Tunnel-driving and support system

Abstract

A tunnel support machine for use in a tunnel forming system wherein the tunnel support machine follows a tunnel-driving machine during the driving operation. Through the operation of the tunnel support machine, a preferably inaccessible tunnel cavity formed by the tunnel-driving machine is supported by a profiled ribbon which is continuously fed to the tunnel support machine and continuously spirally wound thereby into a support tube which lines and reinforces the tunnel cavity. Supply and discharge lines extending rearwardly from the tunnel-driving machine generally in the central area of the tunnel cavity connect to longitudinally extending bores provided in a stationary cylindrical part of a rotary bushing of the tunnel support machine. The longitudinal bores in the cylindrical part of the rotary bushing in turn are in communication with longitudinal bores provided in the body of a stationary outer tube of the rotary bushing which are connected to rearwardly directed lines that rest on the support tube floor and extend outwardly of the wound profiled ribbon support tube to a source location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.