Apparatus for driving tunnels or the like

US4068485A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH · DE
• Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Stuckmann · Selm, DE
• Hans Jutte
• Siegmund Babendererde · Bad Vilbel, DE
• Reinhard Bokemeyer

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 2, 1976
• Grant date: Jan 17, 1978
• Expiry date: Aug 2, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21D9/0692
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

Tunnel-driving apparatus utilizes a plurality of elongate drive or knife members arranged side-by-side and supported and guided for longitudinal movement on a frame. The members and the frame are advanced in succession during the driving process. Some or all of the drive members are hollow and accommodate telescopically extendible and retractible devices, conveniently of tubular form, used for treating the working face, for example, by conveying fluid to or from the face. The devices each have a series of cam-like projections engageable with spring-biased stops supported on the frame and the drive members. These stops serve to lock the devices in various positions and to automatically extend the devices from the members when the frame is shifted. The stops can be displaced however to generally engage the projections in such manner as to allow or prevent movement of the devices inwardly or outwardly of the drive members.