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Title: Tunnel boring machine with dual support members
Claims: We claim: 1. A tunnel boring machine for progressively boring a tunnel while disposed therein, said machine comprising: a rotary cutterhead assembly having cutting means mounted on a forward face thereof for engaging the end wall of said tunnel; a cutterhead support assembly located generally rearwardly of said cutterhead assembly and on which said cutterhead assembly is mounted for rotation about an axis generally coincident with a longitudinal centerline of said tunnel; a pair of elongate torque transmitting support members on opposite sides of and spaced from a plane through said axis, said support members precluding a longitudinally extending main beam on said plane through said axis which main beam would transmit a substantial amount of torque, each of said support members being connected to and extending rearwardly from said cutterhead support assembly, said support members each having a torque reaction end and each having a longitudinal centerline which remains substantially straight during operation of said machine; a gripper assembly connected to said support members rearwardly of said cutterhead support assembly so that torque is transmitted from said cutterhead support assembly to said gripper assembly by said support members, said gripper assembly having radially extensible and retractable gripper elements for selectively gripping the walls of said tunnel; means associated with each of said torque reaction ends to prevent pivotal movement of its respective support member about said torque reaction end, relative to the connected assembly of said machine, in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane generally defined by said support members; means associated with said support members permitting limited relative longitudinal movement between said cutterhead support assembly and said gripper assembly; and drive means associated with said cutterhead support assembly and said gripper assembly and operative to cause relative longitudinal movement between said cutterhead support assembly and said gripper assembly. 2. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein said support members are diametrically opposed with respect to said axis and substantially radially spaced therefrom. 3. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein said support members each comprise first and second telescopically connected support elements, each of said support members having its first support element connected to said cutter-head support assembly and its second support element connected to said gripper assembly. 4. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a pair of hydraulic drive cylinder means carried by said support members. 5. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 4 wherein said support elements are hollow, each of said support members having one of said piston and cylinder means disposed therein. 6. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 further comprising an elongate conveyor adjacent said cutterhead assembly and extending rearwardly therefrom. 7. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 6 wherein said conveyor is disposed along one of said support members. 8. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder means each of which lies generally parallel to and adjacent one of said support members, said machine further comprising means associated with said support members permitting limited movement of said support members with respect to said cutterhead support assembly and also with respect to said gripper assembly in the plane of said support members and transverse to said axis, whereby steering of said machine transverse to said axis in the plane generally defined by said support members can by augmented by extending one of said piston and cylinder means while holding the other piston and cylinder means fixed. 9. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said torque reaction ends is pivoted to the connected assembly of said machine by a substantially vertical pin. 10. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein said support members lie in a substantially horizontal plane, being disposed on opposite sides of said tunnel. 11. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 10 wherein each of said torque reaction ends is joined to the connected assembly of said machine by a pivot joint having a substantially horizontal pin, said machine further comprising means for selectively fixing said joint against movement in said plane perpendicular to the plane of said support members. 12. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 11 in which said fixing means comprises a hydraulic piston and cylinder inter-connecting each of said support members with the assembly connected to its torque reaction end. 13. A tunnel boring machine according to claim 1 wherein said torque reaction ends are at the front of said support members. Other info: Inventors: Winberg, Douglas F. Dyer, Norman D. (Beaumont, TX, US) Application Number: 430191 Filing Date: 1974-01-02 Publication_date: 1976-05-18 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 299/31 299/56 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Purser, Ernest R. Assistant Examiner: Pate III, William F. Attorney: |
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