Open caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an open caisson sinking speed and posture control mechanism and method, and relates to the technical field of open caisson construction. The mechanism comprises an open caisson pressure guide assembly, an open caisson speed control assembly and an adjustable blade foot part. The pressure guiding assembly is composed of an anchoring screw rod and a pressure adjusting nut which are arranged in a well wall guiding hole in a penetrating mode, guiding is provided, and accurate downward pressure can be applied to the well wall by screwing the nut. The speed control assembly is arranged in the open caisson lock catch, the air bag structure expands to drive the rubber plate to tightly hold the well wall, and controllable friction resistance is generated to limit the sinking speed. The adjustable blade foot part drives the adjusting plate to change the angle through the hydraulic cylinder, and the soil cutting capacity of different parts of the blade foot part is dynamically adjusted. All the assemblies are controlled in a linkage mode through monitoring signals of an inclination angle and a speed sensor, active, accurate and intelligent control over the sinking speed and posture of the open caisson is achieved through the cooperative technology of braking, deviation rectification and fine adjustment, and the technical problems that the open caisson is prone to inclination in a complex stratum, and the speed is out of control are effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of caisson construction technology, and in particular to a caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] A caisson is a cylindrical structure that sinks to a designed elevation by excavating soil inside and relying on its own weight to overcome the frictional resistance of the caisson walls. It is widely used in bridge piers, sewage pumping stations, large equipment foundations, civil defense projects, and underground structure construction. During the caisson sinking process, it must traverse various soil layers, especially geological layers with uneven hardness. It is easily affected by factors such as differences in surrounding soil quality, additional loads, and hydrological conditions, leading to two key technical challenges:

[0003] 1. Caisson Attitude Uncontrolled – Tilting Problem: Due to uneven soil distribution or asymmetrical external loads, caissons are prone to tilting during sinking. If not corrected in time, this will endanger construction safety, affect project quality, and increase construction time and costs. Current technology uses manual theodolites, distance measuring instruments, or tilt sensors to measure the caisson's tilt. If tilting is detected, correction is performed. However, existing correction methods such as excavation correction and additional load correction have significant drawbacks:

[0004] Excavation for correction: Excavation may require manual labor, which is inefficient, and uneven excavation can cause the caisson to tilt further. Additionally, the excavation process may affect the surrounding soil structure, leading to instability in the foundation and even the risk of collapse. Furthermore, if the soil conditions are complex, such as the presence of groundwater or soft soil layers, the effectiveness of excavation for correction may be poor, or even difficult to control. Moreover, excavation may require multiple adjustments and repeated construction, increasing time and labor costs.

[0005] Additional load correction: This involves adjusting the caisson by applying an extra load in the direction of its tilt. Disadvantages include the need for precise calculations in load application; excessive load or improper placement can lead to uneven stress on the caisson, exacerbating the tilt. Additionally, additional loads may require extra materials and equipment, such as heavy objects or hydraulic systems, increasing construction costs and complexity. Furthermore, load adjustments may require real-time monitoring and frequent adjustments, demanding a high level of technical skill from construction personnel. Moreover, additional loads may introduce additional stress into the caisson structure during the correction process, affecting its long-term stability.

[0006] 2. Uncontrolled Caisson Sinking – Rapid Settling: When a caisson traverses soft strata (such as silty soil or saturated soft clay), due to the low shear strength and insufficient friction of the soil layer, the caisson is prone to rapid sinking under its own weight. This rapid sinking phenomenon can lead to the following defects:

[0007] Loss of positioning accuracy: The caisson is difficult to control within the design elevation range, and the final position deviates from the expectation, affecting the structural installation accuracy.

[0008] Structural safety risks: Sudden changes in sinking speed may cause stress concentration at the bottom of the caisson, leading to cracks in the caisson wall or damage to the cutting edge; at the same time, rapid sinking can easily disturb the surrounding soil, causing ground subsidence or collapse.

[0009] Construction control is difficult: Traditional speed control methods (such as adjusting the excavation range or applying temporary loads) are slow to respond and cannot achieve dynamic adjustment, and may exacerbate instability in highly sensitive strata.

[0010] In summary, existing caisson construction technology lacks a coordinated control mechanism for sinking speed and attitude, making it difficult to adapt to dynamic changes under complex geological conditions. There is an urgent need for an integrated control scheme that can monitor and precisely adjust the sinking behavior of caissons in real time. Summary of the Invention

[0011] To address the above technical problems, this invention provides a caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism and its control method. It solves the following technical problems: 1. Existing methods for correcting deviations during construction excavation and applying additional loads rely on manual experience, resulting in delays in adjustment, rough and imprecise operation, and a tendency to induce secondary tilting. They also lack a real-time monitoring and precise dynamic adjustment mechanism for the caisson's tilt state. 2. Especially when encountering soft and unfavorable strata, the caisson sinks too quickly due to insufficient soil resistance. Traditional methods lack effective resistance control measures, making it difficult to achieve stable control of the sinking speed and easily leading to positioning deviations and structural safety risks.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0013] A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism, comprising:

[0014] Caisson pressure guiding assembly, the caisson pressure guiding assembly comprising:

[0015] a) Multiple guide holes are spaced apart on the upper surface of the caisson wall and penetrate downwards;

[0016] b) Multiple anchor bolts are inserted through the guide holes in a one-to-one correspondence and can move vertically relative to the guide holes;

[0017] c) Anchor end, located at the bottom end of the anchor bolt, used to anchor the anchor bolt to the underground anchor position;

[0018] d) A pressure adjusting nut, which engages with the upper thread of the anchoring bolt, can apply downward pressure to the upper end face of the caisson wall by tightening.

[0019] Caisson speed control component, the caisson speed control component includes:

[0020] a) A receiving groove is formed on the inner circular surface of the caisson lock;

[0021] b) An airbag structure, housed within the receiving groove;

[0022] c) Multiple rubber plates, fixed to the airbag structure, and having a contact surface facing the outer side of the well wall;

[0023] The airbag structure is configured such that, when it expands, it can push the contact surface of the rubber plate to press against the well wall to increase frictional resistance and thus limit the sinking speed of the caisson; when it contracts, it can pull the rubber plate away from the contact with the well wall.

[0024] Furthermore, the airbag structure is composed of multiple independent individual airbags; the rubber plate is fixedly connected to each individual airbag in a one-to-one correspondence; a support block is fixed to the end of each individual airbag facing away from the well wall, and the support block is configured to move radially along the receiving groove; a linear drive mechanism is connected to the end of the support block facing away from the well wall, and the linear drive mechanism is used to drive the support block to move the individual airbag closer to or away from the well wall.

[0025] Furthermore, the airbag structure is connected to a high-pressure air source system, which drives its expansion or contraction.

[0026] Furthermore, it also includes an adjustable cutting edge, which includes a cutting edge disposed on the lower part of the caisson wall. Multiple adjustment grooves are provided on the side wall of the cutting edge facing the inside of the caisson, and each adjustment groove is provided with a resistance adjustment mechanism for dynamically adjusting the cutting ability of the cutting edge.

[0027] Furthermore, the resistance adjustment mechanism includes:

[0028] The adjusting plate has its bottom connected to the adjusting groove via a rotating joint;

[0029] The first hydraulic cylinder has its two ends connected by hinges between the back of the adjusting plate and the corresponding side wall of the adjusting groove.

[0030] The first hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts, driving the adjusting plate to rotate around its bottom to change its tilt angle, thereby adjusting the cutting ability of the cutting edge.

[0031] Furthermore, it also includes multiple tilt sensors arranged on the upper surface of the caisson wall to detect the tilt orientation and tilt angle of the caisson.

[0032] Furthermore, the guide hole is positioned on the wall of the caisson that is offset from the adjusting groove.

[0033] Furthermore, the caisson wall is annular; there are four guide holes, which are evenly arranged on the upper surface of the caisson wall along the circumference; the adjustment grooves are evenly arranged on the cutting edge along the circumference and are offset from the guide holes in the circumference.

[0034] Furthermore, it also includes a speed sensor, which is arranged on the upper part of the caisson wall to detect the sinking speed of the caisson in real time.

[0035] Furthermore, a rotating shaft is provided at the bottom of each of the two sides in the width direction of the adjusting plate; a rotating groove adapted to the rotating shaft is fixedly provided in the adjusting groove; the rotating shaft is rotatably fitted in the rotating groove, thereby forming a rotating connection structure of the adjusting plate in the adjusting groove.

[0036] A method for correcting and anchoring a caisson, employing a caisson correction and anchoring mechanism during the caisson process:

[0037] S1, detect the tilt of the caisson. When the tilt of the caisson reaches the set threshold and correction is required, proceed to S2; otherwise, continue to detect the tilt.

[0038] S2, by changing the angle of the adjusting plate through the first hydraulic cylinder, the cutting edge angle at the higher end of the well wall becomes smaller to improve its cutting ability, and the cutting edge angle at the lower end of the well wall becomes larger to reduce its cutting ability.

[0039] S3, by tightening the pressure adjusting nut at the higher end of the well wall, downward pressure is applied to the higher part of the well wall, so that its descent speed is greater than that of the lower part of the well wall;

[0040] S4, when the inclination of the caisson returns to within the threshold, stop the correction and continue with S1.

[0041] The tilt of the caisson is detected by installing multiple tilt sensors on its upper side.

[0042] An automatic correction and anchoring method for caissons, employing a caisson correction and anchoring mechanism during the caisson process:

[0043] S1, detect the tilt of the caisson. When the tilt of the caisson reaches the set threshold and correction is required, proceed to S2; otherwise, continue to detect the tilt.

[0044] S2, by changing the angle of the adjusting plate through the first hydraulic cylinder, the cutting edge angle at the higher end of the well wall becomes smaller to improve its cutting ability, while the cutting edge angle at the lower end of the well wall becomes larger to reduce its cutting ability, and the caisson construction continues.

[0045] S3: Continuously adjust the angle of the adjustment plate according to the inclination of the caisson. When the inclination of the caisson returns to within the threshold, stop the correction and continue with S1.

[0046] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0047] 1. Anchor bolts are used to anchor the caisson underground. These bolts are movable and installed in guide holes on the caisson wall. During the caisson's descent, the anchor bolts guide the caisson, maintaining its vertical position. When the caisson's deviation exceeds a threshold, the pressure adjusting nut at the higher position on the caisson wall is activated. By anchoring the bottom of the anchor bolts to the pressure adjusting nut, pressure is applied to the caisson wall, increasing its descent under the pressure of the adjusting nut. The adjusting nut precisely adjusts the descent amount, determined by the number of rotations of the adjusting nut on the anchor bolt's thread, avoiding the difficulty of accurately adjusting the descent amount when using counterweights.

[0048] 2. An adjustable cutting edge is provided. During the sinking of the caisson wall, environmental factors may cause different parts of the caisson wall to sink at different speeds. Traditional caisson cutting edges are not adjustable, which necessitates adjusting the sinking speed by adding weights. Furthermore, the weight of these weights cannot be adaptively adjusted according to changes in soil conditions, resulting in uneven sinking speeds and requiring frequent adjustments to the caisson's inclination. The adjustable cutting edge in this invention can adjust the sinking resistance of different parts of the cutting edge in real time according to the sinking speed of different parts of the caisson, achieving vertical sinking without deviation. When the caisson deviates, the inclination is adjusted through the cooperation of the anchored bolt and the pressure adjusting nut. During inclination adjustment, the cutting ability of the lower-positioned cutting edge can be reduced, while the cutting ability of the higher-positioned cutting edge can be increased, further increasing the efficiency of caisson inclination adjustment.

[0049] 3. In order to provide timely warning when the tilt of the caisson exceeds the threshold, tilt sensors are installed at different positions on the upper end face of the caisson wall to detect the tilt at the current position. This, combined with the adjustment of the sinking foot, keeps the caisson sinking within a safe tilt range.

[0050] 4. The caisson speed control component brings significant improvements to the core invention in multiple dimensions, and its beneficial effects are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

[0051] 1) By using the set caisson speed control components, especially by using the expansion and contraction of the airbag structure to drive the rubber plate to grip or detach from the well wall, it is possible to apply adjustable frictional resistance in real time and actively according to the sinking speed, which effectively solves the technical problem of the caisson sinking speed being too fast or even out of control in soft strata, and ensures the smoothness and safety of the sinking process.

[0052] 2) This invention systematically integrates the speed control component with the tilt sensor, pressure adjusting nut, adjustable cutting edge, and newly added speed sensor. When the speed sensor detects excessive sinking speed or the tilt sensor detects excessive tilt, the system can first slow down or pause sinking through the speed control component, creating stable conditions for precise correction by the pressure adjusting nut and adjustable cutting edge. After the attitude adjustment is completed, normal sinking resumes, forming an intelligent collaborative control closed loop of "monitoring-braking-correction-recovery," which greatly improves correction efficiency and construction safety.

[0053] 3) The airbag structure in the speed control component consists of multiple individual airbags, which can be controlled independently. Combined with the linear drive mechanism, it can achieve precise and flexible adjustment of the clamping force of each rubber plate. This design not only avoids the potential damage to the well wall structure caused by rigid braking, but also provides assistance for fine-tuning the caisson attitude through differentiated lateral resistance distribution, enhancing the adaptability of the entire system to complex working conditions.

[0054] 4) The mechanism of this invention constitutes a comprehensive control system integrating "guidance, deceleration, correction, and anti-tilting". The anchor bolt and guide hole cooperate to provide initial guidance and anti-tilting protection; the speed control component ensures that the sinking speed is within a safe threshold; and the pressure adjusting nut and adjustable cutting edge are responsible for precise attitude recovery. The three work together to achieve full-process, multi-level dynamic control of the sinking speed and attitude of the caisson, significantly improving construction quality, efficiency, and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0055] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0056] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention under construction conditions;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 3 This is a two-dimensional view from the perspective of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 4 This is a sectional perspective view of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the caisson wall of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 6 The adjustable blade foot of this invention is three-dimensional. Figure 1(The adjusting plate completely blocks the adjusting groove);

[0062] Figure 7 The adjustable blade foot of this invention is three-dimensional. Figure 2 (One of the adjustment plates is in the extended state);

[0063] Figure 8 The adjustable blade foot of this invention is three-dimensional. Figure 3 (Two of the adjustment plates are in the extended position);

[0064] Figure 9 The adjustable blade foot of this invention is three-dimensional. Figure 4 (One adjusting plate is extended, and the other is retracted).

[0065] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the cutting edge of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the adjustment plate of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of the anchor bolt of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 13 A structural diagram of the caisson speed control component (integrated airbag) for this invention;

[0069] Figure 14 for Figure 13 Top sectional view of the mechanism shown;

[0070] Figure 15 A structural diagram of the caisson speed control component (single airbag) for this invention.

[0071] Figure 16 for Figure 14 The diagram shows a top sectional view of the mechanism.

[0072] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: Caisson pressure guiding assembly 100;

[0073] 1. Guide hole; 2. Well wall; 3. Anchor bolt; 4. Anchor end; 5. Pressure adjusting nut.

[0074] Adjustable cutting foot 6, cutting foot 61, adjusting groove 62, resistance adjusting mechanism 63, adjusting plate 631, first hydraulic cylinder 632, rotating shaft 633, rotating groove 634;

[0075] Tilt sensor 7, washer 8, anchor hole 9;

[0076] The caisson speed control component 200, the receiving groove 201, the caisson lock 202, the airbag structure 203, the rubber plate 204, the contact surface 204a, the support block 205, the linear drive mechanism 206, and the speed sensor 207. Detailed Implementation

[0077] The following will refer to the appendices in the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1-16 The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described herein. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0078] As an embodiment of the present invention, for annular caissons, such as Figure 1-4 As shown, the lower part of the caisson wall 2 is connected to the cutting edge 7, and the inner side of the cutting edge 7 is inclined from top to bottom and outward. Four guide holes 1 (preferably four, but more than four are also possible) are evenly distributed in a circle on the upper end face of the caisson. Figure 5 As shown), the guide hole 1 penetrates downwards through the cutting edge 7. Four anchor holes corresponding to the guide hole 1 are drilled in the stratum at the caisson location. In use, the caisson wall 2 is poured first, and the guide hole 1 is reserved. The guide hole 1 corresponds one-to-one with the anchor hole, and then the anchor bolt 3 is inserted, with the bottom of the anchor bolt 3 set as the anchor end 4 to be anchored to the bottom of the anchor hole.

[0079] like Figure 6-10 As shown, the adjustable cutting edge 6 of the caisson is provided. Specifically, an adjustment groove 62 is opened on the inner side wall of the cutting edge 7 at the position between every two guide holes 1. A resistance adjustment mechanism 63 is provided in each adjustment groove 62. The resistance adjustment mechanism 63 is composed of the following structure: an adjustment plate 631, and a rotating shaft 633 is provided on the bottom of both sides of the adjustment plate 631 in the width direction. A rotating groove 634 corresponding to the rotating shaft 633 is fixed on the adjustment groove 62. The rotating shaft 633 is rotatably engaged in the rotating groove 634, thus forming a structure in which the adjustment plate 631 is rotatably installed in the adjustment groove 62.

[0080] like Figure 6 and 9As shown, the inner wall of the adjusting plate 631 has an arc shape with the same curvature as the inner wall of the caisson cutting edge 7. That is, the adjusting plate 631 can completely block the adjusting groove 62, and in the fully blocked state, the inner edges of the tangent surfaces of the adjusting plate 631 and the inner wall of the cutting edge 7 on the same plane are on the same circle. This ensures that the caisson cutting edge 7 sinks in the same way as a normal cutting edge 7 (without the adjusting groove 62 and adjusting plate 631) when fully blocked. The adjusting plate 631 can expand outward to increase sinking resistance and retract inward to reduce sinking resistance in the fully blocked state. Two first hydraulic cylinders 632 are evenly distributed circumferentially on the back side of the adjusting plate 631 facing away from the center of the cutting edge 7. One end of the first hydraulic cylinder 632 is hinged to the adjusting plate 631, and the other end is hinged to the side wall of the adjusting groove 62 of the cutting edge 7. The first hydraulic cylinders 632 are used to retract or extend the adjusting plate 631, thereby adjusting the sinking resistance of the caisson.

[0081] like Figure 2 As shown, an inclination sensor 7 and / or an inertial attitude sensor are set between every two guide holes 1 on the upper end face of the caisson to detect the attitude of the caisson at multiple positions. At this time, the inclination sensor 7 is located directly above the adjustment groove 62, which is beneficial to control the extension or retraction angle of the adjustment plate 631 according to the detection value of each inclination sensor 7.

[0082] In this embodiment, the anchoring screw 3 has an external thread on its upper part, and its lower end is anchored to the bottom of the anchor hole 9 through the anchoring end 4. A washer 8 and a pressure adjusting nut 5 are sequentially fitted upwards on the upper end of the anchoring screw 3. The washer 8 increases the area of ​​the pressure adjusting nut 5 that applies pressure to the upper surface of the caisson. A wrench is also required, having a clamping part that can hold the pressure adjusting nut 5. For example, the wrench may have a clamping hole or groove that matches the shape of the pressure adjusting nut 5, and the clamping part is integrally connected to a handle. In use, the clamping part of the wrench is clamped onto the pressure adjusting nut 5, and a second hydraulic cylinder pushes the handle of the wrench to rotate the pressure adjusting nut 5, thereby applying pressure to the upper surface of the caisson. This constitutes the caisson pressure guiding assembly 100.

[0083] With the above structure set up, two process methods can be used during the caisson process. One method for caisson correction and anchoring is to simultaneously activate the tilt sensor 7, pressure adjusting nut 5, and adjusting plate 631. The other method is to simultaneously activate the tilt sensor 7 and adjusting plate 631, and generally not activate the pressure adjusting nut 5. The pressure adjusting nut 5 is only activated when the tilt angle of the caisson exceeds the threshold.

[0084] Specifically, the first method for correcting and anchoring caissons includes the following steps:

[0085] S1, detect the tilt of the caisson. When the tilt of the caisson reaches the set threshold and correction is required, proceed to S2; otherwise, continue to detect the tilt.

[0086] S2, by changing the angle of the adjusting plate 631 through the first hydraulic cylinder 632, the angle of the cutting edge 7 at the higher end of the well wall 2 is reduced to improve the soil cutting ability, and the angle of the cutting edge 7 at the lower end of the well wall 2 is increased to reduce the soil cutting ability.

[0087] S3, by turning the pressure adjusting nut 5 at the higher end of the well wall 2, downward pressure is applied to the higher well wall 2, so that its descent speed is greater than that of the lower well wall 2.

[0088] S4, when the inclination of the caisson returns to within the threshold, stop the correction and continue with S1.

[0089] This implementation method aims to perform a single correction when the caisson needs to be corrected. After the single correction, the caisson continues to sink. If the caisson needs correction again during the sinking process, the correction action continues. The adjustment of the adjusting plates 631 in this method can be used in two ways: Method one: After the current caisson correction is completed, all four adjusting plates 631 are returned to a fully sealed state, and the caisson sinks normally. Method two: After the correction is completed, the adjusting plates 631 maintain their extended or retracted angles in the correction state. During the continued sinking of the caisson, the angle of the adjusting plates 631 can be changed in real time according to the caisson's posture, so that the caisson's sinking posture is automatically adjusted to avoid further deviation.

[0090] The second method for correcting and anchoring caissons involves the following steps:

[0091] S1, detect the tilt of the caisson, set an adjustment value within the caisson correction threshold (for example, the adjustment value can be half of the threshold), when the tilt of the caisson reaches the set adjustment value, proceed to S2, otherwise continue to detect the tilt.

[0092] S2, by changing the angle of the adjusting plate 631 through the first hydraulic cylinder 632, the angle of the cutting edge 7 at the higher end of the well wall 2 is reduced to improve the soil cutting ability, and the angle of the cutting edge 7 at the lower end of the well wall 2 is increased to reduce the soil cutting ability, and the caisson construction continues.

[0093] S3, continuously adjust the angle of the adjustment plate 631 according to the inclination of the caisson. When the inclination of the caisson returns to the adjustment value, stop the correction and continue with S1.

[0094] S4. When the inclination of the caisson exceeds the threshold, the adjusting plate 631 and the pressure adjusting nut 5 are activated simultaneously to adjust the caisson. After the adjustment is completed, S1 is executed again.

[0095] In this second method, under normal circumstances, the tilt angle sensor 7 detects the caisson tilt angle in real time and sets an adjustment value. This adjustment value can be selected within the tilt threshold (the maximum allowable tilt). When the tilt angle reaches the tilt threshold, the hydraulic cylinder is activated to adjust the angle of the adjustment plate 631. For example, the adjustment plate 631 at the higher position can retract, and the adjustment plate 631 at the lower position can extend. Through continuous adjustment of the adjustment plate 631, it adapts to different geological environments within the range of the cutting edge 7. When the tilt angle exceeds the threshold due to project requirements or other unexpected circumstances, the adjustment plate 631 and the pressure adjusting nut 5 are activated to work together to adjust the tilt angle of the caisson wall 2.

[0096] In this embodiment, for example, if the well wall 2 at one of the four tilt sensors 7 is at its highest point, the two adjacent adjustment plates 631 can be retracted and / or the two non-adjacent adjustment plates 631 can be extended. Simultaneously, the pressure adjusting nuts 5 on both sides of the highest tilt sensor 7 can be activated to apply downward pressure to the upper surface of the well wall 2, forcing the well wall 2 to descend rapidly until the tilt adjustment is complete. The cooperation between the adjustment plates 631 and the pressure adjusting nuts 5 makes leveling faster and more precise.

[0097] In this embodiment, during the sinking of the caisson wall 2, the anchor bolt 3 in the guide hole 1 plays a guiding role in the sinking of the wall 2, and to a certain extent prevents the caisson from tilting. Preferably, after the anchoring end 4 at the bottom of the anchor bolt 3 is installed at the bottom of the anchor hole, grout is injected into the anchor hole to make the anchor bolt 3 more stable in the vertical direction and less prone to shaking. The anchor bolt 3 can be a full threaded rod, or it can be composed of a round rod at the bottom and a threaded rod at the top. When it is a full threaded rod, the gap between the outer diameter of the thread and the guide hole 1 is small, for example, 5-10 cm. When it is composed of a round rod and a threaded rod at the top, the outer diameter of the thread of the threaded rod is the same as the diameter of the round rod, and the gap between the round rod and the guide hole 1 is small. After the above settings are completed, the anchor bolt 3 in this embodiment plays a guiding role and prevents the caisson from tilting beyond its range during the sinking process.

[0098] In this embodiment, a pressure adjusting nut 5 is used in conjunction with an anchoring screw 3 to apply pressure to the well wall 2, thereby replacing the downward pressure of a transmitted weight. Using the pressure adjusting nut 5 to apply pressure allows for precise and controllable sinking distance. Adjusting the weight of the weight is replaced by adjusting the distance of the pressure adjusting nut 5, eliminating the need to consider the weight, placement location, and placement time of the weight. Furthermore, multiple adjusting nuts can be used together to create different resultant forces and force application ranges to cope with different working conditions. This method is simple, efficient, and precise. The bottom of the anchoring screw 3 is anchored, and the upper nut applies pressure, working together to provide pressure to the well wall.

[0099] In this embodiment, a flip-up adjusting plate 631 is used, and the angle of the cutting edge 7 at different positions is adjusted by the first hydraulic cylinder 632 to regulate its soil cutting ability. The cooperation of multiple adjusting plates 631 at different angles allows for real-time adjustment according to different geological conditions to adapt to different working conditions. Furthermore, since the soil inside the caisson is continuously excavated by the excavator, it is relatively easy to flip the adjusting plate 631 inwards and extend it.

[0100] In summary, in this embodiment, the cooperation between the guide hole 1 and the anchor bolt 3 guides the sinking of the caisson, thus preventing excessive tilting of the caisson to a certain extent. The cooperation between the anchor bolt 3, the anchor end 4, and the pressure adjusting nut 5 allows the pressure adjusting nut 5 to precisely control the sinking distance of certain parts of the caisson through its stroke, thereby achieving precise leveling. The cooperation of multiple pressure adjusting nuts 5 can address the leveling of the caisson at different tilting positions. The extension and retraction of the adjusting plate 631 can adjust the cutting angle of the cutting edge 7. The combined action of multiple adjusting plates 631 can adjust the cutting angle of the cutting edge 7 at different positions as needed, dynamically adjusting the sinking resistance of the caisson and preventing excessive tilting. The cooperation of the adjusting plate 631 and the pressure adjusting nut 5 enables rapid adjustment of the caisson's tilt.

[0101] As another embodiment of the present invention, based on the caisson pressure guiding component 100 and the adjustable cutting edge (6), the present invention further adds a caisson speed control component 200. This component is integrated inside the caisson locking buckle 202, and is designed to achieve active and precise control of the caisson sinking speed.

[0102] The core structure of the caisson speed control component 200 includes: a ring-shaped receiving groove 201 formed on the inner side of the caisson latch 202; an airbag structure 203 disposed within the receiving groove 201; and multiple rubber plates 204 fixed to the airbag structure 203. The multiple rubber plates 204 are arranged circumferentially along the outer side of the caisson wall 2. Each rubber plate 204 has a contact surface 204a facing the outer side of the caisson wall 2. Preferably, to ensure uniform and effective braking contact, the curvature of the contact surface 204a is adapted to the curvature of the outer wall of the caisson wall 2. For example, when the caisson wall 2 is cylindrical, the contact surface 204a is a matching arc-shaped surface.

[0103] Based on the requirements for construction accuracy and cost considerations, the airbag structure 203 can be implemented in the following two ways:

[0104] Implementation Method 1: Integrated Airbag Type

[0105] In this embodiment, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, the airbag structure 203 is an integral annular airbag. This integral airbag is filled in the receiving groove 201, and its outer ring can be fixed to the groove wall of the receiving groove 201 and connected to a high-pressure air source system.

[0106] Working principle: When the speed sensor 207 detects that the sinking speed exceeds the limit, the control system commands the high-pressure air source to inflate the overall airbag. After the airbag inflates, it first fills the space of the receiving groove 201, and then pushes the rubber plate 204 outward from the groove opening, so that its contact surface 204a presses tightly against the well wall 2. By continuously adjusting the gas pressure inside the airbag, the positive pressure of the rubber plate 204 on the well wall 2 can be steplessly adjusted, thereby realizing dynamic and continuous control of the sinking friction resistance until the sinking speed is stabilized within the set range.

[0107] Implementation Method 2: Independent Single-Unit Airbag Type

[0108] This implementation provides a higher level of control precision. For example... Figure 15 and 16 As shown, the airbag structure 203 consists of multiple independent individual airbags arranged circumferentially, and each individual airbag is independently fixed with a rubber plate 204. Its innovation lies in that a support block 205 is fixed to the end of each individual airbag facing away from the well wall 2. The support block 205 can be driven by a linear drive mechanism 206 (such as an electric push rod, hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder) to move radially along the receiving groove 201.

[0109] Working Principle: This structure offers dual control advantages. First, the initial distance between the entire single-unit airbag assembly and the well wall 2 can be pre-adjusted via the linear drive mechanism 206, serving as a "coarse adjustment." Subsequently, pressure is "fine-tuned" by independently inflating and deflating each single-unit airbag. This dual mechanism of "coarse adjustment + fine adjustment" not only expands the speed control range but, more importantly, allows for the application of different braking forces to the brakes in different circumferential areas. For example, when the caisson exhibits a slight tilting tendency, the single-unit airbag on the tilting side can be instructed to apply greater pressure, generating differentiated lateral resistance. This, in conjunction with the caisson pressure guiding assembly 100 and the adjustable cutting edge 6, achieves auxiliary correction and precise stabilization of the caisson's attitude. When slight correction assistance is required, differentiated pressurization can be applied to only one side of the airbag to achieve a certain adjustment of lateral resistance, complementing the main correction system.

[0110] The beneficial effects of this embodiment:

[0111] This embodiment of the invention, by introducing a caisson speed control component 200, achieves the following significant improvements and beneficial effects compared to the prior art:

[0112] 1. Active and dynamic control of sinking speed was achieved: For the first time, a speed control module based on pneumatic friction braking was integrated into the caisson structure. It can adjust the braking force in real time and automatically according to the feedback of the speed sensor, which fundamentally solves the long-standing technical problem of caissons sinking too fast or even out of control due to their own weight in soft strata.

[0113] 2. Flexible braking is provided to protect structural safety: The flexible transmission and contact method of "airbag-rubber plate" is adopted, and the braking process is smooth, avoiding scratches or local stress concentrations on the caisson wall 2 caused by rigid emergency stop, effectively protecting the integrity of the main structure.

[0114] 3. A hierarchical speed control solution was constructed: two implementation methods were provided, balancing economy and high precision requirements. The overall airbag type is low-cost and fast-responding, suitable for overall speed control; the independent single-unit airbag type achieves precise zone control through a dual mechanism of "linear drive coarse adjustment + airbag pressure fine adjustment," which not only provides high speed control accuracy but also has the function of auxiliary correction, greatly enriching the technical connotation and application scenarios of this invention.

[0115] 4. Enhanced system collaborative control capabilities: The speed control component 200, together with the original tilt sensor 7, pressure adjusting nut 5, and adjustable cutting edge 6, constitutes a complete "monitoring-braking-correction" intelligent closed-loop control system. When the caisson experiences abnormal speed or attitude, the system can prioritize braking to stabilize the speed, creating safe and stable conditions for subsequent precise correction, ultimately ensuring the safety, stability, and accuracy of the entire caisson construction process.

[0116] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, details the timing, process, and related construction techniques of the coordinated operation of the caisson pressure guiding component 100, the adjustable cutting edge 6, and the caisson speed control component 200 in the caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism.

[0117] I. Construction Preparation and Initial Sinking Stage

[0118] First, multiple anchor holes are pre-constructed in the strata surrounding the designed location of the caisson. The caisson wall 2 and cutting edge 61 are then cast, ensuring the accurate positioning of the pre-embedded structures such as the guide hole 1, receiving groove 201, and adjusting groove 62. Subsequently, the anchor bolt 3 is passed through the guide hole 1, and its bottom anchoring end 4 is anchored within the anchor hole. Simultaneously, a pressure adjusting nut 5 and a washer 8 are screwed into the upper part of the anchor bolt 3.

[0119] At this stage, the caisson pressure guiding assembly 100 comes into play. The anchor bolt 3, which passes through the guide hole 1, acts as a rigid guide rod, providing a vertical reference for the initial sinking of the caisson, effectively limiting its large-scale initial deviation, and playing a positive role in "pre-correction".

[0120] II. Normal Sinking and Dynamic Fine-tuning Phase

[0121] As excavation work proceeded inside the caisson, the caisson began to sink. The tilt sensor 7 and velocity sensor 207, located on the upper surface of the caisson wall 2, began to operate in real time, transmitting monitoring data to the central controller.

[0122] 1. When the caisson's attitude is good (both tilt angle and speed are within the set thresholds) but stable speed control is required:

[0123] The caisson speed control component 200 serves as the main actuator. Based on feedback from the speed sensor 207, the controller instructs the airbag structure 203 to inflate an appropriate amount of gas, pushing the rubber plate 204 to gently contact the caisson wall 2, generating controllable frictional resistance and ensuring the caisson descends at a uniform speed and smoothly. This process requires no activation of other components, resulting in low energy consumption and precise control.

[0124] 2. When a slight tilting trend is detected in the caisson (tilt angle exceeds the adjustment value but does not reach the alarm threshold):

[0125] The system initiates a first-level correction response. First, the controller commands the adjustable cutting edge 6 to move: by controlling the first hydraulic cylinder 632, the adjusting plate 631 on the higher side of the caisson retracts inward, reducing the cutting angle of the cutting edge to increase its cutting capacity; simultaneously, the adjusting plate 631 on the lower side of the caisson extends outward, increasing the cutting angle of the cutting edge to reduce its cutting capacity. By changing the resistance distribution of the cutting edge, the system utilizes the caisson's own weight to generate a restoring torque, performing preliminary, dynamic attitude adjustment.

[0126] During this process, the caisson speed control component 200 can provide appropriate reference braking force to prevent the caisson from sinking faster due to resistance adjustment, thus creating stable conditions for the correction of the cutting edge.

[0127] III. Emergency Correction and Coordinated Control Phase

[0128] When the caisson experiences an emergency due to sudden geological changes or other reasons, resulting in an tilt angle or sinking speed exceeding the safety threshold, the system initiates a two-level collaborative correction procedure, with the three major components working in unison:

[0129] Step 1: Emergency braking to stabilize the situation

[0130] The controller immediately sends a command to the caisson speed control component 200, causing the airbag structure 203 to rapidly and fully inflate, pushing all (or specific areas of) the rubber plates 204 to grip the caisson wall 2 with maximum positive pressure, significantly reducing or even completely stopping the caisson's sinking motion within a short period. The core purpose of this step is to "stabilize the situation," preventing the tilting and overspeeding conditions from further deteriorating dynamically, and providing a static or quasi-static working platform for subsequent precise correction.

[0131] Step Two: Apply Precise Pressure and Force Leveling

[0132] After the caisson's movement is effectively suppressed, the caisson pressure guiding component 100 is activated as the core corrective force. The controller identifies the higher side of the caisson and then instructs the pressure adjusting nut 5 on that side (usually via a matching hydraulic wrench) to be tightened, precisely applying downward pressure to the upper surface of the caisson wall 2 through the anchoring bolt 3. This forced downward pressure compels the higher side of the caisson wall to obtain a much greater downward force than the lower side, thereby achieving rapid and forced correction of the caisson's attitude.

[0133] Step 3: Coordinate and cooperate to restore the subsidence area.

[0134] Throughout the entire correction process, the adjustable cutting edge 6 always works in conjunction with the pressure guide assembly to maintain a state of low side resistance at higher levels and high side resistance at lower levels, thus assisting in leveling.

[0135] When the tilt sensor 7 indicates that the caisson's attitude has returned to within the safe threshold, the correction procedure ends. The system first releases the emergency brake of the caisson speed control component 200, then stops pressurizing the pressure adjusting nut 5, and finally restores each adjusting plate 631 of the adjustable cutting edge 6 to the neutral position or maintains a fine-tuning state. The caisson then enters the normal controlled sinking stage.

[0136] In summary, this invention, through the organic integration and intelligent collaboration of three major components, forms a complete control system characterized by "guided progression, controllable speed, and adjustable attitude." Its core construction technology lies in dynamically selecting and combining different control strategies based on sensor feedback, achieving intelligent construction throughout the entire process, from preventative fine-tuning under normal conditions to emergency braking and forced correction under abnormal conditions. Ultimately, this ensures the safety, efficiency, and high precision of caisson construction.

Claims

1. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism, characterized in that, include: A caisson pressure guiding assembly (100), the caisson pressure guiding assembly (100) comprising: a) Multiple guide holes (1) are opened at intervals on the upper end face of the caisson wall (2) and penetrate downward; b) Multiple anchor bolts (3) are inserted through the guide holes (1) in a one-to-one correspondence and can move vertically relative to the guide holes (1); c) Anchor end (4), located at the bottom end of the anchor bolt (3), is used to anchor the anchor bolt (3) at the underground anchor position; d) The pressure adjusting nut (5) is threaded with the upper part of the anchoring screw (3) and can apply downward pressure to the upper end face of the caisson wall (2) by tightening. A caisson speed control assembly (200), the caisson speed control assembly (200) comprising: a) A receiving groove (201) is formed on the inner circular surface of the caisson lock (202); b) An airbag structure (203) is housed within the receiving groove (201); c) Multiple rubber plates (204) are fixed to the airbag structure (203) and have a contact surface (204a) facing the outer side of the well wall (2). The airbag structure (203) is configured such that when it expands, it can push the contact surface (204a) of the rubber plate (204) to press against the well wall (2) to increase frictional resistance and thus limit the sinking speed of the caisson; when it contracts, it can pull the rubber plate (204) away from the contact with the well wall (2).

2. The caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airbag structure (203) is composed of multiple independent single airbags; the rubber plate (204) is fixedly connected to the single airbags one by one; a support block (205) is fixed to one end of the single airbag facing away from the well wall (2), and the support block (205) is configured to move radially along the receiving groove (201); a linear drive mechanism (206) is connected to one end of the support block (205) facing away from the well wall (2), and the linear drive mechanism (206) is used to drive the support block (205) to move the single airbag closer to or away from the well wall (2).

3. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The airbag structure (203) is connected to a high-pressure air source system, which drives its expansion or contraction.

4. The caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an adjustable cutting edge (6), which includes a cutting edge (61) located at the lower part of the caisson wall (2). The cutting edge (61) has multiple adjustment grooves (62) on the side wall facing the inside of the caisson. Each adjustment groove (62) is provided with a resistance adjustment mechanism (63) for dynamically adjusting the cutting ability of the cutting edge (61).

5. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, The resistance adjustment mechanism (63) includes: The bottom of the adjusting plate (631) is connected to the adjusting groove (62) via a rotating joint; The first hydraulic cylinder (632) has its two ends connected by hinges between the back of the adjusting plate (631) and the corresponding side wall of the adjusting groove (62); The first hydraulic cylinder (632) is used to extend and retract to drive the adjusting plate (631) to rotate around its bottom to change its tilt angle, thereby adjusting the cutting ability of the cutting foot (61).

6. The caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes multiple tilt sensors (7) arranged on the upper surface of the caisson wall (2) to detect the tilt orientation and tilt angle of the caisson.

7. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, The guide hole (1) is located on the well wall (2) of the caisson and is offset from the adjustment groove (62).

8. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, The caisson wall (2) is circular; there are four guide holes (1), which are evenly arranged on the upper surface of the caisson wall (2) along the circumference; the adjustment groove (62) is evenly arranged on the cutting edge (61) along the circumference and is offset from the guide hole (1) in the circumference.

9. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a speed sensor (208), which is arranged on the upper end of the caisson wall (2) for real-time detection of the sinking speed of the caisson.

10. A caisson sinking speed and attitude control mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, Rotating shafts (633) are respectively provided on the bottom of both sides of the adjusting plate (631) in the width direction; a rotating groove (634) adapted to the rotating shaft (633) is fixedly provided in the adjusting groove (62); the rotating shaft (633) is rotatably fitted in the rotating groove (634), thereby forming a rotating connection structure of the adjusting plate (631) in the adjusting groove (62).

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