A device, tunnel boring machine and method for handling boulders during shield tunneling.

Abstract

A device, a tunnel boring machine (TBM), and a method for handling boulders during shield tunneling construction are disclosed, relating to the field of tunnel boring machine (TBM) construction technology. The device includes several mounting holes evenly distributed on the cutterhead of the TBM, each hole containing an open / close position with a sealing gate; and a cutterhead assembly movable along the axis of the hole, its outer contour adapted to the mounting hole. The sealing gate allows the cutterhead assembly to pass through when open and closes when the cutterhead assembly retracts into its interior. The device also includes an interchangeable drilling rig and a splitting rig installed within the cutterhead assembly, their working ends extending through the mounting holes from the TBM via the cutterhead assembly to contact and handle the boulders. This invention, through modular design and a standardized cutterhead interface, enables safe and rapid switching and execution of drilling and splitting operations within the TBM, significantly reducing downtime, maintaining construction continuity, and improving adaptability to complex geological formations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tunnel shield construction technology, and in particular to a device, a tunnel boring machine and a method for handling boulders during shield construction. Background Technology

[0002] In tunnel construction, boulders are obstacles that significantly impact project progress. They typically refer to weathered granite masses embedded in soft weathered layers, formed from residual rock fragments resulting from differential weathering of granite. If a tunnel boring machine (TBM) encounters boulders during excavation, it can easily lead to severe wear or jamming of the cutterhead, and even cause deviation of the TBM's axis, potentially resulting in problems such as borehole deviation, pile breakage, and surface subsidence. In severe cases, it may even induce ground collapse. Therefore, the handling of boulders is crucial in tunnel construction.

[0003] In existing technologies, traditional blasting techniques for removing isolated boulders suffer from poor results if too little explosive is used, while excessive explosive can seriously threaten construction safety. Furthermore, the shock waves, vibrations, and flying debris generated by blasting operations can damage tunnel support structures and interfere with the stability of surrounding pipelines and buildings, limiting their application in sensitive environments such as urban underground spaces. Other methods, such as mechanical crushing, suffer from low efficiency and high equipment wear; pre-grouting reinforcement cannot completely remove isolated boulders and has high construction costs; while static blasting offers better safety, its long crushing cycle and uncontrollable effects make it difficult to match the continuous construction rhythm of tunnel boring machines.

[0004] During construction, tunnel boring machines (TBMs) often traverse water-rich or cement-slurry-rich strata, which frequently contain isolated boulders. In urban underground environments, directly using blasting to remove these boulders can severely impact the surface structure, and the resulting ground disturbance can cause mud to rapidly flow into the TBM's head. In such cases, the accompanying screw conveyor may struggle to quickly remove the large amount of mud, easily contaminating the TBM's head and making cleanup extremely difficult.

[0005] To address this, some tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are equipped with advanced rock-breaking units for handling isolated boulders. Since these units need to operate in front of the TBM, openings must be made in the TBM casing to allow the drill bit and rock-splitter to enter and exit sequentially. However, during drilling, splitting, and tool changing, these openings remain open, allowing water or mud to easily and rapidly enter the TBM, causing equipment contamination. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is how to prevent slurry from entering the tunnel boring machine head and causing pollution when the tunnel boring machine is handling isolated rocks in a mud or water slurry environment.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the invention, a boulder handling device for shield tunneling is provided, comprising: a plurality of mounting holes evenly and circumferentially arranged on the cutterhead of the shield machine, each mounting hole having an opening / closing position and a sealing gate at the opening / closing position; a cutterhead assembly movable along the axis of the mounting holes to be installed in or removed from the mounting holes, the outer contour of the cutterhead assembly being adapted to the contour of the mounting holes; wherein, the sealing gate is configured such that: when the sealing gate is in the open state, the cutterhead assembly is allowed to move further along the axial direction of the mounting hole and pass through the opening / closing position; when the cutterhead assembly retracts into the opening / closing position, the sealing gate closes; further comprising a drilling rig and a splitting rig, which are interchangeably arranged within the cutterhead assembly; the working end of the drilling rig or the splitting rig, through the support of the cutterhead assembly, can extend out of the shield machine through the mounting holes and contact the boulder.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, a rotary blowout preventer is also included, which is disposed within the cutter barrel assembly, and the drilling rig unit or the splitting unit passes through the rotary blowout preventer.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the drilling rig unit includes a rock drill, a drill rod, and a drill bit. The front and rear ends of the drill rod are respectively connected to the drill bit and the rock drill, and the drill rod is at least partially disposed inside the rotary blowout preventer.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, a top support cylinder is provided at the rear of the drilling rig unit, and the top support cylinder supports the shield body upright plate of the tunnel boring machine.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, a guide rail support is provided on the side of the cutter barrel assembly away from the tunnel excavation direction, and the rock drill is directionally movable on the guide rail support.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, a one-way valve is provided in the channel inside the rotating rod, and the one-way valve is configured to prevent external liquid from flowing back from the drill bit into the internal channel.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, an O-ring is arranged on the outer side of the blade barrel assembly.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the cutter barrel assembly is provided with a plurality of ear plates evenly distributed around its outer periphery, and the ear plates are provided with lifting eye holes. The cutter barrel assembly is used to fix the position of the cutter barrel assembly and the mounting hole after it is installed in place.

[0015] A tunnel boring machine includes a boulder handling device for tunnel boring construction as described in any of the above technical solutions.

[0016] A method for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling:

[0017] S1. Locate the isolated rock and select a target mounting hole from among several mounting holes on the tunnel boring machine cutterhead;

[0018] S2. Install the rotary blowout preventer inside the cutter barrel assembly to form a sealing system;

[0019] S3. Move the cutter barrel assembly to the target mounting hole, open the sealing gate at the mounting hole, allow the cutter barrel assembly to pass through the sealing gate and be installed in the target mounting hole, and then fix the cutter barrel assembly.

[0020] S4. The drilling rig unit is installed onto the cutterhead assembly through the rotating blowout preventer, and the working end of the drilling rig unit extends out of the tunnel boring machine through the installation hole.

[0021] S5. Fix the drilling rig unit;

[0022] S6. Start the impact drilling function of the drilling rig unit to drill a hole in the boulder;

[0023] S7. After drilling is completed, disassemble the drilling rig unit;

[0024] S8. Loosen the fixing of the cutter barrel assembly, retract it to the sealing gate, close the sealing gate, and then completely move the cutter barrel assembly out of the target mounting hole.

[0025] S9. Disassemble the drilling rig unit, and then repeat step S3;

[0026] S10. Install the splitting unit onto the cutter barrel assembly, and insert the working end of the splitting unit into the hole drilled in the boulder.

[0027] S11. Start the splitting unit to split the boulder;

[0028] S12. After splitting is completed, repeat step S8, and then disassemble the splitting unit.

[0029] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0030] 1. This invention designs a sealing gate that automatically closes when the cutterhead assembly retracts to the open / closed position, forming an effective sealing barrier to prevent external mud or water slurry from flowing into the tunnel boring machine through the installation holes, thereby preventing equipment contamination and cleaning difficulties; the cutterhead assembly can move along the axis of the installation holes, and its outer contour is adapted to the holes to ensure that the sealing is maintained during tool setup and retraction, supporting stable operation;

[0031] 2. Furthermore, the drilling rig and the rock splitter can be interchangeably installed in the cutterhead assembly to handle isolated rocks through mechanical crushing, avoiding the threats to construction safety and the surrounding environment posed by traditional blasting, reducing ground disturbance and structural damage. This design improves processing efficiency, shortens the operation cycle, and better matches the rhythm of continuous shield tunneling construction.

[0032] 3. Furthermore, the rotating blowout preventer provides dynamic rotational sealing and static high-pressure sealing capabilities for the drill rod or splitting rod passing through it; this enables the drilling rig to effectively isolate external water and soil pressure when drilling in water-rich or pressurized strata, preventing mud and water from flowing back into the shield machine cabin, thereby enabling the drilling operation to be completed safely and efficiently while maintaining stable soil pressure and ensuring the safety of the tunnel face, creating the necessary conditions for subsequent splitting;

[0033] 4. The use of a rock-splitting unit to process boulders provides a safe and controllable static fracturing method. The rock-splitting unit expands within a pre-drilled hole via hydraulic drive of a wedge-shaped assembly, fracturing the boulder from the inside. This process generates no blasting shock waves, vibrations, or flying rocks, resulting in ideal fracturing effects and uniformly sized fragments, facilitating direct excavation and removal by the subsequent shield cutterhead.

[0034] Further or other beneficial effects will be discussed in the embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the state structure of the device in the open / closed position of this application.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the device of this application with the mounting holes during operation;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a top view of the cutterhead assembly and drilling rig assembly of this application.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the blade barrel assembly and the splitting unit in this application;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating blowout preventer structure of this application;

[0040] Among them, 1-installation hole, 2-sealing gate, 3-cutter barrel assembly, 31-O-ring seal, 32-ear plate, 4-drilling rig unit, 41-rock drill, 42-drill rod, 421-one-way valve, 43-drill bit, 44-support cylinder, 5-splitting unit, 51-splitting head, 52-hydraulic cylinder, 53-splitting wedge, 6-rotary blowout preventer, 61-outer shell, 62-inner cavity, 63-angular contact ball bearing, 64-deep groove ball bearing, 65-circlip, 66-retaining ring, 67-pressure ring, 68-lip seal, 69-rod seal, 610-pressure plate, 7-guide rail bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, and bottom mentioned or possibly used in this specification are defined relative to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively. These are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive.

[0042] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to the embodiments:

[0043] Example 1:

[0044] A device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction, referring to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 It mainly includes the infrastructure on the cutterhead of the tunnel boring machine, the movable cutter barrel assembly 3, and interchangeable work units, including the drilling rig unit 4 and the splitting unit 5.

[0045] The tunnel boring machine (TBM) involved in this application has several mounting holes 1 evenly distributed along the circumference of its cutterhead. These mounting holes 1 not only serve as auxiliary holes for cutterhead replacement but are also designed as the operating channels for this processing device. Inside each mounting hole 1, there is a key opening and closing position where a sealing gate 2 is installed. The sealing gate 2 can typically be a hydraulically or electrically controlled sector gate or flat gate. Its core function is to tightly seal the mounting hole when not in operation, preventing the leakage of mud, water, and excavated soil from the TBM's soil chamber or the influx of groundwater. When operation is required, it can be remotely controlled to open, providing a channel for the entry and exit of the cutterhead assembly 3. The cutterhead assembly 3 is a hollow cylindrical structure whose outer contour precisely matches the contour of the mounting hole 1, ensuring a tight insertion. During installation, a hand-operated hoist or other lifting mechanism is typically used to install the cutterhead assembly 3 into the hole. The cutter head assembly 3 can move along the axis of the mounting hole 1, allowing for installation at any suitable mounting hole 1 (target mounting hole) on the cutter head or removal as a whole, depending on the processing requirements. The working process is as follows: after selecting the target mounting hole 1, the sealing gate 2 at that location is opened, and the cutter head assembly 3 is pushed in along the axis until its working end passes through the open gate and reaches the preset installation position. After the operation is completed, the cutter head assembly 3 is retracted along the axis. When its main body is back to the open / closed position, the sealing gate 2 can be automatically or manually closed to seal the passage. Afterward, the cutter head assembly 3 can be safely and completely removed. This design allows all equipment replacement to be completed behind the cutter head without requiring personnel to enter high-risk areas, greatly ensuring construction safety.

[0046] The cutter barrel assembly 3 serves as the core carrier, and its interior can interchangeably house either the drilling rig unit 4 or the splitting unit 5. The splitting unit is referenced from... Figure 4 The drilling unit 4 is used to drill a guide hole of predetermined depth and diameter in a hard boulder; the rock splitter 5 includes a splitting head 51, a hydraulic cylinder 52, and two splitting wedges 53. The splitting head 51 is a central wedge with guide ramps on both sides; the two splitting wedges 53 are arranged opposite each other, with inclined surfaces on their inner sides that cooperate with the guide ramps; the power output end of the hydraulic cylinder 52 is connected to the splitting head 51 to drive it to move axially; during operation, the hydraulic cylinder 52 pushes the splitting head 51 to move, and through the cooperation of the guide ramps and inclined surfaces, the axial displacement of the splitting head 51 is converted into the opposing radial movement of the two splitting wedges 53, thereby splitting the boulder from the inside; by changing the unit in the cutter barrel assembly 3, the two key processes of drilling and splitting can be completed sequentially. Once installed, the drill bit 43 of the drilling rig unit 4 or the splitting head of the splitting unit 5 (i.e., the working ends of both) can pass through the cutterhead assembly 3 and the mounting hole 1, extend out of the protection range of the tunnel boring machine cutterhead, and directly contact the boulder in front to perform operations. This modular design enables one machine to serve two purposes, simplifies equipment configuration, and improves the continuity of the processing flow.

[0047] In this embodiment, a crucial improvement is the integration of a rotary blowout preventer 6 within the cutter barrel assembly 3. The rotary blowout preventer 6 is fixedly mounted within the inner cavity of the cutter barrel assembly 3, and its core is a dynamic seal assembly capable of high-speed rotation. (Refer to...) Figure 5The rotating blowout preventer 6 includes an outer shell 61 and an inner cavity 62. The outer shell 61 has a stepped hole inside, and the inner cavity 62 is fitted into the stepped hole of the outer shell 61. An angular contact ball bearing 63 and a deep groove ball bearing 64 are fixedly mounted on the outer surface of the inner cavity 62, and are rotatably mounted within the stepped hole of the outer shell 61 via the angular contact ball bearing 63 and the deep groove ball bearing 64. The angular contact ball bearing 63 and the deep groove ball bearing 64 are used to bear radial loads. A first annular groove is formed on the outer end face of the inner cavity 62, and a retaining ring 65 is embedded in the first annular groove. A retaining ring 66 is fitted onto the outer side of the inner cavity 62. A pressure ring 67 is connected to the end face of the outer casing 61 by fasteners (bolts). The pressure ring 67 presses against the end face of the retaining ring 66, causing the retaining ring 66 to abut against the deep groove ball bearing 64. The retaining ring 66 cooperates with the snap ring 65 to hold the angular contact ball bearing 63 and the deep groove ball bearing 64 between them. The snap ring 65 is used to axially fix the bearings to ensure the axial position stability of each component. A second annular groove is provided in the stepped hole of the outer casing 61. A lip seal 68 is embedded in the second annular groove. The inner ring of the lip seal 68 abuts against the outer side of the inner cavity 62 to achieve dynamic sealing. An inner cavity is provided inside the inner cavity 62. A rod seal 69 is provided in the inner cavity. The rod seal 69 is pressed into the inner cavity by a pressure plate 610 and fasteners. The pressure plate 610, which is connected to the inner cavity 62 by fasteners, limits the rod seal 69 located in the inner cavity. The rod sealing ring 69 comprises a composite structure made of wear-resistant rubber with steel wire mesh and a steel support ring integrally formed at the end of the composite structure in contact with the pressure plate 610. This design enhances the rod sealing ring 69's ability to resist water slurry pressure. The rod sealing ring 69 has a flared design with an internal chamber for the pipe to pass through. Specifically, the flared design gradually widens its outer diameter along the water slurry inflow direction, creating a flow-guiding gap between a portion of the rod sealing ring 69 and the inner surface of the inner cavity 62. The cross-sectional area of ​​this flow-guiding gap gradually decreases along the water slurry inflow direction, eventually sealing the outer surface of the rod sealing ring 69 against the inner surface of the inner cavity 62. This flared design guides the water slurry into the flow-guiding gap after entering the stepped hole, further gripping the rod under water slurry pressure on the contact side of the rod sealing ring 69, thus preventing spraying.

[0048] The drill rod 42 of the drilling rig unit 4 or the drive rod of the splitting unit 5 passes through it. The effect is twofold: First, the rotating blowout preventer 6 forms a dynamic sealing system. During drilling operations, the drill rod 42 needs to rotate at high speed and impact. The rotating blowout preventer 6 ensures a reliable seal between the drill rod 42 and the inner wall of the cutterhead assembly 3 while the drill rod 42 rotates and moves axially. This effectively isolates groundwater, fissure water, or mud pressure in front of the cutterhead, preventing it from flowing back into the tunnel boring machine along the drill rod 42, protecting the tunnel boring machine's electrical and hydraulic systems, and ensuring a safe working environment inside the chamber. Second, it provides a static seal for splitting operations. When the splitting unit 5 is installed, although the splitter's cylinder or piston rod does not rotate, it may need to extend and retract axially under pressure. The rotating blowout preventer 6 then acts as a static high-pressure seal, preventing leakage of hydraulic oil used during splitting or intrusion of external media. Therefore, the introduction of the rotating blowout preventer 6 is the key to whether this device can operate safely in pressurized or water-rich strata. The rotating blowout preventer 6 allows the entire treatment process to be carried out under relatively stable pressure in the tunnel boring machine's soil chamber without the need for complete depressurization, thus avoiding the risk of face instability. This is a huge safety advantage compared to traditional ground pretreatment or manual treatment in the chamber.

[0049] Specifically, drilling rig unit 4 mainly includes a rock drill 41, drill rod 42, and drill bit 43. The rock drill 41 provides impact force and rotational torque, the drill rod 42 transmits power and forms a slag discharge channel, and the drill bit 43 is responsible for breaking the rock. At least a portion of the drill rod 42 is installed inside the rotary blowout preventer 6, forming a dynamic seal. To further improve the stability and efficiency of drilling, a top support cylinder 44 can be installed at the rear of drilling rig unit 4 (i.e., on one side inside the tunnel boring machine). One end of the top support cylinder 44 rests on the rock drill 41 or its sliding base, while the other end is firmly supported on the shield plate or reinforcing structure of the tunnel boring machine. Its effect is to provide a strong reverse support force for the entire drilling rig unit 4, counteracting the huge recoil force and vibration generated during drilling, ensuring the stability of the borehole axis, improving the quality of the hole, and protecting the cutterhead structure from damage. Furthermore, a guide rail bracket 7 can be installed below the side of the cutterhead assembly 3 away from the tunnel excavation direction. The rock drill 41 is directionally movable on the guide rail bracket 7 via a sliding block or similar means. This allows the rock drill 41 to move smoothly back and forth along a preset axis, achieving automatic feed and retraction, and improving the mechanization and precision of the drilling operation. In addition, a one-way valve 421 can be installed in the hollow channel inside the drill rod 42. This one-way valve 421 is configured to only allow cooling water or compressed air for cleaning the drill bit 43 to flow from the tail of the drill rod 42 towards the drill bit 43, while preventing external groundwater, mud, and other liquids from flowing back from the bottom of the hole at the drill bit 43 into the internal channel of the drill rod 42. This effectively prevents debris in the hole from clogging the drill rod 42 or flowing back into the rock drill 41, protecting the equipment and improving the slag removal effect.

[0050] To ensure a static seal between the cutterhead assembly 3 and the mounting hole 1, and to prevent impurities from the soil chamber from entering the shield body through gaps, multiple O-rings 31 can be arranged on the outer wall of the cutterhead assembly 3. Once the cutterhead assembly 3 is in place, these O-rings are tightly compressed, forming a reliable radial seal. To firmly secure the cutterhead assembly 3 during operation and prevent loosening or displacement under the reaction forces of drilling or splitting, several ear plates 32 can be welded evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer circumference of the cutterhead assembly 3. Each ear plate 32 has a lifting eye hole or bolt hole. After the cutterhead assembly 3 is inserted into the mounting hole 1 and reaches the designated position, these ear plates 32 can be fixed to the corresponding pre-set connection points on the cutterhead using bolts, pins, or wire ropes, thereby achieving a rigid connection between the cutterhead assembly 3 and the cutterhead and ensuring the stability of the entire working platform.

[0051] Example 2:

[0052] A tunnel boring machine (TBM) employs the processing device described in Example 1 to process boulders during TBM construction.

[0053] Example 3:

[0054] A method for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction, employing the boulder handling device from Example 1 and applying it to the shield machine in Example 2, specifically involves the following method:

[0055] Step 1: Locate the boulder and select the most convenient mounting hole position 1 on the cutter head;

[0056] Step 2: Install the rotary blowout preventer 6 and the cutter barrel assembly 3. Install the rotary blowout preventer 6 inside the cutter barrel assembly 3 to form a sealing system and build a basic sealing and load-bearing platform.

[0057] Step 3: Move the cutter barrel assembly 3 to the target mounting hole 1, open the sealing gate 2 at the mounting hole 1, so that the cutter barrel assembly 3 passes through the sealing gate 2 and is installed in the target mounting hole 1, and then fix the cutter barrel assembly 3.

[0058] Step 4: Install the drilling rig unit 4 through the rotating blowout preventer 6 onto the cutterhead assembly 3, with the working end of the drilling rig unit 4 extending out of the tunnel boring machine through the mounting hole 1;

[0059] Step 5: Fix the drilling rig unit 4;

[0060] Step 6: Activate the impact drilling function of drilling unit 4 to drill a hole that meets the requirements on the boulder;

[0061] Step 7: After drilling is completed, remove drilling rig unit 4. At this time, the rotary blowout preventer 6 will automatically close.

[0062] Step 8: Loosen the fixing of the cutter barrel assembly 3, retract it to the sealing gate 2, close the sealing gate 2, and then completely move the cutter barrel assembly 3 out of the target mounting hole 1;

[0063] Step 9: Disassemble drilling rig unit 4, then repeat step 3;

[0064] Step 10: With the cutter barrel assembly 3 and the rotating blowout preventer 6 in place, install the splitting unit 5 onto the cutter barrel assembly 3 and insert the splitting head of the splitting unit 5 into the pre-drilled hole;

[0065] Step 11: Start the splitting unit 5 and use hydraulic expansion force to break the boulder into smaller pieces from the inside;

[0066] Step 12: After splitting, withdraw the splitting unit 5, then retract and remove the cutterhead assembly 3, close the sealing gate 2, and restore the cutterhead to its original state. All of the above steps are completed inside the tunnel boring machine (TBM), closely integrated with the tunneling process, minimizing the impact on the overall project schedule.

[0067] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including both the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the invention.

[0068] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling, characterized in that, Including: Several mounting holes (1) are evenly arranged in a circle on the cutterhead of the tunnel boring machine. Each mounting hole (1) has an opening and closing position, and a sealing gate (2) is provided at the opening and closing position. The blade barrel assembly (3) is movable along the axis of the mounting hole (1) to be installed in or removed from the mounting hole (1), and the outer contour of the blade barrel assembly (3) is adapted to the contour of the mounting hole (1). The sealing gate (2) is configured such that: when the sealing gate (2) is in the open state, the knife barrel assembly (3) is allowed to move further along the axial direction of the mounting hole (1) and pass through the opening and closing position; when the knife barrel assembly (3) retracts into the opening and closing position, the sealing gate (2) is closed. It also includes a drilling rig unit (4) and a splitting unit (5), which are interchangeably installed in the cutter barrel assembly (3); The drilling rig unit (4) or the splitting unit (5) can extend its working end through the mounting hole (1) and contact the boulder by means of the cutter barrel assembly (3).

2. The device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a rotating blowout preventer (6) disposed within the cutter barrel assembly (3), through which the drilling rig unit (4) or the splitting unit (5) is disposed.

3. The device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drilling rig unit (4) includes a rock drill (41), a drill rod (42) and a drill bit (43). The front and rear ends of the drill rod (42) are respectively connected to the drill bit (43) and the rock drill (41). The drill rod (42) is at least partially disposed inside the rotary blowout preventer (6).

4. The device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 3, characterized in that, A top support cylinder (44) is installed behind the drilling rig unit (4), and the top support cylinder (44) supports the shield body upright plate of the tunnel boring machine.

5. A device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cutter barrel assembly (3) is provided with a guide rail support (7) on the side away from the tunnel excavation direction, and the rock drill (41) is directionally movable on the guide rail support (7).

6. The device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 3, characterized in that, A one-way valve (421) is provided in the channel inside the rotating rod. The one-way valve (421) is configured to prevent external liquid from flowing back from the drill bit (43) into the internal channel.

7. The device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 1, characterized in that, An O-ring (31) is arranged on the outside of the blade barrel assembly (3).

8. A device for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling construction according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade barrel assembly (3) has several ear plates (32) evenly distributed around its outer periphery. The ear plates (32) are provided with lifting eye holes. The blade barrel assembly (3) is used to fix the position of the blade barrel assembly (3) and the mounting hole (1) after it is installed in place.

9. A tunnel boring machine, characterized in that, Includes the boulder handling device in shield tunneling construction as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A method for handling isolated boulders during shield tunneling, employing the isolated boulder handling device described in any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that: S1. Locate the location of the isolated rock and select a target installation hole (1) from several installation holes (1) on the cutterhead of the tunnel boring machine. S2. The rotary blowout preventer (6) is installed inside the cutter barrel assembly (3) to form a sealing system; S3. Move the cutter barrel assembly (3) to the target mounting hole (1), open the sealing gate (2) at the mounting hole (1), so that the cutter barrel assembly (3) passes through the sealing gate (2) and is installed in the target mounting hole (1), and then fix the cutter barrel assembly (3). S4. The drilling rig unit (4) is installed on the cutter barrel assembly (3) through the rotating blowout preventer (6), and the working end of the drilling rig unit (4) extends out of the shield machine through the mounting hole (1). S5. Fix the drilling rig unit (4); S6. Start the impact drilling function of the drilling rig unit (4) to drill a hole in the boulder; S7. After drilling is completed, disassemble the drilling rig unit (4). S8. Loosen the fixing of the knife barrel assembly (3), retract it to the sealing gate (2), close the sealing gate (2), and then completely move the knife barrel assembly (3) out of the target mounting hole (1). S9. Disassemble the drilling rig unit (4), and then repeat step S3; S10. Install the splitting unit (5) onto the cutter barrel assembly (3) and insert the working end of the splitting unit (5) into the hole drilled in the boulder; S11. Start the splitting unit (5) to split the boulder; S12. After splitting is completed, repeat step S8, and then disassemble the splitting unit (5).

Images