Expandable Tunneling Section for Sidewall Bracing Underground
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunneling devices face challenges in efficiently traveling through difficult-to-access underground locations and effectively displacing material to form and maintain tunnels, often requiring separate apparatuses for material removal and struggling with power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A tunneling device comprising a body assembly, an expandable expander coupled to the body assembly, a tip configured to displace material, and a force transmitter. The expander is expandable between two configurations, allowing it to fit within the tunnel formed by the tip in a first configuration and engage the tunnel sidewall in a second configuration, facilitating efficient material displacement and tunnel maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tunneling device uses a fixed-size tool to displace material, then the device structure is simpler, but the device cannot adapt to varying underground conditions and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The expander is designed to dynamically change its width between a first width (when retracted) and a second width (when expanded). This dynamic adjustment allows the tunneling device to adapt to varying underground conditions and obstacles while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The expander can engage with tunnel sidewalls to provide lateral support and stabilize the tunnel shape.
2Strength
If the tunneling device uses a larger expander width, then the device can better engage and stabilize the tunnel sidewall, but the device cannot fit within the initially formed tunnel cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The expander dynamically adjusts its width to resolve the contradiction between engagement strength and fit within the tunnel cavity. When the tip forms the initial tunnel cavity, the expander maintains a first width that allows it to fit within the cavity. After the tip completes the tunnel formation, the expander expands to a second width greater than the cavity width to engage and stabilize the tunnel sidewall.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip performs the preliminary action of forming the tunnel cavity before the expander expands to engage the sidewall. This sequence ensures that the expander can initially fit within the formed cavity and then expand to provide stabilization, resolving the contradiction between needing to fit within the cavity and needing to engage the sidewall effectively.
3Productivity
If the tunneling device uses a separate apparatus for material removal, then material can be removed from the tunnel, but the overall system complexity increases and power efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated tunneling device. The tip displaces and removes material to form the tunnel cavity, the expander stabilizes the tunnel sidewall, and the drive system propels the device forward. By merging these functions into one device, the system achieves high productivity without requiring separate apparatuses for material removal, thereby reducing overall system complexity and improving power efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A tunneling device includes a body assembly, an expander coupled to the body assembly and extending along a longitudinal axis, and a tip coupled to the expander. The expander is disposed between a force transmitter and the tip. The expander is expandable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between a first configuration having a first width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second configuration having a second width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tip has a width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first width of the expander is equal to or less than the width of the tip. The force transmitter is configured to deliver a force through the expander to the tip to move the tip in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis with the expander in the second configuration.