Soil transporting vehicle for transporting soils excavated by shield machine

A soil transporting vehicle for transporting the soil excavated by a shield machine having a pressure compartment defined therein between a cutter head and a diaphragm located behind the cutter head, into which pressure compartment the pressurized slurry or air is introduced, the vehicle comprising:

• a cylindrical soil container having soil introduction and discharge opening means and being pressure resistant,
• said soil introduction and discharge opening means consisting of a first opening and a second opening in said soil container, said first and second openings being aligned along a longitudinal axis of said soil container,
• soil conveying means arranged in the soil container adjacent to said opening means for moving the soils in the soil container axially thereof,
• a chassis for supporting the soil container rotatably about the longitudinal axis thereof,
• drive means for rotating the soil container about said axis between a soil introduction position wherein said first and second openings are directed upwardly and a soil discharge position wherein said first and second openings are directed downwardly,
• said soil container being provided with an inlet for introducing gas under pressure into the soil container, and a pressure regulating valve for regulating the pressure in said container to be substantially equal to that of said pressure compartment,
• a compressor connected with said gas inlet for introducing said pressurized gas into said soil container through the gas inlet,
• opening and closing valve means arranged between said compressor and said gas inlet for admitting said pressurized gas into said soil container to raise the pressure inside the soil container to be substantially equal to that of said pressure compartment before the soil is introduced into the soil container.