US3640076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunnels or tunnelling
Assignee: REES Ltd WILLIAM F
•
Filing: 1970-06-09
•
Granted: 1972-02-08
•
Expires: 1990-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of constructing a lined tunnel comprises the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the lining, erecting within the said length of tunnel a ring of three 120* lining segments, repeating the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel and erecting a lining ring within the short length, and pressing each successive ring into endwise engagement with the previously erected ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Frank Rees
- 👤 John Baron Garnett
- 👤 Michael Alexander Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:25
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21D; E21D11/00; E21D11/04; E21D11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of constructing a lined tunnel which comprises the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel within a shield of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the lining to be erected, placing a first 120* lining segment against the inner periphery of the shield, engaging one circumferential end of each of two further 120* lining segments at respective circumferential ends of the first segment and pivoting, in turn, said two further segments outwards to bring the other ends of the two further segments into engagement to form a complete ring the axis of which is offset with respect to the axis of the shield, centralizing the newly erected ring within the shield, and locking the newly erected ring to the previously erected ring to prevent relative radial movement between adjacent ends of said rings, advancing the shield to a position in which a portion of the newly erected ring extends axially out of the rear end of the shield, injecting a filler material into the annular void left between the portion of the newly erected ring projecting from the shield and the surrounding material by advancing the shield while the ring is still supported coaxially with the shield by the shield, and then repeating the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel and erecting a lining ring within the shield in its advanced position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of constructing a lined tunnel which comprises the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel within a shield of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the lining to be erected, placing a first 120* lining segment against the inner periphery of the shield, engaging one circumferential end of each of two further 120* lining segments at respective circumferential ends of the first segment and pivoting, in turn, said two further segments outwards to bring the other ends of the two further segments into engagement to form a complete ring the axis of which is offset with respect to the axis of the shield, centralizing the newly erected ring within the shield, and locking the newly erected ring to the previously erected ring to prevent relative radial movement between adjacent ends of said rings, advancing the shield to a position in which a portion of the newly erected ring extends axially out of the rear end of the shield, injecting a filler material into the annular void left between the portion of the newly erected ring projecting from the shield and the surrounding material by advancing the shield while the ring is still supported coaxially with the shield by the shield, and then repeating the steps of excavating a short length of tunnel and erecting a lining ring within the shield in its advanced position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method according to claim 1 in which, in carrying out the step of erecting a ring, the first segment is placed on the bottom of the shield and the other two segments are then placed above the first at opposite circumferential ends thereof to complete the ring, the clearance between the ring and the shield due to the difference in diameter being a maximum at the top of the ring and nil at the bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the first segment is held in position during the erection of the other two by a dowel pin engaging in sockets in the segment and the shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 in which radially inward pressure is applied around the newly erected ring, before it is locked to the previously erected ring, to effect circumferential pressure at the joints between the segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 4 in which the inward pressure is applied by expansion under internal fluid pressure of a flexible annular tube between the shield and the ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the segments after they have been erected to form a ring are held together by an external circumferential tie.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 in which the segments are formed with lines or regiOns of weakness extending in the axial direction of the ring whereby the rings can crack at controlled locations and deform to accommodate unevenly distributed external loads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US168146A
Cited
US748809A
Cited
FR964472A
Cited
US1792084A
Cited
GB276496A
Cited
US2128172A
Cited
GB531031A
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FR1141114A
Cited
US3075591A
Cited
US3427813A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |