A pipe jacking machine for trenchless municipal pipeline construction

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of pipe jacking machine technology and discloses a pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines. The cutterhead has six sector-shaped slots arranged in a polar array on the side closest to the soil layer. A hinge is installed on the inner wall of one side of each sector-shaped slot, and a sector-shaped block is connected to the hinge. The sector-shaped block can rotate around the hinge, and several rectangular slots are formed on the sector-shaped block. Several roller cutters are installed on the cutterhead, and the roller cutters can extend from the rectangular slots. A speed sensor is installed on the side of the roller cutter's bearing. A round rod is fixedly connected to the side of the sector-shaped block away from the soil layer, and the other end of the round rod is movably connected to one side of an adjusting circular plate. A pressure sensor for real-time feedback of hydraulic pressure is installed in the hydraulic system, and the other side of the adjusting circular plate is fixedly connected to the hydraulic system. The structure of this invention achieves good switching between roller cutters and scrapers, thus avoiding tool wear, improving work efficiency, and extending the service life of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pipe jacking machine technology, specifically to a pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines. Background Technology

[0002] Pipe jacking machines, as large-scale excavating equipment, are widely used in various tunnel construction projects. The cutterhead of the pipe jacking machine performs the primary excavation function. Since pipe jacking machines excavate underground, and geological conditions are often very complex, the cutterhead must possess strong adaptability to ensure stable and effective operation in different geological environments. Based on existing types, cutterheads can be broadly classified into two categories according to function: one type is specifically designed for excavating single soft or hard soil strata, and the other type is a composite cutterhead specifically designed for excavating composite strata containing both soft soil and hard rock. However, in actual excavation processes, it is common to encounter sections with only soft soil strata and other sections with only... When encountering hard rock strata or a mixture thereof, or when suddenly encountering a large rock obstruction while excavating soft soil, the conventional approach for different geological strata is to use a soft soil cutterhead when excavating soft soil and switch to a rock-breaking cutterhead when encountering hard rock, or to manually blast away the rock. This method is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and very inefficient. Another approach is to use a composite cutterhead that can be used for both soft and hard soil strata. However, when excavating soil, the roller cutter on the composite cutterhead used for breaking rocks may not rotate due to low friction, resulting in severe wear over time. Similarly, scrapers will wear faster when encountering hard soil layers. The efficiency of scrapers and roller cutters will be greatly reduced when working in unsuitable soil layers.

[0003] The cutterhead opening ratio varies significantly depending on the expected geological conditions of the project. Soft strata are relatively easier to handle, allowing for rapid jacking by the pipe jacking machine (compared to other geological formations). The cutterhead opening ratio is typically the highest for soft strata, facilitating smooth soil entry, and is generally between 40% and 60%. Rock strata have the slowest tunneling speeds, producing mainly small rock fragments as waste. The cutterhead opening ratio for rock jacking machines is typically between 10% and 20%. For composite strata, the cutterhead opening ratio is typically between 20% and 40%. The cutterhead opening ratio determines the number and size of the props to be installed; increasing the number of props and the size of the cutterhead increases the thrust. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of existing trenchless pipe jacking machines for municipal pipeline construction mentioned in the background art, the present invention provides a trenchless pipe jacking machine for municipal pipeline construction, which has the advantages of freely switching between roller cutter and scraper cutter and increasing the soil discharge opening ratio of the cutterhead, thus solving the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] This invention provides the following technical solution: a pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines, comprising a cutterhead, a main body of the pipe jacking machine, a connecting pipe, a large gear, a small gear, a motor, a fishtail cutter, and a mounting frame. The side of the cutterhead away from the soil is fixedly connected to the connecting pipe. The side of the connecting pipe away from the cutterhead is fixedly connected to the large gear. The outer edge of the large gear meshes with the outer edge of the small gear. The small gear is fixedly connected to the motor. The motor is fixedly mounted on the mounting frame. The side of the cutterhead near the soil layer has six sector-shaped slots arranged in a polar array. A hinge is installed on the inner wall of one side of each sector-shaped slot. A sector-shaped block is connected to the hinge. The sector-shaped block can rotate around the hinge. Several rectangular slots are opened on the sector-shaped block. Several roller cutters are installed on the cutterhead. The roller cutters can extend from the rectangular slots. A round rod is hinged to the side of the sector-shaped block away from the soil layer. The other end of the round rod is slidably engaged with one side of an adjusting circular plate. A hydraulic system is fixedly connected to the other side of the adjusting circular plate.

[0006] Preferably, a plurality of scrapers are installed on the surface of the sector block and on the side away from the hinge. Both the sector groove and the sector block are sector-shaped, and the sector block is snapped into the sector groove. The hinge, scrapers, sector groove, and sector block constitute a fan blade structure.

[0007] Preferably, a speed sensor is mounted on the side of the hob mounting bearing.

[0008] Preferably, the side of the adjusting circular plate that is movably connected to the circular rod has an annular groove, in which the circular rod is engaged, and a pressure sensor for real-time feedback of the hydraulic pressure value is installed in the hydraulic system.

[0009] Preferably, the hydraulic system is mounted on the frame.

[0010] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0011] 1. This invention utilizes a hydraulically controlled fan blade structure in conjunction with a cutter roller mounted behind the fan blade structure to enable the pipe jacking machine to switch between suitable cutters for pipe jacking operations in both soft and hard soil layers. First, a speed sensor determines the working status of the cutter roller and transmits this signal to the existing control system via infrared signal. When the cutter roller speed is too slow, a signal is emitted to activate the hydraulic system, pushing the hydraulic rod against an adjusting plate. The adjusting plate, through a rod, compresses the fan blade structure, opening the fan blades. The scraper located on the fan blade structure contacts the soil layer before the cutter roller, avoiding direct contact between the cutter roller and the soil layer and reducing cutter roller wear. Similarly, when the pressure on the fan blade structure is too high, a pressure sensor transmits a signal to depressurize the hydraulic system, closing the fan blade structure. In this case, the cutter roller contacts the soil layer first, avoiding wear caused by the scraper when working in hard soil layers. The structure of this invention achieves excellent switching between the cutter roller and the scraper, thus avoiding cutter wear, improving work efficiency, and extending the service life of the equipment.

[0012] 2. By setting up a fan blade structure, the present invention allows a large amount of soil to be discharged through the opening created by the fan blade structure when the pipe jacking machine is working in soft soil layers. This greatly improves the soil discharge efficiency and adapts to the required soil discharge opening rate of the cutterhead when the pipe jacking machine is working in various soil layers. This greatly increases the space for tool arrangement and improves work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pipe jacking machine structure when working in hard soil layers according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the pipe jacking machine structure during operation in soft soil layers according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a front view of the pipe jacking machine of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cutterhead soil discharge area of ​​the present invention;

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the adjusting circular plate structure of the present invention.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Cutterhead; 2. Main body of the pipe jacking machine; 3. Connecting pipe; 4. Large gear; 5. Small gear; 6. Motor; 7. Fishtail cutter; 8. Fan blade structure; 81. Hinge; 82. Scraper; 83. Fan-shaped groove; 84. Fan-shaped block; 9. Round rod; 10. Roller cutter; 11. Adjusting circular plate; 111. Annular groove; 12. Mounting frame; 13. Hydraulic system; 14. Rectangular groove; 15. Speed ​​sensor; 17. Soil discharge area. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 A trenchless pipe jacking machine for municipal pipeline construction includes a cutterhead 1, a main body 2, a connecting pipe 3, a large gear 4, a small gear 5, a motor 6, a fishtail cutter 7, and a mounting frame 12. The side of the cutterhead 1 furthest from the soil is fixedly connected to the connecting pipe 3. The side of the connecting pipe 3 furthest from the cutterhead 1 is fixedly connected to the large gear 4. The outer edge of the large gear 4 meshes with the outer edge of the small gear 5. The small gear 5 is fixedly connected to the motor 6, which is fixedly mounted on the mounting frame 12. The side of the cutterhead 1 closest to the soil layer has six sector-shaped slots 83 arranged in a polar array. A hinge 81 is installed on the inner wall of one side of each sector-shaped slot 83. A sector-shaped block 84 is connected to the hinge 81 and can rotate around the hinge 81. The sector-shaped block 84 has a [missing information - likely a design feature or feature]. Several rectangular slots 14 are provided, and several roller cutters 10 are installed on the cutter head 1. The roller cutters 10 can extend out from the rectangular slots 14. The rectangular slots 14 serve two purposes: to allow the roller cutters 10 to pass through and to discharge soil. Therefore, the rectangular slots 14 also function as discharge outlets. When the roller cutters 10 crush the rock layer and discharge it from the rectangular slots 14, a round rod 9 is hinged to the side of the fan-shaped block 84 away from the soil layer. The other end of the round rod 9 is slidably engaged with one side of the adjusting circular plate 11. The round rod 9 is movably connected to the adjusting circular plate 11 through a corresponding through hole on the cutter head 1. A hydraulic system 13 is fixedly connected to the other side of the adjusting circular plate 11. The adjusting circular plate 11 is a centrally hollowed-out circular ring to avoid interfering with soil discharge.

[0021] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 Several scrapers 82 are installed on the surface of the sector block 84 and on the side away from the hinge 81. The hinge 81, scrapers 82, sector groove 83, and sector block 84 constitute the fan blade structure 8. Both the sector groove 83 and the sector block 84 are sector-shaped, and the sector block 84 is engaged in the sector groove 83. The height of the scraper 82 is determined according to the angle of rotation of the plane of the sector block 84. The heights of the scrapers 82 are different, but when the fan blade structure 8 is in full working state, the cutting edges of all the scrapers 82 are higher than the roller cutter 10.

[0022] Please see Figure 3A speed sensor 15 is installed on the side of the bearing of the hob 10. The speed sensor 15 is used to detect the speed of the hob 10. The rated speed value is used to determine whether the hob 10 is rotating, thereby determining whether the hob 10 is currently in soft or hard soil. The speed sensor 15 is installed to provide a signal to the PLC central control system and to meet the rotation requirements. Therefore, wiring can be eliminated, and the embedded micro power supply and wireless infrared communication can be used to transmit signals.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5 An annular groove 111 is provided on one side of the adjusting circular plate 11 that is movably connected to the circular rod 9. The circular rod 9 is snapped into the annular groove 111. The hydraulic system 13 has a pressure sensor that provides feedback on the pressure gauge readings. Based on the rated range of this pressure value, it is determined whether the fan blade structure 8 is in a hard soil layer or a soft soil layer.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 The hydraulic system 13 is installed on the frame to ensure the stable operation of the hydraulic system 13.

[0025] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 When pipe jacking is carried out in soft soil, the blade structure 8 opens, and a large amount of soil can enter the discharge area 17 through the opening of the blade structure 8, which greatly improves the discharge efficiency and adapts to the cutterhead discharge opening rate required when the pipe jacking machine is working in various soil layers; this greatly improves the layout space of the props and improves the work efficiency.

[0026] The above structural design does not affect the rotation of the cutterhead 1, and enables the switching between the roller cutter 10 and the scraper 82 without changing the existing functions of the pipe jacking machine.

[0027] The working principle of the method of use of the present invention is as follows: First, the working state of the roller cutter 10 is determined by the speed sensor 15, and the signal is transmitted to the existing control system via infrared signal. When the speed of the roller cutter 10 is too slow, the signal is emitted to make the hydraulic system 13 work to push the hydraulic rod against the adjusting plate 11. The adjusting plate 11 presses one side of the fan blade structure 8 through the round rod 9 to open the fan blade. The scraper 82 located on the fan blade structure 8 contacts the soil layer before the roller cutter 10, avoiding contact between the roller cutter 10 and the soil layer and reducing the wear of the roller cutter 10. Similarly, when the pressure on the fan blade structure 8 is too high, the pressure sensor transmits a signal to the hydraulic system 13 to release the pressure, and the fan blade structure 8 closes. At this time, the roller cutter 10 contacts the soil layer first, avoiding the wear caused by the scraper 82 when working in hard soil. The structure of the present invention realizes a good switching between the roller cutter 10 and the scraper 82, improving work efficiency and extending the service life of the tool.

Claims

1. A pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines, comprising a cutterhead (1), a main body of the pipe jacking machine (2), a connecting pipe (3), a large gear (4), a small gear (5), a motor (6), a fishtail cutter (7), and a mounting frame (12), characterized in that: The cutter head (1) is fixedly connected to the connecting pipe (3) on the side away from the soil. The connecting pipe (3) is fixedly connected to the large gear (4) on the side away from the cutter head (1). The outer edge of the large gear (4) meshes with the outer edge of the small gear (5). The small gear (5) is fixedly connected to the motor (6). The motor (6) is fixedly mounted on the mounting bracket (12). The cutter head (1) has 6 fan-shaped slots (83) arranged in a polar axis array on the side near the soil layer. A hinge (81) is installed on the inner wall of one side of the fan-shaped slot (83). The hinge ( 81) Connected to a sector block (84), the sector block (84) can rotate around the hinge (81), the sector block (84) has several rectangular slots (14), the cutter head (1) is equipped with several hobs (10), the hobs (10) can extend out from the rectangular slots (14), the side of the sector block (84) away from the soil layer is hinged to a round rod (9), the other end of the round rod (9) is slidably engaged with one side of the adjusting round plate (11), the other side of the adjusting round plate (11) is fixedly connected to a hydraulic system (13). Several scrapers (82) are installed on the surface of the fan-shaped block (84) and on the side away from the hinge (81). The fan-shaped groove (83) and the fan-shaped block (84) are both fan-shaped, and the fan-shaped block (84) is inserted into the fan-shaped groove (83). The hinge (81), scraper (82), fan-shaped groove (83), and fan-shaped block (84) constitute the fan blade structure (8).

2. The pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines according to claim 1, characterized in that: A speed sensor (15) is mounted on the side of the hob (10) where the bearing is mounted.

3. A pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines according to claim 2, characterized in that: The adjusting circular plate (11) is movably connected to the circular rod (9) on one side, and an annular groove (111) is provided. The circular rod (9) is slidably engaged in the annular groove (111). A pressure sensor for real-time feedback of the hydraulic pressure value is installed in the hydraulic system (13).

4. A pipe jacking machine for trenchless construction of municipal pipelines according to claim 3, characterized in that: The hydraulic system (13) is mounted on the frame.

Images