Tunnel boring machine

Abstract

To provide a tunnel boring machine that is outstanding in that it discharges a sealing material per surface relatively uniformly and maintains a predetermined value in terms of amount even under changing operating conditions without the need for manual control. The tunnel boring machine is provided with an adjusting unit, by means of which a predetermined, preferably as small as possible, amount of sealing material (227) discharged from a shield tail seal (121) into a residual layer (230) normally covered with an injection material (224) for filling an annular gap (218) can be set with relatively small fluctuations, thereby relatively accurately and reliably maintaining the smallest possible amount of discharge, particularly from the viewpoint of cost and the environment.

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 WO 2022 / 001621 A1. This known tunnel boring machine has a shield tail seal with a predetermined number of sealing elements facing radially inward. A filling chamber is formed between the sealing elements. A line arrangement is also provided, which is distributed circumferentially and leads into the filling chamber. A pump arrangement is connected to the line arrangement and is configured to pump the sealing material into the filling chamber. A quantity check means is also provided, which is configured to compare the amount of sealing material actually pumped with the theoretically pumpable amount of sealing material.

[0003] From CN 213392162 U a system for automated lubricant supply for a tunnel boring machine is known, which machine has a stroke counter for determining the amount of lubricant supplied, in which the supply of lubricant is time-controlled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 001621 [Patent Document 2] China Utility Model No. 213392162 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 outset which is distinguished by a relatively uniform discharge of sealing material per surface which does not require manual control and which maintains a predetermined value in terms of quantity even under changing operating conditions. [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, an adjusting unit is provided, by means of which a predetermined amount in the form of volume or preferably mass of the sealant actually pumped is introduced into the filling chamber, taking into account the specific input parameters that change at least partially during drilling and also depending on the duration of operation, so that even under changing operating conditions such as a decreasing pump efficiency of the pumping device or a changing drilling speed, a predetermined, constant amount of sealant is introduced into the or each filling chamber for uniform release per surface in terms of volume (per surface size: for example per square meter), within the framework of relatively small fluctuations that are typical for operation.

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

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

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a tunnel boring machine equipped with a shield tail seal. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the area around a shield tail seal according to an embodiment of the tunnel boring machine of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 illustrates a partially cut-away side view of one embodiment of a brush seal for the shield tail seal of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 shows a schematic front view of a number of infusion lines of the line device in the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 shows a schematic piping diagram of line equipment and an exemplary pumping system for supplying sealing material to the line equipment. [Figure 6] 3 shows the shield tail seal of FIG. 2 in a schematic side view together with a visualization of exemplary preferred filling pressure situations that should be realized as far as possible in the filling chamber. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 shows, in block diagram form, the essential elements of an exemplary adjustment unit for the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 8 shows, as a block diagram, a further configuration of the exemplary adjustment unit of FIG. 7. [Example]

[0012] 1 shows a schematic side view of one embodiment of a tunnel boring machine 103, which is equipped with a cutting wheel 109 on the side facing the excavation face 106. The cutting wheel 109 can be used to excavate the ground adjacent to the excavation face 106 in the direction of excavation.

[0013] The tunnel boring machine 103 has a shield tail 112 on the rear side opposite the cutting wheel 109, and the shield tail 112 covers an area of ​​a segment ring 115 made up of a predetermined number of segments (tabbings) 118 spliced ​​together while the tunnel boring machine 103 is in operation.

[0014] A shield tail seal 121 is disposed in the end region of the shield tail 112 opposite the cutting wheel 109 .

[0015] Figure 2 shows in a side view the area around the shield tail seal 121 according to the embodiment of the tunnel boring machine 103 of Figure 1. From Figure 2 it can be seen that the shield tail seal 121 has a number of sealing elements, for example in the form of, on the one hand, mechanically very stable spring plate seals 203 arranged on the end side of the shield tail 112, and on the other hand, brush seals 206 arranged at a distance from one another on the side of the spring plate seal 203 facing towards the cutting wheel 109, not shown in Figure 2.

[0016] It will be appreciated that other configurations of sealing elements may be provided, such as purely spring plate seals 203 or purely brush seals 206.

[0017] The spring plate seal 203 and the brush seal 206 are connected to the shield tail 112 in their end regions and extend obliquely radially inwardly away from the cutting wheel 109 so that the spring plate seal 203 and the brush seal 206 contact the radially outwardly facing side of the segment 118 during operation of the tunnel boring machine 109. Filling chambers 209, 212, 215 are formed between the spring plate seal 203 and the adjacent brush seal 206 and between the brush seals 206, respectively.

[0018] An annular gap 218, typically under atmospheric pressure, is formed between the radially inward-facing side of the shield tail 112 and the radially outward-facing side of the segment 118 surrounded by the shield tail 112. Radially outward of the shield tail 112, a passing geology (ground) 221 is adjacent to the shield tail 112. To fill the volume left vacant at the end of the shield tail 112 by the annular gap 218 and by the shield tail 112, this volume can be filled with mortar 224 down to the exposed geology 221 by a mortar supply device not shown in FIG. 2. The mortar 224 applies mortar pressure to the end-side spring plate seals 203.

[0019] Since the mortar pressure is much higher than the pressure in the annular gap 218, and as a result the end spring plate seals 203 in particular are mechanically loaded with the risk that the spring plate seals 203 may fail and the mortar 224 may penetrate into the filling chambers 209, 212, 215 or, in the worst case, into the annular gap 218, the filling chambers 209, 212, 215 are filled with a sealant 227 of relatively high viscosity in order to reduce or eliminate the mortar pressure on the spring plate seals 203 up to the end brush seal 206 facing the cutting wheel 109 and to ensure the functionality of the shield tail seal 121 is maintained. In this case, a predetermined amount, preferably in the form of a predetermined mass of sealant 227 dispensed into the filling chambers 209, 212, 215, results in a filling pressure in the respective filling chambers 209, 212, 215.

[0020] However, it is understood that within the meaning of the present invention, a quantity can also be expressed as a volume.

[0021] Behind the spring plate seal 203 in the tunneling direction, a residual layer 230 of sealing material 227 remains on the radially outward facing side of the corresponding segment 118, the surface-specific (per surface) mass of which depends, in particular, on various parameters such as the differential pressure between the outer filling chamber 209 (filling pressure in the filling chamber 209) in front of it in the tunneling direction and the mortar pressure, the rigidity of the spring plate seal 203, the surface properties of the segments 118, and the dimensions of the joints formed between the segments 118.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway side view of one embodiment of a brush seal 206 for the shield tail seal 121 of FIG. 2. The brush seal 206 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes an outer plate assembly 303 arranged rearward in the direction of tunneling during operation of the tunnel boring machine 103 and an inner plate assembly 306 located opposite the outer plate assembly 303, each of which includes a predetermined number of individual plates. The outer plate assembly 303 is longer than the inner plate assembly 306. A wire layer 309 is disposed between the outer plate assembly 303 and the inner plate assembly 306. The wire layer 309 includes a number of relatively thin individual wires wound in a corrugated or spiral shape. The outer plate assembly 303, the inner plate assembly 306, and the wire layer 309 disposed therebetween are connected to a support sheet 318, which can be connected to the shield tail (shield tail jacket) 112, using a fixing clamp 312 and a threaded connection 315 in this embodiment.

[0023] From Figure 3 and the description of Figure 3, it can be seen that the brush seal 206 does not, in itself, constitute a pressure-sealing end portion on the side facing the segment 118, not shown in Figure 3, but rather that the formation of a pressure-sealing end portion occurs (results in) to some extent only after the wire layer 309 has been filled with the sealing material 227, not shown in Figure 3.

[0024] 4 shows a schematic front view of a line device (piping device) 403 configured to supply the sealing material 227 to the filling chambers 209, 212, and 215. The line device 403 has a predetermined number of first injection lines 406, second injection lines 409, and third injection lines 412, which are configured to supply the sealing material 227 into the first filling chamber 209, second filling chamber 212, and third filling chamber 215. In this case, these injection lines 406, 409, and 412 are preferably arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so as to introduce (introduce) the sealing material 227 into each of the filling chambers 409, 412, and 415 in an evenly distributed manner in the circumferential direction.

[0025] Figure 5 shows as a schematic piping diagram the area of ​​the line device 403 of Figure 4 and a pump device 503 for supplying the line device 403 with the sealing material 227. From Figure 5 it can be seen that the line device 403 has a ring line 506 which is connected to the pump device 503 via a supply line 509 for supplying the sealing material 227. The ring line 506 can be vented, if necessary, via a ring vent line 512 which incorporates a ring vent valve 515. The ring line 506 is connected to the inlet lines 406, 409, 412, which are only partially shown in Figure 5, and which each incorporate an electrically operable control valve 518, a pressure sensor 521, which in this embodiment is provided for inspection purposes, and an inlet / outlet valve 524 which in this embodiment can be manually operated. Thereby, as will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs, sealing material 227 can be provided in each filling chamber 209, 212, 215 via injection lines 406, 409, 412, wherein the different masses of sealing material 227 respectively supplied advantageously also result in different filling pressures in at least each pair of filling chambers 209, 212, 215.

[0026] 5 can be filled with sealant 227 from a sealant reservoir 525. The mass of sealant 227 in the sealant reservoir 525 can be detected using an electrically operable fill level sensor 527 as a component of the quantity checking means. For example, the pump device 503 can be pressure filled using a two-column ram press 530, in which a follower plate 533 connected to the sealant reservoir 525 can be pressed against the sealant 227.

[0027] The pump device 503 further comprises a solenoid valve 536, by means of which the direction of movement of the piston can be controlled based on a preset cycle time (period during which the pump device 503 is active: cycle time in the sense of successive time intervals of the drive control for the output of the sealing material 227), which will be explained in detail in the following paragraphs. A stroke counter 539 of the pump device 503, as a further component of the quantity checking means, is configured to detect the piston in an end position and output this position as a count value.

[0028] 6 shows the area around the shield tail seal 121 in a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 2, together with a pressure graph 603 for visualizing exemplary pressure conditions that should be realized, particularly as far as possible, in the filling chambers 209, 212, 215. In the pressure graph 603, the horizontal axis 606 is plotted with the location Z in the longitudinal extension of the segment 118, and the vertical axis 606 is plotted with the pressure P.

[0029] 6, it can be seen that in the region of the annular gap 218 there is an external pressure P0, which is typically atmospheric pressure, whereas in the region of the mortar 224 there is a mortar pressure PM which is higher than the pressure P0. In the first filling chamber 209 there is a filling pressure P1, in the second filling chamber 212 there is a filling pressure P2 and in the third filling chamber 215 there is a filling pressure P3. From the pressure graph 603 it can be seen that, expediently, for a relatively high protection of the shield tail seal 121 against the ingress of mortar 224, the filling pressure P3 is at least the same as the mortar pressure PM, but preferably higher than the mortar pressure PM, as illustrated in FIG. In order to ensure that only a relatively small load is applied to the brush seal 206 overall, the filling pressure P3 is gradually reduced via decreasing filling pressure P2 to filling pressure P1 in the second filling chamber 212 and the first filling chamber 209, which are located in front of the third filling chamber 215 in the excavation direction.

[0030] 7 shows the essential elements of an exemplary adjusting unit 703 as a block diagram, which is typically implemented in a memory programmable control device, a so-called SPS (Programmable Logic Controller PLC). As input parameters from the quantity checking means, a stroke counter 539 provides the pump strokes of the pump device 503 made during the adjustment interval, while a fill level sensor 527 provides the mass of sealant 227 actually consumed. (An adjustment interval is understood as a time unit that remains unchanged, i.e., a time unit during which the same situation continues until the next adjustment action.) Via an operator input 712, the desired sealant consumption per surface in terms of mass can be preset, in particular for a predetermined density of sealant 227 remaining in the residual layer 230 and in the joints between the segments 118.

[0031] From the values ​​entered via the operator input section 712, the required mass of sealant 227 can be determined via the sealant calculation module 715, taking into account, inter alia, the geometric parameters of the segment ring 115, such as the circumference of the segment ring 115, and the specific density of the sealant 227, and can be provided to a stroke number provider 718.

[0032] The output value of the stroke counter 539 can be provided to a prescribed sealant consumption module 721, which can be used to calculate the theoretical consumption of sealant 227 based on the number of pump strokes and based on the known ideal pump characteristics of the pump device 503, as preset by the maximum available pump volume observed based purely on dimensions.

[0033] The actual consumed mass of sealant 227 can be provided to the actual sealant consumption module 724 as a value of the fill level sensor 527, and the actual consumption of the mass of sealant 227 can be calculated using the actual sealant consumption module 724.

[0034] The output values ​​of the sealant consumption modules 721, 724 can be provided to a fill level determination module 727, by means of which the fill level can be determined as the ratio between the actual consumption and the theoretical consumption of the mass of sealant 227. The fill level can be provided to the stroke number provider 718 as a further input parameter.

[0035] For this purpose, a sealant application control display 730 is provided, which is connected to the actual sealant consumption module 724 and visually outputs the actual consumption of sealant 227 mass per surface.

[0036] Furthermore, an excavation speed module 733 is provided, by means of which the current excavation speed of the tunnel boring machine 103 can be provided as a further input parameter to a cycle time provider 736 of the regulating unit 703. The cycle time provider 736 is further connected to the stroke number provider 718 in order to drive and control the solenoid valve 536 in the form of an output cycle (output cycle in the sense of the number of strokes per time unit) to adjust the pumping power of the pumping device 503 for the total predetermined mass of sealant 227 to be pumped, taking into account the current excavation speed, using the absolute number of strokes (number of strokes as an integer) detected by the stroke number provider 718 in order to output a predetermined mass of sealant 227 per face. (That is, the cycle time provider 736 and the stroke number provider 718 drive and control the solenoid valve 536 so as to ensure that the predetermined mass of sealing material 227 is always output per unit of time regardless of the current drilling speed.)

[0037] Furthermore, the output value of the stroke number provider 718 can be provided to a distance provider 739 of the adjustment unit 703, and using the distance provider 739, the control valve 518 can be driven and controlled by presetting the respective mass values ​​to provide a predetermined mass of sealant 227 to be pumped into each of the filling chambers 209, 212, 215, taking into account the distance to be traveled by the tunnel boring machine 103.

[0038] The adjusting unit 703 is therefore configured to compensate for fluctuations typical of operation, for uniform release of the sealant 227 in the residual layer 230, by adapting the actual pumping power of the pumping device 503 to changing ambient conditions, such as different temperatures, and / or to wear typical of operation due to filling level considerations, as well as to changing drilling speeds. Only the density of the sealant 227 used in each case needs to be preset as an input parameter for particularly high accuracy. By presetting the surface-specific consumption of the sealant 227 mass, the preset value, and hereby the lowest possible value, in particular from a cost and environmental standpoint, can be maintained relatively accurately with only relatively small fluctuations.

[0039] Figure 8 shows a block diagram of a further configuration of the exemplary adjustment unit 703 according to Figure 7 with further elements, whereby corresponding elements in the block diagrams of Figures 7 and 8 are given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail again in the following to avoid repetition. The adjustment unit 703 of the further configuration of Figure 8 has an overwritable filling depth memory 803 in which a filling depth derived from the filling depth determination module 727 from a previously completed ring construction is stored, and the stored value can be provided to the stroke number provider 718 during the current ring construction.

[0040] The block diagram of Figure 8 also shows a section feeder 806 of the tunnel boring machine 103, which is connected on the one hand to the control valve 518 and on the other hand to the sealant application control indicator 730 in order to correlate the output of the sealant application control indicator 730 with the section actually advanced and, on the other hand, to control the control valve 518 depending on the section advanced.

[0041] 8 , in a further configuration a deviation inspection module 809 is provided, which is connected on the one hand to the operator input unit 712 and on the other hand to the sealant application control display 730. By means of the deviation inspection module 809 the deviation between the sealant consumption per face in terms of mass pre-set by the operator input unit 712 and the actual sealant consumption per face in terms of mass derived from the sealant application control display 730 can be determined. An output value from the deviation inspection module 809 can be provided to a deviation threshold check module 812 by means of which the tunnel boring machine 103 can be interrupted via a stop unit 815 when a predetermined threshold is exceeded, and further operation of the tunnel boring machine 103 can be released (started) via a release unit 818 otherwise. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 103 Tunnel Boring Machine 106 Excavation face 109 Cutting Wheel 112 Shield Tail 115 Segment Ring 118 Segment (Tabbing) 121 Shield Tail Seal 203 Spring Plate Seal 206 Brush seal 209 First Filling Chamber 212 Second filling chamber 215 Third Filling Chamber 218 Annular gap 221 Geology (ground) 224 Mortar 227 Sealant 230 Residual layer 303 Outer Plate Device 306 Inner Plate Device 309 Wire Layer 312 Fixed clamp 315 Threaded Connection 318 Support Sheet 403 Line Equipment 406 First Infusion Line 409 Second Infusion Line 412 Third Infusion Line 503 Pumping equipment 506 Ring Line 509 Supply Line 512 Ring discharge line 515 Ring Discharge Valve 518 Control valve 521 Pressure Sensor 524 Injection and discharge valve 525 Sealant storage container 527 Fill Level Sensor 530 2-post ram press 533 Follower Plate 536 Solenoid valve 539 Stroke Counter 603 Pressure Graph 606 Horizontal axis (Z: location) 606 Vertical axis (P: pressure) P0 External pressure P1 filling pressure P2 filling pressure P3 filling pressure PM mortar pressure 703 Adjustment Unit 712 Operator Input Section 715 Sealant Calculation Module 718 Stroke Count Donor 721 Regulated Sealant Consumption Module 724 Actual Sealant Consumption Module 727 Filling Degree Determination Module 730 Sealant application control display unit 733 Excavation Speed ​​Module 736 Cycle Time Donor 739 Distance Giver 803 Filling degree memory 806 Excavation section supply device 809 Misalignment Inspection Module 812 Deviation Threshold Inspection Module 815 Stop Unit 818 Release Unit

Claims

1. A tunnel boring machine, a shield tail seal (121) having a predetermined number of sealing elements (203, 206) directed radially inward, with filling chambers (209, 212, 215) formed between the sealing elements (203, 206); line devices (403) distributed in the circumferential direction and leading into the filling chambers (209, 212, 215); a pumping device (503) connected to the line device (403), the pumping device (503) configured to pump the sealing material (227) into the filling chamber (209, 212, 215); a quantity check module (527, 539) is provided, the quantity check module (527, 539) being configured to compare the quantity of the sealing material (227) actually pumped with the quantity of the sealing material (227) that can be theoretically pumped, the pumping device (503) has an adjusting unit (703) configured to receive as input parameters the sealant application amount per surface in terms of volume, geometric parameters of the segment ring (115) to be constructed, the filling depth as a ratio of the volume of sealant actually pumped to the volume of sealant theoretically pumpable, and the drilling speed, and to determine from the input parameters operating parameters in the form of an output cycle preset by a cycle time provider (736) and a volume value preset by a distance provider (739) for a predetermined volume of sealant actually pumped (227); A tunnel boring machine characterized by:

2. the pump device (503) is connected to a ring line (506) of the line device (403); and a predetermined number of injection lines (406, 409, 412) are connected to the ring line (506), so that each of the filling chambers (209, 212, 215) can be filled with a sealing material (227) at a plurality of injection points distributed in the circumferential direction using the injection lines (406, 409, 412); 2. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 .

3. each of the injection lines (406, 409, 412) having a controllable valve (518); 3. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 2, characterized in that

4. the line device (403) is configured to pressurize the filling chambers (209, 212, 215) with different predetermined amounts of sealing material (227) to set different predetermined filling pressures (P1, P2, P3); 4. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 3, characterized in that

5. the filling pressure (P3) in the rear outer filling chamber (215) in the direction of tunneling is higher than the mortar pressure (PM) applied when filling the annular gap (218); 5. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 4,

6. the respective filling pressures (P1, P2, P3) increase in the tunneling direction from the filling chamber (212) connected to the outer filling chamber (215) at the rear in the tunneling direction, and decrease in the tunneling direction from the filling chamber (212) located between the outer filling chamber (215) at the rear in the tunneling direction and the outer filling chamber (209) at the front in the tunneling direction; 6. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 5,

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