Four-Body Boring Machine for Thick Trench Excavation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling machines for creating thick trenches face issues such as drum breakage due to significant overhang, difficulty in controlling drilling trajectory, and the need for additional tools to remove central skids, which complicates excavation and increases operational time.

Innovation Solution

A drilling machine equipped with four cutting elements and motors, allowing reduced forces on drive shafts and overhang, with the ability for independent motor control and rotation direction inversion to facilitate harder ground drilling and improved trajectory control, featuring a support system that can be removably mounted and articulated for enhanced maneuverability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If drums with significant axial lengths are used to create thick trenches, then the trench thickness is improved, but the risk of drum breakage increases due to significant overhang

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial length of drumsVSAvoiddrum breakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the single drum system into two separate drums, each with reduced axial length. The first drum creates a first portion of the trench, and the second drum creates a second portion, allowing each drum to have significantly reduced overhang while collectively achieving the required trench thickness, thereby eliminating the drum breakage risk associated with long overhangs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If drums with significant axial lengths are used, then thick trenches can be excavated, but the area under the central skid cannot be excavated, causing a large step that requires additional tools and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial length of drumsVSAvoidexcavation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the excavation process into two simultaneous operations performed by two separate drums with reduced axial lengths. This allows the central skid area to be fully excavated by both drums working in conjunction, eliminating the large step problem and the need for additional removal tools, thereby improving overall excavation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of moving object

If drums with significant axial lengths are used, then thick trenches can be created, but the drilling trajectory becomes difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial length of drumsVSAvoiddrilling trajectory control
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the drilling control into two independent systems, each controlling one drum with reduced axial length. This segmentation allows for much better control of the drilling trajectory for each drum individually, while the coordinated operation of both drums achieves the required trench thickness without the trajectory control difficulties associated with single long drums.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single large central pad is used to carry the drums, then the structure is simplified, but the pad thickness must be great, creating a large step that is difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport structure simplicityVSAvoidpad thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the support structure into two separate, thinner pads instead of one large thick pad. Each pad supports one drum and has reduced thickness, allowing for easier removal and eliminating the large step problem. The two pads work in conjunction to support the complete drilling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3555374B1Boring machine provided with four boring bodies
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET SAS
  • EP3555374B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3555374B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3555374B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a boring machine (10) for making a trench (T) in the ground (S), comprising a chassis (12) that extends in a longitudinal direction (A), said chassis (12) carrying a boring device (20) provided with four rotating boring bodies driven by four motors about axes of rotation that are stationary in relation to each other.