US2196100A - Tunneling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 1940- A. D CAPUTO 2,196,100

TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z t 1 a1N ZEg 5 ZJR. BY

ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. A, D, APUTO 2,196,100

TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig. 6

ATTORNEY- April 1940- A. D, CAPUTO TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlI 'llllllq'l'llllll l rrlilme will. I III!!! ill.

TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 TUNNELING APPARATUS Antonio D. Caputo, Pittsburgh, Pa. I Application June 14, 1939, Serial No. 279,111

8 Claims.

The invention relates to a sheet metal shield of arch form which is advanced into the tunnel as excavations progress, and which will support the earth while the permanent tunnel lining is Y 6 being installed.

One object of my invention is to provide a tunnel shield structure or temporary roof and wall support of such form that it can conveniently be advanced as excavation progresses and which ,can be readily manipulated to direct it in curved paths.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tunnel shield and jack advancing means therefor, so arranged that they can conveniently be employed in facilitating the installation of the permanent lining for the tunnel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a protracted plan view of the tunnel-shield and hood of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through one of the lifting jacks of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view thereof; Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional View showing a modification of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing means for distributing thrust stresses of the horizontal jacks to the permanent tunnel lining members; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view showing the manner in which the hood portion of the shield is connected to the forward portion thereof, and Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification'of the cutter blade of Fig. l.

The apparatus comprises I-beams l2 and I3, each of generally arch form, connected by suitable cross bars [4 and I5, and constituting a frame for the shield plates. Ateach side of the frame a pair of jacks l6 support it on suitable track rails or plates ll. These jacks can be used to raise and lower the shield, and are mounted on trucks that comprise rollers which are journalled in housings l8 that shield the rollers from dirt and contain the bearings for the rollers.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, each jack comprises a screw H! which is supported upon the truck andextends through a bracket 211! that is carried by the frame member M or the frame member 15, as the case may be, the screw lfibeing splined or slidably keyed through its length, at 2! to the bearing bracket or block and an operating nut 22 being journalled in the block 16 and, provided withradial holes whereby it may be turned by a bar or handle. Rotationof (Cl. iii-85) 4 the nut 22 will effect raising and lowering of the frame members l2 and I3.

The shield is divided into a front section A and a rear section B, the section A consisting of sheet metal plates 24 that are bolted or riveted to the frame members l2 and [3, the upper plates projecting forwardly of the arch beam I2 and carrying a blade 2 9a that serves as a cutting edge. The longitudinal edges of the plates 24 are connected by splice plates or bars 25 to which the plates are secured by screws or bolts.

The rear or hood section B of the shield is composed of sheet metal plates 21 whose forward edges are bolted to the arch beam iii. The abutting edges of theplates are connected by splice bars 28 disposed against the inner sides of the plates, and having countersunk holes through which screws 29 extend and have screw threaded engagement with holes in the plates- 27. The

heads of the screws will be flush with the inner surfaces of the bars 28. No permanent support other than the splice plates 28 are provided at the rear ends of the plates 27 and, therefore, the shield section B can flex somewhat in going around curves of large radius. When the shield is to be pushed around curves of short radius (either laterally or vertically), the screws 29 and the bars 28 will be removed, so that the plates 2'! can flex more readily. For still further flexing of the plates 21, the bolts 30 (Fig. 9) at the forward ends of the plates will be loosened somewhat but not taken out, to provide some looseness or lost motion.

The shield A- B will be advanced by screw jacks 3|, one of which will be mounted in thetop of theshield and others at the sides thereof, interiorly of the shield. The jacks are supported by the arch bars I 2 and I3 and are shown as extending through the web of the bar 13. At their rear ends they have thrust engagement: with an arch bar 32 that constitutes part of the permanent tunnel structure or lining.

The jacks 3! each comprises a tubular portion 33 that is supported on the beams I2 and i3 and a screw 34 that has threaded engagement with the sleeve 33 and thrust engagement at its rear advance that side at a somewhat faster rate than at the other side.

The tunnel lining consists of a series of arch bars 32 to which filler plates 40 are connected, the edges of the plates being turned laterally to form flanges at their inner surfaces through which bolts or rivets are engaged to hold the plates together.

Before advancing the tunnel shield A-B from the position shown in Fig. 1, another arch bar 32 will be placed therein adjacent to the arch bar i3, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and liner plates 40 put into position. Thereupon the shield will be advanced by the jacks 3|. Tar paper or other water proof material 4! can be pleased around the outer sides of the beams 32 to prevent seepage of water through the tunnel lining. The paper will direct water to the floor of the tunnel at the edges of the lining, from whence it can be drained or pumped away.

Where great force is required to advance the shield 23 by the jacks, heavy planks 42 will be placed between some of the arch bars 32 near the front of the permanent lining, and angle bars 43 will similarly be placed between said arch bars, as shown in Fig. 8. The angle bars 43 can readily be removed for further use. Thrust blocks or bars ":4 which can suitably be of channel form may also be interposed between the rear ends of the jack structures 34 and foremost beam 32, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8, to distribute pushing stresses thereon and thus prevent distortion thereof.

As indicated in Fig. 1, short planks 45 set within arch beams 32, may be employed in lieu of the lining plates 46, or the upper portion of the lining may consist of metal plates 4% and the lower side portions thereof of the short planks 35.

Still another form of lining is shown in Fig. '7, such lining consisting of blocks or slabs 46 of reinforced concrete or the like, set into the I- beams 32 as shown, the blocks being mainly supported by these arch bars 32. To facilitate installation of the concrete blocks 56, the screw 34 will be retracted into the sleeve 33, whereupon the foremost arch bar 32 will first be placed in the hood 2'! a little forwardly of its normal resting place, as shown at the upper right-hand corner of Fig. '7. Thereupon false work (not shown) may be set into place for temporarily supporting the uppermost slabs 46, the rear ends of the slabs then being inserted into the next arch bar 32. When all of the slabs 36 have thus been placed, the foremost bar 32 will then be pushed backwardly by the jacks or otherwise, into interfitting relationship with the front ends of the slabs 46. The jack screws 34 will then be brought into engagement with such foremost bar, to again advance the shield, as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 10, I show a structure wherein a cutting edge or knife 4'! can be adjusted longitudinally of the shield plates 2 When going through loose soil or sand which tends to cave too readily and thus interfere with operations near the front end of the shield, as through loose material burying the trucks I8 and their jacks, the members 4'! will be projected forwardly as indicated by the dark lines.

The blade or blades 41 are secured to an arched plate or plates 43 that fit interiorly of the shield 24, and have slots 49 through which bolts extend to permit of said longitudinal adjustment. The flanged end 56 of the member and strengthening blocks 52 carried thereby, have threaded engagement with screws or jacks 5| that abut against the arch bar l2, at 53. The screws 5| have heads 54 whereby the screws can be rotated by a wrench or in some other manner, to effect longitudinal adjustments of the cutter 41.

I claim as my invention:

1. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield for penetrating and supporting the earth into which it is advanced, a hood section disposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto, the said hood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of the tunnel and curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, and the longitudinal edges of adjacent plates being normally in abutting relation to one another.

2. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield for penetrating and supporting earth as it is advanced, a hood section disposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto, the said hood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of the tunnel and curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, the longitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned adjacent to one another, and longitudinallyextending splice strips overlapping said adjacent edges.

3. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield for penetrating and supporting earth as it is advanced, a hood section disposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto, the said hood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of the tunnel and curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, the 1ongitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned adjacent to one another, and longitudinally-extending splice strips overlapping said adjacent edges and detachably secured to the inner faces of the plates, by attaching means that are countersunk with respect to the interior surface of the strips, whereby the strips may slide on permanent tunnel-lining bars placed within the said hood, when the shield is being moved forwardly.

4. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch bars disposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a

hood having its forward end supported by the rearmost bar and projecting rearwardly of the shield, and means for so connecting the forward end of the hood to the rearmost bar that the connection may be rigid when desired, or nonrigid, to provide a flexible joint between the hood and the shield.

5. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch bars disposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hood having its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projecting rearwardly of the shield, and longitudinally-extending jacks carried by said bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood, when expanded, the hood comprising flexible plates curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, and the longitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned in abutting relation to one another.

6. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch bars disposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hood having its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projecting rearwardly of the shield, longitudinally-extending jacks carried by said bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood, when expanded, and an arch bar fitting within said hood and engageable by the rearends of the jacks, for supporting tunnel lining members, the shield and the hood being advanced when the jacks are expanded against the last-named arch bar.

7. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch bars disposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hood having its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projecting rearwardly of the shield, longitudinaly extending jacks carried by said bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood when expanded, and an arch bar fitting within said hood'and engageable by the rear ends of the jacks, for supporting tunnel lining members, the shield and the hood being advanced when the jacks are expanded against the last-named arch bar, and the hood being slidable on the said arch bar.

8. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch bars disposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a

hood having its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projecting rearwardly of the shield, and longitudinally-extending jacks carried by said bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood when expanded, the hood comprising flexible plates curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, and the longitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned in abutting relation to one another, the said shield having a cutting edge projecting forwardly of the front arch bar.

ANTONIO D. CAPUTO.

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