FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a tunneling plant to perform a sequence of tunneling works
such as an excavation, a mucking and a lining in a tunnel from a face side to an entrance
of a tunnel, particularly to a type of a tunnel plant using a continuous belt conveyer
in conveying muck, which plant can perform the lining work at the same time as the
excavation (mucking) work.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a mucking work during an excavation of a tunnel, a continuous belt conveyor whose
belt is expandable has hitherto been used. The muck is conveyed by means of the continuous
belt conveyor which is arranged throughout the tunnel to be constructed. The amount
of large vehicles which go through the tunnel inside is considerably reduced since
there is no need to use damp trucks to convey the muck. This makes it possible to
remarkably enhance safety in tunnel and, at the same time, to attain a clean working
environment in the tunnel
[0003] However, the conventional continuous belt conveyer is disadvantageous in that, when
it is used, for example, in a two-lane tunnel, a lining work cannot be performed at
the same time as an excavation (mucking) work since the conventional continuous belt
conveyor is supported from the tunnel side (from a bottom or a side of the tunnel)
for the purpose of maintaining a passing way for construction vehicles.
[0004] With a type of continuous belt conveyor supported from a tunnel bottom, the continuous
belt conveyor and a support which supports the continuous belt conveyor prevent the
work at the working area where blocking with wooden forms and the like of a space
between a lower end of a steel rib form of a centering and a formation level, and
location of the steel rib form by the expansion and contraction of a centering jack
are performed (hereinafter, referred to as "the lower part working area"). Accordingly
the lining work cannot be performed unless the continuous belt conveyor is removed
after the excavation (mucking) work.
[0005] With a type of continuous belt conveyor supported from a side of a tunnel, the continuous
belt conveyor and brackets which support the continuous belt conveyor also prevent
the work at the working area where attachment of waterproof sheets over the tunnel
wall at a transfer platform for sheets attachment, location of the steel rib form
by expansion and contraction of the centering jack, and concrete compaction with a
vibrator by looking through an inspection window are performed (hereinafter, referred
to as "the middle part working area"). Accordingly the lining work cannot be performed
unless the continuous belt conveyor is removed after the excavation (mucking) work.
[0006] The continuous belt conveyor is not arranged at the upper part of a transfer platform
for sheets attachment or a centering so as to support it, which is extremely dangerous.
[0007] An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a tunneling plant which
can perform the lining work at the same time as the excavation (mucking) work when
the continuous belt conveyor is used to convey the muck during the excavation work,
which condition leads to a rapid construction of the tunnel. Another object of the
present invention is to provide a tunneling plant which can remarkably improve safety
in the tunnel, and by which a clean working environment can be attained in the tunnel
being constructed.
THE DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a tunneling plant which
comprises a transfer platform for sheets, a centering and a continuous belt conveyor
to convey the muck, characterized in that, the continuous belt conveyor has two sections,
a tunnel supporting section in which the continuous belt conveyor is supported from
a tunnel side in front of the transfer platform for sheets part and in the rear of
the centering part, and a section other than the tunnel supporting section, serving
as a tunnel non-supporting section in which the continuous belt conveyor is not supported
from the tunnel side, whereby the continuous belt conveyor passes through the transfer
platform for sheets part and the centering part.
[0009] In the present invention, when the continuous belt conveyor is used to convey the
muck during the excavation of the tunnel, the continuous belt conveyor is supported
from the tunnel side in front of the transfer platform for sheets and in the rear
of the centering. At the scaffold and the centering, the continuous belt conveyor
passes through them without being supported, thereby the scaffold and the centering
can move freely according to their work. Consequently the lining work is performed
at the same time as the excavation (mucking) work, which condition leads to a rapid
construction of the tunnel. Furthermore, such condition leads to remarkable improvement
of safety and a clean working environment in the tunnel being constructed. This is
particularly efficient when the continuous belt conveyor is applied to a long tunnel
which has been considered that it is difficult to attain a clean working environment
thereof.
[0010] In this field, the continuous belt conveyor in the tunnel non-supporting section
is considered that it can be arranged at any range of the tunnel cross section if
the transfer platform for sheets and the centering can move freely according to their
work. However, in order to perform the work at the scaffold and at the centering easily
and smoothly, and to maintain vehicular traffic in the tunnel, it is preferable that
the continuous belt conveyor is arranged within the range between the lower part working
area and the middle part working area.
[0011] In particular, in order to support the continuous belt conveyor in the tunnel non-supporting
section more stably, it is more preferable that the continuous belt conveyor is supported
with brackets projecting from at least one of the transfer platform for sheets and
the centering without preventing their movement.
[0012] In this case, in order to make the transfer platform for sheets and the centering
move more smoothly, preferably the continuous belt conveyor is supported with the
brackets via rollers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a tunneling plant according to a first and
a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view A-A' of Fig.1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
first and a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view B-B' of Fig.1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
first and a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view C-C' of Fig-1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view D-D' of Fig.1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view C-C' of Fig.1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view D-D' of Fig.1 showing a tunneling plant according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by referring to the attached
drawings.
The first embodiment of the present invention
[0015] Now, Fig.1 is a schematic side view showing a tunneling plant according to the first
embodiment. Here, the tunneling plant of the present invention is applicable to various
types of tunnel. The tunnel according to this first embodiment is excavated by means
of blasting and NATM.
[0016] As shown in Fig.1, the reference numeral 1 indicates a tunnel composed of a section
1a, 1b and 1c from a face 2 side. Section 1a is a section where both setting out necessary
timbering and placement of spray concrete C1 are completed and both attachment of
waterproof sheets and placement of lining concrete C2 are not completed (hereinafter,
referred to as "the support section"). In the section 1b, attachment of waterproof
sheets are completed and placement of the lining concrete C2 is not completed (hereinafter,
referred to as "the waterproof sheets section"). Both attachment of waterproof sheets
and placement of the lining concrete C2 are completed in the section 1c (hereinafter,
referred to as "the lining section"). The reference numeral 2 indicates a face at
the forefront of the tunnel, at which face the muck as a reference numeral 3 is generated
by blasting. The reference numeral 4 indicates a traveling crusher, which is a self-propelling
crawler and crushes the muck 3 into equal sized fragments. The reference numeral 5
indicates a continuous belt conveyor, which consecutively conveys to the tunnel entrance
the muck 3 crushed with the traveling crusher 4.
[0017] The reference number 6, 7 and 8 indicates rails, a transfer platform for sheets and
a centering respectively. The rails 6 are laid on a working floor Y in the tunnel
1 along the direction of the excavation. The transfer platform for sheets 7 serves
as a scaffold for attaching waterproof sheets over the tunnel wall to prevent the
water leakage after the completion of the tunneling works, which scaffold can move
back and forth on the rails 6. The centering 8 comprises a steel rib form 8a for the
lining concrete C2 which forms a finished surface of the tunnel 1, a centering jack
8b and a main body 8c, which centering is movable back and forth on the rails 6.
[0018] The reference numeral 9 indicates a movable support gantry to support the continuous
belt conveyor 5, which gantry can move back and forth on the rails 6. This movable
support gantry 9 and the transfer platform for sheets 7 is connected by a tow wire
9 having a given length.
[0019] In this first embodiment, the tunneling plant which comprises a traveling crusher
4, a continuous belt conveyor 5, a transfer platform for sheets 7, a centering 8,
and a movable support gantry 9. The continuous belt conveyor 5 has two sections, a
tunnel supporting section (composed of support section 1a and a lining section 1c)
in which the continuous belt conveyor 5 is supported from a tunnel side in front of
the transfer platform part and in the rear of the centering part, and a section other
than the tunnel supporting section, serving as a tunnel non-supporting section (composed
of waterproof sheets section 1b) in which the continuous belt conveyor 5 is not supported
from the tunnel side, whereby the continuous belt conveyor passes through the transfer
platform for sheets part and the centering part.
[0020] Here, in the tunnel supporting section, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the support
section 1a is, as shown in Fig.2 showing a sectional view A-A' of Fig.1, supported
with chains or H-steels 11 in order that the belt conveyor can be located at a prescribed
position (at L in length from the tunnel center line and at H in Height from the formation
level K). The chains or H-steels 11 are fixed at a suitable space to the spray concrete
C1 from which the chains or H-steels 11 are hanging. On the other hand, the continuous
belt conveyor 5 at the lining section 1c is, as shown in Fig.3 showing sectional view
B-B' of Fig.1, supported at the above prescribed position with brackets 12 which are
fixed to the lining concrete C2 of the tunnel 1 side at a suitable space.
[0021] The continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets part is, as shown
in Fig.4 showing a sectional view C-C' of Fig.1, suspended away from the spray concrete
C1 without being supported from the scaffold since being located in the tunnel non-supporting
section. On the other hand, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the centering part is
also located in the same section as the scaffold, and is suspended away from the lining
concrete C2 without being supported from the centering 8 as shown in Fig.5 showing
a sectional view D-D' of Fig.1.
[0022] Further, in this first embodiment, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer
platform for sheets part and the centering part, i.e. in the tunnel non-supporting
section is located at the same position in length and height as the continuous belt
conveyor 5 in the tunnel supporting section, i.e. at the aforementioned length and
height. At the same time, the continuous belt conveyor 5 in the tunnel non-supporting
section is located within the range between the lower part working area (b) and the
middle part working area(c) other than a center area (a) (hereinafter, referred to
as "the vehicle passing area") in tunnel cross section so as not to prevent the vehicles
from passing.
[0023] In this connection, as shown in Fig.2 to 5, a lightweight reinforced frame 13 which
has a long cross section is used as a frame of the continuous belt conveyor 5 in the
first embodiment, and this frame is strong enough to bear a long span.
[0024] However, there is a possibility that the reinforced frame 13 may be weighed down
at the middle part of the span, thereby the stability of the continuous belt conveyor
may not be maintained. In the first embodiment, the movable support gantry 9 therefore
supports the middle part of the continuous belt conveyor 5 in the tunnel non-supporting
section. And the movable support gantry 9 supports the continuous belt conveyor 5
in the way to underpin the continuous belt conveyor 5 via rollers (not shown in Figures)
to maintain its free movement.
[0025] Now, referring to Fig.1 to 5, a tunneling plant according to the first embodiment
of the present invention will now be described.
(1) Working at the transfer platform for sheets
[0026] While the muck 3 is being conveyed by means of the continuous belt conveyor 5, at
the transfer platform for sheets a series of waterproof sheets attachment works are
performed, such as a nailing of the waterproof sheets to the spray concrete C1 and
a deposition of the edges of the waterproof sheets.
[0027] During this work, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets
part is suspended away from the surface of the spray concrete C1, thereby not preventing
the waterproof sheets attachment works. At the same time, the continuous belt conveyor
5 is located above the height of workers, thereby the works can be performed easily
and smoothly.
[0028] Further, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets 7 is
located within the range other than the vehicle passing area (a), thereby not preventing
a vehicular traffic for conveying such materials as timbering, rock bolts and powder.
Accordingly various tunneling works at the face 2 can progress smoothly.
(2) Working at the centering
[0029] The works at the centering 8, while the muck is being conveyed by means of the continuous
belt conveyor 5, is described below.
[0030] First, the works at the outside of the centering 8 are performed, such as a cleaning
of the top surface of the steel rib form 8a and an application of stripping agent
to the surface. Then, at the lower part working area (b), the steel rib form 8a is
located by the expansion and contraction of the centering jack 8b, and a space between
the lower end of the steel rib form 8a and the formation level K is blocked. Finally,
at the middle part working area (c), concrete is compacted with a vibrator by looking
through an inspection window M after bulkheads are arranged.
[0031] During this work, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the centering part is suspended
away from the centering 8, which makes a prescribed clearance between the continuous
belt conveyor 5 and the centering 8. The continuous belt conveyor 5 therefore does
not prevent the aforementioned works at the centering 8. The continuous belt conveyor
5, furthermore, is applicable to the specific works of a centering which is mainly
required at the lower part working area (b) and the middle part working area (C).
[0032] In addition, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets part
allows the vehicular traffic since it is located within the range other than the vehicle
passing area (a). Consequently various tunneling works at the face 2 can progress
smoothly.
(3) Replacement of the supports for the continuous belt conveyor
[0033] When there is a need to move the transfer platform for sheets 7 (the movable support
gantry 9) and the centering 8 to the face 2 side, the following replacement of the
supports for the continuous belt conveyor 5 is performed.
[0034] First, the chains or the H-steels 11 closing to the front of the transfer platform
for sheets 7 are removed to enable the transfer platform for sheets 7 to move freely.
Then, the transfer platform for sheets 7 self-propels from the section where the waterproof
sheets are already attached, to the section where the surface of the spray concrete
C1 is exposed. This movement of the transfer platform for sheets 7 tows the movable
support gantry 9 via a tow wire 9a.
[0035] At this time, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets
7 is not obstructed by the movement of the transfer platform for sheets 7 since it
is suspended away from the transfer platform for sheets 7. Consequently the muck 3
can be conveyed continuously and also the transfer platform for sheets 7 can move
freely. Further, the continuous belt conveyor 5 dose not prevent the vehicular traffic
in the tunnel 1 since it is located within the range other than the vehicle passing
area (a).
[0036] The continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets part is supported
via rollers, so that the movable support gantry 9 is towed smoothly.
[0037] On the other hand, the centering 8 moves from the section where the lining concrete
C2 is already placed, to the section adjacent to the face 2 side to which section
the lining concrete is to be placed. The centering 8 self-propels according to the
cycle of the concrete placement and the curing differently from the movable support
gantry 9 which is towed by the transfer platform for sheets 7.
[0038] At this time, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the centering part allows the free
movement of the centering 8 since it is suspended away from the centering 8. Further,
the continuous belt conveyor 5 dose not prevent the vehicular traffic in the tunnel
1 since it is located within the range other than the vehicle passing area (a).
[0039] After this centering 8 moves, new brackets 12 are set out to the surface of the lining
concrete C2 at the entrance side of the tunnel so as to support the continuous belt
conveyor 5. This work completes the replacement of the supports.
[0040] According to the tunneling plant related to this first embodiment of the present
invention, the continuous belt conveyor 5 having a reinforced frame 13 is supported
from the tunnel side in front of the transfer platform for sheets 7 and in the rear
of the centering 8. At the transfer platform for sheets 7 and the centering 8 the
continuous belt conveyor 5 passes through them without being supported. At the middle
part thereof it is supported with the movable support gantry 9 via rollers. Consequently,
the transfer platform for sheets 7 and the centering 8 can move freely, thereby the
lining work is performed at the same time as the excavation (mucking) work.
The second embodiment of the present invention
[0041] Fig.1 is a schematic side view showing a tunneling plant according to the first embodiment.
[0042] The tunneling plant according to this second embodiment is, as shown in Fig.6 and
Fig.7 showing sectional view C-C' and the D-D' of Fig.1 respectively, much the same
as the first embodiment. However, the second embodiment is different from the first
embodiment in that the continuous belt conveyor 5 in the non-supporting section is
supported with the brackets 21 projecting from the transfer platform for sheets 7
and the centering 8 in the transverse direction to the tunnel.
[0043] To be specific, the continuous belt conveyor 5 at the transfer platform for sheets
part is supported on a roller 22 which is supported with the brackets 21 projecting
from the transfer platform for sheets 7 in the transverse direction to the tunnel.
The continuous belt conveyor 5 at the centering part is supported on the roller 22
which is supported with the brackets 21 projecting from the centering 8 in the transverse
direction to the tunnel.
[0044] According to the tunneling related to this second embodiment, the reinforced frame
13 of the continuous belt conveyor 5 in the tunnel non-supporting section is supported
on the roller 22 which is supported with the brackets 21 projecting from the transfer
platform for sheets 7 and the centering 8. Consequently the continuous belt conveyor
can be supported more stably and the cross section length of the reinforced frame
13 can be minimized compared with the first embodiment. In addition, the transfer
platform for sheets 7 and the centering 8 can move continuously and smoothly. The
continuous belt conveyor 5 has no difficulty in being supported with at least one
of the transfer platform for sheets 7 and the centering 8.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0045] According to the tunneling plant of this present invention described above, the tunneling
plant comprises a transfer platform for sheets, a centering, and a continuous belt
conveyor to convey muck. The continuous belt conveyor has two sections, a tunnel supporting
section in which the continuous belt conveyor is supported from a tunnel side in front
of the transfer platform for sheets part and in the rear of the centering part, and
a section other than the tunnel supporting section, serving as a tunnel non-supporting
section in which the continuous belt conveyor is not supported from the tunnel side,
whereby the continuous belt conveyor passes through the transfer platform for sheets
part and the centering part. Consequently, the lining work can be performed at the
same time as the excavation (mucking) work when the continuous belt conveyor 5 is
used to convey the muck during the excavation work. This leads to a rapid construction
of the tunnel. Furthermore, such condition leads to remarkable improvement of safety
and a clean working environment in the tunnel being constructed.
[0046] In this case, if the continuous belt conveyor in the tunnel non-supporting section
is located within the range between a lower part working area and a middle part working
area other than vehicle passing area, the works at the transfer platform for sheets
part and the centering part can be performed easily and smoothly. The vehicular traffic
in the tunnel can be also maintained.
[0047] Further, if the continuous belt conveyor in the tunnel non-supporting section is
supported with brackets projecting from at least one of the transfer platform for
sheets and the centering without preventing their continuous movement, more stable
support can be attained.
[0048] In this case, if the continuous belt conveyor is supported with the brackets via
rollers, the transfer platform for sheets and the centering can move more smoothly.