Device, system and method for reinforcing a tunnel

A method comprising:

• collecting dirt received in a capsule during drilling at a first end of the capsule, the drilling to form a tunnel;
• conditioning in the capsule a first portion of the dirt, including mixing the first portion with a binder to form a casing material, the binder comprising an epoxy;
• and
• extruding the casing material from a second end of the capsule to form a reinforcement structure disposed along a side of the tunnel, wherein extruding the casing material includes forcing the casing material through a die having a cross-sectional shape of the reinforcement structure with a pump.

A system comprising:

• a capsule including:
• a drill head to drill a tunnel;
• a housing coupled to the drill head, the housing to receive dirt while the drill head drills the tunnel;
• a dirt conditioning unit disposed in the housing and configured to collect the dirt and to condition a first portion of the dirt by mixing the first portion of the dirt with a binder to form a casing material, the binder comprising an epoxy;
• and
• a compactor including a pump and a die, the pump coupled to receive the casing material from the dirt conditioning unit and to force the casing material through the die as an extrusion and out a rear end of the housing to form a reinforcement structure disposed along a side of the tunnel wherein the die forms a cross-sectional shape of the reinforcement structure as the casing material is extruded;
• and
• a cable coupled to the capsule and extending from the housing, the cable to couple the capsule to a computer platform and to exchange control signals between the capsule and the computer platform while the drill head drills the tunnel.