EP0247799A1 — Method of and apparatus for providing an undergro…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 171 words

An apparatus for providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by an elongate boring device (14) having a central axis (63) and an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxial with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (32) in a forward facing position off axis with respect to said boring device (14); means (38, 40) for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle (34) thereby to produce a pressurized fluid jet (36) at the output of said nozzle (34) in a direction forward of and off axis with respect to said boring device (14), said jet (36) being sufficiently strong to bore through soil; means (16) for urging said boring device (14) forward as said jet (36) is being produced thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward into the area being bored out by said jet (36); and means (56, 58, 60) for rotating said boring head (32) and nozzle (34) about said axis (63).

Claim 2

Independent Claim 171 words

An apparatus for providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by an elongate boring device (14) having a central axis (63) and an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxial with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (32) in a forward facing position off axis with respect to said boring device (14); means (38, 40) for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle (34) thereby to produce a pressurized fluid jet (36) at the output of said nozzle (34) in a direction forward of and off axis with respect to said boring device (14), said jet (36) being sufficiently strong to bore through soil; means (16) for urging said boring device (14) forward as said jet (36) is being produced thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward into the area being bored out by said jet (36); and means (56, 58, 60) for rotating said boring head (32) and nozzle (34) about said axis (63).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 89 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that said means (56, 58, 60) for rotating said boring head (32) rotates said head (32) at a constant speed around said axis (63) when said boring device (14) is to move along a straight path and rotates said head (32) around said axis (63) such that said fluid jet (36) spends more time along a particular segment of its rotating path than on the rest of its path when said boring device (14) is to move along a curved path.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

An apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that said means for rotating said boring head (32) includes a motor (56) connected with said boring head (32) and means (60) for modulating the speed of said motor (56) and therefore the speed of said boring head (32) depending upon the path to be taken by said boring device (14).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that said motor (56) is a reversible motor, said means for modulating the speed of said motor (56) and boring head (32) including means for modulating the direction of rotation of said motor (56) and boring head (32) depending upon the path to be taken by said boring device (14).

Claim 6

Independent Claim 46 words

An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by means (100) for monitoring the pitch angle defined by said axis (63) relative to a horizontal ground plane when said boring device (14) is in the ground, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Claim 7

Independent Claim 64 words

An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by means (64) for monitoring the roll angle of said boring device (14) relative to a reference roll position, and means (94) for monitoring the rotational position of said fluid jet (36) relative to a given reference thereby to be able to determine the rotational position of said jet (36) relative to said reference roll position.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by an elongate boring device (14) having a forward facing off-axis high pressure fluid jet (36) which is rotated about the axis (63) of said boring device (14) while said boring device (14) is urged forward through the soil thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward while boring a tunnel in the soil as it does so, and means (60, 56, 58) for modulating the speed and/or the direction of rotation of said fluid jet (36) depending upon the desired direction to be taken by said boring device (14) as it moves forward through the soil.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus for providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by an elongate boring device (14) having a forward facing off-axis high pressure fluid jet (36) which is rotated about the axis (63) of said boring device (14) while said boring device (14) is urged forward through the soil thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward while boring a tunnel in the soil as it does so, and means (60, 56, 58) for modulating the speed and/or the direction of rotation of said fluid jet (36) depending upon the desired direction to be taken by said boring device (14) as it moves forward through the soil.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

An apparatus according to Claim 7, characterised by means (100) for monitoring the pitch angle defined by said axis (63) relative to a horizontal ground plane when said boring device (14) is in the ground, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 66 words

An apparatus according to claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised by means (64) for monitoring the roll angle of said boring device (14) relative to a reference roll position, and means (90) for monitoring the rotational position of said fluid jet (36) relative to a given reference thereby to be able to determine the rotational position of said jet (36) relative to said reference roll position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 227 words

An arrangement for monitoring the pitch angle defined by the axis (63) of an elongate device (14) relative to a horizontal ground plane, independent of the roll position of said device (14), characterised by a sensor (110) carried by said device (14) for producing signals corresponding to the pitch of said device (14) independent of its roll position, and means (103, 107, 108) for detecting and processing said signals, said sensor (110) including a closed, hollow tubular container (112) having its axis positioned parallel with said axis (63) of said device (14) and defining a co-axially extending internal chambing having opposite ends, electrical circuit means including first and second contact means (114, 116) located within and at the opposite ends of said chamber and a third contact means (118) located within and extending around said chamber (112) at a point intermediate its opposite ends, and an electrolytic solution (124) partially filling said chamber (112) so as to make contact with all three of said contact means (117, 116, 118), the extent of contact being made by said solution (124) with said first and second contact means (114, 116) depending on the pitch angle of said device (14) but independent of its roll position, and said signals depending upon the extent of contact being made by said solution (124) with said first and second contact means (114, 116).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 227 words

An arrangement for monitoring the pitch angle defined by the axis (63) of an elongate device (14) relative to a horizontal ground plane, independent of the roll position of said device (14), characterised by a sensor (110) carried by said device (14) for producing signals corresponding to the pitch of said device (14) independent of its roll position, and means (103, 107, 108) for detecting and processing said signals, said sensor (110) including a closed, hollow tubular container (112) having its axis positioned parallel with said axis (63) of said device (14) and defining a co-axially extending internal chambing having opposite ends, electrical circuit means including first and second contact means (114, 116) located within and at the opposite ends of said chamber and a third contact means (118) located within and extending around said chamber (112) at a point intermediate its opposite ends, and an electrolytic solution (124) partially filling said chamber (112) so as to make contact with all three of said contact means (117, 116, 118), the extent of contact being made by said solution (124) with said first and second contact means (114, 116) depending on the pitch angle of said device (14) but independent of its roll position, and said signals depending upon the extent of contact being made by said solution (124) with said first and second contact means (114, 116).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 120 words

An arrangement according to Claim 10, characterised in that said first and second contact means (114, 116) include electrically conductive first and second face plates (114, 116) facing one another at opposite ends of said chamber (112), and said third contact means (118) includes a ring shaped contact (118) such that said first and third contact means (114, 118) and said electrolytic solution (124) therebetween produce a first signal, and said second and third contact means (116, 118) and said electroytic solution (124) therebetween produce a second signal, the strength of said first and second signals being proportional to the surface area of each of said first and second face plates (114, 116), respectively, covered by said electrolytic solution (124).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 90 words

An arrangement according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, characterised by means (64) for monitoring the roll angle of said device (14) relative to a reference roll position, said roll angle monitoring means (64) including a potentiometer having an annular resistance element (68) mounted on said device (14) in coaxial relationship with said axis (63), a wiper arm (70) connected with said resistance element (68) such that the latter is rotatable about its own axis relative to the wiper arm (70), and means (76) for biasing said wiper arm (70).

Claim 16

Independent Claim 138 words

An apparatus for providing an underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) which is caused to move through the soil underground, characterised in that said boring device (14) has a central axis (63) and includes an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxially positioned with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (32) in a forward facing position off-axis with respect to said boring device (14), there being means (64) for monitoring the roll angle of said boring device (14) relative to a reference roll position, and means (90) for monitoring the rotational position of said nozzle (34) relative to a given reference thereby to be able to determine the rotational position of said nozzle (34) relative to said reference roll position.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 138 words

An apparatus for providing an underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) which is caused to move through the soil underground, characterised in that said boring device (14) has a central axis (63) and includes an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxially positioned with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (32) in a forward facing position off-axis with respect to said boring device (14), there being means (64) for monitoring the roll angle of said boring device (14) relative to a reference roll position, and means (90) for monitoring the rotational position of said nozzle (34) relative to a given reference thereby to be able to determine the rotational position of said nozzle (34) relative to said reference roll position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 50 words

An apparatus according to Claim 13, characterised by means (100) for monitoring the pitch angle defined by said axis (63) of said boring device (14) relative to a horizontal ground plane when said boring device (14) is in the ground, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

An apparatus according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, characterised in that said roll angle monitoring means (64) includes a potentiometer having an annular resistance element (68) mounted on said boring device (14) in coaxial relationship with said axis (63), a wiper arm (70) connected with said resistance element (68) such that the latter is rotatable about its own axis relative to said wiper arm (70), and means (76) for biasing said wiper arm (70).

Claim 20

Independent Claim 77 words

An apparatus according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, characterised in that said means (90) for monitoring the rotational position of said nozzle (34) includes a magnetic circuit including a first circuit component made up of a series of circumferentially spaced-apart Hall effect sensors (92) defining a circle and fixedly mounted to and coaxially with said main body (30) and a second circuit component including a single magnet (96) mounted on said boring head (320.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 214 words

A method of providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by the steps of providing an elongate boring device (14) having a central axis (63) and including an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxially positioned with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (37) in a forward facing position off axis with respect to said boring device (14); supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle (34) thereby to produce a pressurized fluid jet (36) at the output of said nozzle (34) in a direction forward of and off axis with respect to said boring device (14), said jet (36) being sufficiently strong to bore through soil; urging said boring device (14) forward as said jet (36) is being produced thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward into the area being bored out by said jet; (36) and rotating said boring head (32) and nozzle (34) about said axis (63) in a first way for causing said boring device (14) to move forward along a straight path, and in a second way for causing said boring device (14) to move forward along a particular curved path that depends upon the way in which said boring head (14) is rotated.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 214 words

A method of providing a continuous underground tunnel, characterised by the steps of providing an elongate boring device (14) having a central axis (63) and including an axially extending main body (30), a forward boring head (32) coaxially positioned with and rotatably mounted on said main body (30), and a nozzle (34) on said boring head (37) in a forward facing position off axis with respect to said boring device (14); supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle (34) thereby to produce a pressurized fluid jet (36) at the output of said nozzle (34) in a direction forward of and off axis with respect to said boring device (14), said jet (36) being sufficiently strong to bore through soil; urging said boring device (14) forward as said jet (36) is being produced thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward into the area being bored out by said jet; (36) and rotating said boring head (32) and nozzle (34) about said axis (63) in a first way for causing said boring device (14) to move forward along a straight path, and in a second way for causing said boring device (14) to move forward along a particular curved path that depends upon the way in which said boring head (14) is rotated.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 101 words

A method according to Claim 17, characterised in that said boring head (32) is rotated in said one way so as to rotate said head (32) at a constant speed around said axis (63)and said boring head (32) is rotated in said second way so as to rotate said head (32) around said axis (63) such that said fluid jet (36) spends more time along a particular segment of its rotating path than on the rest of its path of movement so that said particular segment of said rotating path determines the particular curved path taken by said boring device (14).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method according to Claim 17 or 18, characterised by the step of monitoring the pitch angle defined by said axis (63) relative to a horizontal ground plane when said boring device (14) is in the ground, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Claim 25

Independent Claim 65 words

A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterised by the steps of monitoring the roll angle of said boring device (14) relative to a reference roll position, and monitoring the rotational position of said fluid jet (36) relative to a given reference thereby to be able to determine the rotational position of said jet (36) relative to said reference roll position.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of providing a continuous underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) including a forward facing off-axis high pressure fluid jet (36) which is rotated about the axis of said boring device (14) while the latter is urged forward through the soil thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward while boring a tunnel in the soil as it does so, characterised by the step of modulating the speed and/or the direction of rotation of said fluid jet (36) depending upon the desired direction to be taken by said boring device (14) as it moves forward through the soil.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of providing a continuous underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) including a forward facing off-axis high pressure fluid jet (36) which is rotated about the axis of said boring device (14) while the latter is urged forward through the soil thereby to cause said boring device (14) to move forward while boring a tunnel in the soil as it does so, characterised by the step of modulating the speed and/or the direction of rotation of said fluid jet (36) depending upon the desired direction to be taken by said boring device (14) as it moves forward through the soil.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 59 words

A method of providing an underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) which is caused to move through the soil underground, characterised by the step of monitoring the pitch angle defined by the axis (63) of said boring device (14) relative to a horizontal ground plane, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Claim 29

Independent Claim 59 words

A method of providing an underground tunnel by means of an elongate boring device (14) which is caused to move through the soil underground, characterised by the step of monitoring the pitch angle defined by the axis (63) of said boring device (14) relative to a horizontal ground plane, independent of the roll position of said boring device (14).

Method of and apparatus for providing an underground tunnel

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