US 4,027,210 A · Method and control system to limit shifting movement of a winning tool for a tunneling machine

Abstract

The winning tool carried for universal movement by the frame of a tunneling machine is controlled by a system and method to limit tool movement in a manner to form a tunnel with a desired cross section. Positioning of the winning tool is determined in relation to a laser beam projecting along the length of the tunnel while the range of universal movement by the winning tool is limited by a set of tool coordinate values determined by scanning a pattern, template or the like defining an outline that is geometrically similar to the desired cross section of the tunnel. The tunneling machine carries a receiver for the laser beam that irradiates front and rear detectors each including an array of photodetectors. Servomotors respond to an output signal from the front detector to align the receiver by a translating motion so that the laser beam passes through a single passageway in the front detector to irradiate the rear detector. The servomotors drive position transducers that provide output signals corresponding to the translating motion. These output signals are used to modify signals representing the set of tool coordinate values which are also modified by an output signal from the rear detector that corresponds to angular travel by the mining machine relative to the laser beam. An inclinometer or other means provides a signal used to prevent horizontal deviations transversely of the tunnel roadway during the tunneling operation.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for limiting shifting movement of a winning tool carried for universal movement on a tunneling machine employed to form a tunnel having a desired cross section, said method including the steps of determining the position of said winning tool relative to the tunneling machine by generating tool position coordinate signals in relation to a laser beam projecting along the tunnel toward the tunneling machine, forming a set of tool coordinate values from a pattern, template or the like which defines a shape that is geometrically similar to the desired cross section of the tunnel, said set of tool coordinate values defining limits to the universal movement by said winning tool for movement thereof within the desired tunnel cross section, generating signals to correct the coordinate values of said set of tool coordinate values in response to a position deviation by said tunneling machine from its position when said tool position coordinate signals were formed.

A control system to limit movement of a winning tool including a support arm adapted for universal movement while supported by the frame of a tunneling machine employed to form a tunnel with a desired cross section, the position of the winning tool being determined in relation to a laser beam projecting from a laser transmitter along the length of the tunnel while the range of universal movement by the winning tool is limited by a set of tool coordinate values formed by the output of a device to scan a member such as a pattern, a template or the like which defines a geometrical outline that corresponds to the desired tunnel cross section, said control system including:

a receiver having two consecutively-arranged and parallel receiver surfaces facing toward said laser transmitter to detect the laser beam, said receiver being supported by the frame of said tunneling machine in a manner such that one of said receiver surfaces defines a front receiver that includes an array of detectors bounding a common passageway corresponding essentially to the diameter of the laser beam, the other receiver surface including a detector defining a rear receiver,
separate amplifier means for the output signal from each detector of said array of detectors,
servomotor means responsive to an output signal from each amplifier means for said array of detectors to move both of said front and rear receivers by translating motion to align the common passageway in the front receiver with the laser beam and thereby irradiate the rear receiver with the laser beam.
transmitter means coupled to said servomotor means, and
means receiving the output signals from said transmitter means and the output signals from said means to scan for producing electrical deviation signals corresponding to angular deviations of said tunneling machine relative to said laser beam, the last said means further receiving the output signal from said rear receiver when irradiated by the laser beam.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and control system to limit shifting movement of a winning tool for a tunneling machine

Life of this patent

Method and control system to limit shifting movement of a winning tool for a tunneling machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30