# US 4,396,313 A · Method of forming flooring in tunnels

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- Number: US 4,396,313 A
- Document ID: US4396313A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/169,983
- Filed: 1980-07-18
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1980-07-18
- Assignees: Guy F. Atkinson Company
- Inventors: Dennis C. McCarry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396313A

## CPC

- E21D 11/08: with preformed concrete slabs {(backfilling the space between the slabs and the rock E21D11/105)}
- 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

A method for providing a flooring in a tunnel using a moving floor is disclosed herein. This method includes providing the moving floor with a flat, horizontally extending support surface extending rearwardly therefrom at floor level and movable therewith, advancing the moving floor and support surface, and placing precast concrete floor slabs to extend across the tunnel on the excavated tunnel invert exposed by the moving floor whereby to provide flooring along the length of the tunnel, each of the slabs being initially placed, one at a time, onto the support surface and adjacent the previous slab while remaining on the surface, and thereafter from the surface onto the tunnel invert as the moving floor and support surface are advanced.

## Claims

### Claim 1

The method of providing a flooring in a tunnel of the type in which a moving floor is employed at the tunnel face to support the tunneling equipment which comprises the steps of providing the moving floor with a flat, horizontally extending support surface extending rearwardly therefrom at floor level and movable therewith, advancing the moving floor and support surface, and placing precast concrete floor slabs to extend across the tunnel on the excavated tunnel invert exposed by the moving floor whereby to provide flooring along the length of the tunnel, each of said slabs being initially placed, one at a time, onto said support surface and adjacent the previous slab while remaining on said surface, and thereafter from said surface onto said tunnel invert as said moving floor and support surface are advanced wherein said equipment is supported on rails, said method including the additional step of mounting rails on the floor slab to provide a continuous track.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 including the additional step of injecting grout between the tunnel invert and the slabs after the slabs have been placed on the tunnel floor.

### Claim 3

The method of providing a flooring in a tunnel of the type in which a moving floor is employed at the tunnel face to support the tunneling equipment which comprises the steps of providing the moving floor with a flat, horizontally support surface extending rearwardly therefrom at floor level and movable therewith, advancing the moving floor and said support surfaces, placing wall and ceiling support ribs in the excavated tunnel at spaced intervals, placing precast concrete floor slabs to extend across the tunnel on the excavated tunnel invert exposed by the moving floor by first placing each successive slab onto said support surface and against the previous slab while thereon and thereafter causing the slab to move off of the support surface and onto the tunnel invert by advancing the moving floor and said surface whereby to provide a support floor for the tunneling equipment along the length of the tunnel, and placing support blocks between slab ends and the ribs to restrain inward movement of the ribs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method as in claim 3 wherein said equipment is supported on rails including the additional steps of mounting rails on the floor slabs to provide a continuous track.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A method as in claim 3 including the additional step of supporting said slabs on a firm surface when they are initially placed on the excavated tunnel invert and moving the surface to allow the slabs to contact the floor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A method as in claim 3 including the additional step of injecting grout between the tunnel invert and the slab to provide additional support for said slab.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 including the step of providing said moving floor with means for pushing against the slab most recently placed on said support surface for causing a moving floor and support surface to advance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

A method according to claim 3 including the step of providing said moving floor with means for pushing against the slab most recently placed on said support surface for causing a moving floor and support surface to advance.