Double-shield TBM duct piece conveyor

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of duct piece conveying, in particular to a double-shield TBM duct piece conveyor which comprises a conveyor body and a rear matched trolley which are connected through a push-pull mechanism, and the conveyor body comprises a bottom frame, a sliding frame, a lifting frame, walking wheels, a lifting oil cylinder, a sliding oil cylinder, guide wheels and a sliding plate. According to the double-shield TBM duct piece conveyor, a box type integral welding structure is adopted, and compared with a common section steel welding structure duct piece conveyor, the double-shield TBM duct piece conveyor is firmer, higher in strength, compact in structure, small in cross sectional area and more suitable for operation in a narrow space; the rear end push-pull mechanism pushing mode is adopted, compared with front end chain traction, the time that a chain needs to be dismantled when the bottom segment is assembled each time is saved, the risk that a vehicle slides forwards when the vehicle goes down a steep slope does not exist, and the segment assembling construction efficiency is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pipe segment conveying, in particular to a double-shield TBM pipe segment conveyor. Background Art

[0002] Full-face hard rock tunnel boring machines (TBMs), particularly the double-shield TBM, which combines efficient tunneling with high adaptability, have become essential equipment for traversing complex hard rock formations. Their unique double-shield structure not only provides powerful tunnel face support and surrounding rock stability, but also integrates continuous tunneling and synchronized segment assembly. This demonstrates their irreplaceable engineering value in complex geological conditions, such as fault fracture zones and high-in-situ stress areas, where traditional drilling and blasting methods struggle. They have become a key tool for constructing key water network projects and strategic water resource allocation channels.

[0003] The core advantage of the Double-Shield TBM lies in its integrated closed-loop "excavation-support-assembly" operation. The front shield stabilizes the excavation face and provides temporary support. The telescopic shield, driven by the thrust cylinder, drives the cutterhead to break rock. Under its protection, the rear shield efficiently and precisely assembles the precast concrete segments, forming a stable permanent lining ring. This process is virtually seamless, greatly improving project efficiency and safety. With its exceptional adaptability, the Double-Shield TBM effectively addresses major geological risks such as high-pressure, water-rich fractured zones and large faults, significantly reducing the incidence of safety accidents such as landslides and water gushing, and ensuring the project proceeds as planned with high quality.

[0004] Segment conveying system: the lifeline for efficient assembly of a double-shield TBM. In the complex system of a double-shield TBM, the segment conveyor is a key logistics support link to ensure the smooth operation of the "excavation-assembly" cycle. Its core mission is to safely, efficiently and accurately transfer heavy precast concrete segments (single segments often weighing several tons) from the rear storage area or segment feeding device to the working range of the segment assembly machine in the shield tail area. Especially in the narrow and compact internal space of the TBM, the segment crane is limited by the mechanical arm span or spatial obstacles, and there are often "dead corners" that cannot be covered - especially the delivery of segments in the bottom area (area B). The segment conveyor was born for such critical blind spots. It is like an extended mechanical arm, overcoming spatial constraints and ensuring that each segment can be supplied to the assembly machine in a timely and appropriate manner. It is an indispensable "last 100 meters" guarantee for achieving continuous and rapid TBM excavation. Given the extremely harsh TBM construction environment - high dust, strong vibration, cramped space and huge loads - almost stringent requirements are placed on the structural strength, operating stability, positioning accuracy and environmental tolerance of the segment conveyor.

[0005] Industry status quo and technical pain points: Efficiency constraints of chain-traction conveyors. At present, the segment conveyors widely used in the domestic TBM construction field use front-end chain traction as the mainstream drive method. This type of design can be found in many public patents (such as CN112096439A, CN110984991A, etc.). Its basic working principle is to use the drive sprocket arranged at the front end of the conveyor frame to drive the chain, and the chain directly drags the segment to slide forward on the track through the push block or clamp. Although the structure is relatively simple, this model has an inherent defect that seriously restricts the overall construction efficiency: the problem of assembly conflict of the bottom segment (B segment).

[0006] Because chains are typically installed in the middle or above the conveyor track, when transporting segments to the assembly location, the chain system lying across the track physically obstructs the segment assembly machine from grasping and assembling the bottom segment, segment B. Therefore, before each segment B assembly, operators must spend a significant amount of time and effort on a tedious and repetitive process: manually removing the chain segments that cover the B segment installation path. Once segment B is assembled, the chain must be reinstalled and tensioned to resume conveying function and transport the next segment. This disassembly and assembly process may seem like a local operation, but in fact it constitutes a global drag on the efficient and continuous excavation of the TBM: significant time loss: each assembly of the B segment is accompanied by the disassembly and reassembly of the chain, and the accumulated time consumed in the entire tunnel project is extremely considerable, directly lengthening the single-ring segment assembly cycle; interruption of construction continuity: this process forces an artificial pause in the core cycle of TBM excavation and assembly, destroying the continuous operation advantage that the double-shield TBM is proud of; manpower dependence and safety hazards: frequent manual intervention not only increases labor intensity, but also introduces additional safety hazards in the narrow and high-risk shield machine tail area; increased equipment wear: repeated disassembly and assembly of the chain accelerates the wear of the chain, sprocket and related connectors, increasing maintenance costs and failure risks.

[0007] In summary, maximizing the effectiveness of a double-shield TBM relies on the seamless coordination of its various subsystems. However, the currently widely used chain-drawn segment conveyors, due to their inherent structural defects, result in a bottleneck in the efficiency of B-segment assembly, which has become a prominent shortcoming that restricts the overall construction speed of TBMs and affects the on-time and high-quality completion of major projects. In the context of new-era engineering construction, where extreme geological challenges coexist with tight construction deadlines, breaking through the traditional chain-drawn mode and developing new, efficient segment conveying technologies and equipment with interference-free conveying capabilities that can adapt to the needs of continuous assembly of bottom segments are urgent technical needs to enhance the core competitiveness of hard rock tunnel TBM construction and ensure the smooth implementation of projects. This requires the industry to shift its R&D focus from simple structural strengthening to the design of smarter and smoother logistics systems, fundamentally breaking this long-standing efficiency bottleneck. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that most of the pipe segment conveyors in the industry currently use front-end chain traction, and the chain must be removed each time the bottom pipe segment is assembled, which greatly increases the pipe segment assembly time and directly affects the pipe segment assembly construction efficiency.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the technical problem is: a double-shield TBM segment conveyor, including a conveyor body and a rear supporting trolley connected by a push-pull mechanism, characterized in that: the conveyor body includes a base frame, a sliding frame, a lifting frame, a running wheel, a lifting cylinder, a sliding cylinder, a guide wheel and a slide plate;

[0010] The travel wheels are installed at the bottom of the chassis and are used to support the chassis to move forward and backward;

[0011] The guide wheels are provided at the front and rear ends of the chassis to control the walking direction;

[0012] The slide plate is fixed on the base frame and supports the sliding frame to slide forward and backward;

[0013] The two ends of the lifting cylinder are respectively connected to the base frame and the lifting frame to drive the lifting frame to adjust;

[0014] The two ends of the sliding oil cylinder are respectively connected to the base frame and the sliding frame, driving the sliding frame to slide horizontally.

[0015] The underframe adopts a box-type integral welded structure, and the cross-sectional area of the underframe is smaller than that of the steel welded structure.

[0016] The bottom end of the lifting oil cylinder is fixedly installed on both sides of the upper surface of the base frame, and the upper end of the lifting oil cylinder is installed with a lifting frame.

[0017] An internal opening is provided inside the base frame, and the sliding oil cylinder is movably assembled with the inner wall of the internal opening through a connecting bracket, and the extended end of the sliding oil cylinder is movably assembled with the bottom of the sliding frame.

[0018] The push-pull mechanism includes a sliding oil cylinder, one end of which is hinged to the chassis, and the other end is hinged to the rear supporting trolley. The rear supporting trolley located at the rear end of the chassis is pushed forward by the push-pull mechanism.

[0019] The lifting frame can adjust the inclination angle from 0° to 90° through the lifting cylinder to adapt to different segment assembly heights.

[0020] The guide wheels are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear ends of the chassis, and each set of guide wheels includes at least two vertically arranged rollers;

[0021] The vertical rollers of the guide wheel adopt self-lubricating bearings, and the roller spacing is 1 / 2 of the pipe segment width.

[0022] Inner support bars are fixedly mounted on both sides of the upper surface of the sliding frame, and outer support bars are fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the base frame on the outer sides of the inner support bars.

[0023] The inner support bar and the outer support bar adopt a modular structure design;

[0024] The inner support bar 9 and the outer support bar 10 are modularly assembled and disassembled through a dovetail groove structure.

[0025] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0026] (1) The double-shield TBM segment conveyor of the present invention adopts a box-type integral welded structure, which is stronger and has higher strength than the common steel-welded segment conveyor. It also has a compact structure and a small cross-sectional area, and is more suitable for operations in narrow spaces than the common steel-welded segment conveyor.

[0027] (2) The present invention adopts the rear-end push-pull mechanism to push the vehicle. Compared with the front-end chain traction, it saves the time of removing the chain each time the bottom pipe segment is assembled, and there is no risk of the vehicle slipping forward when going down a steep slope, which effectively improves the efficiency of the pipe segment assembly construction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples.

[0029] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 It is a side view of the present invention during the conveying process.

[0031] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structural explosion of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5 It is a side view of the guide wheel of the present invention adopting an electronically controlled adjustment structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are simplified schematic diagrams that illustrate the basic structure of the present invention in a schematic manner.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral connection; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 The double-shield TBM segment conveyor shown in FIG. 1 includes a conveyor body and a supporting trolley connected by a push-pull mechanism. The conveyor body includes a base frame 1, a sliding frame 2, a lifting frame 3, a traveling wheel 4, a lifting cylinder 5, a sliding cylinder 6, a guide wheel 7, and a slide plate 8.

[0037] The travel wheels 4 are installed at the bottom of the chassis 1 to support the chassis 1 to move forward and backward;

[0038] Guide wheels 7 are provided at the front and rear ends of the chassis 1 to control the walking direction;

[0039] The slide plate 8 is fixed on the base frame 1, supporting the sliding frame 2 to slide forward and backward;

[0040] The two ends of the lifting cylinder 5 are respectively connected to the base frame 1 and the lifting frame 3 to drive the lifting frame 3 to adjust;

[0041] The two ends of the sliding cylinder 6 are respectively connected to the base frame 1 and the sliding frame 2 to drive the sliding frame 2 to slide horizontally.

[0042] The underframe 1 adopts a box-type integral welded structure, and the cross-sectional area of the underframe 1 is smaller than that of a steel welded structure.

[0043] The bottom ends of the lifting cylinders 5 are fixedly mounted on both sides of the upper surface of the base frame 1 , and the upper ends of the lifting cylinders 5 are mounted with lifting frames 3 .

[0044] An internal opening is provided inside the base frame 1 , and the sliding cylinder 6 is movably assembled with the inner wall of the internal opening through a connecting bracket, and the extended end of the sliding cylinder 6 is movably assembled with the bottom of the sliding frame 2 .

[0045] The push-pull mechanism includes a sliding cylinder 6, one end of which is hinged to the base frame 1, and the other end is hinged to the rear supporting trolley. The rear supporting trolley located at the rear end of the base frame 1 is pushed forward by the push-pull mechanism.

[0046] Existing high-precision encoders are integrated into the sliding cylinder 6 and the lifting cylinder 5 to provide real-time displacement data feedback. Auxiliary electric push rods driven by motors are added in parallel with the cylinders, switching to motor drive during fine positioning (with an error of ±1mm). Hydraulic drive for rapid advancement combined with electric drive for precise positioning balances efficiency and accuracy, ensuring accurate segment assembly positioning even in vibrating environments (particularly suitable for fault fracture zones).

[0047] When one side of the lifting frame 3 is movably assembled with the base frame 1, the lifting frame 3 can adjust the tilt angle from 0° to 90° through the lifting cylinder 5 to adapt to different segment assembly heights, and form a vertical segment buffer area with the sliding frame (2) in the 90° state to avoid secondary handling before assembly. In the vertical state, the segments are directly embedded in the buffer area, eliminating the crane transfer step;

[0048] When the lifting frame 3 is not connected to the base frame 1 , the bottom is fixedly connected to the top protruding end of the lifting cylinder 5 . At this time, the lifting cylinder 5 drives the lifting frame 3 to move vertically by telescoping.

[0049] The guide wheels 7 are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear ends of the chassis 1, and each set of guide wheels 7 includes at least two vertically arranged rollers;

[0050] The vertical rollers of the guide wheel 7 adopt self-lubricating bearings, and the roller spacing is 1 / 2 of the pipe segment width.

[0051] like Figure 5 As shown, the roller spacing of guide wheels 7 is electrically adjustable. This is achieved by installing a translational guide rail on the outside of the chassis 1, at the guide wheel 7 mounting end. A built-in servo motor drives the rollers to move synchronously. A laser ranging sensor is also added to monitor the width of the bottom guide slot in real time, automatically adjusting the roller spacing to the optimal value.

[0052] Inner support bars 9 are fixedly mounted on both sides of the upper surface of the sliding frame 2 , and outer support bars 10 are fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the base frame 1 on the outer sides of the inner support bars 9 .

[0053] An array of pressure sensors is embedded inside the inner support bar 9 and the outer support bar 10 to monitor the center of gravity deviation of the pipe segment in real time.

[0054] The inner support bar 9 and the outer support bar 10 adopt a modular structural design, which can reduce costs. At the same time, through the adjustment design of the lower inner support bar 9 and the higher outer support bar 10, the stability and lateral limiting ability of the pipe segment during transportation can be improved.

[0055] The upper surfaces of the inner support bar 9 and the outer support bar 10 are both provided with support slopes to ensure the fit of their bottoms; the inner support bar 9 and the outer support bar 10 are modularly disassembled and assembled through a dovetail groove structure.

[0056] Equipment positioning and walking

[0057] The segment conveyor moves on tracks via running wheels 4 beneath the chassis 1, propelled forward by a supporting trolley via a rear-end push-pull mechanism. Guide wheels 7 ensure stable travel and prevent deviation. Advantages: This replaces traditional front-end chain traction, eliminating the need for repeated chain disassembly and installation; it also eliminates the risk of slipping on downhill slopes, improving safety.

[0058] Segment receiving and lifting

[0059] When the conveyor reaches the segment connection point, lift cylinder 5 drives the lifting frame 3 upward to receive the segments transferred from the downstream supporting system. The box-type integrally welded underframe provides high-strength support and adapts to the narrow tunnel space.

[0060] Horizontal conveying of segments

[0061] The sliding cylinder 6 pushes the sliding frame 2 to slide forward along the slide 8 on the base frame 1; the pipe segment moves forward smoothly along with the sliding frame 2 and reaches the pipe segment assembly area.

[0062] Accurate unloading and resetting

[0063] The lifting frame 3 is lowered by the lifting cylinder 5 to place the pipe segment to the assembly position; the sliding frame 2 is pulled back to the initial position by the sliding cylinder 6 to prepare for the next conveying cycle.

[0064] With the above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention as a guide, and with reference to the above description, relevant personnel are fully capable of making various changes and modifications without departing from the technical scope of this invention. The technical scope of this invention is not limited to the contents of the specification and must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A double-shield TBM segment conveyor, comprising a conveyor body and a rear supporting trolley connected by a push-pull mechanism, characterized by: The conveyor body comprises a base frame (1), a sliding frame (2), a lifting frame (3), a walking wheel (4), a lifting cylinder (5), a sliding cylinder (6), a guide wheel (7) and a slide plate (8); The walking wheels (4) are mounted on the bottom of the chassis (1) and are used to support the chassis (1) to move forward and backward; The guide wheels (7) are arranged at the front and rear ends of the chassis (1) and are used to control the walking direction; The slide plate (8) is fixed on the base frame (1) and supports the sliding frame (2) to slide forward and backward; The two ends of the lifting cylinder (5) are respectively connected to the base frame (1) and the lifting frame (3), driving the lifting frame (3) to adjust; The two ends of the sliding oil cylinder (6) are respectively connected to the base frame (1) and the sliding frame (2), driving the sliding frame (2) to slide horizontally.

2. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base frame (1) adopts a box-type integral welded structure, and the cross-sectional area of the base frame (1) is smaller than that of a steel welded structure.

3. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the lifting oil cylinder (5) is fixedly mounted on both sides of the upper surface of the base frame (1), and the upper end of the lifting oil cylinder (5) is mounted with a lifting frame (3).

4. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: An internal opening is provided inside the base frame (1), and the sliding oil cylinder (6) is movably assembled with the inner wall of the internal opening via a connecting bracket, and the extended end of the sliding oil cylinder (6) is movably assembled with the bottom of the sliding frame (2).

5. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The push-pull mechanism comprises a sliding oil cylinder (6), one end of which is hinged to the base frame (1) and the other end of which is hinged to the rear supporting trolley. The rear supporting trolley located at the rear end of the base frame (1) is pushed forward by the push-pull mechanism.

6. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lifting frame (3) can achieve tilt adjustment of 0°-90° via a lifting oil cylinder (5) to adapt to different segment assembly heights.

7. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide wheels (7) are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear ends of the base frame (1), and each set of guide wheels (7) includes at least two vertically arranged rollers; The vertical rollers of the guide wheel (7) adopt self-lubricating bearings, and the roller spacing is 1 / 2 of the width of the pipe segment.

8. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that: Inner support bars (9) are fixedly mounted on both sides of the upper surface of the sliding frame (2), and outer support bars (10) are fixedly mounted on the outer sides of the inner support bars (9) on the upper surface of the base frame (1).

9. The double-shield TBM segment conveyor according to claim 8, characterized in that: The inner support bar (9) and the outer support bar (10) adopt a modular structural design, and the inner support bar (9) and the outer support bar (10) realize modular assembly and disassembly through a dovetail groove structure.

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