Tunnel boring machine

Claim 2

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly including at least one track, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. a power source on said carriage, e. a reciprocable drive member connected to said power source and extending longitudinally from said carriage, f. a rail extending along the inner wall portion of said track, said rail being interrupted to provide at least one space, g. and a transversely extending arm pivotally mounted to said drive member, said arm having an end weighted so that the end will ride along said rail during movement of said drive member and will drop by gravity into said space to lock the elements together so that actuation of said power source will cause said carriage to move on said track assembly.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 which includes: a vertically extending rod disposed to selectively and pivotally lower the end of said arm opposite said first-named end to unlock the elements.

Claim 4

and a plate removably extending downwardly through said slot for engagement with the said rear end of said second track assembly for pulling the latter toward said first-named track assembly when said carriage is moved rearwardly on the latter.

Claim 5

and a plate removably extending downwardly through said slot for engagement with the said rear end of said second track assembly for pulling the latter toward said first-named track assembly when said carriage is moved rearwardly on the latter.

Claim 6

a normally freely rotatable shaft mounting said winch drum, said shaft extending co-axially to closely adjacent said spindle,

Claim 7

a normally freely rotatable shaft mounting said winch drum, said shaft extending co-axially to closely adjacent said spindle,

Claim 8

quick coupling means for selectively connecting or disconnecting said shaft and spindle,

Claim 9

quick coupling means for selectively connecting or disconnecting said shaft and spindle,

Claim 10

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. means on said carriage for moving the latter in either direction along said section of track assembly, e. and means for connecting the rear end of a second track assembly to the front end of said first-named assembly, said means comprising:

Claim 11

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. means on said carriage for moving the latter in either direction along said section of track assembly, e. and means for connecting the rear end of a second track assembly to the front end of said first-named assembly, said means comprising:

Claim 12

The machine of claim 3 which includes: a. a connector mounted on one end of one of said track assemblies, said connector having a recess therein, b. a tongue mounted on the adjacent end of the other of said track assemblies, c. said tongue entering said recess upon rearward carriage movement, d. a pin extendable through said connector and tongue to hold said tongue in place, e. said connector having a slot therein, f. and a handle extending from said pin and extendable into said slot for holding said pin in place.

Claim 13

and power means for rotating said spindle when it is connected to said shaft for rotating said drum to pull the cable and auger rearwardly.

Claim 14

and power means for rotating said spindle when it is connected to said shaft for rotating said drum to pull the cable and auger rearwardly.

Claim 15

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. means on said carriage for moving the latter in either direction along said section of track assembly, e. and means for retracting an auger from a bored tunnel without carriage movement, said retracting means comprising:

Claim 16

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. means on said carriage for moving the latter in either direction along said section of track assembly, e. and means for retracting an auger from a bored tunnel without carriage movement, said retracting means comprising:

Claim 17

The machine of claim 5: a. in which said coupling means comprises a sleeve slideable between said drum shaft and a forward portion of said spindle, b. said sleeve being about the same length as said forward portion.

Claim 18

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. a generally cylindrical housing concentrically surrounding said spindle, e. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending Forwardly from said housing for receiving a casing end portion, f. means for securing a casing end portion to said arms, g. power source means on said carriage, h. a reciprocable drive member connected to said power source means and extending longitudinally from said carriage, i. gravity operated means for selectively locking said drive member to said track assembly so that application of power from said power source means will move said carriage on said track assembly, j. a coupler member extending forwardly from said housing, said coupler member having a slot therein, k. a plate removably extending downwardly through said slot for engagement with the rear end of a second section of track assembly for pulling the latter toward said first-named assembly when said carriage is moved rearwardly on the latter, l. means for lockingly connecting said assemblies together, m. winch means including a cable-carrying winch drum and shaft mounted on a track assembly forwardly of said carriage, the cable being adapted for connection to an auger, n. and quick coupling means for selectively connecting or disconnecting said shaft and spindle, o. said power source means including means for rotatably driving said spindle when it is connected to said shaft for rotating said winch drum to pull the cable and auger rearwardly without carriage movement.

Claim 19

A tunnel boring machine comprising, in combination: a. a section of track assembly, b. a carriage mounted on said track assembly for forward and rearward longitudinal movement thereon, c. a rotatable spindle disposed on said carriage and adapted to be connected to a section of boring auger, d. a generally cylindrical housing concentrically surrounding said spindle, e. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending Forwardly from said housing for receiving a casing end portion, f. means for securing a casing end portion to said arms, g. power source means on said carriage, h. a reciprocable drive member connected to said power source means and extending longitudinally from said carriage, i. gravity operated means for selectively locking said drive member to said track assembly so that application of power from said power source means will move said carriage on said track assembly, j. a coupler member extending forwardly from said housing, said coupler member having a slot therein, k. a plate removably extending downwardly through said slot for engagement with the rear end of a second section of track assembly for pulling the latter toward said first-named assembly when said carriage is moved rearwardly on the latter, l. means for lockingly connecting said assemblies together, m. winch means including a cable-carrying winch drum and shaft mounted on a track assembly forwardly of said carriage, the cable being adapted for connection to an auger, n. and quick coupling means for selectively connecting or disconnecting said shaft and spindle, o. said power source means including means for rotatably driving said spindle when it is connected to said shaft for rotating said winch drum to pull the cable and auger rearwardly without carriage movement.