Tunnel Boring Machine Tool Drive Module Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunnel boring device operating systems face inefficiencies due to increased friction losses in hydraulic lines as tunnel length grows, leading to insufficient fluid pressure for driving the excavation tool, resulting in the need for multiple operating facilities and increased costs and ecological impact from frequent fluid replacements.
Innovation Solution
The operating device features a second fluid tank dedicated to the tool drive, allowing the tool drive module to be removed from the container and operated independently, with separate fluid tanks for the feed and tool drives to reduce contamination and maintenance costs, and a support unit that functions as a carrying unit for the tool drive module components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tool drive is housed inside the container with the feed drive, then the operating device is compact and easy to transport, but friction losses in hydraulic lines increase with tunnel length, leading to insufficient fluid pressure for driving the excavation tool
Solution Approach 1:
The operating device is divided into two separate units: a container housing the feed drive and a separate tool drive unit that can be positioned closer to the excavation tool. This segmentation allows the tool drive to be located optimally for long tunnel operations while the feed drive remains in the transportable container.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool drive is extracted from the container and can be operated independently outside it. This extraction resolves the contradiction by allowing the tool drive to be positioned near the excavation tool to minimize hydraulic line length, while the container remains a compact, transportable unit for the feed drive.
2Loss of energy
If the tool drive is guided behind the excavation tool within the tunnel to maintain short hydraulic lines, then friction losses are reduced, but the operating device requires multiple separate facilities increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The tool drive unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a drive unit when positioned outside the container and as a guide unit when positioned inside the tunnel. This universal design reduces the need for separate facilities while maintaining low friction losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of the tool drive position - it can be operated inside the container for short tunnels or extracted and guided behind the excavation tool for long tunnels. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for multiple fixed facilities.
3Device complexity
If a single fluid tank is used for both feed drive and tool drive, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid contamination increases requiring frequent fluid replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid management system is segmented into separate fluid tanks for the feed drive and tool drive. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination between the two hydraulic systems, reducing fluid replacement frequency while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables flexible operation of the tool drive module inside or outside the container, reducing the need for multiple facilities, minimizing contamination and fluid replacement costs, and maintaining efficient fluid management, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cooling device for cooling drive fluid
Implementation Method 2
at least one filtration device for filtering drive fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to an operating device (1) for operating a tunnel boring machine (2) for creating a tunnel (3) in soil (4), comprising: - a feed drive (5) by means of which the tunnel boring machine (2) can be advanced in the soil (4), - a tool drive (6) by means of which a cutting tool (7) of the tunnel boring machine (2) can be driven in such a way that a successive removal of the soil (4) is possible, - at least one fluid tank (8) for storing a drive fluid, - at least one filtration device (9) for filtering drive fluid, - at least one cooling device (10) for cooling drive fluid, and - at least one control device (11) by means of which the feed drive (5) and/or the tool drive (6) can be controlled, wherein at least the feed drive (5) and the tool drive (6) can be arranged together in a container (12).In order to provide an operating device and a method for producing a tunnel, by means of which, regardless of the length of a tunnel to be produced, more efficient processing of the tunnel compared to the prior art is possible, a second fluid tank (13) is proposed according to the invention, wherein one fluid tank (8) is assigned to the feed drive (5) and the other fluid tank (13) to the tool drive (6), so that the feed drive (5) and the tool drive (6) interact with separate fluid tanks (8, 13), wherein the tool drive (6) together with at least the fluid tank (13) assigned to it forms a tool drive module (14) which can be removed from the container (12) in such a way that an operative connection between the tool drive (6) and the fluid tank (13) assigned to it remains continuously in place.