Tunnel Boring Machine

Abstract

To effectively release blockages in a plurality of soil passing sections of a cutter head using a simple device that is installed in a small number of locations.SOLUTION: A tunnel excavator 1 comprises a cylindrical excavator body 10, a cutter head 11 rotatably provided around a cutter rotation shaft 13 at a front end of the excavator body 10 and having a plurality of cutter spokes 33 extending radially from the cutter rotation shaft 13, a partition wall 12 arranged behind the cutter head 11, a chamber 17 defined between the cutter head 11 and the partition wall 12, a plurality of soil passing sections 36 which are gaps formed between the cutter spokes 33, 33, and an unblocking mechanism 50 provided in the partition wall 12 for unblocking the soil passing section 36 by solidified matter 3 of excavated soil. The unblocking mechanism 50 comprises a penetrating member 51 and an advancing / retracting drive unit 52 for advancing and retracting the penetrating member 51 from the partition wall 12 side into the soil passing section 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tunnel boring machine that excavates while taking in excavated soil into a chamber through a soil passage formed in a cutter head.

Background Art

[0002] A general tunnel boring machine excavates a tunnel by rotating a cutter head and forming a face by excavating the front ground with a plurality of cutter bits attached to the front surface of the cutter head. The excavated soil generated by excavating the ground (cutting the face) passes through a soil passage, which is an opening formed in the cutter head, and is taken into the chamber on the back side of the cutter head. Thereafter, the excavated soil in the chamber is transported and discharged rearward in the tunnel extension direction by a soil discharge device such as a screw conveyor provided in the tunnel boring machine.

[0003] For example, when the tunnel boring machine is an earth pressure balance shield tunneling machine, the front surface of the cutter head is mainly composed of a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the center, and most of the front surface of the cutter head has an open cross-section. In this case, a gap such as between adjacent cutter spokes in the circumferential direction serves as a soil passage, and the excavated soil is taken into the chamber from the gap (soil passage) such as between the cutter spokes.

[0004] By the way, when the excavated soil taken into the chamber adheres to the inner wall surface of the chamber, there is a problem that the soil discharge port provided in the partition wall of the chamber for discharging the excavated soil from the chamber to the rear of the tunneling machine is blocked by the excavated soil. To address such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of flushing the excavated soil adhering to the inside of the chamber over a wide range by injecting an injection liquid such as a mud material or water in all directions from a movable injection pipe protruding from the bulkhead into the chamber.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in conventional tunnel boring machines, there has been a problem that the excavated earth and sand not only stays and adheres to the inner wall surface of the above chamber, but also to the earth and sand passage parts such as gaps between a plurality of cutter spokes of the cutter head, causing the earth and sand passage parts to be blocked.

[0007] That is, in a tunnel boring machine, the excavated soil and sand excavated by the cutter head as described above pass through a soil and sand passage portion, which is a gap (opening) such as a plurality of cutter spokes adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and are taken into the chamber, thereby enabling excavation to proceed. At this time, since the excavated soil and sand stay and solidify at the soil and sand passage portion of the cutter head, blocking the soil and sand passage portion, there has been a case where the excavated soil and sand cannot be smoothly taken into the chamber and discharged. In particular, a face plate (closing plate) is installed at the center of the cutter head, and a plurality of cutter spokes arranged radially are gathered together, so the cross-sectional area (opening area) of the soil and sand passage portion around the center is small. Therefore, around the center of the cutter head, it is necessary to pass the excavated soil and sand, including the excavated soil and sand of the face plate portion, through the soil and sand passage portion with a small cross-sectional area, and the passing conditions of the excavated soil and sand are poor. Moreover, since the rotational speed is low at the center of the cutter head, the soil and sand passage portion around the center of the cutter head is in an unfavorable condition also from the viewpoint of agitation and kneading of the excavated soil and sand in this portion. For this reason, the excavated soil and sand tend to adhere, solidify, and stay on the soil and sand passage portion around the center of the cutter head, so the soil and sand passage portion is likely to be blocked. When such a problem of blockage of the soil and sand passage portion occurs, the excavated soil and sand stay without being discharged at the front portion of the center of the cutter head, and furthermore, as this retained excavated soil and sand accumulates, consolidation of the excavated soil and sand occurs. This consolidation of the excavated soil and sand leads to an increase in the resistance to excavation and propulsion at the front of the cutter head, and also leads to an increase in the cutter torque due to the cutting function of the cutter bits in this portion not working. If this problem is left unattended, it may cause deformation and damage of the cutter head. Therefore, means for preventing and eliminating the blockage of the soil and sand passage portion are desired.

[0008] In this regard, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 sprays grout onto the excavated soil adhering to the inner wall of the chamber to wash it. It is conceivable to apply the cleaning method by spraying grout described in Patent Document 1 to the soil passage of the cutter head to wash the excavated soil adhering to the soil passage. However, since this conventional cleaning method is a cleaning method that relies only on the hydraulic pressure of the sprayed grout, when the adhering matter of the excavated soil is strongly adhering to the soil passage, there is a problem that the cleaning ability is insufficient and it is difficult to properly remove the adhering matter. In addition, in order to prevent the adhering of the excavated soil to the soil passage, it is also conceivable to continuously spray grout containing an additive onto the soil passage part where the excavated soil is likely to be adhering and cause a blockage. However, this method is not practical because the additive is excessively injected into a part of the soil passage part where the blockage is likely to occur, which inhibits the uniformity of the adhering matter mixed into the excavated soil. As such, the cleaning technology described in Patent Document 1 is intended to thoroughly clean the inside of the chamber, and is not intended to directly remove sediment that has adhered to the sediment passage section inside the cutter head, and therefore could not solve the problem of blockage of the sediment passage section of the cutter head.

[0009] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for releasing blockage of the soil passage of the cutter head, in which a moving mechanism is provided on the cutter spokes facing each soil passage. The moving mechanism mechanically operates in each soil passage to forcibly move the solidified matter of the excavated soil that is retained in the soil passage. However, there are many soil passages in the cutter head. For this reason, if a moving mechanism is provided for each soil passage as in Patent Document 2, in order to suppress blockage of the many soil passages, it is necessary to provide many moving mechanisms corresponding to the number of soil passages in the cutter head, which causes a problem that the device configuration of the cutter head becomes complicated.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to suitably release the blockage of a plurality of earth and sand passage portions of a cutter head by using a simple device with a small number of installations.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical excavator body, a cutter head rotatably provided about a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavator body and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, a partition disposed behind the cutter head, a chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition, a plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front side to the back side of the cutter head, a blockage release mechanism provided in the partition for releasing the blockage of the earth and sand passage portions caused by adherents of the excavated earth and sand, and the blockage release mechanism includes a penetration member, an advancing / retreating drive unit for advancing and retreating the penetration member with respect to the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the partition side, and 、 At least one fixed wing protruding toward the chamber side is provided on the partition wall. The blockage release mechanism is used together with at least one of the at least one fixed wing, and the penetration member is advanced and retracted with respect to the earth and sand passage portion between the tips of the fixed wings and the cutter spokes. a tunnel boring machine is provided. To solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical excavator body, a cutter head rotatably provided about a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavator body and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, a partition wall disposed behind the cutter head, a chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall, a plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front surface side to the back surface side of the cutter head, a blockage release mechanism provided on the partition wall for releasing blockage of the earth and sand passage portion due to adherences of excavated earth and sand, is provided, the blockage release mechanism includes a penetration member, a forward and backward drive unit for advancing and retracting the penetration member with respect to the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, an earth pressure sensor provided on the penetration member, and a determination unit for determining the blockage state of the earth and sand passage portion due to the adherences based on the earth pressure detected by the earth pressure sensor. A tunnel boring machine is provided. To solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical excavator body, a cutter head rotatably provided about a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavator body and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, a partition wall disposed behind the cutter head, a chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall, a plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front surface side to the back surface side of the cutter head, a blockage release mechanism provided on the partition wall for releasing blockage of the earth and sand passage portion due to adherences of excavated earth and sand, is provided, the blockage release mechanism includes a penetration member, a forward and backward drive unit for advancing and retracting the penetration member with respect to the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, is provided, the penetration member is composed of a hollow member, and a tunnel boring machine is provided, in which the blockage release mechanism cuts the adherences into a ring shape by penetrating the penetration member into the adherences. In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical boring machine body, a cutter head rotatably provided around a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the boring machine body, the cutter head having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, a partition disposed behind the cutter head, a chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition, a plurality of earth and sand passage portions which are gaps formed between the cutter spokes and through which earth and sand for excavation passes from the front surface side to the back surface side of the cutter head, a blockage release mechanism provided on the partition for releasing blockage of the earth and sand passage portions due to adherents of the excavated earth and sand, and is provided with the blockage release mechanism includes a penetration member, a forward and backward drive unit for advancing and retracting the penetration member with respect to the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the partition side, and is provided with the penetration member is provided so as to be able to pass through the partition, the forward and backward drive unit is installed behind the partition, and a tunnel boring machine is provided.

[0012] The clogging release mechanism may be configured to be able to break down the solidified matter of the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portion by inserting the penetration member into the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side.

[0015] A drill may be provided at the tip of the penetration member.

[0016] The clogging release mechanism may further include a rotational drive unit that rotates the penetration member.

[0017] The clogging release mechanism may further include a vibration drive unit that vibrates the penetration member.

[0020] The clogging release mechanism may be arranged on the central portion side of the partition wall so that the penetration member advances into a region where the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes is narrowed in a wedge shape at the central portion of the cutter head.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to suitably release the clogging of a plurality of earth and sand passage portions of the cutter head by using a simple device with a small number of installations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0024] <1. Overall Configuration of Tunnel Boring Machine> First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, the schematic configuration of a tunnel boring machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the tunnel boring machine 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the cutter head 11 according to this embodiment.

[0025] In the following description, the traveling direction of the tunnel boring machine 1 (the tunnel extension direction toward the face) may be referred to as the front or the front side, and the opposite direction of the traveling direction (the tunnel extension direction toward the shaft) may be referred to as the rear or the back side. Also, the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction of the tunnel boring machine 1 having a cylindrical shape may be simply referred to as the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction, respectively. Note that the axial direction of the tunnel boring machine 1 coincides with the traveling direction (front) of the tunnel boring machine 1.

[0026] The tunnel boring machine 1 according to this embodiment is, for example, an earth pressure balance type shield boring machine capable of excavating a ground including an earth and sand layer. As shown in FIG. 1, the tunnel boring machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a cylindrical boring machine body 10, a disk-shaped cutter head 11, a partition wall 12 disposed behind the cutter head 11, and a cutter rotation shaft 13.

[0027] The cutter head 11 is a substantially disk-shaped rotating body provided at the front end of the tunneling machine body 10. The front end of the cutter rotating shaft 13 is fitted into the central portion of the cutter head 11, and the cutter head 11 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable about the cutter rotating shaft 13. Note that the cutter rotating shaft 13 extends parallel to the axial direction (tunnel extending direction) of the tunneling machine body 10.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the cutter head 11 includes an outer peripheral ring 31, an inner peripheral ring 32, cutter spokes 33, a center cutter 34, cutter bits 35, earth and sand passage portions 36, and auxiliary cutter spokes 37.

[0029] Among these, the outer peripheral ring 31 forms the outer peripheral portion of the cutter head 11, and the inner peripheral ring 32 is disposed radially inward of the outer peripheral ring 31 in terms of the cutter diameter. Further, a plurality of cutter spokes 33 are radially arranged around the cutter rotating shaft 13 on the front surface of the cutter head 11. A center cutter 34 is mounted at the center of the front surface of the cutter head 11. Furthermore, a large number of cutter bits 35 are mounted on the front surface 33a of the cutter spokes 33.

[0030] And, a plurality of earth and sand passage portions 36 are formed between a plurality of components including the outer peripheral ring 31, the inner peripheral ring 32, the plurality of cutter spokes 33, and the plurality of auxiliary cutter spokes 37 in the cutter head 11. The earth and sand passage portion 36 is a gap (opening) formed between a plurality of components including a plurality of cutter spokes 33 arranged radially at intervals in the circumferential direction. Such an earth and sand passage portion 36 functions as an earth and sand intake port for taking in the excavated earth and sand generated when the cutter head 11 excavates the face rock into the tunneling machine body 10 (inside a chamber 17 described later).

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, for example, six cutter spokes 33 are radially arranged on the front surface of the cutter head 11. Further, on the outer peripheral portion of the cutter head 11, auxiliary cutter spokes 37 are also arranged between adjacent cutter spokes 33, 33. These cutter spokes 33 and auxiliary cutter spokes 37 are, for example, rectangular tubular structures having a hollow cross-sectional structure, and are radially arranged around the rotation center (cutter rotation axis 13) of the cutter head 11. Specifically, the cutter spokes 33 extend in the radial direction from the central portion to the outer peripheral portion of the cutter head 11 and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cutter head 11. On the other hand, the auxiliary cutter spokes 37 extend in the radial direction from the intermediate portion in the radial direction to the outer peripheral portion of the cutter head 11 and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cutter head 11. And the cutter spokes 33 and the auxiliary cutter spokes 37 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0032] A plurality of cutter bits 35 (hereinafter, may also be abbreviated as "bit 35") are mounted on the front surface 33a of the cutter spoke 33. Hereinafter, the bit 35 mounted on the cutter spoke 33 will be described in detail, but the same bit 35 is also mounted on the front surface 37a of the auxiliary cutter spoke 37.

[0033] The cutter bit 35 includes, for example, a leading bit 35A and a teeth bit 35B. Further, as other cutter bits, wear detection bits (ultrasonic type, multi-stage type, hydraulic type, etc.), shell bits, etc. may be included.

[0034] The leading bit 35A is provided on the front surface 33a of the cutter spoke 33 and is a bit that protrudes toward the front of the face. A plurality of leading bits 35A are mounted at a predetermined radial position on the front surface 33a of the cutter spoke 33. In the example of FIG. 2, a plurality of leading bits 35A are arranged on the front surface 33a of the cutter spoke 33, but the arrangement and placement of the leading bits 35A may be changed as appropriate. The leading bit 35A is for reducing the excavation load of the tooth bit 35B by loosening the face ground or making a cut in the ground and excavating the ground ahead of the tooth bit 35B. The leading bit 35A may be, for example, a special leading bit for cutting obstacles.

[0035] The leading bit 35A is attached to the cutter spoke 33 such that the cutting edge position of the leading bit 35A is located closer to the front end of the face (front side of the tunnel) than the cutting edge position of the tooth bit 35B. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the leading bit 35A is arranged as a bit that forms the face excavation surface 2, which is the frontmost face position. The face excavation surface 2 is an excavation surface arranged at the frontmost face position of the face excavated by a plurality of bits 35 of the cutter head 11 and excavated by the tip (cutting edge position) of the bit 35. The face excavation surface 2 according to the present embodiment means a substantially disk-shaped excavation surface excavated by the tips (cutting edge positions) of a plurality of leading bits 35A among a plurality of bits 35 protruding from the front surface of the cutter head 11.

[0036] Also, on both side portions in the width direction of the front surface 33a of the cutter spoke 33, a plurality of pairs of tooth bits 35B, 35B are mounted as a set of a left and right pair. The tooth bit 35B is a cutter bit (main bit) mainly for excavating the ground. The tooth bit 35B also has a function of guiding the excavated earth and sand generated by the excavation to be taken in from the earth and sand passage portion 36. In order to enable excavation by the forward and reverse rotation of the cutter head 11, the pair of left and right tooth bits 35B, 35B are attached at the same radial position on both side portions in the width direction of the cutter spoke 33.

[0037] The center cutter 34 (see Fig. 1) is a cutter bit that excavates the face near the rotation center of the cutter head 11. The center cutter 34 excavates the center part of the face ahead of the excavation by the pilot bit 35A and the teeth bit 35B.

[0038] A disk-shaped face plate 39 is installed at the central part (rotation center part) of the cutter head 11. This face plate 39 is arranged so as to close the hollow space 38 formed at the radial center part of the cutter head 11. As shown in Fig. 1, at the radial center part of the tunnel boring machine 1, a space for inserting various pipes and wirings is provided from the rear of the boring machine main body 10 through the cutter rotation shaft 13 (center shaft) to the center part of the cutter head 11. The hollow space 38 at the center part of the cutter head 11 constitutes a part of this space. A plurality of pipes and wirings extended through the cutter rotation shaft 13 (center shaft) branch at the position of the hollow space 38 of the cutter head 11 and are inserted into each cutter spoke 33 extending radially.

[0039] Returning to Fig. 1, the description of each part of the tunnel boring machine 1 will be continued. As shown in Fig. 1, a partition wall 12 is arranged behind the cutter head 11 in the boring machine main body 10. The partition wall 12 is a disk-shaped wall body arranged perpendicular to the tunnel extension direction, and the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall 12 is attached to the inner peripheral surface 10a of the boring machine main body 10. The cutter head 11 and the partition wall 12 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the tunnel extension direction (axial direction of the boring machine main body 10). Various facilities of the tunnel boring machine 1 are arranged behind the partition wall 12, and the partition wall 12 isolates the facilities from the excavated earth and sand generated at the face. An outlet 12a, which is an opening for discharging the excavated earth and sand, is formed at the lower part of the partition wall 12.

[0040] At the center of the partition wall 12, a cutter rotation shaft 13 is rotatably supported. Further, on the partition wall 12, a ring-shaped rotating ring 14 is rotatably supported about the cutter rotation shaft 13. At the front portion of the rotating ring 14, a plurality of connecting beams 15 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of connecting beams 15 connect the cutter head 11 and the rotating ring 14. The front end of the connecting beam 15 is connected to the connection portion between the inner circumferential ring 32 and the cutter spoke 33 of the cutter head 11. On the other hand, at the rear portion of the rotating ring 14, an external gear type ring gear 14a is provided. Further, a cutter rotation motor 16 is provided behind the partition wall 12. The drive gear 16a of this cutter rotation motor 16 meshes with the ring gear 14a of the rotating ring 14.

[0041] By driving the cutter rotation motor 16, the rotation of its drive gear 16a is transmitted from the ring gear 14a to the rotating ring 14 and the connecting beam 15. Thereby, the cutter head 11 can be rotated about the cutter rotation shaft 13. As a result, the front surface of the rotating cutter head 11 can be pressed against the face of the ground at the heading, and the ground can be excavated.

[0042] A chamber 17 is defined between the cutter head 11 and the partition wall 12. The chamber 17 is a substantially cylindrical space defined by the rear surface of the cutter head 11, the front surface of the partition wall 12, and the inner circumferential surface 10a of the excavator body 10. The excavated soil and sand generated by the excavation of the ground by the cutter head 11 are taken into the chamber 17 through the soil and sand passage portion 36 (excavated soil and sand intake port) formed in the cutter head 11. The chamber 17 functions as a space (chamber) for temporarily storing the excavated soil and sand. The excavated soil and sand taken into the chamber 17 are discharged from the chamber 17 into a screw conveyor 20 described later through a discharge port 12a at the lower portion of the partition wall 12.

[0043] Also, a beam 18 is provided on the rear side of the partition wall 12 of the tunneling machine body 10. Both ends of the beam 18 are attached to the inner peripheral surface 10a of the tunneling machine body 10. An erector device (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the beam 18. The erector device is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction of the tunneling machine body 10 (i.e., the tunnel extending direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction). Such an erector device can grip the segment S, which is a lining member, and assemble the gripped segment S along the inner wall surface (tunnel wall) of the tunnel T.

[0044] The segment S is an annular piece having a curved shape along the inner wall surface of the excavated tunnel T. By driving the erector device, a plurality of segments S can be assembled in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the tunnel. Thereby, the inner wall surface of the tunnel T is lined with a plurality of segments S, and the collapse of the inner wall surface can be prevented.

[0045] Furthermore, a plurality of propulsion jacks 19 are provided in the tunneling machine body 10 along the inner peripheral surface 10a so as to extend in the tunnel extending direction. The plurality of propulsion jacks 19 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 10a. These propulsion jacks 19 have a drive rod 19a that can be extended and retracted in the tunnel extending direction. The tip of this drive rod 19a faces the front end surface of the existing segment S.

[0046] By extending the drive rod 19a of the propulsion jack 19 backward and pressing the segment S, a propulsion reaction force can be applied to the tunneling machine body 10. That is, the tunneling machine body 10 can move forward by the propulsion reaction force generated when the propulsion jack 19 presses the segment S.

[0047] Further, a screw conveyor 20 is provided on the rear side of the partition wall 12 in the excavator main body 10. The screw conveyor 20 includes a screw blade 21, a cylindrical body 22, an earth and sand discharge port 23, and a drive unit 25. The cylindrical body 22 of the screw conveyor 20 is inclined and arranged in the excavator main body 10 so as to be positioned upward as it goes toward the rear side. The opening at the front end of the cylindrical body 22 of the screw conveyor 20 is connected to the discharge port 12a of the partition wall 12. Thereby, the internal space of the cylindrical body 22 of the screw conveyor 20 communicates with the chamber 17 through the discharge port 12a of the partition wall 12. A screw blade 21 is rotatably provided inside the cylindrical body 22. An earth and sand discharge port 23 is provided on the lower side of the peripheral surface at the rear part of the cylindrical body 22. The earth and sand discharge port 23 is an opening for discharging the excavated earth and sand transported to the rear side in the cylindrical body 22 to the outside of the cylindrical body 22. A drive unit 25 for rotationally driving the screw blade 21 is installed at the rear end of the cylindrical body 22. By rotationally driving the screw blade 21 by the drive unit 25, the excavated earth and sand stored in the chamber 17 can be taken into the screw conveyor 20, transported toward the rear of the excavator main body 10, and discharged from the earth and sand discharge port 23.

[0048] <2. Blockage of the earth and sand passage part> Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3, the problem of the earth and sand passage part 36 being blocked by the excavated earth and sand at the center of the cutter head 11 will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the earth and sand passage part 36 according to the present embodiment is blocked by the adherent matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand.

[0049] The earth pressure balance shield tunneling method using the tunnel boring machine 1 according to this embodiment fills the excavated soil and sand excavated by the cutter head 11 between the face excavation surface 2 and the partition wall 12, and injects and mixes additives such as soil addition materials and foam materials as needed to make the improved soil into earth, and advances while achieving the stability of the face by the earth pressure, and discharges the excavated soil and sand with a screw conveyor 20. Here, in order to maintain the earth pressure required for the stability of the face and discharge an appropriate amount of earth according to the advancement amount of the tunnel boring machine 1, it is required that the earth filled in the chamber 17 has appropriate fluidity and waterstop performance against groundwater. For this purpose, tunneling additives such as soil addition materials and foam materials are injected into the excavated soil and sand around the face and in the chamber 17, and the excavated soil and sand and the additives are kneaded by a fixed blade 40 and a stirring blade 42 (see Fig. 5) provided in the chamber 17 to make the improved soil into earth.

[0050] Thus, in the tunnel boring machine 1 according to this embodiment, while cutting the ground at the face with the cutter bits 35 on the front side of the cutter head 11, additives are injected into the excavated soil and sand generated by the cutting and kneaded, and the excavation of the tunnel proceeds by taking it into the chamber 17 on the back side of the cutter head 11. At this time, the excavated soil and sand on the front side of the cutter head 11 pass through the soil passage portion 36 that penetrates the cutter head 11 in the front-rear direction (axial direction), and are taken into the chamber 17 on the back side of the cutter head 11.

[0051] The soil passage portion 36 is a gap (opening) formed between a plurality of constituent members constituting the cutter head 11. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the plurality of constituent members of the cutter head 11 include a plurality of cutter spokes 33, a plurality of auxiliary cutter spokes 37, an outer peripheral ring 31, an inner peripheral ring 32, and a cutter rotating shaft 13 (center shaft), etc., and the soil passage portion 36 is a gap formed between these plurality of constituent members. The soil passage portion 36 has a front shape surrounded by these constituent members of the cutter head 11, and has, for example, a substantially fan shape or a shape obtained by cutting an annulus in the radial direction.

[0052] In a conventional earth pressure balance shield tunneling machine, the excavated soil may accumulate and solidify in the soil passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11, blocking the soil passage portion 36, and there has been a problem that the excavated soil cannot be smoothly taken into and discharged from the chamber 17 through the soil passage portion 36. In particular, this problem was prominent in the soil passage portion 36 around the central part of the cutter head 11.

[0053] That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the central part of the tunnel boring machine 1, various pipes and wires pass from the rear of the boring machine body 10 through the cutter rotation shaft 13 (center shaft) to the cutter head 11, and a space for branching to each cutter spoke 33 is required. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the central part of the cutter head 11, a hollow space 38 constituting the space and a disk-shaped face plate 39 (sealing plate) covering the front thereof are provided. Therefore, a soil passage portion 36 cannot be provided in the central part of the cutter head 11. Moreover, in the central part of the cutter head 11, a plurality of cutter spokes 33 arranged radially are gathered and joined together.

[0054] For this reason, around the central part of the cutter head 11, the cross-sectional area (opening area) of the soil passage portion 36 is smaller than that of the outer peripheral portion. Therefore, in the soil passage portion 36 with a small cross-sectional area around the central part of the cutter head 11, it is necessary to allow the excavated soil to pass through, including the excavated soil in the portion of the face plate 39, and the passing conditions of the excavated soil are poor. In addition, since the rotational speed of the cutter head 11 is slower at the central part than at the outer peripheral part, from the viewpoint of stirring and kneading the excavated soil in this portion, the soil passage portion 36 around the central part of the cutter head 11 is in an unfavorable condition. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, in the soil passage portion 36 around the central part of the cutter head 11, there has been a problem that the excavated soil tends to accumulate and adhere, and the soil passage portion 36 is easily blocked by the adherent 3 of the excavated soil.

[0055] Furthermore, in recent years, with the increase in the diameter of the tunnel boring machine 1, long-distance construction, high-speed construction, etc., it has become necessary to increase the number of cutter bits 35 installed or to equip special bits and their replacement mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the area of the cutter spoke 33, and the cutter spoke 33 becomes larger. Also, the number of injection holes and various devices (cutter wear detection devices, copy cutters, etc.) tends to increase, which increases the number of pipes and wires branched to each cutter spoke 33 at the central part of the cutter head 11, and the diameter of the face plate 39 at the central part becomes larger. As a result, the excavated soil and sand generated at the central part of the cutter head 11 flows around the large-diameter face plate 39 at the central part and is taken in from the soil and sand passage part 36 around it. Therefore, since the excavated soil and sand concentrates on the soil and sand passage part 36 around the central part, the passing conditions of the excavated soil and sand in the soil and sand passage part 36 around the central part described above act in an increasingly unfavorable direction, and the excavated soil and sand tends to stay and adhere more easily in the soil and sand passage part 36.

[0056] Here, in order to equip the special bit and its replacement mechanism as described above, the area of the cutter spoke 33, that is, the dimension in the width direction (width W shown in FIG. 3) becomes larger. Also, in order to house the structure of the replacement mechanism and the above-mentioned pipes, wires, etc., the dimension in the front-rear direction (axial length L shown in FIG. 3) of the cutter spoke 33 also tends to become larger. As a result, the cross-sectional area (opening area) of the soil and sand passage part 36, which is the gap between a plurality of adjacent cutter spokes 33, becomes smaller, and the distance through which the excavated soil and sand passes through the small-opening-area soil and sand passage part 36 in the front-rear direction (axial direction) also becomes longer. Therefore, the enlargement of the cutter spoke 33 has also contributed to the occurrence of blockage of the soil and sand passage part 36 by the adherent matter 3 of the excavated soil and sand.

[0057] For the reasons described above, conventionally, there has been a problem that the soil and sand passage part 36 formed in the gap between constituent members such as a plurality of adjacent cutter spokes 33 is blocked by the excavated soil and sand, hindering the smooth intake and soil discharge of the excavated soil and sand. This blockage problem was particularly prominent in the soil and sand passage part 36 around the central part of the cutter head 11.

[0058] Figure 3 shows a state in which a specific area 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36 around the central portion of the cutter head 11 is blocked by the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand. Here, the specific area 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36 refers to an area of the earth and sand passage portion 36 formed on the front surface of the cutter head 11 that is more likely to be blocked by the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand than other areas.

[0059] This specific area 4 is, for example, an area around the central portion of the cutter head 11 in a front view of the cutter head 11. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the specific area 4 is an area (area of the narrowed portion) where the earth and sand passage portion 36 between adjacent cutter spokes 33 becomes wedge-shaped and narrower due to a plurality of cutter spokes 33 gathering and joining around the central portion (around the face plate 39 of the central portion) of the cutter head 11.

[0060] Due to the above reasons, in the specific area 4 consisting of such a wedge-shaped narrowed portion, the excavated earth and sand tend to stay, adhere, and solidify, and the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand is likely to be clogged. Moreover, the adherent 3 clogged in the narrow specific area 4 is not easily detached naturally with the flow of the excavated earth and sand during excavation. Also, even if a liquid or the like is sprayed onto the adherent 3 clogged in the narrow specific area 4, it is difficult to remove the adherent 3 from the specific area 4.

[0061] In this regard, the prior art described in the above Patent Document 1 is to spray an injection liquid to wash the excavated earth and sand adhering to the inner wall of the chamber. A method of applying the washing method by spraying the injection liquid described in this Patent Document 1 to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 described above to wash the excavated earth and sand fixed to the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be considered. However, such a conventional washing method is a method of washing depending only on the hydraulic pressure of the injected injection liquid. Therefore, when the fixed matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand is firmly fixed to the earth and sand passage portion 36, the washing ability becomes insufficient, and there is a problem that it is difficult to appropriately remove the fixed matter 3. In addition, in order to prevent the adhesion of the excavated earth and sand to the earth and sand passage portion 36, a method of continuously spraying an injection liquid containing an additive to the earth and sand passage portion 36 where the excavated earth and sand are likely to adhere and cause blockage can also be considered. However, in such a method, continuously injecting the additive for preventing blockage means injecting it excessively compared to the original purpose of the additive of ensuring the fluidity of the excavated earth and sand, which makes the properties of the excavated earth and sand unstable. Also, injecting the additive excessively into a part such as the earth and sand passage portion 36 where blockage is likely to occur leads to inhibition of the uniformity of the mixing of the additive with the excavated earth and sand, making the properties of the excavated earth and sand unstable, so it is not realistic.

[0062] Under such circumstances, conventionally, it has been desired to more surely suppress the retention and adhesion of the excavated earth and sand to the specific region 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36, which is the gap between the constituent members such as the cutter spoke 33, to prevent blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36, and when the specific region 4 is blocked by the fixed matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand, to more surely remove the fixed matter 3. In view of such circumstances, the inventor of the present application has made earnest efforts and, using the blockage release mechanism 50 described in the next section, has found a method of forcibly moving the fixed matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand from the specific region 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36 to suppress and eliminate the retention and adhesion of the excavated earth and sand.

[0063] <3. Outline of the blockage release mechanism 50> Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an overview of the blockage release mechanism 50 provided in the cutter head 11 of the tunnel boring machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIGS. 4 and 5, for convenience of explanation, the cutter bits 35 and the like provided on the cutter head 11 are not shown.

[0064] In order to solve the problem of blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 described above, according to the tunnel boring machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a blockage release mechanism 50 is provided on the partition wall 12 on the rear side of the chamber 17. The blockage release mechanism 50 is a device for releasing the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 by the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the blockage release mechanism 50 includes at least one penetration member 51 and an advance / retreat drive unit 52 that advances and retreats the penetration member 51 with respect to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 from the side of the partition wall 12.

[0066] The penetration member 51 is an elongated member that can be inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33 of the cutter head 11 from the side of the partition wall 12. The penetration member 51 can take various shapes such as a rod shape, a pipe shape, and a belt shape as long as it is an elongated member. Such a penetration member 51 has a function of penetrating the adherent 3 adhering to the earth and sand passage portion 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33 from the side of the partition wall 12.

[0067] In the example of FIG. 5, the penetration member 51 is arranged so as to extend parallel to the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the boring machine main body 10. An opening 12b for inserting the penetration member 51 is formed at a predetermined position of the partition wall 12. The penetration member 51 is provided so as to be able to pass through the partition wall 12 through the opening 12b. In this case, the penetration member 51 is inserted into the opening 12b from the inside of the machine behind the partition wall 12 toward the front, penetrates the partition wall 12, passes through the chamber 17, and is inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the front cutter head 11.

[0068] The advancing / retreating drive unit 52 has a function of advancing and retreating (i.e., advancing and retreating) the penetration member 51. The advancing / retreating drive unit 52 according to the present embodiment advances and retreats the penetration member 51 along the axial direction of the excavator body 10, for example. That is, the advancing / retreating direction of the penetration member 51 is, for example, a direction parallel to the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the excavator body 10.

[0069] As described above, the clogging release mechanism 50 according to the present embodiment is configured as a telescopic mechanism including a combination of the penetration member 51 and the advancing / retreating drive unit 52. The clogging release mechanism 50 expands and contracts in a specific advancing / retreating direction (for example, the axial direction of the excavator body 10), thereby linearly advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 along the specific advancing / retreating direction. For example, the penetration member 51 of the clogging release mechanism 50 is provided so as to be linearly expandable and contractible from the side of the partition wall 12 behind the chamber 17 to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 in front of the chamber 17.

[0070] In this way, by advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 in a specific advancing / retreating direction by the advancing / retreating drive unit 52, the penetration member 51 can be inserted from the side of the partition wall 12 into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11, or the penetration member 51 inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be pulled backward to retreat from the cutter head 11 side to the partition wall 12 side.

[0071] When the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36 is released by the clogging release mechanism 50, the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 advances the penetration member 51 axially from the side of the partition wall 12, passes through the chamber 17, and inserts it into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 (the state of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). Thereby, the penetration member 51 penetrates and breaks through the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portion 36, and forcibly moves the adherent 3. Thereby, the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36 by the adherent 3 can be preferably released.

[0072] Note that the above-mentioned "break through" not only simply means "pushing" and "breaking" the adherent 3, but also includes causing a forced displacement in the adherent 3 by moving the penetration member 51 in the advancing / retreating direction and penetrating the adherent 3 (that is, forcibly moving the adherent 3).

[0073] The clogging release mechanism 50 configured as described above inserts the penetration member 51 into the earth and sand passage portion 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33 while the cutter head 11 is stopped, and penetrates the penetration member 51 into the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand adhered to the earth and sand passage portion 36. As a result, the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be forcibly moved and removed from the earth and sand passage portion 36, and the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be released. Further, even when the earth and sand passage portion 36 is not clogged by the adherent 3, by penetrating the penetration member 51 into the earth and sand passage portion 36, the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portion 36 is forcibly moved, and the staying and adhesion of the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be suppressed, and the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be prevented. Due to the clogging release function and the clogging prevention function of such a clogging release mechanism 50, the excavated earth and sand can be smoothly moved from the front side of the cutter head 11 through the earth and sand passage portion 36 to the chamber 17 on the back side and efficiently discharged.

[0074] In particular, in the specific region 4 located near the central portion of the cutter head 11 in the earth and sand passage portion 36, the excavated earth and sand tend to stay and adhere to a narrow space. For this reason, the specific region 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36 is likely to be clogged, and the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand is difficult to be removed (see FIG. 3).

[0075] Therefore, in the present embodiment, when installing the clogging release mechanism 50 on the partition wall 12, the clogging release mechanism 50 is disposed at a position on the central portion side of the cutter head 11 (for example, on the inner peripheral side rather than the intermediate position in the radial direction of the cutter head 11) and facing the specific region 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36. Then, from the position of the partition wall 12 facing the specific region 4 of the earth and sand passage portion 36, the penetration member 51 of the clogging release mechanism 50 is advanced in the axial direction, and the penetration member 51 is inserted into the narrow specific region 4 of the cutter head 11. Thereby, the excavated earth and sand clogged in the specific region 4 and its adherent 3 can be forcibly moved, and the adhesion of the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand to the side surface of the cutter spoke 33 can be released. As a result, the adherent 3 clogged in the specific region 4 can be surely removed and discharged from the earth and sand passage portion 36, so that the clogging of the specific region 4 can be preferably released and prevented.

[0076] In addition, in the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the present embodiment, the advancing / retreating direction of the penetration member 51 by the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 is, for example, a direction parallel to the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the excavator body 10. Thereby, it becomes possible to smoothly insert the penetration member 51 straight from the back side into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11.

[0077] However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. As long as the advancing / retreating direction of the penetration member 51 is a direction in which it can be inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 from the partition wall 12 side, for example, it may be a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the excavator body 10. In this way, by arranging the blockage release mechanism 50 such that the advancing / retreating direction of the penetration member 51 is inclined with respect to the axial direction, the degree of freedom in arranging the blockage release mechanism 50 in the partition wall 12 can be increased. For example, interference of the blockage release mechanism 50 with various other members and devices (for example, the fixed wing 40, the stirring wing 42, the connecting beam 15, etc.) arranged around the partition wall 12 and the chamber 17 can be avoided, and the layout constraints of the blockage release mechanism 50 can be relaxed.

[0078] In addition, within a range where interference of the blockage release mechanism 50 with various other members and devices arranged around the partition wall 12 and the chamber 17 can be avoided in a direction in which it can be inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 from the partition wall 12 side, making the inclination (angle) of the insertion direction variable so as to have a range for the place where it enters the earth and sand passage portion 36 is also preferable because it leads to an expansion of the range in which the blockage release function operates.

[0079] Further, as described above, a large number of earth and sand passage portions 36 are formed in the cutter head 11. For example, in the example of the cutter head 11 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, six fan-shaped earth and sand passage portions 36 are formed in the circumferential direction around the central portion of the cutter head 11. In this regard, according to the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the present embodiment, the cutter head 11 can be rotated by a predetermined angle (for example, 60°) at a time, and each of the six earth and sand passage portions 36 can be sequentially aligned with the blockage release mechanism 50 installed on the partition wall 12. Therefore, by using one or a small number of blockage release mechanisms 50 installed on the partition wall 12, the blockage of the large number of earth and sand passage portions 36 can be preferably released and prevented.

[0080] As described above, according to the present embodiment, by the mechanical operation of the moving mechanism, an operation is performed to forcibly move the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portion 36. Hereinafter, this operation will be referred to as a "forced movement operation". By such a forced movement operation, the retention and adhesion of the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be suppressed and eliminated, and the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 by the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand can be prevented. Further, when the earth and sand passage portion 36 starts to be blocked or has been blocked, the blockage can be quickly eliminated. Therefore, the excavated earth and sand can be smoothly discharged into the chamber 17 through the earth and sand passage portion 36, and the earth discharge can be efficiently performed. As a result, the tunnel excavation can be smoothly and efficiently carried out.

[0081] Further, the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the present embodiment is provided in a retractable manner in a retraction space behind the partition wall 12. During normal tunnel excavation in which the forced movement operation by the blockage release mechanism 50 is not performed, the penetration member 51 is retracted axially by the advance / retreat drive unit 52 and retracted to the inside of the machine behind the partition wall 12 (the state of the solid line in FIG. 5). Thereby, the flow of the excavated earth and sand passing through the earth and sand passage portion 36 and the chamber 17 during tunnel excavation can be prevented from being obstructed by the penetration member 51, and the excavated earth and sand can be smoothly discharged through the earth and sand passage portion 36 and the chamber 17. In addition, it becomes possible to easily perform the maintenance of the blockage release mechanism 50 inside the machine.

[0082] On the other hand, when performing the forced movement operation by the blockage removal mechanism 50, after stopping the tunnel excavation, the rotation angle of the cutter head 11 is controlled, and the blockage removal mechanism 50 is aligned with one of the earth and sand passage parts 36 to be removed from blockage among the plurality of earth and sand passage parts 36 of the cutter head 11. Next, the penetration member 51 is advanced axially by the forward and backward drive unit 52, passed through the chamber 17, and the tip of the penetration member 51 is inserted into the earth and sand passage part 36 of the cutter head 11 (the state of the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5). Thereby, with respect to the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage part 36 to be removed from blockage, the penetration member 51 is penetrated and pushed down, and the adherent 3 can be forcibly moved. Thereby, the blockage of the earth and sand passage part 36 due to the adherent 3 can be suitably removed.

[0083] The above is the outline of the blockage removal mechanism 50 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a configuration example of the blockage removal mechanism 50 will be described in detail.

[0084] <4. Blockage Removal Mechanism According to the First Embodiment> First, with reference to Figs. 6 to 9, a configuration example of the blockage removal mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0085] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the retracted state (rearward state) of the blockage removal mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the protruding state (forward state) of the blockage removal mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment.

[0086] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the blockage removal mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment is installed on the back side of the partition wall 12. In this case, the blockage removal mechanism 50 is installed at a position different from the fixed wing 40 (see Figs. 4 and 5) protruding from the partition wall 12 toward the chamber 17, and the blockage removal mechanism 50 is not used in combination with the fixed wing 40. The blockage removal mechanism 50 executes a forced movement operation (blockage removal operation) of forcibly moving the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage part 36 of the cutter head 11 by advancing and retracting the penetration member 51 from the partition wall 12 toward the front cutter head 11.

[0087] The plug removal mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment includes a penetration member 51 and an advancing / retreating drive unit 52 that axially advances and retreats the penetration member 51. The advancing / retreating drive unit 52 includes a support unit 53, a connecting plate 54, and a plurality of telescopic jacks 55, 55.

[0088] The support unit 53 slidably supports the penetration member 51 in the axial direction. The support unit 53 is formed of a hollow member and has a hollow portion into which the penetration member 51 can be inserted. The support unit 53 is disposed on the back side of the partition wall 12 and is attached around an opening 12b formed in the partition wall 12. The front end of the support unit 53 is fixed to the back surface of the partition wall 12. The connecting plate 54 is fixed to the rear end of the penetration member 51. A sealing material 53a is provided on the inner surface side of the support unit 53. By this sealing material 53a, a watertight structure is provided in the gap between the support unit 53 and the penetration member 51, and it is possible to prevent earth and sand from entering the machine interior from the gap. The connecting plate 54 connects the penetration member 51 and the telescopic jacks 55, 55.

[0089] The telescopic jack 55 is a jack that can expand and contract in the axial direction and generates a driving force for axially advancing and retreating the penetration member 51. The expansion and contraction direction of the telescopic jack 55 is parallel to the advancing and retreating direction of the penetration member 51. A plurality of telescopic jacks 55 are provided on both sides of the penetration member 51. In the illustrated example, two telescopic jacks 55, 55 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the penetration member 51. The tip of the rod of each telescopic jack 55 is fixed to the back surface of the partition wall 12, and the main body of each telescopic jack 55 is fixed to the connecting plate 54.

[0090] With the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 having such a configuration, the penetration member 51 can be suitably advanced and retreated in the axial direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the telescopic jacks 55, 55 are extended, the penetration member 51 axially retreats and is disposed at a retracted position on the rear side of the partition wall 12. In this case, the plug removal mechanism 50 is in a retracted state (retreated state), the tip of the penetration member 51 does not protrude into the chamber 17, and is accommodated in the support unit 53. In this retracted state, the plug removal mechanism 50 does not perform the above-described forced movement operation (plug removal operation).

[0091] Note that an opening / closing member (for example, an opening / closing gate for maintenance) (not shown) may be provided at the opening 12b of the partition wall 12. Thereby, when performing maintenance or the like on the blockage release mechanism 50 in the retracted state, the opening / closing member can be closed to prevent the excavated earth and sand and water in the chamber 17 from leaking into the machine through the opening 12b.

[0092] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the telescopic jacks 55, 55 are contracted, the penetration member 51 advances in the axial direction and is disposed at a protruding position protruding forward from the partition wall 12. In this case, the blockage release mechanism 50 is in a protruding state (forward state), and the tip of the penetration member 51 passes through the chamber 17 and is inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11. In this protruding state, the blockage release mechanism 50 can perform the above-described forced movement operation (blockage release operation), penetrate the protruding penetration member 51 into the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36, and release the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36.

[0093] As described above, according to the configuration of the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the penetration member 51 can be stably advanced and retracted by the two upper and lower telescopic jacks 55, 55.

[0094] Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the configuration of the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the modification example of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the retracted state (retreated state) of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the modification example. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the protruding state (forward state) of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the modification example.

[0095] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the modification example is also installed on the back side of the partition wall 12. The blockage release mechanism 50 includes a penetration member 51 and an advancing / retreating drive unit 52 that advances and retreats the penetration member 51 in the axial direction. The advancing / retreating drive unit 52 includes a support unit 53, a frame 56, and a telescopic jack 57 (penetration member 51 and rod 58).

[0096] The support portion 53 supports the penetration member 51 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. This support portion 53 is the same as the support portion 53 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above. The frame 56 is a rectangular frame-shaped support member and supports the telescopic jack 57 (penetration member 51 and rod 58). The frame 56 is disposed on the back side of the partition wall 12 and is attached around the support portion 53. The front end of the frame 56 is fixed to the back surface of the partition wall 12. The rod 58 of the telescopic jack 57 is fixed to the rear end of the frame 56.

[0097] The telescopic jack 57 (penetration member 51 and rod 58) is a jack that can be telescoped in the axial direction and generates a driving force for advancing and retracting the penetration member 51 in the axial direction. The telescopic direction of the telescopic jack 57 is parallel to the advancing and retracting direction of the penetration member 51. The rear end of the rod 58 of the telescopic jack 57 is fixed to the rear end of the frame 56.

[0098] Thus, in the advancing and retracting drive portion 52 according to the modified example, the main body portion of the telescopic jack 57 serves as the penetration member 51, and by extending and retracting the rod 58 of the telescopic jack 57, the penetration member 51 (that is, the main body portion of the telescopic jack 57) can advance and retract in the axial direction.

[0099] Also by the advancing and retracting drive portion 52 according to the modified example, the penetration member 51 can be suitably advanced and retracted in the axial direction in the same manner as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the telescopic jack 57 is contracted, the rod 58 is accommodated inside the penetration member 51 (the main body portion of the telescopic jack 57), and the penetration member 51 retracts in the axial direction and is disposed at the retracted position on the rear side of the partition wall 12. In this case, the block release mechanism 50 is in the retracted state (retracted state), the tip of the penetration member 51 does not protrude into the chamber 17, and is accommodated in the support portion 53. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the telescopic jack 57 is extended, the penetration member 51 (the main body portion of the telescopic jack 57) extends forward with respect to the rod 58, so it advances in the axial direction and is disposed at the protruding position protruding forward from the partition wall 12. In this case, the block release mechanism 50 is in the protruding state (advancing state), and the tip of the penetration member 51 passes through the chamber 17 and is inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11.

[0100] As described above, according to the configuration of the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 according to the modification example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, since the penetration member 51 and the telescopic jack 57 of the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 can be used in common, the number of components of the blockage release mechanism 50 can be reduced, and a simple configuration can be achieved.

[0101] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50 is provided so as to be able to pass through the partition wall 12, and the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 is installed in the machine interior behind the partition wall 12. Thereby, even when the depth (length in the front-rear direction) of the partition wall 12 is short, the blockage release mechanism 50 is installed in the machine interior behind the partition wall 12, the penetration member 51 is advanced and retreated from the partition wall 12 with respect to the earth and sand passage portion 36, and the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be released. Therefore, the blockage release mechanism 50 can be easily maintained in the machine interior behind the partition wall 12.

[0102] <5. Blockage Release Mechanism According to the Second Embodiment> Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a configuration example of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0103] The blockage release mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment described above is installed on the partition wall 12, but is not used in common with the fixed wing 40 protruding from the partition wall 12. On the other hand, the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second embodiment is used in common with the fixed wing 40 of the partition wall 12, and is characterized in that the penetration member 51 is advanced and retreated from the fixed wing 40. Hereinafter, the configuration in which the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second embodiment is used in common with the fixed wing 40 will be described in detail.

[0104] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a plurality of fixed wings 40 are provided on the partition wall 12, and a plurality of stirring wings 42 are provided on the cutter head 11. The fixed wing 40 protrudes forward from the front surface of the partition wall 12 into the chamber 17. On the other hand, the stirring wing 42 protrudes rearward from the back surface of the cutter head 11 into the chamber 17, and the stirring wing 42 also rotates in the chamber 17 as the cutter head 11 rotates. The protruding lengths of the fixed wing 40 and the stirring wing 42 are slightly shorter than the depth in the axial direction of the chamber 17.

[0105] These fixed wings 40 and stirring wings 42 are for stirring the excavated soil and sand in the chamber 17 to achieve plastic fluidization. With respect to the fixed wings 40 fixed to the partition wall 12, as the stirring wings 42 that rotate together with the cutter head 11 move relatively, the excavated soil and sand in the chamber 17 are stirred by the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42.

[0106] To be able to appropriately stir the excavated soil and sand in the chamber 17, the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42 are arranged at appropriate positions in the radial direction and circumferential direction of the chamber 17. The arrangement and the number of installations of the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42 can be appropriately adjusted according to the specifications of the tunnel boring machine 1, the conditions of the ground, etc. Generally, in order to achieve plastic fluidization of the excavated soil and sand in the chamber 17, a plurality of fixed wings 40 and stirring wings 42 are arranged at different positions in the radial direction of the chamber 17. Here, the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42 may be arranged on both the central part side and the outer peripheral side in the radial direction, or may be arranged only on either one. However, so that the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42 do not collide during the rotation of the cutter head 11, the fixed wings 40 and the stirring wings 42 are arranged at positions offset from each other in the radial direction.

[0107] The blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second embodiment is also used as at least one of the plurality of fixed wings 40 provided on the partition wall 12. For example, in the configuration example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, one of the three fixed wings 40 provided on the inner peripheral side of the chamber 17 and the blockage release mechanism 50 are also used. That is, in accordance with the position of the one fixed wing 40, one blockage release mechanism 50 is installed, and the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50 is configured to be able to advance and retreat axially inside the fixed wing 40. And it is a configuration in which the penetration member 51 is inserted and removed axially from the tip of the one fixed wing 40, and the penetration member 51 is advanced and retreated with respect to the soil and sand passage portion 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33.

[0108] Here, in the configuration example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the penetration member 51 is configured to be able to pass through the opening 12b formed in the partition wall 12. Although not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 for advancing and retreating the penetration member 51, a configuration similar to the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 (see FIGS. 6 to 9) according to the above-described first embodiment can be used.

[0109] As shown by the solid line in FIG. 11, when the penetration member 51 is axially retreated and arranged at the retracted position, most of the front portion of the penetration member 51 is accommodated within the fixed wing 40, and the remaining portion protrudes rearward from the partition wall 12. In this case, the blockage release mechanism 50 is in a retracted state in which it does not perform the above-described forced movement operation (blockage release operation).

[0110] On the other hand, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, when the penetration member 51 is axially advanced and arranged at the protruding position protruding forward from the tip of the fixed wing 40, the tip of the penetration member 51 is inserted into the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11. In this case, the blockage release mechanism 50 can perform the above-described forced movement operation (blockage release operation), and the protruding penetration member 51 can penetrate into the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 to release the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36.

[0111] Here, the region of the earth and sand passage portion 36 that is likely to be blocked is the specific region 4 (see FIG. 3) around the central portion of the above-described cutter head 11. Therefore, it is particularly effective to use one of the plurality of fixed wings 40 arranged at the position (inner peripheral side of the chamber 17) facing the specific region 4 and the blockage release mechanism 50 in common. Thereby, the penetration member 51 can be inserted into the specific region 4 from the fixed wing 40 facing the specific region 4 that is particularly likely to be blocked, and the blockage of the specific region 4 can be effectively prevented.

[0112] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the penetration member 51 is advanced and retreated with respect to the earth and sand passage portion 36 between the cutter spokes 33, 33 from the tip of the fixed wing 40 protruding from the partition wall 12. Thereby, the adhering matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be forcibly moved, and the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be released and prevented.

[0113] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, by using some of the fixed wings 40 also as the blockage release mechanism 50, during normal excavation, the blockage release mechanism 50 (which also functions as a fixed wing 40) protruding into the chamber 17 can stir the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17, and when an abnormality occurs (when excavation stops) where the earth and sand passage portion 36 is blocked by the adherent matter 3, the penetration member 51 is penetrated into the earth and sand passage portion 36 from the tip of the fixed wing 40 configured as the blockage release mechanism 50 to break down the adherent matter 3 and release and prevent the blockage. Also, according to the second embodiment, compared with the first embodiment (Figs. 6 - 8), when the penetration member 51 is retracted to a retracted state, the penetration member 51 can be arranged near the back surface of the cutter spoke 33, so the stroke of the penetration member 51 can be shortened.

[0114] Next, with reference to Figs. 12 - 14, the blockage release mechanism 50 according to a modification example of the second embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, various modification examples in the case of using the blockage release mechanism 50 also as the fixed wing 40 will be described.

[0115] (1) First modification example Fig. 12 is a cross - sectional view schematically showing the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the first modification example. The first modification example is a configuration example in which the blockage release mechanism 50 is embedded inside the fixed wing 40.

[0116] As shown in Fig. 12, when the depth D in the axial direction of the chamber 17 has a sufficient length and the gap between the tip of the fixed wing 40 and the back surface of the cutter head 11 is small, a sufficiently large axial length of the fixed wing 40 can be ensured. In this case, it becomes possible to accommodate the penetration member 51 and the advance - retreat drive portion 52 of the blockage release mechanism 50 inside the fixed wing 40.

[0117] In the configuration example of FIG. 12, an accommodation space capable of accommodating the penetration member 51 and the advance / retreat drive unit 52 is formed inside the fixed wing 40. The penetration member 51 is arranged on the front side of the accommodation space of the fixed wing 40, and the advance / retreat drive unit 52 is arranged on the rear side of the accommodation space. The advance / retreat drive unit 52 is constituted by, for example, a small telescopic jack, and generates a driving force for advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 in the axial direction. A sealing material 53a is provided on the inner surface side of the cylindrical portion at the front of the fixed wing 40. By this sealing material 53a, a watertight structure is provided in the gap between the fixed wing 40 and the penetration member 51, and it is possible to suppress the intrusion of earth and sand into the aircraft interior through the inside of the fixed wing 40 from the gap.

[0118] According to the blockage release mechanism 50 according to such a first modification example, since the blockage release mechanism 50 can be arranged only in the region within the chamber 17, it is not necessary to arrange the blockage release mechanism 50 in the rear region of the partition wall 12. As a result, it is not necessary to configure the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50 to be able to pass through the partition wall 12, and it is not necessary to provide the opening 12b (see FIG. 11) for allowing the penetration member 51 to pass through the partition wall 12.

[0119] Further, according to the first modification example, since the blockage release mechanism 50 can be constituted only by the fixed wing 40, it becomes possible to attach the blockage release mechanism 50 manufactured in the state of the single fixed wing 40 to the partition wall 12. Therefore, compared with the case of directly installing the blockage release mechanism 50 to the partition wall 12, it is possible to manufacture and attach easily and surely. And, according to the first modification example, since the blockage release mechanism 50 can be installed on the front side of the partition wall 12 by providing only small-diameter holes for wiring and piping in the partition wall 12, it also becomes easy to prevent the intrusion of earth and sand from the chamber 17 to the rear side of the partition wall 12. Therefore, according to the configuration of the first modification example, it is possible to suppress the earth and sand leakage through the opening 12b of the partition wall 12.

[0120] Furthermore, since the distance between the tip of the fixed wing 40 and the back surface of the cutter head 11 is short, the stroke S of the penetration member 51 that advances and retreats from the tip of the fixed wing 40 to the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be short. Therefore, the size of the blockage release mechanism 50 can be made compact, and the installation space can be reduced.

[0121] (2) Second modification example FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the clogging release mechanism 50 according to the second modification example. The second modification example is a configuration example in which the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 of the clogging release mechanism 50 are integrated. For the sake of convenience of explanation, in FIG. 13, the illustration of the advancing / retreating drive unit 52 for advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 is omitted.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 13, in the second modification example, the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 of the clogging release mechanism 50 are integrally formed and are a single rod-shaped member extending in the axial direction. This penetration member 51 (also serving as the fixed wing 40) is configured to be axially movable forward and backward with respect to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 from the side of the partition wall 12 by an advancing / retreating drive unit 52 (not shown). An opening 12b having a size through which the penetration member 51 can pass is formed in the partition wall 12.

[0123] With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 13A, in the fully retracted state, the entire penetration member 51 integrated with the fixed wing 40 is retracted into the machine interior behind the partition wall 12 and does not protrude into the chamber 17. As a result, the stirring function of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 by the fixed wing 40 integrated with the penetration member 51 is turned off, and the clogging release function by the penetration member 51 is also turned off. When both the stirring function and the clogging release function are not required, by setting to the fully retracted state shown in FIG. 13A, during tunnel excavation, the flow of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 can be prevented from being obstructed by the penetration member 51 integrated with the fixed wing 40.

[0124] Also, as shown in FIG. 13B, in the partially retracted state, the front portion of the penetration member 51 integrated with the fixed wing 40 protrudes into the chamber 17 from the partition wall 12, but the rear portion of the penetration member 51 is in a state of being retracted into the machine interior behind the partition wall 12. As a result, the stirring function of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 by the fixed wing 40 integrated with the penetration member 51 is turned on, while the clogging release function by the penetration member 51 is turned off. When the clogging release function is not required, by setting to the partially retracted state shown in FIG. 13B, during tunnel excavation, the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 can be stirred by the fixed wing 40 integrated with the penetration member 51.

[0125] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13C, in the state where the blockage is released, the entire penetration member 51 integrated with the fixed wing 40 protrudes from the partition wall 12 to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11. As a result, the blockage release function by the penetration member 51 is turned on. However, in this state where the blockage is released, the rotation of the cutter head 11 stops, and the agitation function by the fixed wing 40 integrated with the penetration member 51 is turned off. When stopping the tunnel excavation and releasing the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36, by setting it to the blockage release state shown in FIG. 13C, the penetration member 51 integrated with the fixed wing 40 can forcibly move the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 to release the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36.

[0126] As in the above-described second modification example, by integrally forming the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 of the blockage release mechanism 50 as the same member, there is no need to separately install the fixed wing 40, so the number of parts and the installation space of the device installed on the partition wall 12 can be reduced.

[0127] Also, when excavating a ground mass of soil that does not require the agitation function by the fixed wing 40, as shown in FIG. 13A, it is preferable to completely retract the blockage release mechanism 50 and the fixed wing 40. In excavated earth and sand having sufficient fluidity, agitation is unnecessary, and agitation using the fixed wing 40 or the like may instead cause unnecessary resistance. Also, when the excavated earth and sand contains a large amount of gravel, if the gap in the chamber 17 becomes small due to the fixed wing 40 or the agitation wing 42, there is a risk that the gravel may get caught on the fixed wing 40 or the agitation wing 42, etc., hindering the rotation of the cutter head 11. Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to completely retract the blockage release mechanism 50 and the fixed wing 40 as shown in FIG. 13A during construction. As described above, according to the configuration of the second modification example shown in FIG. 13, there is an advantage that it is possible to take corresponding measures according to the properties of the excavated earth and sand.

[0128] (3) Third Modification Example FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the third modification example. The third modification example is a configuration example in which the fixed wing 40 and the blockage release mechanism 50 can be advanced and retracted in two stages in the axial direction. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 14, illustration of the advance / retreat drive unit 52 for advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 is omitted.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 14, in the second modification example, the fixed wing 40 in which the blockage release mechanism 50 is installed is composed of a hollow member and has a hollow portion capable of accommodating the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50. The penetration member 51 is provided slidably in the axial direction in the hollow portion of the fixed wing 40. The penetration member 51 can be advanced and retracted in the axial direction with respect to the fixed wing 40 by an advance / retreat drive unit 52 (not shown). Further, the fixed wing 40 is also configured to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction with respect to the partition wall 12 by an advance / retreat drive unit 52 (not shown). An opening 12b having a size through which the fixed wing 40 can pass is formed in the partition wall 12.

[0130] With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 14A, in the fully retracted state, both the fixed wing 40 and the penetration member 51 are retracted into the aircraft behind the partition wall 12, and neither the fixed wing 40 nor the penetration member 51 protrudes into the chamber 17. Thereby, the function of stirring the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 by the fixed wing 40 is turned off, and the function of releasing the blockage by the penetration member 51 is also turned off. When both the stirring function and the blockage release function are not required, by setting to the fully retracted state shown in FIG. 14A, it is possible to prevent the flow of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 from being obstructed by the fixed wing 40 and the penetration member 51 during tunnel excavation.

[0131] Also, as shown in FIG. 14B, in the partial retracted state, the fixed wing 40 protrudes into the chamber 17 from the partition wall 12, but the penetration member 51 is housed inside the fixed wing 40 and is in the retracted state. As a result, while the stirring function of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 by the fixed wing 40 is turned on, the clogging release function by the penetration member 51 is turned off. When the clogging release function is not required, by setting it to the partial retracted state shown in FIG. 14B, during tunnel excavation, the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 can be stirred by the fixed wing 40 while preventing the flow of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 from being obstructed by the penetration member 51.

[0132] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14C, in the clogging release state, the fixed wing 40 protrudes into the chamber 17 from the partition wall 12, and at the same time, the penetration member 51 also protrudes from the tip of the fixed wing 40 to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11. As a result, the clogging release function by the penetration member 51 is turned on. However, in this clogging release state, the rotation of the cutter head 11 is stopped, and the stirring function by the fixed wing 40 is turned off. When stopping tunnel excavation and releasing the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36, by setting it to the clogging release state shown in FIG. 14C, the penetration member 51 can forcibly move the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36 to release the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36.

[0133] As in the above third modification example, by making the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 of the clogging release mechanism 50 retractable in two stages, the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 can be retracted and advanced separately and independently. Therefore, according to the tunnel excavation situation and the clogging state of the earth and sand passage portion 36, the stirring function of the excavated earth and sand in the chamber 17 and the clogging release function of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be appropriately turned on / off to improve the working efficiency and flexibility of tunnel excavation. Furthermore, by making the penetration member 51 and the fixed wing 40 of the clogging release mechanism 50 retractable in two stages as in the third modification example, the front-rear length of the clogging release mechanism 50 can be made compact. For example, it can be seen that the front-rear length of the penetration member 51 housed in the fixed wing 40 according to the third modification example (see FIG. 14A) is significantly smaller than the front-rear length of the penetration member 51 according to the second modification example (see FIG. 13A), and the device configuration can be made compact.

[0134] <6. Third Embodiment of the Blockage Release Mechanism> Next, a configuration example of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0135] The blockage release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment is obtained by adding various additional configurations and functions to the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the above-described first or second embodiment. Hereinafter, various additional configurations and functions of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment will be described in detail.

[0136] (1) Determination of the Blocked State by the Earth Pressure Sensor As shown in FIG. 15, the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment includes an earth pressure sensor 60 provided on the penetration member 51, and a determination unit 61 that determines the blocked state of the earth and sand passage portion 36 by the fixed object 3 based on the earth pressure detected by the earth pressure sensor 60.

[0137] The earth pressure sensor 60 is installed, for example, at the tip of the penetration member 51. The earth pressure sensor 60 detects the earth pressure when the penetration member 51 penetrates into the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36. The determination unit 61 is composed of various arithmetic processing devices mounted on the tunnel boring machine 1, such as the control device of the tunnel boring machine 1 or a personal computer. The determination unit 61 receives a signal representing the earth pressure detected by the earth pressure sensor 60 through a control line 62 or the like wired inside the penetration member 51. The determination unit 61 determines the current blocked state of the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 using data such as the magnitude of the earth pressure detected by the earth pressure sensor 60, the change in the earth pressure over time, and the reference earth pressure of various soil qualities detected in the past.

[0138] When the fixed object 3 of the excavated earth and sand adheres to the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11, the penetration resistance when the penetration member 51 penetrates the fixed object 3 is higher than the penetration resistance when the penetration member 51 penetrates the unconsolidated excavated earth and sand. Further, when the hard fixed object 3 is firmly adhered, the penetration resistance when the penetration member 51 penetrates becomes larger.

[0139] In this embodiment, the earth pressure sensor 60 provided on the penetration member 51 detects the earth pressure at the tip of the penetration member 51 as an index representing the penetration resistance when the penetration member 51 penetrates. The determination unit 61 determines the occlusion state of the sediment passage portion 36 by the fixing object 3 (for example, the presence or absence of occlusion, the strength of the fixing object 3, etc.) based on the earth pressure. Further, the determination unit 61 can also determine whether to execute the occlusion release operation by the occlusion release mechanism 50 based on the determination result of the occlusion state, the execution frequency, and the selection of the sediment passage portion 36 to be the execution target.

[0140] It is preferable to stop the rotation of the cutter head 11 at an appropriate timing during tunnel excavation and perform the above-described earth pressure detection and occlusion state determination using the occlusion release mechanism 50. Thereby, the occlusion states of the plurality of sediment passage portions 36 of the cutter head 11 can be appropriately grasped, and the occlusion release operation by the occlusion release mechanism 30 can be executed at an appropriate timing and frequency. Therefore, the occlusion release operation can be efficiently and effectively performed without performing unnecessary occlusion release operations, and the efficiency of the tunnel excavation work can be improved.

[0141] Furthermore, in relation to the detection of the earth pressure when the penetration member 51 penetrates as described above, it is preferable to further provide a stroke meter that detects the advance and retreat strokes of the penetration member 51, and to associate and grasp the advance and retreat situation that can be grasped from the advance and retreat strokes of the penetration member 51 with the change in the earth pressure. Thereby, it becomes possible to more accurately grasp the excavation situation such as the occlusion state of the sediment passage portion 36, and the occlusion release operation can be performed more appropriately.

[0142] Note that providing the above stroke meter is also useful in scenes other than the detection of the earth pressure. Therefore, even when the earth pressure is not monitored, it is effective to detect the advance and retreat strokes of the penetration member 51 by the stroke meter and grasp the excavation situation based on the detection result. For example, by grasping whether the penetration member 51 can be inserted up to the sediment passage portion 36 from the stroke, it becomes possible to effectively grasp the excavation situation such as whether the sediment passage portion 36 is occluded and whether the occlusion can be released.

[0143] (2) Tip shape of the penetration member As shown in Fig. 16, it is preferable to provide a drill 70 with a pointed tip at the tip of the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50. Alternatively, instead of providing the drill 70, the tip of the penetration member 51 may be formed into a sharp shape.

[0144] As described above, by providing the drill 70 at the tip of the penetration member 51 or forming the tip of the penetration member 51 into a sharp shape, when the penetration member 51 penetrates the adhering matter 3 of the excavated earth and sand in the earth and sand passage portion 36, a wedge effect can be expected in which the penetration member 51 bites into the adhering matter 3. Therefore, the penetration member 51 can be easily penetrated even into the hard adhering matter 3.

[0145] (3) Rotation and vibration of the penetration member In the above-described first and second embodiments, the advancing / retreating drive portion 52 for advancing and retreating the penetration member 51 in the axial direction is provided. However, in the third embodiment, a drive portion for rotating and vibrating the penetration member 51 during penetration of the penetration member 51 may be further provided.

[0146] Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a blockage release mechanism 50 provided with a rotation drive portion 80 for rotating the penetration member 51.

[0147] As shown in Fig. 17, the blockage release mechanism 50 includes a penetration member 51, an advancing / retreating drive portion 52, and a rotation drive portion 80. The advancing / retreating drive portion 52 includes the support portion 53 described above and a pair of telescopic jacks 55, 55. Since the advancing / retreating operation of the penetration member 51 by the advancing / retreating drive portion 52 is the same as that in the above-described first embodiment, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0148] The rotation drive portion 80 includes a motor 81, a pinion 82 attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 81, and a gear 83 that engages with the pinion 82. The gear 83 is connected to the penetration member 51.

[0149] The rotation drive unit 80 rotates the pinion 82 by driving the motor 81, transmits the rotational force of the pinion 82 to the penetration member 51 via the gear 83, and rotates the penetration member 51. For example, the rotation drive unit 80 can continuously rotate the penetration member 51 in the forward or reverse direction. Further, the rotation drive unit 80 can also rock the penetration member 51 by alternately rotating it in both the forward and reverse directions within a predetermined rotation angle range.

[0150] In this way, while continuously rotating or rocking the penetration member 51 by the rotation drive unit 80, the penetration member 51 is advanced by the forward and backward drive unit 52 and penetrated into the earth and sand passage portion 36, so that the rotating penetration member 51 can be easily penetrated even into the hard adherent object 3.

[0151] Further, the blockage release mechanism 50 may further include a vibration drive unit (not shown) that vibrates the penetration member 51. The vibration drive unit may be, for example, a vibration device that vibrates the entire penetration member 51, or a vibrator provided at the tip of the penetration member 51. Also, the vibration direction of the penetration member 51 by the vibration drive unit may be the axial direction of the penetration member 51 or the radial direction of the penetration member 51.

[0152] While vibrating the penetration member 51 by such a vibration drive unit, the penetration member 51 is advanced by the forward and backward drive unit 52 and penetrated into the earth and sand passage portion 36, so that the vibrating penetration member 51 can be easily penetrated even into the hard adherent object 3. At the same time, it is also expected that the vibration is transmitted to the adhesion / blockage portion to vibrate the adhesion / blockage portion, and the adhesion / blockage is released by the action of the vibration. Further, if the above rotation drive unit 80 and vibration drive unit are combined and applied to penetrate the earth and sand passage portion 36 while rotating and vibrating the penetration member 51, the penetration member 51 can be more suitably penetrated into the adherent object 3.

[0153] Although not shown in the drawings, it is also possible to move the entire blocking release mechanism 50 within the chamber 17 (for example, swing within a predetermined range of rotation angles), thereby moving the penetration member 51 within the earth and sand passage portion 36. As a result, the moving penetration member 51 can enhance the effect of forcibly moving the fixed matter 3 and the excavated earth and sand within the earth and sand passage portion 36.

[0154] (4) Penetration member made of a hollow member In the above first and second embodiments, the penetration member 51 is configured as a solid rod-shaped member. However, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the penetration member 51 may be configured as a hollow member, for example, a hollow pipe.

[0155] FIG. 18 is a process diagram showing the operation of the blocking release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the blocking release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment. For the sake of convenience of explanation, in FIG. 18, the illustration of the advancing and retracting drive portion 52 for advancing and retracting the penetration member 51 in the axial direction is omitted.

[0156] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the blocking release mechanism 50 according to the third embodiment includes a penetration member 51, an advancing and retracting drive portion 52, a support portion 53, and a center rod 59.

[0157] The penetration member 51 is configured as a hollow pipe, and the support portion 53 is also configured as a hollow pipe. On the other hand, the center rod 59 is configured as a solid rod-shaped member. The penetration member 51 and the support portion 53 have a double-pipe structure, and the penetration member 51 is accommodated within the support portion 53 without any gap. The center rod 59 is accommodated within the penetration member 51 without any gap.

[0158] The support portion 53 is disposed so as to axially penetrate the opening 12b of the partition wall 12 and is fixed to the partition wall 12. The penetrating member 51 is disposed in the hollow support portion 53 so as to be axially slidable. The center rod 59 is disposed in the hollow penetrating member 51 and is fixed so as not to be axially slidable. As shown in Fig. 19, the penetrating member 51 is configured to be movable axially forward relative to the support portion 53 and the center rod 59 by pushing the penetrating member 51 from behind with the advance / retract drive portion 52.

[0159] Here, the operation of unblocking the soil passage section 36 by the unblocking mechanism 50 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

[0160] Consider an initial state in which the soil passage section 36 of the cutter head 11 is blocked by the solid object 3 of the excavated soil as shown in FIG. 18A. From the initial state of FIG. 18A, when only the penetrating member 51 made of a hollow pipe is advanced in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 18B and FIG. 18C, the penetrating member 51 is inserted into the soil passage section 36 and penetrates the solid object 3 in the soil passage section 36. Then, a part of the solid object 3 in the soil passage section 36 (solid object 3a) enters the penetrating member 51 from the opening at the tip of the penetrating member 51. At this stage, the solid object 3a in the soil passage section 36 is cut into a ring shape by the penetrating member 51 made of a hollow pipe, and the solid object 3a inside the penetrating member 51 is in a state of being cut off from the solid object 3 outside the penetrating member 51.

[0161] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18D, when the penetrating member 51 is retracted in the axial direction, the penetrating member 51 is housed in the support portion 53, but the fixed object 3a in the penetrating member 51 is pushed out of the penetrating member 51 by the fixed center rod 59. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18D, the fixed object 3a, the edge of which was cut when the penetrating member 51 penetrated, is separated from the original fixed object 3. The separated fixed object 3a moves from the soil passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 into the chamber 17 and is discharged. In this way, the penetration of the penetrating member 51 destroys the fixed object 3 in the soil passage portion 36, and the blockage of the soil passage portion 36 can be released.

[0162] In Fig. 18, the central rod 59 is non-slidable (slide-fixed), but the central rod 59 may be slid. Hereinafter, the form of sliding the central rod 59 will be described.

[0163] (4A) First modification example Here, referring to Fig. 20, as a first modification example of the third embodiment, an example of retracting the central rod 59 will be described. Fig. 20 is a process diagram showing the operation of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the first modification example of the third embodiment.

[0164] Also in the first modification example shown in Fig. 20, similar to the example of Fig. 18, the penetration member 51 and the support portion 53 have a double-tube structure, and the central rod 59 is accommodated in the penetration member 51 without a gap. Hereinafter, the operation of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the first modification example shown in Fig. 20 will be described.

[0165] First, as shown in Fig. 20A, consider the initial state in which the earth and sand passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11 is blocked by the adherent 3 of the excavated earth and sand. From the initial state of Fig. 20A, as shown in Fig. 20B, only the penetration member 51 made of a hollow pipe is advanced in the axial direction to penetrate the adherent 3 in the earth and sand passage portion 36. Then, a part of the adherent 3 (adherent 3a) in the earth and sand passage portion 36 enters the inside of the penetration member 51 from the opening at the tip of the penetration member 51. As a result, the adherent 3 in the earth and sand passage portion 36 is cut into a ring shape by the penetration member 51, and the adherent 3a inside the penetration member 51 is in a state where its edge is cut with respect to the adherent 3 outside the penetration member 51.

[0166] Next, as shown in Fig. 20C, without retracting the penetration member 51, only the central rod 59 is retracted by a predetermined stroke in the axial direction and pulled into the machine interior. Then, due to the negative pressure generated by the retraction of the central rod 59, the adherent 3a inside the penetration member 51 is pulled axially rearward. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 20D, only the penetration member 51 is retracted by the above-mentioned predetermined stroke in the axial direction and pulled into the machine interior and accommodated in the support portion 53. Then, since the adherent 3a inside the penetration member 51 remains in front of the central rod 59, it is located inside the front side of the retracting penetration member 51.

[0167] Next, as shown in FIG. 20E, only the center rod 59 is advanced axially by the predetermined stroke. Then, the solid matter 3a inside the penetration member 51 is pushed by the advancing center rod 59, extruded from inside the penetration member 51, and discharged into the chamber 17. At the stage shown in FIG. 20E, the arrangement of each part of the blockage release mechanism 50 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 20A.

[0168] According to the operation of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the first modification example as described above, as shown in FIGS. 20A to E, by advancing and retracting the penetration member 51 and the center rod 59 independently, the solid matter 3 blocking the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be suitably cut out, and the blockage of the earth and sand passage portion 36 can be released. Furthermore, by smoothly discharging the solid matter 3a inside the penetration member 51 into the chamber 17, the retention of the solid matter 3a inside the penetration member 51 can be prevented.

[0169] In the operation example of FIG. 20 above, first, only the center rod 59 was retracted as shown in FIG. 20C, and then the penetration member 51 was retracted as shown in FIG. 20D, but it is not limited to such an example. For example, from the state shown in FIG. 20B, both the penetration member 51 and the center rod 59 may be retracted simultaneously to obtain the state shown in FIG. 20D. Also by this, it is possible to cut out the solid matter 3 blocking the earth and sand passage portion 36 into the penetration member 51 and discharge it into the chamber 17.

[0170] (4B) Second modification example Next, with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22, a second modification example of the third embodiment will be described. FIGS. 21 and 22 are process diagrams showing the operation of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second modification example of the third embodiment.

[0171] In the second modification example shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, in addition to the fixed support portion 53, a movable support portion 53A is added, and the penetration member 51, the support portion 53, and the movable support portion 53A have a triple-tube structure.

[0172] The movable support portion 53A is composed of a hollow pipe, is provided without clearance inside the fixed support portion 53, and is provided slidable in the axial direction. The movable support portion 53A is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction by a forward and backward drive portion (not shown). The axial length of the movable support portion 53A is longer than the axial length of the fixed support portion 53. Here, due to the provision of the movable support portion 53A, the fixed support portion 53 does not protrude into the chamber 17 or, if it does protrude, the amount can be made small. Further, the penetration member 51 is housed without clearance inside the movable support portion 53A, and the center rod 59 is housed without clearance inside the penetration member 51. These penetration member 51, movable support portion 53A, and center rod 59 are provided so as to be able to advance and retreat independently of each other in the axial direction.

[0173] The operation of the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second modification example shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 will be described below.

[0174] In the second modification example, first, from the initial state (see FIG. 21A), only the penetration member 51 is advanced in the axial direction, penetrates into the fixed matter 3 in the earth and sand passage portion 36, and a part of the fixed matter 3 (fixed matter 3a) is taken into the inside of the penetration member 51 (see FIG. 21B). Next, after retracting the center rod 59, the penetration member 51 is retracted (see FIGS. 21C and 22D), or the center rod 59 and the penetration member 51 are retracted simultaneously (skipping FIG. 21C and see FIG. 22D).

[0175] As a result, as shown in FIG. 22D, the fixed matter 3a is taken into the front side inside of the penetration member 51. Next, as shown in FIG. 22E, without moving the center rod 59, the movable support portion 53A and the penetration member 51 are retracted and pulled inward of the machine. Then, the fixed matter 3a inside the penetration member 51 is pushed out from inside the penetration member 51 by the center rod 59 and discharged into the chamber 17.

[0176] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 22F, the movable support portion 53A, the penetration member 51, and the center rod 59 are advanced and protruded toward the chamber 17 side. At the stage shown in FIG. 22F, the arrangement of each part of the blockage release mechanism 50 returns to the initial state.

[0177] According to the above second modification example, in the discharging step (see FIG. 22E), by retracting the penetration member 51 and the movable support portion 53A rearward, a relatively wide discharging space can be secured in front of the penetration member 51 in the chamber 17. Therefore, when discharging the sediment of the adherent matter 3a from inside the penetration member 51 into the chamber 17, the sediment can be smoothly discharged into the relatively wide space in the chamber 17. Thus, it is also useful to configure and operate the blockage release mechanism 50 according to the second modification example.

[0178] In addition, in the second modification example, since the movable support portion 53A is also slidable, in the process from the state where the movable support portion 53A, the penetration member 51, and the center rod 59 in FIG. 21B are all at the forward limit to the state where the movable support portion 53A, the penetration member 51, and the center rod 59 in FIG. 22E are all at the rearward limit, the operation sequence may be appropriately changed within a range that does not impair the function. In addition, in this second modification example, it is also possible to switch the presence or absence of the function as a fixed wing by controlling the forward movement amounts of the movable support portion 53A, the penetration member 51, and the center rod 59 in FIG. 21A.

[0179] (4C) Summary As described above, according to the third embodiment, the clogging release mechanism 50 cuts the fixed object 3 into a ring shape by penetrating the penetration member 51 formed of a hollow pipe into the fixed object 3 in the earth and sand passage portion 36. Thereby, when the penetration member 51 penetrates the fixed object 3 in the earth and sand passage portion 36, the amount of earth and sand pushed back by the penetration member 51 can be reduced, so that the penetration resistance of the penetration member 51 against the fixed object 3 of the excavated earth and sand can be reduced, and the influence on the ground can be reduced. Further, by taking a part of the fixed object 3 into the inside of the pipe-shaped penetration member 51 and cutting the edge of the fixed object 3, the fixed object 3 can be preferably broken. Therefore, the clogging of the earth and sand passage portion 36 by the fixed object 3 can be more appropriately released. Furthermore, if the penetration resistance of the penetration member 51 can be reduced as described above, the output of the forward and backward drive unit 52 can also be reduced. Therefore, the device configuration of the forward and backward drive unit 52 can be made compact, and the device configuration of the entire clogging release mechanism 50 can also be made compact. Furthermore, by smoothly discharging the fixed object 3a inside the penetration member 51 into the chamber 17, the retention of the fixed object 3a inside the penetration member 51 can be prevented.

[0180] <7. Tunnel construction method using a tunnel boring machine> As described above, the configuration of the tunnel boring machine 1 according to the present embodiment has been described in detail. Next, a tunnel construction method using the tunnel boring machine 1 according to the present embodiment and the operation of the tunnel boring machine 1 will be described.

[0181] When constructing a tunnel structure using the tunnel boring machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, first, while rotating the cutter head 11, a plurality of propulsion jacks 19 are extended and pressed against the existing segment S. Thereby, the excavator main body 10 obtains a propulsion reaction force from the existing segment S and moves forward, and at the same time, the cutter head 11 that rotates excavates the ground at the face of the tunnel boring machine 1 ahead, and the excavation of the tunnel T proceeds.

[0182] During the excavation by this cutter head 11, the tip portions of a large number of cutter bits 35 are arranged on the face excavation surface 2 which is the most front end position of the face, and the cutter bits 35 cut the ground of the face excavation surface 2 while orbiting along the face excavation surface 2.

[0183] During such excavation, an injection fluid containing an additive (slurry material or foam material), water, etc. is supplied to the cutter head 11 by a supply mechanism (not shown). The injection fluid is injected into the excavated earth and sand through an injection hole (not shown) provided in the cutter head 11. As a result, in the region between the face and the front surface of the cutter head 11, the excavated earth and sand becomes improved soil due to the action of the additive contained in the injection fluid, and the plastic fluidity, adhesion prevention property, water stoppage property, etc. of the excavated earth and sand are improved.

[0184] The excavated earth and sand generated by the above excavation is taken into and accumulated in the chamber 17 through the earth and sand passage portion 36 which is the opening of the cutter head 11. The chamber 17 is maintained at a predetermined internal pressure by the accumulated excavated earth and sand. Then, the excavated earth and sand accumulated in the chamber 17 moves into the tip portion of the cylinder body 22 of the screw conveyor 20 through the discharge port 12a at the lower part of the partition wall 12. Then, the excavated earth and sand is conveyed rearward in the cylinder body 22 of the screw conveyor 20 by the screw blade 21 rotated by the drive unit 25 and discharged from the earth and sand discharge port on the rear side.

[0185] Also, simultaneously with the above-described excavation and earth discharge operations, on the rear side of the retracted propulsion jack 19, the segments S are sequentially assembled in a ring shape along the inner wall surface of the tunnel T by an erector device.

[0186] As described above, the tunnel boring machine 1 smoothly discharges an amount of earth and sand corresponding to the excavation amount of the cutter head 11 by the screw conveyor 20, and always fills the inside of the chamber 17 with the excavated earth and sand, thereby stabilizing the face while continuously excavating the tunnel T. At the same time, by the extension of the propulsion jack 19, while obtaining a propulsion reaction force from the existing segments S and advancing, new segments S are assembled on the rear side of the propulsion jack 19.

[0187] Incidentally, during the excavation as described above, the solid matter 3 of the excavated soil stays in the soil passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11, and in an extreme case, a part of the soil passage portion 36 (particularly, a specific region 4 near the central portion of the cutter head 11) may be blocked by the solid matter 3. In such a case, a forced movement operation (blockage release operation, blockage prevention operation) is performed using the blockage release mechanism 50 described above to forcibly move the excavated soil staying and sticking in the soil passage portion 36. Such a forced movement operation (blockage release operation, blockage prevention operation) is preferably performed with the rotation of the cutter head 11 stopped and the tunnel excavation operation temporarily stopped. This is because it is difficult to insert the penetration member 51 of the blockage release mechanism 50 into the soil passage portion 36 during the rotation of the cutter head 11. Also, when the tunnel excavation operation is stopped, generally, it is a time zone for stopping the excavation and assembling the segment S by the erector device. If the forced movement operation is performed during this time zone to eliminate the sticking of the excavated soil to the soil passage portion 36, the discharge of the excavated soil during the resumption of the subsequent tunnel excavation can be smoothly executed, and it can also be expected to improve the efficiency of the excavation work.

[0188] By performing such a forced movement operation (blockage release operation, blockage prevention operation) regularly or irregularly, it is possible to suppress the staying and sticking of the excavated soil in the soil passage portion 36 of the cutter head 11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the blockage of the soil passage portion 36 by the solid matter 3 of the excavated soil, and the excavated soil can be smoothly taken into the chamber 17 through the soil passage portion 36 and efficiently discharged.

[0189] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that those also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0190] For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the region to be unblocked in the earth and sand passage portion 36 is the specific region 4 where the earth and sand passage portion 36 is narrowed in a wedge shape around the central portion of the cutter head 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. The region to be unblocked in the present invention may be any region as long as it is a region in the earth and sand passage portion that is more likely to be blocked by the adhering matter of the excavated earth and sand than other regions. For example, at the intersection of the cutter spoke 33, the auxiliary cutter spoke 37, the inner peripheral ring 32, etc., a region where the structures are dense and the earth and sand passage portion is narrow may also be acceptable.

[0191] Also, in the above-described embodiment, only one unblocking mechanism 50 is installed in the partition wall 12. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and two or more unblocking mechanisms 50 may be installed. For example, two or more unblocking mechanisms 50 may be provided side by side in the radial direction of the cutter head 11. Thereby, while the first unblocking mechanism 50 arranged on the inner side in the radial direction releases the blockage of the inner peripheral side region in the earth and sand passage portion 36, the second unblocking mechanism 50 arranged on the outer side in the radial direction can release the blockage of the outer peripheral side region in the earth and sand passage portion 36. Further, two or more unblocking mechanisms 50 may be provided side by side in the circumferential direction of the partition wall 12. Thereby, the penetration members 51 of two or more unblocking mechanisms 50 can be penetrated into two or more earth and sand passage portions 36, and the blockages of the two or more earth and sand passage portions 36 can be released simultaneously.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0192] 1 Tunnel Boring Machine 2 Face Excavation Surface 3 Adhering Matter 4 Specific Region 10 Excavator Body 11 Cutter Head 12 Partition Wall 12a Discharge Port 12b Opening 13 Cutter Rotation Shaft 17 Chamber 19 Propulsion Jack 20 Screw Conveyor 33 Cutter Spoke Front of the cutter spoke 33a Cutter bit 35 Leading bit 35A Tooth bit 35B Earth and sand passage part 36 Auxiliary cutter spoke 37 Hollow space 38 Face plate 39 Fixed wing 40 Agitating wing 42 Blocking release mechanism 50 Penetrating member 51 Advancing and retreating drive part 52 Support part 53 Sealing material 53a Movable support part 53A Telescopic jacks 55, 57 Central rod 59 Earth pressure sensor 60 Judgment part 61 Drill 70 Rotary drive part 80 Segment S Tunnel T

Claims

1. A cylindrical excavation machine body, A cutter head rotatably provided about a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavation machine body, and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, A partition wall disposed behind the cutter head, A chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall, A plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front side to the back side of the cutter head, A clogging release mechanism provided on the partition wall for releasing clogging of the earth and sand passage portions caused by adherents of excavated earth and sand, comprising The clogging release mechanism A penetration member, A forward and backward drive unit for moving the penetration member forward and backward with respect to the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, comprising, At least one fixed wing protruding toward the chamber side is provided on the partition wall, The clogging release mechanism Is used together with at least one of the at least one fixed wing, A tunnel boring machine that moves the penetration member forward and backward with respect to the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the tip of the fixed wing.

2. A cylindrical excavation machine body, A cutter head rotatably provided about a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavation machine body, and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, A partition wall disposed behind the cutter head, A chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall, A plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front side to the back side of the cutter head, A clogging release mechanism provided in the partition wall for releasing clogging of the earth and sand passage portion caused by adherents of excavated earth and sand, and comprising, The clogging release mechanism includes, a penetration member, a forward and backward drive unit for moving the penetration member forward and backward with respect to the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, an earth pressure sensor provided on the penetration member, and a determination unit for determining the clogging state of the earth and sand passage portion by the adherents based on the earth pressure detected by the earth pressure sensor. A tunnel boring machine comprising.

3. A cylindrical boring machine body, A cutter head rotatably provided at the front end of the boring machine body about a cutter rotation axis and having a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis, A partition wall disposed behind the cutter head, A chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall, A plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front side to the back side of the cutter head, A clogging release mechanism provided in the partition wall for releasing clogging of the earth and sand passage portion caused by adherents of excavated earth and sand, and comprising, The clogging release mechanism includes, a penetration member, a forward and backward drive unit for moving the penetration member forward and backward with respect to the earth and sand passage portion between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, and comprising, The penetration member is composed of a hollow member, The clogging release mechanism cuts the adherent into a ring shape by penetrating the penetration member into the adherent. A tunnel boring machine.

4. A cylindrical boring machine body, A cutter head that is rotatably provided around a cutter rotation axis at the front end of the excavator body and has a plurality of cutter spokes extending radially from the cutter rotation axis; A partition wall disposed behind the cutter head; A chamber defined between the cutter head and the partition wall; A plurality of earth and sand passage portions formed as gaps between the cutter spokes for allowing excavated earth and sand to pass from the front side to the back side of the cutter head; A clogging release mechanism provided on the partition wall for releasing clogging of the earth and sand passage portions caused by adherences of excavated earth and sand; Comprising; The clogging release mechanism includes; A penetration member; A forward and backward drive unit for advancing and retracting the penetration member with respect to the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side; Comprising; The penetration member is provided so as to be able to pass through the partition wall; The forward and backward drive unit is installed behind the partition wall, a tunnel excavator.

5. The clogging release mechanism is configured to be able to break down adherences of excavated earth and sand staying in the earth and sand passage portions by inserting the penetration member into the earth and sand passage portions between the cutter spokes from the partition wall side, the tunnel excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A drill is provided at the tip of the penetration member, the tunnel excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The clogging release mechanism includes; The tunnel excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a rotation drive unit for rotating the penetration member.

8. The clogging release mechanism includes; The tunnel excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a vibration drive unit for vibrating the penetration member.

9. The tunneling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blockage release mechanism is arranged on the central portion side of the partition wall so as to advance the penetration member into a region where a soil passage portion between the cutter spokes is narrowed in a wedge shape at the central portion of the cutter head.

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