes a cutter head, a cutter head support, and a vertical shoe. The rear body section is disposed to a rear of the front body section and includes a gripper section for obtaining a reaction force when excavating. The cutter head includes a plurality of roller cutters. The cutter head support supports the cutter head. The vertical shoe is disposed below the cutter head support and is provided in a turnable manner to the cutter head support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tunnel excavation device comprising: a front body section including a cutter head including a plurality of cutters, a cutter head support section supporting the cutter head, and a lower shoe disposed below the cutter head support section, the lower shoe being provided in a turnable manner to the cutter head support section; and a rear body section including a gripper section configured to obtain a reaction force when excavating, the rear body section being disposed to rear of the front body section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 1, wherein the front body section includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to move the lower shoe in a direction approaching the cutter head support section and in a direction away from the cutter head support section, and the hydraulic cylinder is disposed at a center of rotation of the lower shoe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 1, wherein the front body section further includes a pair of lateral shoes disposed lateral to the cutter head support section, and each of the lateral shoes includes a lateral shoe front section connected to the cutter head support section, and a lateral shoe rear section disposed on a rear side of the lateral shoe front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the lateral shoe front section, and the lateral shoe rear section is configured so that a rear end of the lateral shoe rear section is turnable in a horizontal direction about a coupling section with the lateral shoe front section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 3, wherein the front body section further includes a first actuator disposed between the lateral shoe front section and the cutter head support section, the first actuator being configured to move the lateral shoe front section in a direction approaching the cutter head support section and in a direction away from the cutter head support section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 1, wherein the front body section includes an upper shoe disposed above the cutter head support section, and the upper shoe includes an upper shoe center section, and upper shoe side sections disposed on either side in a width direction of the upper shoe center section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe center section, each of the upper shoe side sections being configured so that an end on an outside of the upper shoe side section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe center section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 5, wherein the front body section further includes a second actuator disposed between the upper shoe center section and the cutter head support section, the second actuator being configured to move the upper shoe center section in a direction approaching the cutter head support section and in a direction away from the cutter head support section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 5, wherein the upper shoe center section includes an upper shoe center front section coupled to the cutter head support section, and an upper shoe center rear section disposed on a rear side of the upper shoe center front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe center front section, the upper shoe center rear section being configured so that a rear end of the upper shoe center rear section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe center front section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 5, wherein each of the upper shoe side sections includes an upper shoe side front section coupled to upper shoe center section, and an upper shoe side rear section disposed on a rear side of the upper shoe side front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe side front section, the upper shoe side rear section being configured so that a rear end of the upper shoe side rear section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe side section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 2, wherein the front body section further includes a pair of lateral shoes disposed lateral to the cutter head support section, and each of the lateral shoes includes a lateral shoe front section connected to the cutter head support section, and a lateral shoe rear section disposed on a rear side of the lateral shoe front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the lateral shoe front section, and the lateral shoe rear section is configured so that a rear end of the lateral shoe rear section is turnable in a horizontal direction about a coupling section with the lateral shoe front section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 9, wherein the front body section further includes a first actuator disposed between the lateral shoe front section and the cutter head support section, the first actuator being configured to move the lateral shoe front section in a direction approaching the cutter head support section and in a direction away from the cutter head support section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 10, wherein the front body section includes an upper shoe disposed above the cutter head support section, and the upper shoe includes an upper shoe center section, and upper shoe side sections disposed on either side in a width direction of the upper shoe center section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe center section, each of the upper shoe side sections being configured so that an end on an outside of the upper shoe side section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe center section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 11, wherein the front body section further includes a second actuator disposed between the upper shoe center section and the cutter head support section, the second actuator being configured to move the upper shoe center section in a direction approaching the cutter head support section and in a direction away from the cutter head support section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 12, wherein the upper shoe center section includes an upper shoe center front section coupled to the cutter head support section, and an upper shoe center rear section disposed on a rear side of the upper shoe center front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe center front section, the upper shoe center rear section being configured so that a rear end of the upper shoe center rear section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe center front section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tunnel excavation device according to claim 13, wherein each of the upper shoe side sections includes an upper shoe side front section coupled to upper shoe center section, and an upper shoe side rear section disposed on a rear side of the upper shoe side front section and coupled in a turnable manner to the upper shoe side front section, the upper shoe side rear section being configured so that a rear end of the upper shoe side rear section is turnable in a vertical direction about a coupling section with the upper shoe side section.