A size-adjustable shield machine cutterhead and adjusting method

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of a shield machine cutter head, in particular to a size-adjustable shield machine cutter head and an adjusting method, which comprises a cutter head frame, fixed beams for mounting first cutter assemblies are uniformly distributed on the cutter head frame, size adjusting assemblies are arranged on the cutter head frame and close to the positions of the fixed beams, and the size adjusting assemblies comprise two groups of mounting frames which are symmetrically arranged in the middle part of the cutter head frame. The size adjusting assemblies are arranged, the telescopic oil cylinders are used to control the telescoping of mounting bases, second cutter assemblies and shell cutter assemblies, the diameter change operation of the cutter head is realized, the applicability of the shield machine is improved, the cost of tunnel construction is effectively reduced, the expansion and excavation operation of the cutter head under different diameters is completed through a multiple expansion and excavation method, the multiple expansion and excavation and the step-by-step advancing under the small-diameter state are combined, the disturbance to the tunnel stratum in the shield machine cutter head excavation process is effectively reduced, and the safety during the cutter head working process is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of tunnel boring machine cutterhead technology, specifically to a tunnel boring machine cutterhead with adjustable size and an adjustment method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a piece of equipment used for tunnel excavation. It is a high-end tunnel construction equipment integrating mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, sensing, and information technologies. It can simultaneously perform excavation, muck removal, and lining operations under complex geological conditions. It is widely used in railway, highway, and water conservancy projects. It excavates underground rock or soft soil into tunnels using a rotating cutterhead and installs tunnel linings simultaneously. The basic structure of a TBM includes: cutterhead, propulsion system, screw conveyor, lining installation system, and main drive system.

[0003] The cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) is the front end of the TBM, responsible for cutting and breaking soil or rock to provide space for the TBM to advance. The design and type of the cutterhead vary depending on the geological conditions the tunnel passes through. It is one of the key components of the TBM, directly affecting construction efficiency and safety.

[0004] Regarding the aforementioned technologies, traditional tunnel boring machines (TBMs) with fixed cutterhead diameters are ill-suited to the more complex geological conditions (such as soft soil, hard rock, and composite strata) and diverse tunnel designs (such as variations in tunnel diameter) encountered in tunnel engineering. Furthermore, when it is necessary to increase the diameter of the tunnel, a TBM with a larger cutterhead diameter must be installed. Therefore, the fixed cutterhead diameter of traditional TBMs fails to meet the demands for construction flexibility and economy. Moreover, when facing complex geological conditions and surrounding environments, traditional open-cut methods are unsuitable for station excavation operations, making it impossible to hoist the TBM and quickly replace it with a suitable size. This increases the difficulty of directly replacing the cutterhead, raises construction risks during the replacement process, and requires significant time for TBM deployment, further increasing construction time and exacerbating the drawbacks of the cutterhead structure during use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned shortcomings of existing technologies, this application provides a dimensionally adjustable tunnel boring machine cutterhead, including a cutterhead frame. Fixed beams for mounting a first cutterhead assembly are evenly distributed on the cutterhead frame. A dimension adjustment component is located on the cutterhead frame near the fixed beams. The dimension adjustment component includes two sets of mounting frames symmetrically arranged in the middle of the cutterhead frame. Each mounting frame contains a telescopic hydraulic cylinder, and the output end of each telescopic hydraulic cylinder is connected to a mounting base. One mounting base houses a second cutterhead assembly, and the other mounting base houses a shell-shaped cutterhead assembly. A filler is provided between the mounting frame and the mounting base. Sliding grooves are formed on both side walls of the filler. A linkage component is located on the outer side of the filler, and the filler is connected to the mounting frame via the linkage component.

[0006] The linkage component includes a displacement rod with a rack near the filler. One end of the displacement rod is connected to the filler, and the other end is connected to the mounting base. A filling part is provided on the displacement rod near the rack, and the filling part includes a first gear that meshes with the displacement rod. A displacement toothed plate perpendicular to the displacement rod is provided on the outer wall of the filler near the first gear and meshes with the first gear.

[0007] Furthermore, the first gear includes a main gear and a secondary gear, the main gear and the secondary gear are coaxial, the main gear is meshed with a rack on the displacement rod, the secondary gear is meshed with a displacement gear plate, and the displacement gear plate is perpendicular to the displacement rod.

[0008] Furthermore, the displacement toothed plate is provided with limiting blocks at both ends, and a sliding groove is provided on the side surface of the cutter head holder near the filler. The limiting block is inserted into the sliding groove on the cutter head holder at a position away from the outer wall of the filler, and the limiting block is displaced along the opening direction of the sliding groove.

[0009] Furthermore, a rack is also provided on the displacement rod near the mounting base. A cleaning part is provided on the mounting base near the displacement rod. The cleaning part includes a second gear, which is meshed with the displacement rod through the rack on the displacement rod. A turntable is provided on the outer side of the second gear. A rotating rod is provided on the turntable near the edge. A reciprocating plate parallel to the displacement rod is provided at one end of the rotating rod. A scraper is provided at the end of the reciprocating plate away from the rotating rod.

[0010] Furthermore, a limiting frame is provided on the inner side of the cutter head holder and near the reciprocating plate. The reciprocating plate is inserted into the limiting frame and slides on the inner side of the limiting frame. The scraper is located in the gap between the inner wall of the cutter head holder and the filler.

[0011] Furthermore, the telescopic cylinder is connected to the mounting frame via a bolt disc, the telescopic cylinder is detachable, and the mounting frame and the filler are both equipped with evenly distributed third roller cutter assemblies.

[0012] Furthermore, the mounting bracket and the top surfaces of the filler are both welded with evenly distributed scrapers.

[0013] An adjustment method for the cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine with adjustable dimensions, based on the above, includes the following steps:

[0014] A1. The tunnel boring machine first completes the tunnel excavation of the first section of the main line in the small diameter state of the cutterhead, and stops when the tunnel boring machine has excavated to the predetermined position where the cutterhead diameter changes;

[0015] A2. Open the right hatch and check the condition of the soil chamber, the front and top of the tunnel face to ensure that the tunnel face is stable and reliable, with no slag or water inrush, and meets the relevant space environment and safety requirements for cutterhead diameter adjustment. If necessary, reinforce the tunnel face, tunnel wall and other key areas related to tunneling to ensure the safety and efficiency of the entire tunneling process.

[0016] A3. Dismantle the mud flushing pipeline at the front of the shield body of the tunnel boring machine, open the central hatch, and debug the cutterhead diameter adjustment system to ensure that the operation of each system of the size adjustment component is stable and accurate, and that the data feedback is correct.

[0017] A4. Cut off the original fixing point of the mounting base so that its cutting mechanism can slide radially with the telescopic cylinder. After the modification is completed, close the center hatch.

[0018] A5. Controlling the stroke and pressure of the telescopic cylinder controls the extension of the mounting base, gradually increasing the diameter of the cutterhead. In slurry tunneling mode, the cutterhead rotates at a low speed, and the diameter of the cutterhead is increased using the size adjustment component. The cutterhead first expands the excavation in place. When the diameter of the cutterhead is increased to the specified size, the displacement rod drives the first gear to rotate, thereby displacing the displacement tooth plate and moving the filler into the cavity between the mounting frame and the mounting base to fill the cavity. At the same time, after the cutterhead switches to a larger diameter, the mounting base is reinforced by a ring-shaped rigid structure to form a complete circle. Cutting tools such as cutters can be welded onto the ring. After the cutterhead rotates and expands the excavation by 300mm, the cutting tool used for expanding the excavation by 300mm on the ring is removed. After the above operations are completed, the ring is removed.

[0019] A6. After the cutterhead has completed the in-situ enlargement, the telescopic cylinder retracts, controlling the installation base and filler to return to their positions. The cutterhead diameter returns to its smaller diameter state. During the retraction of the installation base, the displacement rod drives the second gear to rotate, and then controls the reciprocating plate to reciprocate through the turntable and rotating rod. This allows the blade to move back and forth in the gap between the installation base and the cutterhead frame, clearing debris from the gap and assisting the installation base to return to its position smoothly.

[0020] A7. Control the tunnel boring machine to advance a certain distance and then stop tunneling;

[0021] A8. Repeat the cutterhead diameter change operation to enlarge the cutterhead diameter again. Repeat this process multiple times to form the final required working space, which meets the requirements for adjusting the working space of the cutterhead or shield. At the same time, after the cutterhead diameter adjustment is completed and meets the normal diameter change, the cutterhead is enlarged to the required excavation diameter and then enlarged by an additional 300mm. This serves as the working face and error tolerance adjustment when necessary for shotcrete support (100mm thick) and shield installation.

[0022] A9. Evaluate the excavation face formed by multiple excavations. If the excavation face is relatively complete and has good stability, no reinforcement is required. If the excavation face has poor stability, in order to ensure the safety of subsequent cutterhead diameter adjustment work, use matching refrigeration units, cutterhead pre-reserved coolant pipelines, etc. to freeze and reinforce part of the soil in the excavation face to form a frozen layer and improve the stability of the excavation face.

[0023] A10. Before cutting the cutting ring, control the cutter head to continuously rotate idle. Use the mud and water system to clean the residual mud and debris in the cutter chamber. Use stiffening plates to fix the cutting ring and the large circular ring of the cutter head to multiple points. Use a magnetic trolley to cut the cutting ring twice. The rotation of the cutter head drives the rotation of the cutting ring. Personnel at the bottom cut the cutting ring into sections. Through the set lifting points, the cutting ring is lifted into sections and transported to the central hatch position for external transport.

[0024] A11. Open the center hatch and check the integrity and functionality of each system of the cutterhead to prevent damage to the cutterhead structural components or other mechanisms during in-situ excavation in the aforementioned steps. Verify the cutterhead diameter at multiple points to ensure that the enlarged diameter is consistent with the plan. Use the linkage assembly to fill the cavity between the mounting base and the mounting frame with filler material. Install the third roller cutter assembly and scraper. Finally, close the center hatch.

[0025] Based on the above-described method for adjusting the size of a tunnel boring machine cutterhead, the size adjustment component includes the following steps during operation:

[0026] S1. Remove the flushing pipeline and related accessories in the slurry tunneling mode, and cut the fixing point of the cutter head mounting base to prepare for the adjustment of the cutter head diameter;

[0027] S2. Pause the tunnel boring machine's forward excavation, activate the telescopic cylinder, control one of the mounting bases to extend outward, and drive the second cutter assembly or shell cutter assembly to extend outward. During the extension of the mounting base, the displacement rod drives the first gear to rotate, thereby causing the displacement tooth plate to move and drive the filler to move into the cavity between the mounting frame and the mounting base to fill the cavity.

[0028] S3. The telescopic cylinder retracts, controlling the installation base and filler to return to their original positions. During the retraction of the installation base, the displacement rod drives the second gear to rotate, and then controls the reciprocating plate to reciprocate through the turntable and rotating rod, so that the blade can move back and forth in the gap between the installation base and the blade holder, clearing the debris in the gap and assisting the installation base to return to its original position smoothly.

[0029] S4. Control the tunnel boring machine to advance a specified distance while the cutterhead is in a small diameter state;

[0030] S5. Repeat steps S2, S3, and S4 to widen the tunnel step by step. After the widening length reaches the target, fix the diameter of the cutterhead and then install the widened cutting ring assembly to complete the diameter adjustment of the cutterhead.

[0031] The technical solution provided in this application has the following advantages compared with the known prior art:

[0032] 1. This application improves the applicability of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) by setting up a size adjustment component and installing a telescopic hydraulic cylinder inside the mounting frame. The telescopic hydraulic cylinder controls the extension and retraction of the mounting base, the second cutterhead assembly, and the shell cutterhead assembly, thereby achieving the diameter change operation of the cutterhead. This effectively reduces the cost of tunnel construction. The multiple excavation method completes the excavation operation of the cutterhead at different diameters. The combination of multiple excavation and step-by-step advancement in the small diameter state effectively reduces the disturbance of the tunnel strata during the excavation of the TBM cutterhead and improves the safety of the cutterhead during operation. At the same time, by setting up symmetrically installed second cutterhead assemblies and shell cutterhead assemblies, the overall diversity and integrity of the cutterhead are increased, and the adaptability of the cutterhead to multiple strata is improved. Furthermore, other cutters can also be installed on the mounting base, so that different types of cutters can be selected according to different strata, improving the comprehensiveness of the cutterhead during operation.

[0033] 2. This application sets up a filling part, a displacement rod and a first gear. The displacement rod drives the first gear to rotate, which in turn drives the displacement tooth plate to move. The displacement tooth plate can follow the displacement rod to move. While the second cutter assembly and the shell cutter assembly are moving, the filling part can fill the cavity between the mounting base and the mounting frame. This ensures the overall strength and functional integrity of the cutterhead in the large diameter state and effectively improves the tunneling efficiency after the cutterhead is enlarged.

[0034] 3. This application incorporates a cleaning section, a reciprocating plate, and a scraper. A displacement rod drives the second gear and turntable to rotate, which in turn causes the reciprocating plate to move the scraper back and forth. The scraper cleans the gap between the mounting base and the cutter head frame, removing dirt and other debris stuck in the gap. This reduces the possibility of debris getting stuck in the gap, causing the mounting base to jam, shift, or become stuck, thus improving the smoothness of the mounting base's extension and retraction. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure in the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the diameter adjustment operation is completed in the embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the scraper and the third roller cutter assembly are installed in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation position of the telescopic hydraulic cylinder in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the filler in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the linkage component in the embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the supplementary assembly in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first gear in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning section in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 10 For this application Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0045] Figure 11 For this application Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0046] In the diagram: 1. Cutter head holder; 2. Fixed beam; 3. First roller cutter assembly; 4. Size adjustment assembly; 40. Mounting base; 41. Mounting bracket; 42. Scraper; 43. Telescopic cylinder; 44. Filler; 45. Sliding groove; 5. Linkage assembly; 51. Displacement rod; 52. First gear; 521. Main gear; 522. Secondary gear; 53. Displacement tooth plate; 54. Limit block; 55. Second gear; 56. Turntable; 57. Rotating rod; 58. Reciprocating plate; 59. Limit frame; 50. Shovel; 7. Second roller cutter assembly; 8. Shell cutter assembly; 9. Third roller cutter assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To better understand the above technical solution, the following will refer to the appendix to the instruction manual. Figure 1-11 The specific implementation methods are described in detail below for the above technical solutions.

[0048] refer to Figures 1 to 5 This application discloses a size-adjustable shield machine cutterhead, including a cutterhead frame 1, a fixed beam 2, a first cutter roller assembly 3, and a size adjustment assembly 4. The fixed beam 2 is fixedly installed on the cutterhead frame 1, and multiple fixed beams 2 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the cutterhead frame 1. The first cutter roller assembly 3 is installed inside the fixed beam 2. The size adjustment assembly 4 is provided on the cutterhead frame 1 and near the fixed beam 2. The size adjustment assembly 4 is used to realize the diameter change operation of the cutterhead.

[0049] The size adjustment assembly 4 includes two sets of mounting brackets 41 symmetrically arranged in the middle of the cutter head holder 1. Each mounting bracket 41 is equipped with a telescopic cylinder 43. The output end of each telescopic cylinder 43 is connected to a mounting base 40. One mounting base 40 is equipped with a second hobbing cutter assembly 7, and the other mounting base 40 is equipped with a shell cutter assembly 8. A filler 44 is provided between the mounting bracket 41 and the mounting base 40. Sliding grooves 45 are provided on both sides of the filler 44. A linkage assembly 5 is provided on the outside of the filler 44. The filler 44 and the mounting bracket 41 are connected through the linkage assembly 5. The output end of the telescopic cylinder 43 is connected to the mounting base 40.

[0050] Furthermore, after one of the telescopic cylinders 43 extends one of the following sets: the second hobbing cutter assembly 7, the mounting base 40, the shell cutter assembly 8, and the mounting base 40, Figure 10 and Figure 11 The difference between the second hobbing cutter assembly 7 and the shell cutter assembly 8 is shown. A cavity appears at the center of the mounting bracket 41 and the cutter head holder 1. The filler 44 is installed on the inner side of the cutter head holder 1 and near the cavity. The linkage assembly 5 is installed on the inner side of the cutter head holder 1 and near the filler 44. The two sets of linkage assemblies 5 are symmetrically distributed about the rectangular filler 44.

[0051] The tunnel boring machine (TBM) first excavates the first section of the main line tunnel with the cutterhead in a small diameter state. When the TBM reaches the predetermined position for cutterhead diameter adjustment, it stops, the right hatch is opened, and the soil chamber, the face front, and the top are inspected to ensure the face is stable and reliable, with no debris falling or water inrush, meeting the spatial environment and safety requirements for cutterhead diameter adjustment. Then, the mud flushing pipeline at the front of the TBM shield is removed, the central hatch is opened, and the cutterhead diameter adjustment system is debugged to ensure stable and accurate operation of each system in the size adjustment component 4, with correct data feedback. Next, the original fixing point of the mounting base 40 is removed, allowing the cutting mechanism to slide radially with the telescopic cylinder 43. After the modification is completed, the central hatch is closed. During subsequent cutterhead enlargement, the cutterhead diameter is gradually increased by controlling the stroke and pressure of the telescopic cylinder 43.

[0052] Furthermore, the diameter of the cutterhead is increased by using the cutterhead size adjustment component 4. In the above process, firstly, a telescopic cylinder 43 is installed inside the mounting frame 41, and the output end of the telescopic cylinder 43 is connected to the mounting base 40. The extension of the mounting base 40 is completed by driving the telescopic cylinder 43. After the above work is completed, the telescopic cylinder 43 is disassembled. The detachable setting of the telescopic cylinder 43 reduces the overall weight of the tunnel boring machine and ensures its stable operation. It is worth noting that multiple size adjustment components 4 can be installed on the cutterhead frame 1 in this application, not limited to the two sets in this application. The number can be changed according to the on-site construction conditions. Furthermore, the telescopic cylinder 43 in this application can be first installed on one set of size adjustment components 4 to complete the diameter change operation. After the diameter change operation is completed, it can be installed on another set of size adjustment components 4 to complete the diameter change operation. Thus, even under extreme operating conditions, it is not limited to carrying multiple sets of telescopic cylinders 43, ensuring the convenience of overall operation.

[0053] Furthermore, evenly distributed scrapers 42 are welded to both sides of the top surface of the mounting bracket 41 and the filler 44. It is worth noting that after the cutter head diameter adjustment is completed, scrapers 42 can be welded to both sides of the top surface of the mounting bracket 41 and the filler 44. The scrapers 42 can reduce the direct friction of hard materials on the cutter head surface, reduce wear, and thus ensure the overall working effect.

[0054] It is worth noting that after the telescopic cylinder 43 is disassembled, the third roller cutter assembly 9 can be installed at the location where the telescopic cylinder 43 was installed and inside the filler 44 to ensure the overall digging effect when the cutterhead is performing enlargement work.

[0055] Furthermore, the cutterhead first performs in-situ enlargement excavation, increasing its diameter to the specified size. After this in-situ enlargement is completed, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) is controlled to advance a certain distance before stopping. This process is repeated to further enlarge the cutterhead diameter, and this cycle continues until the desired working space is achieved through multiple enlargement operations, thus satisfying the requirements for adjusting the cutterhead or shield.

[0056] After multiple excavations by the cutterhead, the resulting excavation face needs to be evaluated. If the excavation face is relatively intact and stable, no reinforcement is required. However, if the excavation face has poor stability, reinforcement is necessary for the safety of subsequent cutterhead diameter adjustments. The main reinforcement scheme is to use a matching refrigeration unit and pre-installed chilled fluid pipelines on the cutterhead to freeze and reinforce part of the soil at the excavation face, forming a frozen layer and improving the stability of the excavation face. Before cutting the cutting ring, the cutterhead is kept idling. The residual mud and debris in the cutter chamber are cleaned using a slurry system. Ribs are used to fix the cutting ring to the large ring of the cutterhead at multiple points. A magnetic trolley is used to cut the cutting ring twice. The rotation of the cutterhead drives the cutting ring to rotate. Personnel at the bottom cut the cutting ring into sections. The sections of the cutting ring are then lifted to the central hatch for transport via designated lifting points. Next, open the central hatch and check the integrity and functionality of each system of the cutterhead to prevent damage to the cutterhead structural components or other mechanisms during in-situ excavation in the previous steps. Verify the cutterhead diameter at multiple points to ensure that the enlarged diameter matches the design specifications. After verifying the final cutterhead diameter, reinforce the mounting base 40 with a ring-shaped rigid structure to form a complete circle. This strengthens the load-bearing capacity of the extended mounting base 40 and enhances its overall rigidity to cope with the propulsion reaction force and cutterhead rotation resistance during the propulsion process.

[0057] refer to Figures 5 to 9The linkage component 5 includes a replenishment part and a cleaning part. The replenishment part includes a displacement rod 51, a first gear 52, a displacement toothed plate 53, and a limiting block 54. A rack is provided on the displacement rod 51 near the filler 44. One end of the displacement rod 51 is connected to the filler 44, and the other end of the displacement rod 51 is connected to the mounting base 40. The replenishment part is provided on the displacement rod 51 near the rack. The replenishment part includes the first gear 52, which meshes with the displacement rod 51. A displacement toothed plate 53 is provided on the outer wall of the filler 44 near the first gear 52, perpendicular to the displacement rod 51. The displacement toothed plate 53 meshes with the first gear 52. The first gear 52 includes a main gear 521 and a secondary gear 522. The main gear 521 and the secondary gear 522 are coaxial. The main gear 521 meshes with the rack on the displacement rod 51, and the secondary gear 522 meshes with the displacement toothed plate 53. The displacement toothed plate 53 is perpendicular to the displacement rod 51. The main gear 521 and the secondary gear 522 rotate synchronously. The displacement rod 51 drives the main gear 521 to rotate. Since the main gear 521 and the secondary gear 522 rotate synchronously, when the main gear 521 rotates, the secondary gear 522 drives the displacement gear plate 53 to move. The displacement gear plate 53 has limit blocks 54 at both ends. A groove is opened on the surface of the cutter head holder 1 near the filler 44. The limit block 54 is inserted into the groove opened on the cutter head holder 1 at a position away from the outer wall of the filler 44. The limit block 54 moves along the opening direction of the groove. The limit block 54 is used to limit the rotation of the secondary gear 522 on the one hand, and to connect with the groove on the cutter head holder 1 on the other hand.

[0058] During the expansion of the cutterhead diameter, the telescopic cylinder 43 pushes the mounting base 40 outward. As the mounting base 40 moves outward, the displacement rod 51 moves synchronously with it. Since the displacement rod 51 is meshed with the first gear 52, as it moves with the mounting base 40, it drives the main gear 521 of the first gear 52 to rotate, which in turn drives the secondary gear 522, which is fixedly connected to the main gear 521, to rotate. The rotation of the secondary gear 522 drives the displacement toothed plate 53 to move. Thus, as the mounting base 40 extends outward, the displacement toothed plate 53, perpendicular to the displacement rod 51, moves in the direction of the displacement rod 51, moving the filler 44 into the cavity between the mounting frame 41 and the cutterhead holder 1. After the filler 44 fills the cavity, it reinforces the mounting base 40, increasing the overall stability and integrity of the cutterhead. Furthermore, the third hobbing cutter assembly 9 can be installed inside the filler 44, increasing the number of digging cutters at the center of the cutterhead and improving its working efficiency.

[0059] Similarly, during the cutter head diameter reset process, the installed third hobbing cutter assembly 9 is disassembled, and then the telescopic cylinder 43 is reinstalled. After the above operations are completed, the telescopic cylinder 43 is controlled to operate. The telescopic cylinder 43 pulls the mounting base 40, causing the mounting base 40 to move towards the center position of the cutter head holder 1. At the same time, the displacement rod 51 drives the first gear 52 to rotate, which in turn causes the displacement tooth plate 53 to drive the filler 44 to move in the opposite direction, freeing up the space required for the mounting base 40 to reset. This allows the mounting base 40 to reset smoothly, completing the cutter head diameter reset.

[0060] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 9 The cleaning unit includes a second gear 55, a turntable 56, a rotating rod 57, a reciprocating plate 58, a limiting frame 59, and a scraper 50. The second gear 55 is installed inside the cutter head holder 1, near the displacement rod 51, and meshes with a rack on the displacement rod 51. The turntable 56 is fixedly installed on the outside of the second gear 55, and the turntable 56 is coaxial with the second gear 55. The rotating rod 57 is rotatably installed on the surface of the turntable 56 away from the second gear 55, near its edge. The reciprocating plate 58 is rotatably installed on the end of the rotating rod 57 away from the turntable 56. A limiting frame 59 is provided inside the cutter head holder 1, near the reciprocating plate 58, and the reciprocating plate 58 is inserted into the limiting frame 59, sliding within the limiting frame 59. The scraper 50 is located in the gap between the inner wall of the cutter head holder 1 and the filler 44.

[0061] While the mounting base 40 is displaced, the displacement rod 51 is also displaced. The second gear 55, which is meshed with the rack on the displacement rod 51, rotates synchronously. The second gear 55 drives the turntable 56, which is fixedly connected to it, to rotate. When the turntable 56 rotates, the rotating rod 57, which is rotated and mounted on the turntable 56, moves circumferentially along the turntable 56. At this time, the reciprocating plate 58, which is rotatably connected to the rotating rod 57, moves reciprocally along the length of the displacement rod 51 under the traction of the rotating rod 57. The scraper 50, which is fixed to one end of the reciprocating plate 58, moves reciprocally along the reciprocating plate 58. Since the scraper 50 is located in the gap between the inner wall of the cutter head frame 1 and the filler 44, during the displacement of the mounting base 40, the scraper 50 can clean the dirt and other debris adhering to the edge of the mounting base 40, so as to prevent the dirt and other debris adhering to the edge of the mounting base 40 from getting stuck in the gap between the mounting base 40 and the cutter head frame 1, which would cause the mounting base 40 to jam, get stuck, or shift during displacement.

[0062] A method for adjusting the cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine with adjustable dimensions, based on the above-mentioned method, includes the following steps:

[0063] A1. The tunnel boring machine first completes the tunnel excavation of the first section of the main line in the small diameter state of the cutterhead, and stops when the tunnel boring machine has excavated to the predetermined position where the cutterhead diameter changes;

[0064] A2. Open the right hatch and check the condition of the soil chamber, the front and top of the tunnel face to ensure that the tunnel face is stable and reliable, with no slag or water inrush, and meets the spatial environment and safety requirements related to the change of cutterhead diameter. If necessary, reinforce the tunnel face, tunnel wall and other key areas related to tunneling to ensure the safety and efficiency of the entire tunneling process.

[0065] A3. Remove the mud flushing pipeline at the front of the shield body of the tunnel boring machine, open the central hatch, and debug the system for changing the diameter of the cutterhead to ensure that the size adjustment component 4 system operates stably and accurately, and that the data feedback is correct.

[0066] A4. Cut off the original fixing point of the mounting base 40 so that its cutting mechanism can slide radially with the telescopic cylinder 43. After the modification is completed, close the center hatch.

[0067] A5. Controlling the stroke and pressure of the telescopic cylinder 43 controls the mounting base 40 to extend outward, thereby gradually increasing the diameter of the cutterhead. In the slurry tunneling mode, the cutterhead is controlled to rotate at a low speed. The diameter of the cutterhead is increased by the size adjustment component 4. The cutterhead first expands the excavation in place. When the diameter of the cutterhead is increased to the specified size, the displacement rod 51 drives the first gear 52 to rotate, thereby causing the displacement tooth plate 53 to move. This causes the filling part 44 to move into the cavity between the mounting frame 41 and the mounting base 40 to fill the cavity. At the same time, after the cutterhead is switched to a large diameter, the mounting base 40 is reinforced by the ring steel structure to form a complete circle. Cutting tools such as cutters can be welded on the ring. After the cutterhead rotates and expands the excavation by 300mm, the cutting tool used for expanding the excavation by 300mm on the ring is cut off. After the above operations are completed, the ring is cut off.

[0068] A6. After the cutterhead has completed the in-situ enlargement, the telescopic cylinder 43 retracts, controlling the mounting base 40 and the filler 44 to return to their positions. The cutterhead diameter returns to the small diameter state. During the retraction of the mounting base 40, the displacement rod 51 drives the second gear 55 to rotate, and then controls the reciprocating plate 58 to reciprocate through the turntable 56 and the rotating rod 57. This allows the blade 50 to reciprocate in the gap between the mounting base 40 and the cutterhead frame 1, clearing debris from the gap and assisting the mounting base 40 to return to its position smoothly.

[0069] A7. Control the tunnel boring machine to advance a certain distance and then stop tunneling;

[0070] A8. Repeat the cutterhead diameter change operation to expand the cutterhead diameter again. Repeat this process multiple times to form the final required working space, which meets the requirements for adjusting the working space of the cutterhead or shield. At the same time, when the cutterhead diameter changes, after the normal diameter change is met, the cutterhead is expanded to the required excavation diameter and then expanded by an additional 300mm. This serves as the working face and error tolerance adjustment when necessary for shotcrete support (100mm thick) and shield installation.

[0071] A9. Evaluate the excavation face formed by multiple expansions. If the excavation face is relatively intact and has good stability, no reinforcement is required. If the excavation face has poor stability, in order to ensure the safety of subsequent work after changes in the cutterhead diameter, use a matching refrigeration unit and a pre-reserved cooling liquid pipeline on the cutterhead to freeze and reinforce part of the soil on the excavation face to form a frozen layer and improve the stability of the excavation face.

[0072] A10. Before cutting the cutting ring, control the cutter head to continuously rotate idle. Use the mud and water system to clean the residual mud and debris in the cutter chamber. Use stiffening plates to fix the cutting ring and the large circular ring of the cutter head to multiple points. Use a magnetic trolley to cut the cutting ring twice. The rotation of the cutter head drives the rotation of the cutting ring. Personnel at the bottom cut the cutting ring into sections. Through the set lifting points, the cutting ring is lifted into sections and transported to the central hatch position for external transport.

[0073] A11. Open the central hatch and check the integrity and functionality of each system of the cutterhead to prevent damage to the cutterhead structural components or other mechanisms during in-situ excavation in the aforementioned steps. Verify the diameter of the cutterhead at multiple points to ensure that the diameter of the cutterhead after enlargement is consistent with the plan. Use the linkage component 5 to fill the cavity between the mounting base 40 and the mounting frame 41 with the filler 44. Install the third roller cutter assembly and scraper 42. Finally, close the central hatch.

[0074] Based on the above-described method for adjusting the size of a tunnel boring machine cutterhead, the size adjustment component 4 includes the following steps during operation:

[0075] S1. Remove the flushing pipes and related accessories in the slurry tunneling mode, cut the 40 fixing points of the installation base, and prepare for the change of the cutterhead diameter;

[0076] S2. Pause the tunnel boring machine's forward excavation, start the telescopic cylinder 43, control one of the mounting bases 40 to extend outward, drive the second cutter assembly 7 or the shell cutter assembly 7 to extend outward. During the extension of the mounting base 40, the displacement rod 51 drives the first gear 52 to rotate, thereby causing the displacement tooth plate 53 to move, driving the filler 44 to move into the cavity between the mounting frame 41 and the mounting base 40, and filling the cavity.

[0077] S3. The telescopic cylinder 43 retracts, controlling the mounting base 40 and the filler 44 to return to their original positions. During the retraction of the mounting base 40, the displacement rod 51 drives the second gear 55 to rotate, and then controls the reciprocating plate 58 to reciprocate through the turntable 56 and the rotating rod 57, thereby enabling the scraper 50 to move back and forth in the gap between the mounting base 40 and the cutter head frame 1, clearing debris in the gap and assisting the mounting base 40 to return to its original position smoothly.

[0078] S4. Control the tunnel boring machine to advance a specified distance while the cutterhead is in a small diameter state;

[0079] S5. Repeat steps S2, S3, and S4 to widen the tunnel step by step. After the widening length reaches the target, fix the diameter of the cutterhead and then install the widened cutting ring assembly to complete the diameter adjustment of the cutterhead.

[0080] The working principle of this application embodiment:

[0081] The telescopic cylinder 43, fixedly mounted on the cutter head holder 1, pushes the mounting base 40 outward from the cutter head holder 1, thereby expanding the cutting diameter of the second hobbing cutter assembly 7 and the shell cutter assembly 8 on the mounting base 40. Simultaneously, as the telescopic cylinder 43 pushes the mounting base 40 out, the mounting base 40 drives the displacement rod 51 to move synchronously. The first gear 52, meshing with the displacement rod 51, rotates, thereby driving the displacement gear plate 53 to move. The displacement gear plate 53 then drives the first filler 44 to move into the cavity between the mounting base 40 and the mounting frame 41, filling the cavity after the mounting base 40 extends, thus completing the cutter head excavation. When the diameter of the excavation face changes, the displacement rod 51 moves, and the second gear 55, which meshes with the displacement rod 51, drives the turntable 56 to rotate, causing the rotating rod 57 to drive the reciprocating plate 58 to move back and forth. This allows the shovel 50 to move back and forth when the mounting base 40 moves, so that the shovel 50 can clean the debris between the mounting base 40 and the cutter head frame 1. Similarly, when it is necessary to restore the original excavation diameter of the cutter head, the telescopic cylinder 43 retracts, and the mounting base 40 resets. At the same time as the mounting base 40 resets, the displacement rod 51 drives the displacement tooth plate 53 and the first filler 44 to return to their original positions, thus completing the diameter adjustment of the cutter head.

[0082] By repeating the above-mentioned expansion and retraction operations, when it is necessary to increase the tunneling diameter, first control the mounting base 40 to fully extend, so that part of the cutterhead diameter is expanded, increasing the excavation diameter. Then retract the extended mounting base 40, control the tunnel boring machine to excavate forward by half the thickness of the cutterhead, and then control the cutterhead to perform the next diameter change operation. Then repeat the cutterhead diameter adjustment operation to expand the diameter of the cutterhead again. This process is repeated until the final required working space is formed through multiple expansion excavations, meeting the requirements for the adjustment operation space of the cutterhead or shield body.

[0083] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A size-adjustable shield tunneling machine cutterhead, comprising a cutterhead frame (1), wherein fixed beams (2) for mounting a first cutterhead assembly (3) are evenly distributed on the cutterhead frame (1), characterized in that, A size adjustment component (4) is provided on the cutter head holder (1) and near the fixed beam (2). The size adjustment component (4) includes two sets of mounting brackets (41) symmetrically arranged in the middle of the cutter head holder (1). Each mounting bracket (41) is equipped with a telescopic cylinder (43). The output end of each telescopic cylinder (43) is connected to a mounting base (40). One of the mounting bases (40) is equipped with a second hobbing cutter assembly (7), and the other mounting base (40) is equipped with a shell cutter assembly (8). A filler (44) is provided between the mounting bracket (41) and the mounting base (40). Sliding grooves (45) are provided on both sides of the filler (44). A linkage component (5) is provided on the outside of the filler (44). The filler (44) and the mounting bracket (41) are connected by the linkage component (5). The linkage component (5) includes a displacement rod (51), a rack is provided on the displacement rod (51) near the filler (44), one end of the displacement rod (51) is connected to the filler (44), and the other end of the displacement rod (51) is connected to the mounting base (40). A filling part is provided on the displacement rod (51) near the rack, and the filling part includes a first gear (52). The first gear (52) meshes with the displacement rod (51). A displacement tooth plate (53) perpendicular to the displacement rod (51) is provided on the outer wall of the filler (44) near the first gear (52). The displacement tooth plate (53) meshes with the first gear (52).

2. The adjustable-size shield tunneling machine cutterhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first gear (52) includes a main gear (521) and a secondary gear (522). The main gear (521) and the secondary gear (522) are coaxial. The main gear (521) meshes with the rack on the displacement rod (51). The secondary gear (522) meshes with the displacement tooth plate (53). The displacement tooth plate (53) and the displacement rod (51) are perpendicular to each other.

3. The adjustable-size shield machine cutterhead according to claim 2, characterized in that, The displacement toothed plate (53) has limiting blocks (54) at both ends. The cutter head holder (1) has a sliding groove on the side surface near the filler (44). The limiting block (54) is inserted into the sliding groove on the cutter head holder (1) at a position away from the outer wall of the filler (44). The limiting block (54) is displaced along the opening direction of the sliding groove.

4. The adjustable-size shield tunneling machine cutterhead according to claim 3, characterized in that, The displacement rod (51) is also provided with a rack near the mounting base (40). The mounting base (40) is provided with a cleaning part near the displacement rod (51). The cleaning part includes a second gear (55). The second gear (55) is meshed with the displacement rod (51) through the rack on the displacement rod (51). A turntable (56) is provided on the outer side of the second gear (55). A rotating rod (57) is provided on the turntable (56) near the edge. A reciprocating plate (58) parallel to the displacement rod (51) is provided at one end of the rotating rod (57). A scraper (50) is provided at the end of the reciprocating plate (58) away from the rotating rod (57).

5. The adjustable-size shield tunneling machine cutterhead according to claim 4, characterized in that, A limiting frame (59) is provided on the inner side of the cutter head holder (1) and near the reciprocating plate (58). The reciprocating plate (58) is inserted into the limiting frame (59) and slides on the inner side of the limiting frame (59). The shovel (50) is located in the gap between the inner wall of the cutter head holder (1) and the filler (44).

6. The adjustable-size cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The telescopic cylinder (43) is connected to the mounting bracket (41) by a bolt disc. The telescopic cylinder (43) is detachable. The mounting bracket (41) and the filler (44) are both provided with uniformly distributed third roller cutter assemblies (9).

7. The adjustable-size cutterhead of a tunnel boring machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mounting bracket (41) and the filler (44) are both welded with uniformly distributed scrapers (42) on both sides of their top surfaces.

8. A method for adjusting the size of an adjustable shield machine cutterhead according to claim 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Remove the flushing pipes and related accessories under the slurry tunneling mode, cut the mounting base (40) fixing point, and prepare for the cutter head diameter adjustment work; S2. Pause the tunnel boring machine's forward excavation, start the telescopic cylinder (43), control one of the mounting bases (40) to extend outward, drive the second cutter assembly (7) or the shell cutter assembly (8) to extend outward, during the extension of the mounting base (40), the displacement rod (51) drives the first gear (52) to rotate, thereby causing the displacement tooth plate (53) to move, driving the filler (44) to move into the cavity between the mounting frame (41) and the mounting base (40) to fill the cavity; S3. The telescopic cylinder (43) retracts, controlling the mounting base (40) and filler (44) to return to their positions. During the retraction of the mounting base (40), the displacement rod (51) drives the second gear (55) to rotate, and then controls the reciprocating plate (58) to reciprocate through the turntable (56) and rotating rod (57), thereby enabling the shovel (50) to move back and forth in the gap between the mounting base (40) and the cutter head frame (1), clearing debris in the gap and assisting the mounting base (40) to return to its position smoothly. S4. Control the tunnel boring machine to advance a specified distance while the cutterhead is in a small diameter state; S5. Repeat steps S2, S3, and S4 to widen the tunnel step by step. After the widening length reaches the target, fix the diameter of the cutterhead and then install the widened cutting ring assembly to complete the diameter adjustment of the cutterhead.

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