Stationary Formwork for Immersed Tunnel Section Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing tunnel sections, such as immersed tunnels, are time-consuming and require significant structural effort due to the need to move and clean formwork arrangements, which involves complex guidance systems and hydraulic devices.
Innovation Solution
A device and method where the support device and inner formwork are arranged in a stationary manner, allowing the tunnel section to be displaced relative to a stationary formwork arrangement, eliminating the need for moving the carrying device and associated guidance systems, thus enabling earlier cleaning and reducing material and cost requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the support device and inner formwork are moved together with the tunnel section from the concreting station to the parking station, then the formwork can be reused for the next tunnel section, but the cleaning of the formwork can only begin after the tunnel section has been advanced and the formwork has been pushed back into the concreting station, which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the support device and inner formwork stationary in the concreting station while the tunnel section moves relative to them. This inversion allows the formwork to remain in position for immediate cleaning while the tunnel section is transported away, eliminating the sequential dependency where cleaning could only occur after formwork relocation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If roller guides and hydraulic shifting devices are provided for moving the lattice girder and formwork, then the formwork can be relocated between stations, but a considerable structural effort and material cost are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the formwork and support device movable with complex guidance systems, the patent inverts the approach by making them stationary and moving the tunnel section relative to them. This eliminates the need for roller guides, hydraulic shifting devices, and associated structural infrastructure for formwork relocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the movement function from the formwork system and transfers it to the tunnel section transport system. By separating the formwork from the movement mechanism, the complex guidance and shifting infrastructure is eliminated while maintaining the necessary functionality.
3Productivity
If the lattice girder and formwork are pushed out of the concreting station together with the finished tunnel section, then the formwork can be returned to the concreting station after moving the tunnel section to the parking station, but this process is time-consuming and requires additional structural effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sequence by keeping the formwork stationary in the concreting station while the tunnel section moves to the parking station. This allows formwork cleaning and preparation for the next cycle to begin immediately without waiting for formwork return, as the formwork never leaves the concreting station.
Solution Approach 2:
By maintaining the formwork in a stationary position within the concreting station, the system enables preliminary cleaning and preparation actions to be performed on the formwork while the tunnel section is being transported to the parking station, overlapping these operations to reduce overall cycle time.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Device (1) and method for producing a tunnel (2) having several tunnel sections (3), in particular an immersed tunnel, with a concreting station (4) for concreting tunnel sections (3) in stages, wherein the concreting station (4) has a formwork arrangement (5) with a bottom formwork (6), wherein a thrust device (17) is provided for moving the tunnel sections (3) in the longitudinal direction (15) from the concreting station (4) into a parking station (16), wherein a support device (14), preferably a lattice girder, is provided for supporting an inner formwork (8) of the formwork arrangement (5), wherein the support device (14) and the inner formwork (8) are arranged in a stationary position.