Title: Continuous roof support system for tunnel boring

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Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An earth boring machine for boring a tunnel is subterranean formations and providing support for the roof of the tunnel using sections of lagging and support beams, comprising:

a machine body section;

a rotary cutterhead connected to the machine body section for contacting and disintegrating the subterranean formations; and

shield means projecting from said machine body section, said shield means located immediately behind said rotary cutterhead, for temporarily supporting the roof, said shield means including a multiplicity of parallel beams spaced apart leaving openings between beams, said beams including a downward projection with the space between the downward projections being slightly larger than said sections of lagging whereby a section of lagging may be accommodated and moved into place on the support beams.

2. A method of tunneling and supporting the roof of a tunnel being bored by a tunneling machine, using sections of lagging and support beams, said tunneling machine having a shield positioned above the machine with space in said shield for sections of lagging, comprising the steps of:

loading sections of said lagging in said space in said shield;

boring a length of tunnel thereby moving said machine, said shield and said lagging forward in said tunnel;

placing a support beam in said tunnel beneath said shield;

moving said sections of lagging from said space in said shield onto said support beam beneath said shield;

loading additional sections of said lagging in said space in said shield;

boring an additional length of tunnel thereby moving said machine, said shield and said lagging forward in said tunnel;

placing an additional support beam in said tunnel beneath said shield; and

moving said additional sections of lagging from said space in said shield onto said additional support beam beneath said shield.

3. A method of tunneling and supporting the roof of a tunnel being bored by a tunneling machine, using sections of lagging and support beams, said tunneling machine having a shield positioned above the machine with space in said shield for sections of lagging, comprising of steps of:

placing sections of said lagging in said space in said shield;

boring a length of tunnel thereby moving said shield and lagging forward in said tunnel;

placing support ring beam means in said tunnel;

moving said lagging from said space in said shield onto said support ring beam means;

placing additional sections of said lagging in said space in said shield;

boring an additional length of tunnel thereby moving said shield and lagging forward in said tunnel;

placing additional support ring beam means in said tunnel; and

moving said additional sections of lagging from said space in said shield onto said additional support ring beam means.

4. An earth boring machine for boring a tunnel in subterranean formations and providing support for the roof of the tunnel using sections of lagging and support beams, comprising:

a machine body section;

a rotary cutterhead connected to the machine body section for contacting and disintegrating the subterranean formations;

shield means positioned over said machine body section for temporarily supporting the roof, said shield means including a multiplicity of parallel beams spaced apart leaving openings between beams;

said beams including a downward projection with the space between the downward projections being slightly larger than said sections of lagging whereby a section of lagging may be accommodated and moved into place on the support beams;

at least one link element rotatably connected to said machine body section and rotatably connected to said shield means, said link element and said shield means adapted to be moved upward toward said roof and toward said rotary cutterhead; and

thrust cylinder means connected between said machine body section and said shield means whereby actuation of said thrust cylinder means will move said shield means toward said roof and toward said rotary cutterhead.

Other info:

Inventors: Arrington, Thomas Lonnie (Beaumont, TX, US)

Application Number: 599194
Filing Date: 1975-07-25
Publication_date: 1976-11-02
Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc. (Dallas, TX)
Primary Class(es): 299/11 299/33, 405/146
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2925258	Feb, 1960	Robbins	299/31.
3061287	Oct, 1962	Robbins	299/31.
3600899	Aug, 1971	Watson et al.	61/85.
3640077	Feb, 1972	Watson et al.	61/85.
3800549	Apr, 1974	Lobbe	61/85.
3823566	Jul, 1974	Handewith	61/85.
3903707	Sep, 1975	Folk	61/85.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Purser, Ernest R.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Scott; Eddie E.