Tunnel boring machine

Abstract

A tunnel boring machine is presented which is distinguished by relatively accurate load measurement on the boring tool supported in the slide tube in conjunction with easy handling when changing tools. In a tunnel boring machine configured with a sliding tube (209) for changing a drilling tool (106), it is considered that load measuring elements (242) are fixed in load measuring element receiving portions (236) built into the sliding tube (209) and extending axially. These load measuring elements (242) are located directly in the flow of forces introduced from the drilling tool (106) into the sliding tube (209) and remain in that position even when the drilling tool (106) is changed after initial installation and subsequent calibration. This allows the load acting on the drilling tool (106) to be detected stably over the long term with minimal effort.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tunnel boring machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] A tunnel boring machine of this type is known from CN 207829897 U. This tunnel boring machine has a number of sliding tubes, each of which slidably supports a drilling tool for tool change. Furthermore, a number of load measuring elements are provided, which are configured to measure the load applied to the drilling tool. These load measuring elements are integrated into the connection between the ring collar connected to the sliding tube and the sliding tube receptacle, with a purely threaded connection. Due to the structurally limited force flow, a relatively large number of load measuring elements is necessary for sufficient measurement accuracy. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] China Utility Model Publication No. 207829897 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object underlying the present invention is to provide a tunnel boring machine of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is distinguished by relatively accurate load measurement on the boring tool mounted in the sliding tube, in conjunction with easy handling when changing the tool. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention in a tunnel boring machine of the type mentioned in the introduction by a tunnel boring machine having the features of claim 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described.

[0008] According to the invention, at least some of the slide tubes are provided with at least one axially extending load measuring element receptacle, which is adapted to receive a load measuring element so that the or each load measuring element is mounted and calibrated once and for all via a fixed mechanical connection, and is then placed in the usually cylindrical slide tube in a direct, purely axial force flow through the slide tube, in which the or each load measuring element receptacle and the or each load measuring element mounted therein are subjected to substantially the same compression and elongation forces. As a result, the measurement accuracy of the load acting on the drilling tool with only a small number of load measuring elements, possibly only one load measuring element, remains relatively high and is not impaired by tool changes.

[0009] Further expedient configurations of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the figures of the drawing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a cutting wheel on an exemplary tunnel boring machine according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates, in cross-section, one exemplary embodiment of a drilling tool slidably supported in a slide tube with a load measuring element integrated within the slide tube; [Figure 3] 10A and 10B show, in cross-section, load measuring element receptacles formed in a slide tube and in a slide tube flange, with a load measuring element disposed in the load measuring element receptacle. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one configuration of a load measuring element. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are perspective views of one configuration of a mounting and protective housing for receiving a connecting cable and an adapter cable for connecting to the connecting cable; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic diagram, an arrangement for wirelessly transmitting data provided by a load measuring element to a data processing unit. [Example]

[0012] 1 shows a cutting wheel 103 of an exemplary tunnel boring machine according to the present invention, viewed from the side facing forward in the direction of excavation and therefore towards the excavation face. The cutting wheel 103 has a number of cutting rollers 106 as a type of excavation tool. At least some of the cutting rollers 106 are arranged in tool receptacles 109, which are configured on the rear side of the cutting wheel 103, located at the rear in the direction of excavation, in particular for pressure-free tool changes.

[0013] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cutting roller 106 arranged in the tool receptacle 109. The cutting roller 106 is rotatable about a cutting roller axis 203 and is slidably supported in a cylindrical slide tube 209 of the slide tube unit together with a tool fixing set 206 for tool changes. At its front end in the drilling direction, the slide tube 209 is connected, for example by welding, to a slide tube bearing ring 212 of the slide tube unit, via which the slide tube 209 is supported in the radial direction. At its rear end in the drilling direction, opposite the slide tube bearing ring 212, the slide tube 209 is connected, for example by welding, to a slide tube flange 215 of the slide tube unit.

[0014] The slide tube flange 215 has an axial portion 218 that is directly adjacent to the slide tube 209 and is connected thereto, for example by welding, and a radial portion 221 that extends radially outward at a right angle to the axial portion 218. The radial portion 221 is formed with a number of screw receiving portions 224 through which fixing screws 227 can be respectively guided.

[0015] With its side surface located forward in the tunneling direction, the radial portion 221 abuts against the slide tube receptacle 230, which surrounds the rear area of ​​the slide tube 209 in the tunneling direction. The slide tube receptacle 230 is configured with blind holes 233 with female threads that are aligned with the screw receptacles 224 of the slide tube flange 215, into which the fixing screws 227 can be screwed in order to fix the slide tube flange 215 to the slide tube receptacle 230 and thus to clamp the slide tube 209.

[0016] 2 further shows that in the illustrated embodiment the slide tube 209 has a number of load measuring element receptacles 236 which are blind-hole shaped and extend axially from the end of the slide tube 209 arranged rearward in the direction of advance towards the end arranged forward in the direction of advance. In this embodiment, the axial section 218 of the slide tube flange 215 is configured with a number of load measuring element passage guides 239 which correspond to the number of load measuring element receptacles 236 and are aligned with the load measuring element receptacles 236.

[0017] 2, it can be seen that the load measuring element 242 is arranged in only one of the load measuring element receptacles 236 to which a load measuring element passage guide 239 is assigned. It is expedient to consider that the load measuring element 242 is arranged in at least some of the load measuring element receptacles 236 with corresponding load measuring element passage guides 239.

[0018] The slide tube flange 215 supports at least a predetermined number of mounting protective housings 245 assigned to a predetermined number of load measuring elements 242, and these mounting protective housings 245 are arranged in the areas of the assigned load measuring elements 242.

[0019] It can further be seen from the view of FIG. 2 that the slide tube 209 can be closed by means of a corresponding slide tube flange 215 and by means of a closing device 248 on the side located rearward in the direction of excavation.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows, in an enlarged cross-sectional view compared to the view of FIG. 2, the load measuring element 242 in an inserted configuration in the load measuring element receiving portion 236 and in the load measuring element passage portion 239 .

[0021] 3, the load measuring element receiving section 236, which is formed in the sliding tube 209 in the form of a blind hole, tapers conically in its closed end region and has a conical section 303, which is connected to a first cylindrical section 306. The first cylindrical section 306 has an internally threaded area 309 at its end opposite the conical section 303. A second cylindrical section 312, which has an enlarged cross section compared to the first cylindrical section 306, is connected to the internally threaded area 309 of the first cylindrical section 306 in the direction of the rear end of the sliding tube 209 in the drilling direction, and which leads to a load measuring element passage guide 239 which has substantially the same cross section.

[0022] The load measuring element 242 also has a lens-shaped, rounded front portion 315, which in the view of FIG. 3 is substantially linearly closed in the circumferential direction and adjoins the conical portion 303. A head portion 318 is connected to the front portion 315, which advantageously has a reduced cross-section compared to the front portion 315. An externally threaded portion 321 is connected to the head portion 318 of the load measuring element 242, which supports an external thread complementary to the internally threaded region 309, so that the load measuring element 242 can be connected as a single component to the slide tube 209 via a threaded connection using a predetermined tightening torque for one-off calibration. As a result, the combination consisting of the slide tube 209 and the load measuring element 242 is subjected to the same load in their axial direction without any significant expansion decoupling.

[0023] The external thread portion 321 continues to a neck portion 324, which is connected to the load measuring element passage guide 239. In the region of the end region of the neck portion 324 opposite the external thread portion 321, there are provided bearing rings 327 formed in the shape of an O-ring and made of a relatively soft elastic material, which support the end region of the neck portion 324 so as to absorb shocks and vibrations and prevent rotation by friction.

[0024] In one variation not shown, the load measuring element is configured to have a relatively short neck portion 324 compared to the load measuring element 242 shown and described in Figures 2 and 3, such that the load measuring element 242 is fully received by the load measuring element receiving portion 236 formed in the slide tube 209.

[0025] A connecting cable 330 emerges from the neck portion 324 at the end side, and is located in a cable passage guide space 333 formed in the slide tube flange 215, and extends into a cable receiving space 336 formed in the mounting protective housing 245.

[0026] Based on the above-described structure, a relatively simple assembly of the load measuring element 242 into the slide tube 209 is achieved before the slide tube flange 215 is attached, since the neck portion 324 is then exposed in an area and is therefore easily accessible for tightening tools, in particular for torque wrenches.

[0027] In one variation having a relatively short neck portion, the load measuring element is attached using a socket wrench, which engages the load measuring element at the end of the load measuring element facing the opening of the load measuring element receiving portion 236.

[0028] Furthermore, the or each load measuring element 242 remains untouched after assembly into the slide tube 209 and subsequent calibration, even in the event of a tool change, for example by changing the cutting roller 106, and is protected by the slide tube flange 215 which is subsequently attached, so that tool changes can be carried out relatively simply.

[0029] Figure 4 shows the load measuring element 242 in a perspective view in the configuration already described with reference to Figure 3. It can be clearly seen from Figure 4 that the front part 315 is rounded and chamfered, which is also referred to as lenticular (convex lenticular). The contact between the load measuring element 242 and the load measuring element receptacle 236, which is brought about in connection with the conical part 303 of the load measuring element receptacle 236 and which runs in the circumferential direction as a line or thin strip, results in a spatially defined and time-invariant introduction of a force into the load measuring element 242.

[0030] 4 further shows that a predetermined number of flat, plate-like load sensor plates (load sensor units) 403 are attached to the head unit 318, which has a rectangular cross section with a flat outer portion, for example a square cross section, and is located between the front part 315 and the male threaded part 321. Using these load sensor plates 403, the mechanical deformation of the head unit 318 can be measured, and an electrical signal characteristic of the load state of the slide tube 209 can be supplied to the connection cable 330.

[0031] 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the mounting and protective housing 245 with the associated components. The mounting and protective housing 245 is attached to the slide tube flange 215 by means of a connecting screw (or connecting bolt) 503 and receives in its cable-receiving space 336 the end region of the connecting cable 330 of the load measuring element 242 on the one hand and an adapter cable 506 on the other hand. The adapter cable 506 is connected to the connecting cable 330 via an intermediate plug connection 509 as a connecting part and to a connecting cable plug 512 as a further connecting part, which is arranged in a connecting space 515 separated from the cable-receiving space 336.

[0032] To ensure a reliable electrical contact under the harsh environmental conditions encountered during operation of the tunnel boring machine, the connecting cable plug 512 is configured with an externally located contact element 518 that is relatively easy to clean.

[0033] For connection of the load measuring element 242, a connecting cable 521 is provided, which at one end carries a connecting cable socket 524. The connecting cable socket 524 can be inserted into the connecting space 515 through a wall hole 527 made in the mounting and protective housing 245 in the wall of the connecting space 515 in the region of the connecting cable plug 512 and can be connected to the connecting cable plug 512.

[0034] Advantageously, the cable receiving space 336, which is closed at the bottom side, can be closed using a closing lid 530 to protect the intermediate plug connection part 509, whereas the connection space 515 is open on both sides of the connecting cable plug 512 for relatively easy cleaning of the contact members 518.

[0035] Figure 6 shows, in a schematic diagram, an arrangement for wirelessly transmitting data provided by the load measuring element 242 to a data processing unit 603. The arrangement of Figure 6 comprises a transmission module 606 which is electrically connectable to the or each load measuring element 242 (not shown in Figure 6) via a connecting cable 521.

[0036] Using the transmission module 606, a load signal output from each load measuring element 242, which is characteristic of the load applied to the corresponding slide tube 209, can be provided via a wireless transmission section 609 to a receiving module 612, which is connected to the data processing unit 603 via a connection line 615, as appropriate.

[0037] In order to avoid, as far as possible, particularly local limit load states or even overload states of drilling tools, in particular cutting rollers 106, connected to the corresponding slide tube 209 by operating the tunnel boring machine under correspondingly lower loads, the load state of the slide tube 209 recorded via the load measuring element 242 can be output using the data processing unit 603. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 103 Cutting Wheel 106 Cutting roller 109 Tool receiving section 203 Cutting roller axis 206 Tool Fixing Set 209 Slide Tube 212 Slide tube bearing ring 215 Slide pipe flange 218 Axial portion of slide pipe flange 221 Radial portion of slide pipe flange 224 Screw receiving part 227 Fixing screw 230 Slide tube receiving portion 233 Blind hole (Blind hole) 236 Load measuring element receiving part 239 Load measurement element passage guide part 242 Load measurement elements 245 Mounting Protective Housing 248 Closure device 303 Conical part of load measuring element receiving part 306 First cylinder part of load measuring element receiving part 309 Internal thread area of ​​first cylinder section 312 Second cylinder part of load measuring element receiving part 315 Front part of load measuring element 318 Head part of load measuring element 321 Male thread part of load measuring element 324 Neck portion of load measuring element 327 Bearing Ring 330 connection cable 333 Cable passage guide space 336 Cable Receiving Space 403 Load sensor plate (load sensor part) 503 Connection screw 506 adapter cable 509 Intermediate plug connection 512 Connection cable plug 515 Connected Space 518 Contact member 521 connecting cable 524 Connecting Cable Socket 527 Wall Hole 530 Closed lid 603 Data Processing Unit 606 Transmission Module 609 Radio Transmission Section 612 Receiver Module 615 Connection Line

Claims

1. A tunnel boring machine comprising a predetermined number of slide tube units, each slide tube unit having a slide tube flange (215), a slide tube bearing ring (212), a slide tube (209) connected to the slide tube flange (215) and the slide tube bearing ring (212) and on which a drilling tool (106) is slidably supported for tool change, and at least one load measuring element (242) configured to measure a load applied to the drilling tool (106), at least one load measuring element receptacle (236) extending axially is formed in at least some of the slide tubes (209), the or each load measuring element receptacle (236) being formed as a blind hole, and a load measuring element (242) being arranged in the at least one load measuring element receptacle (236); A tunnel boring machine characterized by:

2. the or each load measuring element receiving portion (236) formed in the slide tube (209) has an internally threaded region (309), and the load measuring element (242) has an externally threaded portion (321) assigned to the internally threaded region (309); 2. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1,

3. Each load measuring element (242) has a front portion (315) and a head portion (318) extending between the front portion (315) and the male thread portion (321), and the front portion (315) and the terminal end of the load measuring element receiving portion (236) formed in the slide tube (209) are configured so that a linear or band-like circumferential contact area is formed between the front portion (315) and the terminal end of the load measuring element receiving portion (236) formed in the slide tube (209).

3. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 2, characterized in that

4. At least one load sensor portion (403) is disposed in the head portion (318) of each load measuring element (242); 4. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 3, characterized in that

5. Each slide tube (209) is connected to a slide tube bearing ring (212) on the side opposite the load measuring element (242); 5. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 4,

6. each slide tube (209) abuts against a slider tube flange (215) in the region of a load measuring element (242); 6. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 5,

7. the slider tube flange (215) has a predetermined number of load measuring element passage guides (239) corresponding to the predetermined number of load measuring element receiving portions (236) formed in the slider tube (209), and the load measuring element passage guides (239) are aligned in straight lines with the load measuring element receiving portions (236) respectively assigned to them; 7. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 6,

8. Each load measuring element (242) is connected to a connection cable (330) for outputting an electrical signal; A tunnel boring machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

9. a mounting protective housing (245) is provided, and the connecting cable (330) passes through the mounting protective housing (245); 9. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 8.

10. an adapter cable (506) having two interlocking connections (509, 512) is provided, said adapter cable (506) being disposed within said mounting protective housing (245); 10. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 9, characterized in that

11. The adapter cable (506) is in a connected state with a connecting cable plug (512), the connecting cable plug (512) being configured to have an externally located contact member (518); 11. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 10.

12. the connecting cable plug (512) is arranged in a connecting space (515), and a wall hole (527) is formed in the wall of the connecting space (515) in the area of ​​the connecting cable plug (512); 12. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 11, characterized in that

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