Modifications to a tbm structure to provide roof support installation

Abstract

A TBM having a cylindrically shaped member located on said TBM just behind the rotating boring head, said member being of similar diameter as said tunnel and comprising sectionalized components so as to be adjustable in diameter, said member having a plurality of steel angle members welded to the surface of the top-most component so as to extend axially along the length of said cylindrically shaped member, said steel angle members forming axially extending receptacles therein.

1 . A TBM having an axially extending frame, a rotating head, a non-rotating stabilizing device, a propulsion means, and a conveyor extending axially along the length of said TBM,
 said rotating head being suitably journalled in said stabilizing head for rotation on said TBM in close proximity behind said rotating head,   said stabilizing device being mounted on said frame and having the shape of a hollow cylinder such that the stabilizing device has an outer diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of said rotating head, and   said stabilizing device has a plurality of axially extending elongated receptacles formed therein.   
     
     
         2 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said receptacles extend substantially the entire length of said stabilizing member. 
     
     
         3 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said stabilizing device comprises at least a top and a bottom section of said plurality of receptacles is located in the top section of said stabilizing device. 
     
     
         4 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said top and bottom sections of said stabilizing device are slidably connected together at sliding joints to allow the diameter of said stabilizing device to be adjustable within certain predetermined limits. 
     
     
         5 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said receptacles are formed by welding a plurality of steel members of a predetermined shape to said stabilizing device. 
     
     
         6 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 5  in which said receptacles are of a rectangular cross section and are located at the top of said stabilizing device. 
     
     
         7 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said plurality of steel members are steel angles welded to said stabilizing device to extend axially of said TBM. 
     
     
         8 . A TBM for boring a tunnel through strata which is unstable, said TBM comprising:
 a main beam, a rotatable boring head, a stabilizing member of the type which has rearwardly extending fingers attached thereto, a propulsion device, and a conveyor device,   said rotatable boring head being suitably journalled in said TBM for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said TBM,   said stabilizing member being modified to form a hollow cylinder in which the rearwardly extending finger members have been removed, said stabilizing member being installed on said TBM and adapted to journal said boring head in close juxtaposition therein, and   propulsion device comprising at least a pair of actuating devices mounted on said TBM to engage the walls of said tunnel and push said rotatable boring head against the tunnel face,   said conveyor device extending at least the length of said TBM to convey debris created by said rotatable boring head from said rotatable boring head along the length of said TBM,   said stabilizing member being further modified by the presence of a plurality of longitudinally extending members secured to said stabilizing member and extending the length of said stabilizing member, said longitudinally extending members forming a plurality of longitudinally extending receptacles therein.   
     
     
         9 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said stabilizing member is a hollow cylinder having a series of joints therein to permit the stabilizing member to be adjustable in diameter. 
     
     
         10 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said stabilizing member comprises a plurality of sections having a series of longitudinally extending joints interconnecting said sections. 
     
     
         11 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 10  where said sections are each interconnected by a joint which allows said stabilizing member to be adjustable in diameter, each section having at least one actuator connected thereto to alter the diameter of said stabilizing member. 
     
     
         12 . A TBM as claimed in  claim 10  which has a longitudinal axis, and said stabilizing member is provided with longitudinally extending members which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said TBM on the outer surface of said stabilizer member, and the receptacles so formed have a rectangular cross-section.