US3598445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunnel-boring machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-05-08
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-05-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention is for a tunnel-boring machine which can be used for boring circular tunnels through rock. The machine comprises a rotary cutterhead, a cutterhead support, a main beam, and a gripper. On the front of the cutterhead there are mounted cutters which fracture the rock. The cutterhead support provides journal mounting for the cutterhead, and is centrally connected to the forward end of the main beam by ball and socket joint means. The ball and socket joint permits angular movement in all directions, viz., X-Y-Z axis, between the cutterhead support and the main beam. The main beam extends rearwardly and is connected by slide way means to the gripper, which permits the main beam to move in a longitudinal direction. The gripper which is a force reaction member of the machine, bridges across the tunnel, providing a rear pivoting support means about the X and Y axis for the main beam, and rigidly fixes the location of the pivot axis at the approximate center of the tunnel.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas F Winberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:20
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21D; E21D9/00; E21D9/10; E21D9/1093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. at least one sidewall gripper connecting with said main beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. a rear bracing structure forming part of said cutterhead support assembly adjacent the rear end thereof; e. said main beam extending into said cutterhead support assembly and connecting with said cutterhead support assembly by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly may be turned in any direction about said pivot means, said pivot means being at about a midpoint location in said cutterhead support assembly and forward of said rear bracing structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. at least one sidewall gripper connecting with said main beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. a rear bracing structure forming part of said cutterhead support assembly adjacent the rear end thereof; e. said main beam extending into said cutterhead support assembly and connecting with said cutterhead support assembly by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly may be turned in any direction about said pivot means, said pivot means being at about a midpoint location in said cutterhead support assembly and forward of said rear bracing structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tunneling machine of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises a ball and socket connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tunneling machine of claim 1 wherein a wall gripper is disposed on each side of said main beam and a clear space passageway for workmen is beneath said main beam and said wall grippers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The tunneling machine of claim 3 wherein a conveyor for recovering the rock and earth cut away by the tunneling machine extends from inside said cutterhead support assembly at least the entire length of said main beam, said main beam being between said clear space passageway and said conveyor, serving thereby to shield the clear space from the conveyor overhead thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tunneling machine of claim 1 wherein a control cab is pivotally mounted on said main beam to the rear of said sidewall gripper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tunneling machine of claim 1 wherein wall engaging steering shoes are mounted on the periphery of said cutterhead support assembly and are at least partially supported by the said rear bracing structure thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. a sidewall gripper at each side of said main beam connecting with said main beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. said main beam and said cutterhead support assembly being connected by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead support assembly may be turned relative to said main beam; e. a plurality of propelling rams with at least one ram on each side of said main beam, each ram joined at one end of the ram to a sidewall gripper and at the other end of the ram to said cutter support assembly, a controlled extension of each of said propelling rams thereby advancing the cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly relative to said sidewall gripper means, and, if desired, cause the cutterhead and the cutterhead assembly to turn about said pivot means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. a sidewall gripper at each side of said main beam connecting with said main beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. said main beam and said cutterhead support assembly being connected by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead support assembly may be turned relative to said main beam; e. a plurality of propelling rams with at least one ram on each side of said main beam, each ram joined at one end of the ram to a sidewall gripper and at the other end of the ram to said cutter support assembly, a controlled extension of each of said propelling rams thereby advancing the cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly relative to said sidewall gripper means, and, if desired, cause the cutterhead and the cutterhead assembly to turn about said pivot means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tunneling machine of claim 7 wherein said rams are joined to the rear of said cutterhead support assembly, wherein said main beam extends into said cutterhead support assembly, and wherein said pivot means between main beam and cutterhead support assembly is at about a midpoint in said cutterhead support assembly and is forward of said propelling rams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tunneling machine of claim 7 wherein said pivot means comprises a ball and socket connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tunneling machine of claim 7 wherein wall engaging support and steering shoes are mounted on said cutterhead support assembly essentially forward of where said propelling rams are joined to said cutterhead support assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tunneling machine of claim 7 wherein a pair of propelling rams, one above the other are disposed at each side of said main beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tunneling machine of claim 7 wherein a clear space passageway for workmen is beneath said main beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. at least one sidewall gripper connecting with said maIn beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. said main beam and said cutterhead support assembly being connected by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead support assembly may be turned relative to said main beam; e. individually controlled steering rams, one on each side of said main beam, each ram joined at one end to said main beam and at the other end to said cutterhead support assembly, whereby a controlled differential extension of one said ram will cause the cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly to turn on said pivot means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tunneling machine comprising; a. a cutterhead, a cutterhead support assembly and a main beam; b. at least one sidewall gripper connecting with said maIn beam and movable relative thereto in a longitudinal direction; c. said main beam being stationary relative to said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly in said longitudinal direction; d. said main beam and said cutterhead support assembly being connected by a multidirection pivot means whereby said cutterhead support assembly may be turned relative to said main beam; e. individually controlled steering rams, one on each side of said main beam, each ram joined at one end to said main beam and at the other end to said cutterhead support assembly, whereby a controlled differential extension of one said ram will cause the cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly to turn on said pivot means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 including at least one steering ram at the underside of said main beam joined at one end to said main beam and at the other end to said cutterhead support assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 wherein said pivot means comprises a ball and socket connection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 wherein wall engaging support and steering shoes are mounted on said cutterhead support assembly essentially forward of where said steering rams are joined to said cutterhead support assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 wherein said steering rams are joined to the rear of said cutterhead support assembly, wherein said main beam extends into said cutterhead support assembly and wherein said pivot means between said main beam and cutterhead support assembly is at about a midpoint in said cutterhead support assembly and forward of said steering rams.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 wherein a plurality of propelling rams are disposed at the sides of said main beam each joined at one end to a sidewall gripper and at the other end to said cutterhead support assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tunneling machine of claim 13 wherein a pair of propelling rams, one above the other, are disposed at each side of said main beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |