Intermediate drive device and intermediate drive device installation method

Abstract

To provide an intermediate drive device that does not require highly accurate speed control and positioning control and facilitates the installation work of the intermediate drive device.SOLUTION: An intermediate drive device 100 comprises: a pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b that are provided side by side with a space therebetween and around which a conveyor belt 5 is wound; a frame 20 that rotatably supports rotation shafts 11a and 11b of the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b; a pedestal 30 that supports the frame 20 integrally with the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b so as to be rotatable around a central axis 20a parallel to the rotation shafts 11a and 11b; and a drive unit 40 that rotationally drives the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b. The frame 20 is configured to be driven and rotated by an external drive machine 50 different from the drive unit 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intermediate drive device for auxiliary driving a conveyor belt midway along a conveying route in an extension belt conveyor that transports excavation waste during tunnel excavation, and to a method for installing the intermediate drive device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, intermediate drive devices for extension belt conveyors for transporting excavation waste (rock blocks, earth and sand, etc. excavated from the natural ground) during tunnel excavation have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The aforementioned Patent Document 1 discloses that when a belt conveyor is extended to fit a tunnel excavation site, a booster drive (intermediate drive device) is installed midway along the extended conveying path. The booster drive has a first shaft connected to an electric motor via a reducer and a sprocket, with the base end of the first shaft supported by a cantilever housing, and a drive gear, swing arm, and drive roller installed at the tip end of the first shaft. One end of the swing arm is supported by the first shaft via a bearing, and the other end holds a second shaft via a bearing. The second shaft is equipped with a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear and a driven roller. The booster drive includes a fixture that fixes the swing arm in a predetermined position and a fixing pin that is inserted from the swing arm into the driven gear to stop the gear from rotating.

[0004] When installing the booster drive, remove the fixture and install the fixing pin. When the electric motor is driven, the driving force is transmitted in this order through the first shaft, drive gear, and driven gear, causing the swing arm to rotate around the first shaft. The electric motor is stopped when the first shaft (drive roller) and the second shaft (driven roller) are horizontal. In this state, the conveyor belt is inserted so that it passes above the driven roller, between the drive roller and driven roller, and below the drive roller, in that order. Then, the electric motor is driven in the reverse direction, rotating the swing arm in the opposite direction to the installation position of the fixture. As a result, the conveyor belt that has passed between the drive roller and driven roller is wrapped around the drive roller and driven roller in an S-shape. In this state, the swing arm is fixed with the fixture, and the fixing pin is removed from the driven gear. As a result, the driving force of the electric motor rotates the driving gear and the driven gear, and the rotating driving roller and the driven roller can drive the conveyor belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-316215 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, in the intermediate drive device of Patent Document 1, when the intermediate drive device is installed, control of the rotation speed of the swing arm is required to rotate the swing arm. Positioning control is also required to accurately align the rotation position of the driven gear (the gear's fixing pin mounting hole) with the fixing pin insertion position. However, it is difficult to accurately control speed and positioning with a conventional conveyor belt driving motor. Since the conveyor belt winding operation is generally performed only once, when installing the intermediate drive device, introducing a servo motor capable of speed and positioning control as the electric motor is not appropriate from the standpoint of the increased complexity and cost of control.

[0007] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in the conveyor belt winding operation, the conveyor belt needs to be inserted so that it passes from above the driven roller, through a position between the drive roller and the driven roller, and then below the drive roller, and tension needs to be applied to the conveyor belt in order to properly wind it, which results in a problem that the conveyor belt winding operation is complicated and difficult.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate drive unit and an installation method for the intermediate drive unit that do not require high-precision speed control or positioning control and that can simplify the installation work of the intermediate drive unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, an intermediate drive device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an intermediate drive device that is installed midway along a conveying path in an extension belt conveyor that conveys excavation muck during tunnel excavation, for auxiliary driving of a conveyor belt, and that includes a pair of drive pulleys that are arranged side by side with a gap between them and around which the conveyor belt is wound, a frame that rotatably supports the rotation shafts of each of the pair of drive pulleys, a base that rotatably supports the frame integrally with the pair of drive pulleys about a central axis that is parallel to the rotation shafts and is located at a position different from the rotation shafts of each of the pair of drive pulleys when viewed in a direction along the rotation shafts, and a drive unit that rotationally drives the pair of drive pulleys, wherein the frame is connected to the frame separately from the drive unit, and at least one of a lever block (registered trademark), a chain block, a winch, or a cylinder is used. and rigging. The rotation is driven by an external drive mechanism including:

[0010] In the intermediate drive device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the frame rotatably supporting the rotation shafts of the pair of drive pulleys can be rotated while supported by the base. Therefore, the conveyor belt can be inserted between the pair of drive pulleys after the rotation angle of the frame is adjusted in advance so that the pair of drive pulleys are positioned on the front and back sides of the conveyor belt, respectively, in accordance with the direction in which the conveyor belt extends. After inserting the conveyor belt, simply rotating the frame until the conveyor belt is sufficiently wound around each drive pulley can easily wind the conveyor belt around the pair of drive pulleys. Furthermore, because the frame is driven to rotate by an external drive device separate from the drive unit that rotates the pair of drive pulleys, the drive unit does not require highly accurate speed or positioning control. These features eliminate the need for highly accurate speed or positioning control and facilitate installation of the intermediate drive device.

[0011] In the intermediate drive unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the frame is preferably disposed on one side of the pair of drive pulleys in a direction along the rotation axis, and is configured to support each rotation axis in a cantilevered manner, and the pair of drive pulleys are configured to allow the conveyor belt to be inserted between the pair of drive pulleys from the opposite side of the frame along the rotation axis. With this configuration, the conveyor belt can be inserted between the pair of drive pulleys simply by sliding the intermediate drive unit along the rotation axis from the side of the conveyor belt, with the rotation angle of the frame (pair of drive pulleys) previously adjusted to match the direction in which the conveyor belt extends. Therefore, the conveyor belt can be easily wound around the pair of drive pulleys in a short time by simply rotating the frame and sliding the intermediate drive unit.

[0012] In this case, the frame preferably includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion facing each other at a distance along the rotation shaft, and a first bearing provided on the first frame portion side and a second bearing provided on the second frame portion side for each of the pair of rotation shafts. With this configuration, even when the rotation shafts of the drive pulleys are cantilevered, the rotation shafts can be supported at multiple locations along the axial direction. As a result, even with a cantilever support structure, the rigidity required to support the tension of the conveyor belt during the transport of excavated debris can be easily ensured.

[0013] In the intermediate drive device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the frame preferably has a circular shape when viewed along the rotation axis, and the base includes a support member that supports the outer periphery of the circular frame so that it can move along the rotation direction. With this configuration, the structure that supports the outer periphery of the frame can easily realize a configuration in which the frame that supports the pair of drive pulleys can be supported so that it can rotate 360 ​​degrees or more.

[0014] In the intermediate drive device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of drive pulleys are preferably arranged on either side of the central axis of the frame, equidistant from the central axis, as viewed along the rotation axis. With this configuration, the distance (radius) from the central axis of the frame to each drive pulley can be made smaller, assuming the spacing between the drive pulleys is the same, compared to, for example, a case where one drive pulley is arranged coaxially with the central axis of the frame and the other drive pulley is arranged away from the central axis. This allows the frame supporting the pair of drive pulleys to be made smaller.

[0015] In this case, preferably, each of the pair of drive pulleys has a drive gear that meshes with the other, and the drive unit has a pinion gear that meshes with one of the drive gears depending on the rotation angle of the frame. With this configuration, the drive unit and each drive gear can be connected so as to be able to transmit power, by taking advantage of the fact that the distances from the central axis of the frame to each drive pulley are equal, and simply rotating the frame to a position where one of the drive gears meshes with the pinion gear.

[0016] In the intermediate drive unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the frame preferably has a connection portion for connecting to an external drive device and is configured to rotate when the external drive device pulls the connection portion in a circumferential direction. With this configuration, the frame can be rotated by the pulling force acting on the connection portion. This allows a simple pulling mechanism to be used as the external drive device, rather than a large-scale device, effectively reducing the space and facility constraints required for installing the intermediate drive unit.

[0017] In this case, the frame preferably has a plurality of connection parts along its outer periphery, and the platform has guide parts that bend the direction of the rigging from the externally driven equipment and guide the rigging toward one of the plurality of connection parts. With this configuration, the frame can be rotated by connecting the externally driven equipment to one of the connection parts with rigging and pulling it. In this case, the direction of the pulling force acting on the connection part is determined by the positional relationship between the guide parts provided on the platform and the connection parts, so the frame can be rotated without being restricted by the position (pulling direction) of the externally driven equipment or the distance from the platform to the externally driven equipment.

[0018] In the intermediate drive device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the base is preferably configured to support the frame so that it can rotate at least 360 degrees. With this configuration, the frame can be freely rotated more than one rotation (360 degrees). Therefore, regardless of the direction in which the conveyor belt extends, it is easy to previously adjust the rotational positions of the pair of drive pulleys to match the direction in which the conveyor belt extends, and to rotate the frame to wind the conveyor belt inserted between the pair of drive pulleys.

[0019] A method for installing an intermediate drive unit according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method for installing an intermediate drive unit for auxiliary driving of a conveyor belt in tunnel excavation work using an extension belt conveyor, the method including the steps of: temporarily assembling an intermediate drive unit including a frame that supports the rotation shafts of each of a pair of drive pulleys in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyor belt at the installation position of the intermediate drive unit while the extension belt conveyor is in operation; a base that supports the frame integrally with the pair of drive pulleys so as to be rotatable about a central axis that is parallel to the rotation shafts and is located at a position different from the rotation shafts of each of the pair of drive pulleys when viewed from the direction along the rotation shafts; and a drive unit that rotationally drives the pair of drive pulleys; stopping the extension belt conveyor, and then laterally moving the temporarily assembled intermediate drive unit from the side of the conveyor belt to position the conveyor belt between the pair of drive pulleys; and installing at least one of a lever block (registered trademark), a chain block, a winch, or a cylinder that is provided to be connected to the frame separately from the drive unit. and rigging. and rotating the frame by external drive equipment including a pair of drive pulleys to wrap the conveyor belt around the pair of drive pulleys.

[0020] In the intermediate drive unit installation method according to the second aspect of the present invention, the conveyor belt can be positioned between the pair of drive pulleys by simply sliding the intermediate drive unit along the rotation axis from the side of the conveyor belt after temporarily assembling the intermediate drive unit. Then, the conveyor belt can be wound around the pair of drive pulleys by rotating the frame. Because the frame is driven and rotated by an external drive device, the drive unit does not require highly accurate speed control or positioning control. This eliminates the need for highly accurate speed control or positioning control, and facilitates the installation of the intermediate drive unit.

[0021] Furthermore, while the extension belt conveyor is in operation, the intermediate drive unit can be temporarily assembled and the rotation angle of the frame (pair of drive pulleys) can be adjusted in advance to match the extension direction of the conveyor belt. After the extension belt conveyor is stopped, the conveyor belt can be wound around the pair of drive pulleys simply by sliding the intermediate drive unit and rotating the frame. This effectively shortens the downtime of the extension belt conveyor required to install the intermediate drive unit, which also contributes to the efficiency of tunnel construction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide an intermediate drive unit and an installation method for an intermediate drive unit that do not require highly accurate speed control or positioning control and that can simplify the installation work of the intermediate drive unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an extension belt conveyor equipped with an intermediate drive device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the overall configuration of an intermediate drive device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view taken along the rotation axis, showing one drive pulley and bearing structure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the intermediate drive device along the rotation axis of the drive pulley. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame and a base as viewed from the drive pulley side in a direction along the rotation axis. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame and a base as viewed from the drive gear side in a direction along the rotation axis. [Figure 7] 1A to 1D are schematic diagrams showing the steps of winding a conveyor belt around a pair of drive pulleys. [Figure 8] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing the frame rotation procedure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a first diagram for explaining a method of installing an intermediate drive unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a second diagram for explaining a method of installing the intermediate drive unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a third diagram for explaining a method of installing the intermediate drive unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram for explaining a method of installing the intermediate drive device. [Figure 13] FIG. 5 is a fifth diagram for explaining a method of installing an intermediate driving device. [Figure 14] FIG. 6 is a sixth diagram for explaining a method of installing an intermediate driving device. [Figure 15] FIG. 7 is a seventh diagram for explaining a method of installing the intermediate drive unit. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is an eighth diagram illustrating a method for installing the intermediate drive unit. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of cross section A of FIG. 9 taken along the arrows. [Figure 18] 12 is a schematic diagram of cross section B of FIG. 11 taken along the arrow B. FIG. [Figure 19] 14 is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the arrow C in FIG. 13. [Figure 20] 15 is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along the arrow D in FIG. 14. [Figure 21] 1A is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate head pulley, and FIG. 1B is a side view seen from the axial direction. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a frame and a base according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] The configuration of an intermediate driving device 100 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The intermediate driving device 100 is a driving device that is installed midway along the conveying path of the extension belt conveyor 200 that conveys excavation muck EM during tunnel excavation shown in Figure 1, and that auxiliary drives the conveyor belt 5. First, an overview of the extension belt conveyor 200 will be described.

[0026] (Outline of the extension belt conveyor) As shown in Figure 1, the extension belt conveyor 200 is a transport device that transports excavation waste EM during tunnel excavation, and is a conveyor device that can extend the transport distance as the tunnel excavation work progresses. Excavation waste EM is rock blocks, earth, sand, etc. excavated from the natural ground when excavating a tunnel. The entrance opening of the tunnel is called the tunnel portal 1, and the tip (innermost part) of the tunnel being excavated is called the tunnel face 2.

[0027] In the following explanation, the up-down direction (vertical direction) is referred to as the Z direction, and the front-to-back direction along the tunnel excavation direction is referred to as the X direction. Within the X direction, the front side of the excavation direction (towards the face 2) is referred to as the X1 direction, and the rear side of the excavation direction (towards the tunnel portal 1) is referred to as the X2 direction.

[0028] The extension belt conveyor 200 includes an intermediate drive unit 100, a mobile crusher 110, a tailpiece carriage 120, a belt storage unit 130, a main drive unit 140, and a head pulley unit 150.

[0029] The extension belt conveyor 200 is a transport system in which a conveyor belt 5 for transporting excavated muck EM is wound between a tailpiece cart 120 located at the front of the excavation direction (X1 side) and a head pulley device 150 located at the rear of the excavation direction (X2 side). While the head pulley device 150 is fixedly installed, the tailpiece cart 120 is movable and moves as the working face 2 advances. The conveyor belt 5 is an endless belt. The conveyor belt 5 is formed longer than the transport length (path length from the tail pulley 121 of the tailpiece cart 120 to the head pulley 151 of the head pulley device 150) at the initial installation of the extension belt conveyor 200. In this specification, the excess length of the conveyor belt 5 is referred to as the excess length. The excess length is stored in the belt storage 130 so that it can be handled.

[0030] Excavation debris EM generated by excavation of the tunnel excavation face (face 2) is collected by a transport vehicle H such as a wheel loader and fed into a mobile crusher 110. The mobile crusher 110 crushes large excavation debris EM into small pieces that can be transported, and then feeds the crushed excavation debris EM into a tailpiece cart 120.

[0031] Excavated debris EM is loaded onto the conveyor belt 5 in the tailpiece cart 120. The conveyor belt 5 is driven in a circular motion by the driving force of the main drive unit 140, and the excavated debris EM on the conveyor belt 5 is transported from the tail pulley 121 to the head pulley 151 located near the wellhead.

[0032] As the tunnel excavation progresses, the position of the tunnel face 2 moves, so the mobile crusher 110 and the tailpiece cart 120 move forward in the excavation direction (X1 direction). Then, the excess length of the conveyor belt 5 stored in the belt storage 130 is paid out by the amount that the tailpiece cart 120 moves forward.

[0033] When all the excess length stored in the belt storage 130 is unwound, the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200 is temporarily stopped, a portion of the existing conveyor belt 5 is cut, a new conveyor belt 5 is added to the cut portion, and then the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200 is resumed. The new conveyor belt 5 is stored in the belt storage 130 as excess length. By repeatedly advancing the tailpiece cart 120 and adding new conveyor belt 5, the conveying distance of the extension belt conveyor 200 increases.

[0034] As the conveying distance of the extension belt conveyor 200 increases, the driving force provided by the main drive unit 140 alone may be insufficient or the belt tension may become excessive. For this reason, as shown in Figure 1, an intermediate drive unit 100 is installed at a midpoint along the conveying route. The intermediate drive unit 100 is installed between the tailpiece cart 120 on the face 2 side and the group of devices on the pithead 1 side, including the belt storage 130, the main drive unit 140, and the head pulley unit 150. Thus, Figure 1 shows the extension belt conveyor 200 after tunnel excavation has progressed to a certain extent and the intermediate drive unit 100 has been installed.

[0035] Some steps in the installation work of the intermediate driving device 100 are performed by temporarily halting the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200. The intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment has a configuration that can facilitate the installation work and shorten the operation downtime of the extension belt conveyor 200.

[0036] (Intermediate drive unit) Next, the structure of the intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment will be described. As described above, the intermediate driving device 100 is a belt driving device that is installed midway along the conveying path of the extension belt conveyor 200 that conveys excavation muck EM during tunnel excavation, and that auxiliary drives the conveyor belt 5.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the intermediate driving device 100 mainly comprises a driving pulley 10, a frame 20, a base 30, and a driving unit 40. In the following description, the direction along the rotation shaft 11 of the driving pulley 10 (the direction in which the rotation shaft 11 extends) will be simply referred to as the "axial direction." When the intermediate driving device 100 is installed, the axial direction Ax (see Fig. 3) is parallel to the width direction of the conveyor belt 5.

[0038] <Drive pulley> The conveyor belt 5 is driven by the intermediate drive unit 100 by wrapping the conveyor belt 5 around the drive pulley 10 and using the surface friction of the drive pulley 10 to pull the conveyor belt 5. The intermediate drive unit 100 is equipped with a pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b to generate frictional force corresponding to the large driving force, and employs a "tandem drive" system using the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b.

[0039] In order to increase the frictional force of the conveyor belt 5, the wrap angle of the conveyor belt 5 around each drive pulley 10 is 180 degrees or more, preferably around 270 degrees. The wrap angle of the conveyor belt 5 refers to the opening angle of the arc formed by the part of the conveyor belt 5 that contacts the surface of the drive pulley 10.

[0040] The pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are arranged side by side with a gap between them. The pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b have rotation axes 11 (11a, 11b) that extend parallel to each other. The same conveyor belt 5 is wound around each of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b so that it is stretched across the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b.

[0041] Although not necessarily limited to this, each of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b has the same structure. Therefore, the structure of one drive pulley 10 will be described. Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing the bearing structure of one drive pulley 10.

[0042] The drive pulley 10 has a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction Ax. The drive pulley 10 has a length equal to or greater than the width of the conveyor belt 5. The drive pulley 10 is provided on one end P of the rotating shaft 11. The drive pulley 10 is integrated with the rotating shaft 11 by welding or the like. In other words, the drive pulley 10 rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 11.

[0043] The rotating shaft 11 is rotatably supported by a first bearing 12a and a second bearing 12b at the other end Q opposite the drive pulley 10. The first bearing 12a and the second bearing 12b are housed in a cylindrical bearing housing 13 and held in place by shaft seals 14a, 14b, etc. The bearing housing 13 is mounted to a frame 20.

[0044] The other end Q of the rotary shaft 11 passes through the frame 20 (bearing housing 13) and protrudes from the frame 20 on the opposite side to the drive pulley 10. A drive gear 15 is attached to the other end Q of the rotary shaft 11.

[0045] The intermediate drive device 100 is provided with two sets (pairs) of the drive pulley 10, rotating shaft 11, bearing housing 13 (first bearing 12a, second bearing 12b, shaft seals 14a, 14b), and drive gear 15 configured as described above. Hereinafter, the rotating shaft 11, bearing housing 13, and drive gear 15 of the drive pulley 10a will be referred to as the rotating shaft 11a, bearing housing 13a, and drive gear 15a, respectively. The rotating shaft 11, bearing housing 13, and drive gear 15 of the drive pulley 10b will be referred to as the rotating shaft 11b, bearing housing 13b, and drive gear 15b, respectively.

[0046] <Frame and stand> As shown in Fig. 4, the frame 20 is a support member that rotatably supports the rotation shafts 11a and 11b of the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b. The frame 20 of this embodiment rotatably supports the rotation shafts 11a and 11b, while the frame 20 itself is rotatable about a central axis 20a. As will be described later, the frame 20 is configured to be driven and rotated by an external drive device 50 (see Fig. 8) that is different from the drive unit 40. The central axis 20a of the frame 20 is parallel to the axial direction Ax of the drive pulley 10.

[0047] The frame 20 has a circular shape (see FIG. 2) when viewed in the axial direction Ax (the direction along the rotation axis 11). As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 20 includes a first frame portion 21 and a second frame portion 22 that face each other and are spaced apart in the axial direction Ax. The first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22 are fixed to each other by a connecting portion 23 that extends in the axial direction Ax. As described above, the frame 20 is provided with two bearing housings 13a, 13b (see FIG. 4).

[0048] 4, one end of each of the two bearing housings 13a, 13b in the axial direction Ax is connected to the first frame portion 21, and the other end in the axial direction Ax is connected to the second frame portion 22. Each of the first bearings 12a is provided at one end within the bearing housings 13a, 13b, and each of the second bearings 12b is provided at the other end within the bearing housings 13a, 13b. In other words, the frame 20 includes, for each of the pair of rotating shafts 11a, 11b, a first bearing 12a provided on the first frame portion 21 side and a second bearing 12b provided on the second frame portion 22 side.

[0049] The frame 20 is disposed on one side of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b along the rotation axes 11a, 11b and is configured to cantilever-support each of the rotation axes 11a, 11b. In other words, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are provided so as to protrude from the frame 20 toward one end P in the axial direction Ax. The one end P of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b is a free end without a support structure. Therefore, a gap SP is provided between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, with the other end Q being blocked by the frame 20 and the one end P being open. As a result, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are configured so that the conveyor belt 5 can be inserted and positioned between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b from the side opposite the frame 20 (the one end P) along the rotation axes 11a, 11b.

[0050] 5, the two rotating shafts 11a, 11b are installed at positions equidistant from the central axis 20a of the frame 20. When viewed from the axial direction Ax, the rotating shafts 11a, 11b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis 20a of the frame 20. Therefore, when viewed from the direction along the rotating shafts 11 (axial direction Ax), the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are arranged on both sides of the central axis 20a of the frame 20 at positions equidistant from the central axis 20a.

[0051] In Fig. 4, the drive gears 15a and 15b are provided at the other ends Q of the rotary shafts 11a and 11b of the drive pulleys 10a and 10b, respectively, as described above. As shown in Fig. 6, when viewed from the axial direction Ax, the drive gears 15a and 15b mesh with each other at a reduction ratio of 1:1 at positions where the distances between the centers of the bearings are equal (i.e., at the midpoints of the rotary shafts 11a and 11b).

[0052] Thus, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b each have a drive gear 15a, 15b that mesh with each other. Therefore, when either drive gear 15a, 15b is driven, the drive pulleys 10a, 10b rotate in opposite directions at the same speed. Each of the drive gears 15a, 15b can mesh with a pinion gear 44 (described later) at a position on the outer periphery of the frame 20 opposite the meshing position of the other drive gear.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5 , the frame 20 is supported by a cradle 30. The cradle 30 is configured to support the frame 20 integrally with the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b so that it can rotate about a central axis 20a that is parallel to the rotation shafts 11a, 11b. If a limit is set on the rotation angle range of the frame 20, the cradle 30 preferably supports the frame 20 so that it can rotate at least 270 degrees. More preferably, the cradle 30 supports the frame 20 so that it can rotate at least 360 degrees. In this embodiment, the cradle 30 rotatably supports the frame 20, and the frame 20 can be rotated any number of times (720 degrees, 960 degrees, etc.) (the rotation angle range of the frame 20 is unlimited).

[0054] The mount 30 includes an annular support portion 31 that surrounds the circular frame 20, and a base portion 32 on which the support portion 31 is mounted. The mount 30 also includes a support plate 33 that supports the outer periphery of the circular frame 20 so that the outer periphery can move along the rotational direction. As a result, the circular outer periphery of the frame 20 is rotatably supported by the mount 30. The support plate 33 is an example of a "support member" in the claims.

[0055] The support plate 33 is configured to provide sliding support (for example, slidable support) for the outer periphery of the frame 20. The support plate 33 is provided on the inner periphery of the annular support part 31. The support plate 33 is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the frame 20.

[0056] The frame 20 is also provided with a structure for switching the fixed state of the frame 20 between a state in which the frame 20 is rotatable relative to the gantry 30 and a state in which the frame 20 is fixed to the gantry 30.

[0057] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, an annular fixing flange 24 is provided on the outer periphery of the frame 20. As shown in Fig. 4, one fixing flange 24 is provided on the outer periphery of each of the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22. The fixing flanges 24 are provided so as to protrude radially outward from the outer periphery of the frame 20 (the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22). The fixing flanges 24 are provided so as to straddle each frame portion (the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22) and the pedestal 30.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6 , the fixing flange 24 has two rows of bolt insertion holes (not shown) formed along the circumferential direction, one on the inner circumferential side and the other on the outer circumferential side. The frame 20 (the first frame portion 21 or the second frame portion 22) and the fixing flange 24 are fixed together by inner row bolts 25a inserted into the inner circumferential bolt insertion holes. The fixing flange 24 and the base 30 are fixed together by outer row bolts 25b inserted into the outer circumferential bolt insertion holes. Note that the frame 20 (the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22) and the base 30 each have a plurality of screw holes (not shown) for bolt fixation formed at the same pitch as the bolt insertion holes. The frame 20 is fixed to the base 30 via the fixing flange 24 by the inner row bolts 25a and the outer row bolts 25b. By removing the outer row bolts 25b, the frame 20 becomes rotatable relative to the base 30.

[0059] Furthermore, connection parts 26 for connecting to an externally driven device 50 (see FIG. 8) are provided on the outer periphery of the frame 20. The frame 20 is configured to rotate when the connection parts 26 are pulled in the circumferential direction by the externally driven device 50. The frame 20 has a plurality of connection parts 26 along its outer periphery.

[0060] In one example, the connection portions 26 are connection hooks for connecting rigging 55 (see FIG. 8). Specifically, the connection portions 26 are provided on the outer periphery of the fixing flange 24. A plurality of the connection portions 26 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the fixing flange 24. In the example of FIG. 8, four connection portions 26a to 26d are arranged at 90-degree intervals.

[0061] 5, the base 32 of the frame 30 is provided with a guide unit 34 for guiding the rigging 55 (see FIG. 8). The guide unit 34 bends the direction of the rigging 55 coming from the externally driven equipment 50 (see FIG. 8) and guides the rigging 55 toward one of the multiple connection units 26. In this embodiment, the guide unit 34 is a pulley that can rotate around a central axis. When viewed from the axial direction Ax of the frame 20, the guide unit 34 is located below the frame 20, between the center of the frame 20 and the outermost periphery of the frame 20 in the horizontal direction.

[0062] <Drive unit> As shown in Fig. 4, the drive unit 40 drives and rotates the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b. The drive unit 40 has a pinion gear 44 (see Fig. 6) that meshes with either of the drive gears 15a, 15b depending on the rotation angle of the frame 20. In Fig. 4, the drive unit 40 includes a drive motor 41, a coupling 42, a reducer 43, and the pinion gear 44.

[0063] A pinion gear 44 is attached to the output shaft of a reducer 43 connected to a drive motor 41 via a coupling 42. The pinion gear 44 meshes with one of the drive gears 15a, 15b. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the power of the drive motor 41 is transmitted to the drive gear 15b of the drive pulley 10 via the coupling 42, the reducer 43, and the pinion gear 44, and is also transmitted to the drive gear 15a meshed with the drive gear 15b. This results in a tandem drive in which the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b connected to the drive gears 15a, 15b rotate in opposite directions.

[0064] The drive motor 41, the coupling 42, and the reducer 43 are arranged on the opposite side of the frame 20 in the axial direction Ax with respect to the gear train of the pinion gear 44 and the drive gears 15a, 15b.

[0065] 4 and 6, the pinion gear 44 and the drive gear 15b mesh together, but depending on the rotation angle of the frame 20 (when the frame 20 is rotated 180 degrees from FIG. 6), the pinion gear 44 and the drive gear 15a mesh together.

[0066] <Winding the conveyor belt around the drive pulley> 7(A) to 7(D), a procedure for winding the conveyor belt 5 around the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b will be described. In FIG. 7, the drive pulley 10b is hatched for convenience.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 7(A), a pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are disposed at a winding start position relative to the conveyor belt 5. The winding start position is a position where the conveyor belt 5 is disposed between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b as viewed from the axial direction Ax. One of the drive pulleys 10a, 10b is disposed on the front side of the conveyor belt 5, and the other of the drive pulleys 10a, 10b is disposed on the back side of the conveyor belt 5. The rotation angle of the frame 20 is adjusted so that the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor belt 5 (thickness direction of the conveyor belt 5), so the rotational positions of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b at the winding start position are arbitrary.

[0068] After the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are positioned at the winding start position, as shown in Figures 7(B) and 7(C), the frame 20 is rotated, causing the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b to pivot about the central axis 20a (see Figure 5) of the frame 20. As a result of the pivoting, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b come into contact with the conveyor belt 5, respectively, and wind the conveyor belt 5 around the outer surface.

[0069] As shown in Figure 7(D), when the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are positioned at a predetermined winding completion position, rotation of the frame 20 is stopped. The winding completion position is a position where either of the pair of drive gears 15a, 15b connected to the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b can mesh with the pinion gear 44 of the drive unit 40. In Figure 6, the pinion gear 44 meshes with the pair of drive gears 15a, 15b at a position where they are horizontally aligned, so the winding completion position is a position where the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are horizontally aligned.

[0070] Depending on the winding start position, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b (frame 20) are rotated by an angle greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees from the winding start position to the winding completion position. For example, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b (frame 20) are rotated by approximately 270 degrees from the winding start position to the winding completion position in FIG. 7(A).

[0071] <Frame rotation> Next, the procedure for rotating the frame 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8(A) to 8(C).

[0072] When rotating the frame 20, the frame 20 is first placed in a state in which it can rotate relative to the pedestal 30. Specifically, the inner row bolts 25a are attached to the fixing flange 24 to connect the frame 20 and the fixing flange 24, while the outer row bolts 25b are not attached to the fixing flange 24. In other words, the fixing flange 24 and the pedestal 30 are not connected to each other.

[0073] Next, one end of the rigging 55 is attached to one of the connection parts 26 corresponding to the rotation direction of the frame 20 via the guide part 34 of the gantry 30. In the example of FIG. 8(A), one end of the rigging 55 is connected to one connection part 26a in the initial position. The other end of the rigging 55 is connected to an external driving device 50 for rotating the frame 20. In the example of FIG. 8, the external driving device 50 for rotating the frame 20 is installed near the gantry 30.

[0074] In the example of FIG. 8 , the externally driven device 50 is, for example, a lever block (registered trademark). The externally driven device 50 may be a chain block, an electric or manual winch, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like, other than a lever block, and is not particularly limited. The rigging 55 is a towing wire rope, but it may also be a chain or a fiber rope. The externally driven device 50 may be a manual device or a device using a drive source such as electric power or hydraulic power, and is not particularly limited. When the externally driven device 50 is a lever block, the other end of the rigging 55 is attached to one side of the lever block, and the other side of the lever block is connected to a fixedly installed anchor 51. The towing reaction force of the externally driven device 50 is supported by the anchor 51.

[0075] 8(B), when the rigging 55 is reeled in by the external driving device 50, the connection portion 26a is pulled, causing the frame 20 to rotate around the central axis 20a in the pulling direction (here, clockwise).

[0076] FIG. 8(C) shows a state in which the frame 20 has rotated approximately 90 degrees and the connection portion 26a has reached the lowest point. In this state, one end of the rigging 55 is detached from the connection portion 26a and reconnected to the connection portion 26d, which is located in the initial position. The rigging 55 is then rewound by the external driving equipment 50. By repeatedly attaching the rigging 55 to one of the connection portions 26 and rewinding the rigging 55 by the external driving equipment 50, the frame 20 is rotated to the desired angle. As shown in FIG. 7, by rotating the frame 20 approximately 270 degrees from the winding start position to the winding completion position, the conveyor belt 5 can be wound around the drive pulleys 10a and 10b by the desired angle.

[0077] According to this procedure, because the frame 20 is pulled by the external drive device 50, the amount of rotational movement can be easily adjusted with high precision. Furthermore, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 8(C), by connecting rigging 55 to the connection part 26b, rotation in the reverse direction can also be easily achieved. Therefore, the precision of adjusting the amount of rotation is dramatically improved compared to the conventional method of rotating the drive pulley using an electric motor for driving the belt conveyor.

[0078] After the frame 20 has been rotated until the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are positioned at the winding completion position, the outer row bolts 25b are attached to the fixing flange 24 to fix the fixing flange 24 to the base 30. Since the base 30 and the frame 20 are bolted together via the fixing flange 24, high rigidity is achieved.

[0079] (Effects of the intermediate drive device of this embodiment) The intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0080] As described above, the intermediate drive device 100 of this embodiment includes a pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b around which the conveyor belt 5 is wound, a frame 20 that rotatably supports the rotation axes 11a, 11b of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, respectively, a base 30 that rotatably supports the frame 20 together with the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b around a central axis 20a that is parallel to the rotation axes 11a, 11b, and a drive unit 40 that rotationally drives the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, and is configured so that the frame 20 is driven to rotate by an external drive device 50 that is different from the drive unit 40.

[0081] With the above configuration, the frame 20, which rotatably supports the rotation shafts 11a, 11b of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, can be rotated while being supported by the base 30. Therefore, the conveyor belt 5 can be inserted between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b in a state where the rotation angle of the frame 20 is previously adjusted so that the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are respectively positioned on the front and back sides of the conveyor belt 5 in accordance with the extension direction of the conveyor belt 5. After the conveyor belt 5 is inserted, the conveyor belt 5 can be easily wound around the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b by simply rotating the frame 20 until the conveyor belt 5 is sufficiently wound around each of the drive pulleys 10a, 10b. Furthermore, since the frame 20 is driven to rotate by an external drive device 50 different from the drive unit 40 that rotates and drives the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, the drive unit 40 does not require high-precision speed control or positioning control. As a result, highly accurate speed control and positioning control are not required, and the installation work of the intermediate driving device 100 can be simplified.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the frame 20 is disposed on one side of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b in the axial direction Ax and is configured to cantilever-support the respective rotation shafts 11a, 11b. The pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are configured to allow the conveyor belt 5 to be inserted and positioned between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b from the opposite side of the frame 20 along the axial direction Ax. As a result, the conveyor belt 5 can be inserted between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b simply by sliding the intermediate drive unit 100 along the axial direction Ax from the side of the conveyor belt 5, with the rotation angle of the frame 20 (the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b) previously adjusted to match the direction in which the conveyor belt 5 extends. Therefore, the conveyor belt 5 can be easily wound around the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b simply by rotating the frame 20 and sliding the intermediate drive unit 100.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the frame 20 includes the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22 that face each other with a gap in the axial direction Ax, and a first bearing 12a provided on the first frame portion 21 side and a second bearing 12b provided on the second frame portion 22 side for each of the pair of rotating shafts 11a, 11b. This allows the rotating shafts 11a, 11b to be supported at multiple locations along the axial direction Ax, even when the rotating shafts 11a, 11b of each drive pulley 10 are cantilevered. As a result, even with a cantilevered support structure, the rigidity required to support the tension of the conveyor belt 5 during excavated waste transportation can be easily ensured.

[0084] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the frame 20 has a circular shape when viewed from the axial direction Ax, and the pedestal 30 includes a support plate 33 that supports the outer periphery of the circular frame 20 so that it can move along the rotational direction. This makes it easy to realize a configuration in which the structure that supports the outer periphery of the frame 20 supports the frame 20, which supports the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b, so that it can rotate 360 ​​degrees or more.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are disposed on both sides of the central axis 20a of the frame 20, at positions equidistant from the central axis 20a, as viewed in the axial direction Ax. As a result, compared to, for example, a case where one drive pulley 10a is disposed coaxially with the central axis 20a of the frame 20 and the other drive pulley 10b is disposed away from the central axis 20a, the distance (radius) from the central axis 20a of the frame 20 to each of the drive pulleys 10a, 10b can be made smaller, assuming that the spacing between the drive pulleys 10a, 10b is the same. This allows the frame 20 supporting the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b to be made smaller.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, each of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b has a drive gear 15 (15a, 15b) that mesh with each other, and the drive unit 40 has a pinion gear 44 that meshes with either of the drive gears 15 depending on the rotation angle of the frame 20. As a result, by utilizing the fact that the distances from the central axis 20a of the frame 20 to each of the drive pulleys 10 are equal, it is possible to connect the drive unit 40 and each of the drive gears 15a, 15b so as to be able to transmit power, with a simple configuration in which the frame 20 is simply rotated to a position where either of the drive gears 15 meshes with the pinion gear 44.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the frame 20 has the connection portion 26 with the external drive device 50, and is configured to rotate when the external drive device 50 pulls the connection portion 26 in the circumferential direction. As a result, the frame 20 can be rotated by the pulling force acting on the connection portion 26. This allows a simple pulling mechanism to be used as the external drive device 50, rather than a large-scale device, thereby effectively alleviating the constraints on the space and equipment required for the installation work of the intermediate drive unit 100.

[0088] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the frame 20 has a plurality of connection parts 26 (26a to 26d) along its outer periphery, and the cradle 30 has guide parts 34 that bend the direction of the rigging 55 from the externally driven device 50 and guide the rigging 55 toward any of the plurality of connection parts 26a to 26d. As a result, the frame 20 can be rotated by connecting the externally driven device 50 to any of the connection parts 26 with the rigging 55 and pulling the rigging 55. In this case, the direction of the pulling force acting on the connection part 26 is determined by the positional relationship between the guide parts 34 provided on the cradle 30 and the connection part 26. Therefore, the frame 20 can be rotated without restrictions on the position (pulling direction) of the externally driven device 50 or the distance from the externally driven device 50 to the cradle 30.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the base 30 is configured to support the frame 20 so that it can rotate at least 360 degrees. This allows the frame 20 to freely rotate more than one rotation (360 degrees). Therefore, regardless of the direction in which the conveyor belt 5 extends, it is easy to perform the work of pre-adjusting the rotational positions of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b in accordance with the direction in which the conveyor belt 5 extends, and the work of rotating the frame 20 to wind the conveyor belt 5 inserted between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b.

[0090] (Method of installing intermediate drive unit) Next, a method for installing the intermediate driving device 100 will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 21. The method for installing the intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment is a method for installing the intermediate driving device 100 to auxiliary drive the conveyor belt 5 in tunnel excavation work using the extension belt conveyor 200.

[0091] The installation method for the intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment includes at least the following steps. (Step 1) A step of temporarily assembling the intermediate drive device 100, which includes a frame 20 that supports the rotation shafts 11 of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyor belt 5 at the installation position of the intermediate drive device 100 while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation, a base 30 that rotatably supports the frame 20, and a drive unit 40 that rotates and drives the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b. (Step 2) After stopping the extension belt conveyor 200, the temporarily assembled intermediate drive device 100 is moved laterally from the side of the conveyor belt 5 to position the conveyor belt 5 between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b. (Step 3) A step of rotating the frame 20 by the external driving device 50 to wind the conveyor belt 5 around the pair of driving pulleys 10a and 10b.

[0092] Below, a series of installation methods will be described, including installation of not only the intermediate driving device 100 but also the auxiliary devices associated with the intermediate driving device 100. Figures 9 to 16 are diagrams explaining the flow of the installation method in chronological order. Note that in Figures 9 to 16, the X1 and X2 directions in the figures are opposite to those in Figure 1.

[0093] 9, the intermediate drive device 100 is temporarily assembled while the tunnel is being excavated (i.e., while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation) (Step 1). First, while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation, the installation base 60, the temporary lifting machine 61, the cantilever stand 62, etc. are assembled.

[0094] Next, the intermediate driving unit 100 transported through the tunnel is lifted by a temporary lifting machine 61 and temporarily installed. Figure 9 shows the intermediate driving unit 100 being lifted by the temporary lifting machine 61. In this process, all auxiliary equipment other than the intermediate driving unit 100 is also temporarily installed on the installation base 60. The temporary lifting machine 61 is removed after the installation work for the intermediate driving unit 100 is completed.

[0095] During the temporary assembly process, the extension belt conveyor 200 transports excavation waste EM from the tunnel face (X1 direction) toward the tunnel mouth (X2 direction). Figure 9 shows the conveyor middle section MP of the extension belt conveyor 200, near the planned installation position of the intermediate drive unit 100. The conveyor middle section MP is supported on the tunnel wall by knee braces (not shown).

[0096] 17, an extension frame 62 is temporarily installed on the installation base 60, extending from the position of the conveyor belt 5 to a position offset to the side of the conveyor belt 5. The intermediate drive unit 100 and accessory equipment are temporarily assembled on the extension frame 62 to a preparation position P1 offset to the side from the conveyor belt 5. The extension frame 62 is provided for temporarily installing the equipment, and is removed from the installation base 60 after the intermediate drive unit 100 and other equipment have been properly installed.

[0097] After the temporary assembly process, a process of stopping the extension belt conveyor 200 is carried out. This stops the main drive device 140 (see FIG. 1), and therefore the conveyor belt 5 is stopped.

[0098] Temporarily installed equipment other than that necessary for explanation is not shown in Figures 10 to 16. In the following explanation, of the circular conveyor belt 5, the part that transports the excavated muck EM toward the mineshaft entrance (X2 direction) is called the carrier side belt 5a, and the part that returns the excavated muck EM to the working face 2 (X1 direction) after transporting it is called the return side belt 5b.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 10, after the extension belt conveyor 200 is stopped, a step of removing a part of the extension belt conveyor 200 (conveyor middle part MP) existing in the installation section of the intermediate driving device 100 is carried out.

[0100] Next, a process is performed in which pulleys for guiding the conveyor belt 5 are installed on the drive pulleys 10a, 10b of the intermediate drive device 100. Specifically, a belt handling jig 63 is installed, and a return vent pulley 64a is installed while the return side belt 5b (indicated by the broken line) is retracted by the belt handling jig 63. Next, the belt handling jig 63 is moved toward the face (X1 direction), and a return vent pulley 64b is installed while similarly retracting the return side belt 5b. When the belt handling jig 63 is removed from the return side belt 5b, the return side belt 5b is stretched over the return vent pulleys 64a and 64b.

[0101] 11 and 18, the intermediate head pulley 65 is installed while the carrier side belt 5a is retracted by the belt handling jig 63. When the belt handling jig 63 is removed from the carrier side belt 5a, the carrier side belt 5a is looped around the intermediate head pulley 65.

[0102] 12, the carrier side belt 5a on the minehead side (X2 side) of the intermediate head pulley 65 is pulled in the face direction (X1 direction) by the belt handling jig 63, and the carrier vent pulley 66a is installed. When the belt handling jig 63 is removed from the carrier side belt 5a, the carrier side belt 5a is stretched from the intermediate head pulley 65 to the carrier vent pulley 66a.

[0103] Next, the conveyor belt 5 is placed between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b of the temporarily assembled intermediate driving unit 100 (Step 2). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, the intermediate driving unit 100, which has been temporarily installed in advance, is slid from the side of the carrier-side belt 5a between the intermediate head pulley 65 and the carrier vent pulley 66a. Before sliding the intermediate driving unit 100, the rotation angle of the frame 20 is adjusted in advance so that the drive pulleys 10a, 10b are positioned at the winding start position (see FIG. 7(A)). The intermediate driving unit 100 is translated from a preparation position P1 adjacent to the side of the conveyor belt 5 on the outrigger 62 to the conveyor belt 5 in the direction indicated by arrow 80. As a result of this movement, the intermediate driving unit 100 is positioned at the assembly position P2 (see FIG. 20).

[0104] As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the carrier side belt 5a (conveyor belt 5) is inserted between the drive pulleys 10a and 10b (to be precise, the drive pulleys 10a and 10b are inserted on the upper and lower sides of the carrier side belt 5a, respectively).

[0105] Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the conveyor belt 5 is wound around the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b (step 3). Specifically, the frame 20 of the intermediate drive unit 100 is rotated, and the carrier-side belt 5a (conveyor belt 5) is wound around the drive pulleys 10a and 10b. The winding procedure for the conveyor belt 5 is as described above with reference to FIGS. 7(A) to 7(D). The drive pulleys 10a and 10b, which are positioned at the winding completion position, are engaged with the pinion gear 44 (see FIG. 6). This enables the intermediate drive unit 100 to drive the conveyor belt 5.

[0106] 15, a process is performed in which the carrier vent pulley 66b is installed on the wellhead side (X2 side) of the intermediate driving device 100. As a result, both the carrier side belt 5a and the return side belt 5b are in the normal state (a state in which the conveyor belt 5 can be driven circulatoryly).

[0107] Next, the process of installing the accessories for the intermediate drive unit 100 is carried out. As shown in FIG. 16, a head chute 67, a transfer hopper, and a transfer conveyor unit 68 are installed at the position of the intermediate head pulley 65. The head chute 67 is a cylindrical member that receives the excavated debris EM transported from the face side to the intermediate head pulley 65 and supplies the received excavated debris EM to the transfer hopper and transfer conveyor unit 68. The transfer hopper and transfer conveyor unit 68 are devices that distribute the excavated debris EM and supply it onto the carrier-side belt 5a on the wellhead side. The transfer conveyor unit 68 is composed of impact rollers, conveyor rollers, and straightening plates. In addition, monitoring equipment (not shown) such as a meandering detector is also installed. In addition, belt cleaning equipment (not shown) such as a scraper and a water-washing cleaner is also installed between the intermediate head pulley 65 and the intermediate drive unit 100. Finally, a process of installing the conveyor frame 69 on the face side (X1 direction side) is carried out.

[0108] Through the above steps, the intermediate drive unit 100 and ancillary equipment are installed on the extension belt conveyor 200. When the process of installing the face-side conveyor frame 69 is completed, the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200, which had been stopped, is resumed. Thus, tunnel excavation work resumes. After operation resumes, the conveyor belt 5 is driven in a circular motion by the main drive unit 140 and the intermediate drive unit 100.

[0109] The bearing structure of the intermediate head pulley 65 will be described with reference to Figure 21. Two bearings 71 are provided inside the pulley portion 70 along the axial direction Ax. The intermediate head pulley 65 is also equipped with external protective devices such as seals to protect the bearings 71. The intermediate head pulley 65 is rotatably supported by a shaft 72 via these two bearings 71. The shaft 72 is fixed to the installation base 60. In other words, the intermediate head pulley 65 is a free pulley in which the shaft 72 is fixed and the pulley portion 70 rotates relative to the fixed shaft 72 via the bearings 71.

[0110] With this structure, the intermediate head pulley 65 is supported in a cantilevered manner on the installation base 60. The other return vent pulleys 64a, 64b and carrier vent pulleys 66a, 66b are also supported in a cantilevered manner on the installation base 60 with a structure similar to that of the intermediate head pulley 65 shown in Fig. 21. Therefore, similar to the intermediate driving unit 100 described above, these pulleys can be installed in predetermined support positions simply by inserting the tip ends of the pulleys into the conveyor belt 5 from the side.

[0111] (Effects of the installation method of the intermediate drive unit according to this embodiment) The installation method for the intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0112] As described above, the installation method of the intermediate driving device 100 of this embodiment includes the steps of: temporarily assembling the intermediate driving device 100 while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation; stopping the extension belt conveyor 200 and then moving the temporarily assembled intermediate driving device 100 laterally from the side of the conveyor belt 5 to position the conveyor belt 5 between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b; and rotating the frame 20 with the external driving equipment 50 to wind the conveyor belt 5 around the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b.

[0113] With the above configuration, after temporarily assembling the intermediate driving unit 100, the conveyor belt 5 can be placed between the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b simply by sliding the intermediate driving unit 100 along the rotation shaft 11 from the side of the conveyor belt 5. Then, by rotating the frame 20, the conveyor belt 5 can be wound around the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b. Because the frame 20 is driven and rotated by the external driving device 50, the drive unit 40 does not require highly accurate speed control or positioning control. This eliminates the need for highly accurate speed control or positioning control, and facilitates the installation work of the intermediate driving unit 100.

[0114] Furthermore, while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation, it is possible to temporarily assemble the intermediate drive unit 100 and adjust the rotation angle of the frame 20 (the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b) in accordance with the extension direction of the conveyor belt 5 in advance. Then, after the extension belt conveyor 200 is stopped, the conveyor belt 5 can be wound around the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b simply by sliding the intermediate drive unit 100 and rotating the frame 20. Therefore, it is possible to effectively shorten the stoppage period of the extension belt conveyor 200 required to install the intermediate drive unit 100, which also contributes to the efficiency of tunnel construction.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, various pulleys such as the intermediate head pulley 65, return vent pulleys 64a and 64b, and carrier vent pulleys 66a and 66b are also cantilevered, similar to the drive pulleys 10a and 10b. This allows not only the intermediate drive unit 100 but also the various belt guide pulleys associated with the intermediate drive unit 100 to be assembled to the extension belt conveyor 200 simply by inserting them into the conveyor belt 5 from one side.

[0116] In this way, while the extension belt conveyor 200 is in operation, the installation base 60 and the extending frame 62 can be pre-assembled on the side of the extension belt conveyor 200, and all of the auxiliary equipment such as the intermediate drive unit 100, intermediate head pulley 65, return vent pulleys 64a, 64b, and carrier vent pulleys 66a, 66b can be temporarily assembled, and then the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200 can be stopped and the temporarily assembled intermediate drive unit 100 and auxiliary equipment can be quickly installed. As a result, the period during which tunnel excavation is stopped until the actual assembly is completed (the period during which the operation of the extension belt conveyor 200 is stopped) can be minimized.

[0117] [Variations] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0118] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a pedestal 30 including an annular support portion 31 and a base portion 32 was provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the pedestal 30 does not have to be provided with an annular support portion 31. FIG. 22 shows an example in which a pedestal 230 supports the lower part of a circular frame 20 using a base portion 32. In FIG. 22, the pedestal 230 includes support rollers 233 that support the outer periphery of the circular frame 20 movably along the rotation direction. The support rollers 233 are configured to roll and support the outer periphery of the frame 20. The support rollers 233 are an example of a "support member" in the claims.

[0119] Although the above embodiment illustrates an example in which the frame 20 is provided with an annular fixing flange 24, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the example illustrated in FIG. 22 , the frame 20 is not provided with a fixing flange 24. Instead of providing the fixing flange 24, a plurality of fixing brackets 235 are provided on the mount 230. The fixing brackets 235 are provided with bolt insertion holes (not shown), and the fixing brackets 235 are fixed to the base 32 with fastening bolts 236 b. When the frame 20 is positioned at a predetermined rotation angle, fastening bolts 236 a can be inserted into the bolt insertion holes of the fixing brackets 235 and fixed to screw holes (not shown) in the frame 20. In this manner, the frame 20 is fixed to the base 32 via the fixing brackets 235. Note that in this modification, connection portions 26 are provided around the frame 20. The mount 230 is provided with guide portions 34 as in the embodiment, and the frame 20 can be rotated in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the frame 20 supports the rotation shafts 11a and 11b of the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b in a cantilever manner, but the present invention is not limited to this. The intermediate driving device 100 of the present invention may be provided with a structure supporting the one end P of the rotation shafts 11a and 11b, which is opposite to the frame 20. In this case, when inserting the conveyor belt 5 between the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b, the structure supporting the one end P of the rotation shafts 11a and 11b may be removed from the intermediate driving device 100, and after the conveyor belt 5 is placed between the pair of drive pulleys 10a and 10b, the structure supporting the one end P of the rotation shafts 11a and 11b may be attached to the intermediate driving device 100.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the rotating shaft 11 is provided with the first bearing 12a on the first frame portion 21 side and the second bearing 12b on the second frame portion 22 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the frame may have a single flat plate structure instead of providing the first frame portion 21 and the second frame portion 22. In this case, for example, the frame may be provided with a large-diameter bearing structure that rotatably supports the outer periphery of the drive pulley 10.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b are disposed on either side of the central axis 20a of the frame 20 at positions equidistant from the central axis 20a, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b may be disposed on the central axis 20a of the frame 20, and the other may be disposed at a position a predetermined distance away from the central axis 20a.

[0123] In the above embodiment, the drive gears 15a and 15b are provided at the other ends of the rotary shafts 11a and 11b, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the drive gears 15a and 15b may be provided at positions between the drive pulleys 10a and 10b and the frame 20 (intermediate positions of the rotary shafts) in the axial direction Ax.

[0124] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b mesh with the pinion gear 44 at the winding completion position, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, for example, by making the position of the pinion gear 44 (drive unit 40) changeable, the intermediate drive device 100 may be configured so that either of the pair of drive pulleys 10a, 10b can mesh with the pinion gear 44 at any rotational position.

[0125] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the frame 20 rotates when the connecting portion 26 is pulled in the circumferential direction by the external driving device 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, for example, a plurality of engagement pieces (protrusions) may be provided along the outer periphery of the frame 20, and the frame 20 may be rotated by pushing the engagement pieces in the circumferential direction using the external driving device 50, which is a linear motion mechanism such as a hydraulic cylinder. By arranging the engagement pieces at a pitch equivalent to one cylinder stroke and changing the engagement piece pushed out with each stroke, the frame 20 can be freely rotated. In this case, rigging 55 is not used, and therefore guide portions 34 for guiding the rigging 55 do not need to be provided on the platform 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 5. Conveyor Belt 10(10a, 10b) Drive pulley 11(11a, 11b) Rotation axis 12a First bearing 12b Second bearing 15(15a, 15b) Drive gear 20 frames 20a Center axis 21 First frame section 22 Second frame section 26(26a~26d) Connection part 30, 230 mount 33 Support plate (support member) 34 Information Department 40 Drive unit 44 Pinion gear 50 External Drive Equipment 55 Rigging 100 Intermediate drive unit 200 Extension Belt Conveyor 233 Support roller (support member) Ax Axial direction (direction along the axis of rotation)

Claims

1. In an extension belt conveyor that transports excavation waste during tunnel excavation, an intermediate drive device is installed in the middle of the transport path to auxiliary drive the conveyor belt, a pair of drive pulleys arranged side by side at a distance from each other and around which the conveyor belt is wound; a frame that rotatably supports the rotation shafts of the pair of drive pulleys; a base that supports the frame integrally with the pair of drive pulleys so as to be rotatable about a central axis that is parallel to the rotation axis and that is positioned at a different position from the rotation axis of each of the pair of drive pulleys when viewed from a direction along the rotation axis; a drive unit that rotates and drives the pair of drive pulleys, An intermediate drive unit, wherein the frame is connected to the frame separately from the drive unit and configured to be driven and rotated by external drive equipment including at least one of a lever block (registered trademark), a chain block, a winch, or a cylinder, and rigging.

2. the frame is disposed on one side of the pair of drive pulleys in a direction along the rotation shaft, and is configured to cantilever-support each of the rotation shafts; 2. The intermediate drive device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of drive pulleys are configured so that the conveyor belt can be inserted and positioned between the pair of drive pulleys from the opposite side of the frame along the rotation axis.

3. The frame is a first frame portion and a second frame portion facing each other with a gap in a direction along the rotation axis; 3. The intermediate driving device according to claim 2, further comprising: a first bearing provided on the first frame portion side and a second bearing provided on the second frame portion side for each of the pair of rotating shafts.

4. the frame has a circular shape when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis, 4. The intermediate drive device according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a support member that supports an outer periphery of the circular frame so as to be movable along a rotational direction.

5. The intermediate drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of drive pulleys are arranged on both sides of the central axis of the frame at positions equidistant from the central axis when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis.

6. Each of the pair of drive pulleys has a drive gear that meshes with the other, The intermediate drive device according to claim 5 , wherein the drive unit has a pinion gear that meshes with one of the drive gears depending on a rotation angle of the frame.

7. The intermediate drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the frame has a connection portion with the external drive equipment and is configured to rotate by the external drive equipment pulling the connection portion in a circumferential direction.

8. the frame has a plurality of the connection portions along its outer periphery, The intermediate drive device according to claim 7 , wherein the platform has a guide portion that bends the direction of the rigging from the external drive equipment and guides the rigging toward any one of the plurality of connection portions.

9. 9. The intermediate drive device according to claim 1, wherein the base is configured to support the frame so as to be rotatable through at least 360 degrees.

10. A method for installing an intermediate drive device for auxiliary driving of a conveyor belt in tunnel excavation work using an extension belt conveyor, a step of temporarily assembling the intermediate drive device, the intermediate drive device including: a frame that supports the rotation shafts of the pair of drive pulleys in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyor belt at an installation position of the intermediate drive device while the extension belt conveyor is in operation; a base that supports the frame integrally with the pair of drive pulleys so as to be rotatable about a central axis that is parallel to the rotation shafts and is positioned at a different position from the rotation shafts of the pair of drive pulleys when viewed from a direction along the rotation shafts; and a drive unit that rotationally drives the pair of drive pulleys; After stopping the extension belt conveyor, the intermediate drive unit is laterally moved from a side of the conveyor belt to position the conveyor belt between the pair of drive pulleys. and winding the conveyor belt around the pair of drive pulleys by rotating the frame with external drive equipment that is provided separately from the drive unit and connected to the frame, and that includes at least one of a lever block (registered trademark), a chain block, a winch, or a cylinder, and rigging.

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