All-conditions tunnel boring machine

A tunnel boring machine comprising:

• a cutter head that includes at least one cutting mechanism that is configured to bore out a tunnel having a tunnel wall;
• a conveyor configured to transport material cut by the cutter head;
• a main beam configured to support the conveyor;
• a first shield located behind the cutter head about a perimeter of the cutter head and extending in a longitudinal direction away from the cutter head;
• a ground conditioning work zone located within the first shield;
• a second shield located behind the first shield;
• a third shield located behind the second shield;
• wherein the first shield, the second shield, and the third shield provide protection for an interior of the tunnel boring machine;
• a gripper assembly located within the third shield configured to move a gripper shoe between an undeployed position and an extended position that is in contact with the tunnel wall wherein the gripper shoe applies force on the tunnel wall to secure the position of the third shield;
• an arm assembly within the ground conditioning work zone wherein the arm assembly is supported by the main beam;
• wherein the arm assembly includes at least one probing drill for drilling at least one hole to probe the terrain that has not yet been bored in front of the cutter head and in front of the first shield;
• wherein the first shield is configured to be retracted relative to the second shield to provide access for the arm assembly to the interior of the tunnel wall;
• wherein the arm assembly is further configured to apply at least one ground support device when the first shield is retracted relative to the second shield at a location behind the cutter head and in advance of the second shield wherein the at least one ground support device includes at least one of the following:
• at least one ground conditioning agent that is configured to fill at least one of the holes upon a detection of unstable ground, water, or weak rocks;
• a bolt that is configured to secure the ground;
• a ring beam that is configured to secure the ground;
• a mesh structure that is configured to secure the ground;
• and
• an amount of shotcrete that is configured to be dispersed on the tunnel wall to secure the ground;
• a segment erector arm movable along the main beam and located behind the third shield and configured to install a plurality of segments to line the tunnel wall as the cutter head is moving forward;
• at least one first propulsion mechanism that includes one end in contact with the main beam and another end in contact with one of the third shield and the gripper assembly;
• wherein the at least one first propulsion mechanism is configured to push against the third shield as it is secured in position by the gripper shoe when the gripper shoe is in a deployed position, wherein the at least one first propulsion mechanism moves the cutter head, the first shield, and the second shield forward while the third shield and the gripper assembly remain stationary;
• and
• at least one second propulsion mechanism that includes a first end in contact with the third shield and a second end being movable;
• wherein the at least one second propulsion mechanism is configured to push off with the second end pushing against the most recently installed segment of the tunnel wall to advance the cutter head, the first shield, the second shield, the third shield, and the gripper assembly.