An ultrasonic-based mud cake digestion system and method for a slurry shield cutter head

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of shield construction, particularly to a slurry shield cutterhead mud cake digestion system based on ultrasonic waves, comprising an ultrasonic transducer assembly, a power module and a driving assembly, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer assemblies are respectively fixed at openings of cutterhead panels, each of the ultrasonic transducer assemblies comprises a protective shell cover and an ultrasonic transducer, a line protection tube is connected to the top of the protective shell cover, a waterproof joint is arranged in the protective shell cover and is plugged on a plug of the ultrasonic transducer, a connecting line is arranged in the line protection tube and extends into the protective shell and is connected to the waterproof joint. The cavitation effect of ultrasonic waves on the cutterhead mud cake in the circulating slurry is used to digest and peel off the cutterhead mud cake layer by layer, so that the cutterhead mud cake is removed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tunnel boring machine (TBM) construction technology, and in particular to an ultrasonic-based system and method for dissolving mud cake on the cutterhead of a slurry TBM. Background Technology

[0002] Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are large-scale mechanical equipment widely used in underground engineering construction. They are mainly divided into earth pressure balance TBMs, slurry balance TBMs, TBMs, and pipe jacking machines. When slurry balance TBMs are tunneling in cohesive strata, mud cakes often form at the cutterhead opening, cutterhead face, and cutter box, causing a reduction in advance speed or even halting tunneling. Currently, manual entry into the cutterhead chamber is mainly used to remove the mud cakes, which not only delays the construction period but also poses significant safety risks. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide an ultrasonic-based mud cake removal system and method for slurry balance TBM cutterheads. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0004] Design an ultrasonic-based mud cake disposal system for a slurry shield tunnel cutterhead, including multiple ultrasonic transducer assemblies, each fixed at an opening in the cutterhead panel. Each assembly includes a protective cover and an ultrasonic transducer fixed to the cutterhead panel. A wiring protection tube is connected to the top of the protective cover, and a waterproof connector is provided inside the protective cover. The waterproof connector is plugged into the plug of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0005] It also includes a power module installed inside the slurry shield tunneling machine and a drive assembly connected to the power module. The drive assembly is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer via a connecting wire. A sealed shell is provided outside the drive assembly. A central rotary joint is provided at the center of the slurry chamber partition. The rotating part of the central rotary joint and the sealed shell are both located on the cutterhead base, and the fixed part is located on the slurry shield tunneling machine structure. A power line and a high-pressure air pipeline are respectively provided between the sealed shell and the rotating part of the central rotary joint. One end of the power line passes through the sealed shell and is connected to the drive assembly. A high-pressure air pipeline and a power line are connected between the fixed part of the central rotary joint and the shield tunneling machine. One end of the power line is connected to the power module inside the shield tunneling machine. The high-pressure air pipeline and the high-pressure air pipeline are connected through the central rotary joint. The power line and the power line are connected through the central rotary joint.

[0006] The connecting wire is run through the line protection pipe, with one end extending into the protective shell and connected to the waterproof connector.

[0007] Preferably, sealing and waterproof components are installed on the pipeline inlets and outlets of the sealed housing.

[0008] Preferably, the circuit boards of the drive assembly are fully coated with waterproof adhesive.

[0009] Preferably, a protective housing is provided outside the ultrasonic transducer, and a lower flange is provided on the top of the protective housing. The ultrasonic transducer is fixed to the top of the lower flange by bolts.

[0010] Preferably, an upper flange is provided at the bottom of the protective cover, and the flange bolts of the upper flange pass through the cutter head panel and are fixedly connected to the lower flange.

[0011] A method for dissolving mud cake on a slurry shield tunnel cutterhead based on ultrasound, wherein the method is implemented based on the ultrasonic slurry shield tunnel cutterhead mud cake dissolution system described in claim 1, and specifically includes the following steps:

[0012] S1: Connect the power supply to the system;

[0013] S2: Open and adjust the inlet and outlet valves of high-pressure air line one and high-pressure air line two to allow high-pressure air to flow through the sealed shell and maintain the air pressure inside slightly higher than the pressure of the slurry tank to prevent water from entering the slurry tank of the slurry shield tunnel.

[0014] S3: The drive component starts automatically after being powered on and drives the ultrasonic transducer to work through the connecting wire;

[0015] S4: The ultrasonic transducer converts electrical energy into ultrasonic waves and emits them, which then propagate to the surface of the mud cake, generating a cavitation effect that causes the mud cake to peel off layer by layer and be carried out by the circulating mud from the slurry tunnel, ultimately achieving mud cake dissolution.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0017] 1. This invention provides a system that, in slurry under certain pressure, uses the cavitation effect of ultrasound to dissolve the cutterhead mud cake layer by layer, which is then carried out by the flowing circulating slurry. This achieves the removal of cutterhead mud cake, preventing its formation in slurry shield tunneling machines. This enhances the adaptability of slurry shield tunneling machines in viscous layers, improves tunneling efficiency, and strengthens safety. The system can simultaneously dissolve mud cake during slurry shield tunneling without affecting the tunneling process.

[0018] 2. This invention utilizes multiple ultrasonic transducers distributed on the cutterhead panel to prevent mud cake formation on the cutterhead of slurry shield tunnels, which would reduce tunneling speed or even prevent tunneling altogether, delay the construction period, increase construction costs, and avoid the high safety risks associated with personnel entering the tunnel to handle mud cake. Specifically, the installation involves fixing the protective cover above the ultrasonic transducer to the cutterhead panel, and using upper and lower flanges to secure the ultrasonic transducer to the cutterhead panel via the protective cover. The drive assembly connects to the plug on the ultrasonic transducer via a waterproof connector on the connecting line, thus driving the ultrasonic transducer to work. This installation method not only ensures the ultrasonic transducer is securely mounted on the cutterhead panel but also facilitates easy disassembly of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0019] 3. This invention utilizes a rotary center joint to connect two high-pressure pipelines, allowing the second high-pressure pipeline to connect with the sealed housing, and the flowing high-pressure air can dissipate heat from the drive components. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of ultrasonic transducer components on the cutterhead of a slurry shield tunnel.

[0023] The following components are labeled in the diagram: 1. Ultrasonic transducer assembly; 2. Connecting wire; 3. Sealed housing; 4. Drive assembly; 5. Slurry chamber partition; 6. High-pressure air pipeline one; 7. Power line one; 8. Center rotary joint; 9. High-pressure air pipeline two; 10. Power line two; 11. Line protection pipe; 12. Protective housing cover; 13. Waterproof joint; 14. Connecting wire; 15. Protective housing; 16. Ultrasonic transducer; 17. Slurry shield cutterhead; 18. Slurry shield cutter; 19. Cutterhead panel; 20. Upper flange; 21. Lower flange. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] An ultrasonic-based system and method for dissolving mud cake on the cutterhead of a slurry shield tunneling machine, such as... Figures 1 to 3As shown, it includes an ultrasonic transducer assembly 1, which consists of multiple ultrasonic transducers and is installed at the opening of the cutter head panel 19 or at the roller cutter box, etc. The arrangement can be made according to the specific cutter head and cutter, and is placed at the position on the cutter head where mud cake is likely to form. It includes a protective cover 12 fixed on the cutter head panel 19 and an ultrasonic transducer 16. The ultrasonic transducer 16 should have a low natural frequency and a large power. The protective cover 12 protects the waterproof connector 13. A line protection tube 11 is connected to the top of the protective cover 12. A waterproof connector 13 is provided inside the protective cover 12. The waterproof connector 13 is plugged into the plug of the ultrasonic transducer 16. The ultrasonic transducer 16 can be quickly connected to the drive assembly 4 through the waterproof connector 12.

[0027] It also includes a power module located inside the slurry shield tunneling machine and a drive assembly 4 connected to the power module. The drive assembly 4 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer 16 via a connecting cable 2 to drive the ultrasonic transducer 16. There is at least one drive assembly 4, which can be set according to specific needs. A single drive assembly 4 can drive one or more ultrasonic transducers 16. A sealed outer shell 3 is provided outside the drive assembly 4 to seal and protect it. A central rotary joint 8 is provided at the center of the slurry chamber partition 5. The rotating part of the central rotary joint 8 and the sealed outer shell 3 are both located on the cutterhead base and can rotate together with the slurry shield tunneling machine cutterhead 18. The fixed part of the central rotary joint 8 is located on the slurry shield tunneling machine structure. A power line 7 and a high-pressure air line 6 are respectively provided between the sealing shell 3 and the rotating part of the central rotary joint 8. One end of the power line 7 passes through the sealing shell 3 and is connected to the drive assembly 4. A high-pressure air line 9 and a power line 10 are connected between the fixed part of the central rotary joint 8 and the shield machine host. One end of the power line 10 is connected to the power module inside the shield machine host. During the rotation of the slurry shield cutterhead, the high-pressure air line 6 and the high-pressure air line 9 are connected through the channel of the central rotary joint 8, and the power line 7 and the power line 10 are connected through the central rotary joint 8 to ensure that the power line 7 and the power line 10 are connected during the rotation of the slurry shield cutterhead, so that the drive assembly 4 can be powered normally.

[0028] The connecting wire 2 is run through the line protection pipe 11, with one end extending into the protective cover 12 and connected to the waterproof connector 13, so that the drive assembly 4 can drive the ultrasonic transducer 16 to work normally.

[0029] Furthermore, in order to prevent water from entering the sealed housing 3, sealing and waterproof components are installed on the pipeline inlet and outlet of the sealed housing 3.

[0030] Furthermore, to ensure the waterproof performance of the drive component 4, the circuit board of the drive component 4 is fully coated with waterproof adhesive.

[0031] Furthermore, a protective housing 15 is provided outside the ultrasonic transducer 16, and a lower flange is provided on the top of the protective housing 15. The ultrasonic transducer 16 is fixed to the top of the lower flange by bolts.

[0032] Furthermore, an upper flange is provided at the bottom of the protective cover 12, and the flange bolts of the upper flange pass through the cutter head panel and are fixedly connected to the lower flange.

[0033] Example 2

[0034] An ultrasonic-based method for dissolving slurry shield cutterhead cake is implemented based on the aforementioned ultrasonic slurry shield cutterhead cake dissolution system, and specifically includes the following steps:

[0035] S1: Connect the power supply to the system;

[0036] S2: Open and adjust the inlet and outlet valves of high-pressure air pipeline 6 and high-pressure air pipeline 9 to allow high-pressure air to flow through the sealing shell 3 and maintain the air pressure inside it slightly higher than the pressure of the mud-water chamber to prevent water from entering the mud-water chamber of the mud-water shield tunnel; at the same time, when the flowing high-pressure air enters the sealing shell 3, it can play a role in heat dissipation for the drive component 4.

[0037] S3: The drive component 4 starts automatically after being powered on and drives the ultrasonic transducer 16 to work through the connecting wire 2.

[0038] S4: The ultrasonic transducer 16 converts electrical energy into ultrasonic waves and emits them, thereby allowing the ultrasonic waves to propagate to the surface of the mud cake, generating a cavitation effect, causing the mud cake to peel off layer by layer and be carried out by the circulating mud of the slurry shield tunnel, ultimately achieving mud cake dissolution.

[0039] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic-based mud cake dissolution system for slurry shield tunnel cutterheads, characterized in that, The device includes multiple ultrasonic transducer assemblies (1) and each is fixed at the opening of the cutter head panel (19). Each assembly includes a protective cover (12) fixed on the cutter head panel (19) and an ultrasonic transducer (16). A line protection tube (11) is connected to the top of the protective cover (12). A waterproof connector (13) is provided inside the protective cover (12). The waterproof connector (13) is plugged into the plug of the ultrasonic transducer (16). It also includes a power module installed inside the slurry shield tunneling machine and a drive assembly (4) connected to the power module. The drive assembly (4) is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer (16) via a connecting line (2). A sealed outer shell (3) is provided outside the drive assembly (4). A central rotary joint (8) is provided at the center of the slurry chamber partition (5). The rotating part of the central rotary joint (8) and the sealed outer shell (3) are both located on the cutterhead base, and the fixed part is located on the slurry shield tunneling machine structure. A power supply is provided between the sealed outer shell (3) and the rotating part of the central rotary joint (8). Power line 1 (7) and high-pressure air line 1 (6), one end of power line 1 (7) passes through the sealed shell (3) and is connected to the drive assembly (4). High-pressure air line 2 (9) and power line 2 (10) are connected between the fixed part of the central rotary joint (8) and the shield host. One end of power line 2 (10) is connected to the power module inside the shield host. High-pressure air line 1 (6) and high-pressure air line 2 (9) are connected through the central rotary joint (8). Power line 1 (7) and power line 2 (10) are connected through the central rotary joint (8). The connecting line (2) is installed inside the line protection pipe (11), with one end extending into the protective shell and connected to the waterproof connector (13); A protective housing (15) is provided outside the ultrasonic transducer (16), and a lower flange (21) is provided on the top of the protective housing (15). The ultrasonic transducer (16) is fixed to the top of the lower flange (21) by bolts. An upper flange (20) is provided at the bottom of the protective cover (12), and the flange bolts of the upper flange (20) pass through the cutter head panel and are fixedly connected to the lower flange (21).

2. The ultrasonic-based slurry shield tunnel cutterhead mud cake dissipation system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Sealing and waterproof components are installed on the pipeline inlet and outlet of the sealed housing (3).

3. The ultrasonic-based slurry shield tunnel cutterhead mud cake dissipation system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The circuit boards of the drive assembly (4) are all fully coated with waterproof adhesive.

4. A method for dissolving mud cake on the cutterhead of a slurry shield tunneling machine based on ultrasound, characterized in that: The mud cake dissolution method is implemented based on the ultrasonic slurry shield cutterhead mud cake dissolution system described in claim 1, and specifically includes the following steps: S1: Connect the power supply to the system; S2: Open and adjust the inlet and outlet valves of high-pressure air pipeline one (6) and high-pressure air pipeline two (9) to allow high-pressure air to flow through the sealed shell (3) and keep the air pressure inside slightly greater than the pressure of the mud and water chamber to prevent water from entering the mud and water chamber of the mud and water shield. S3: The drive component (4) starts automatically after being powered on and drives the ultrasonic transducer (16) to work through the connecting wire (2); S4: The ultrasonic transducer (16) converts electrical energy into ultrasonic waves and emits them, so that the ultrasonic waves can propagate to the surface of the mud cake, generate a cavitation effect, and cause the mud cake to peel off layer by layer and be carried out by the circulating mud of the mud-water shield tunnel, ultimately achieving mud cake dissolution.

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