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US 4,107,930 AGranted
Method and apparatus for sinking shafts
AssigneeGewerkschaft Walter
InventorTheodor Thiehofe
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AssigneeGewerkschaft Walter
InventorTheodor Thiehofe
Estimating the term…
A method of sinking a shaft, particularly in unstable ground, comprises driving an annular shield into the ground and controlling the sinking speed of the driving shield by varying the cross-sectional area of the shield, and lining the excavated shaft behind the shield as it is advanced. An excavating device for forming the vertical shaft comprises an annular driving shield which is displaceable relative to an annular platform by fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder jacks connected therebetween. The structure includes an annular shield tail which is connected to the shield and extends rearwardly of the shield and the platform and the shield itself is provided with an inwardly directed taper and has prop means associated therewith for varying the affective taper and the affective cross-sectional area of the shield. The excavated shaft is lined behind the shield and the tail portion thereof as the shield is advanced. An annular machine platform is braced against the lining by telescopically movable braces which are fluid pressure driven to engage against the lining.
A method of sinking shafts particularly in unstable ground, comprising placing an open ended annular shield in a vertical position with its open end positioned into the ground and advancing the shield into the ground, controlling the advancing speed of the driving shield by varying the size of the opening within of the shield to reduce the speed with reduction in the opening area and as a function of the nature of the ground, and lining the excavated shaft behind the shield as it is advanced.
An excavating device for sinking vertical shafts, comprising an annular driving shield, an annular platform, fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder jacks connected between said platform and said driving shield for the driving advance of the shield downwardly from said platform, an annular shield tail connected to said platform and extending upwardly from said platform, said shield being shaped with an inwardly and upwardly extending taper at its lower end so as to define a gradually increasing cross-section which penetrates into the ground, and an annular platform having means for permitting engagement and release thereof for positioning so as to follow the platform and shield into the excavation, the excavating device further including propping means associated with said driving shield which are extensible outwardly from a tip thereof to widen the effective area of ground penetration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.