US3776595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tunneling machine having access passageway and invert cleaner
Assignee: Subsurface Machine and Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-14
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A machine for boring a tunnel in a subterranean formation may comprise: a main beam; a cutterhead support assembly attached to the main beam; a cutterhead assembly mounted for rotation on the cutterhead support assembly; and means connected to the main beam for advancing the cutterhead and cutterhead support assemblies to cut a tunnel through the formation. The cutterhead support assembly may include a blade assembly projecting radially toward the walls of the tunnel for cleaning the invert of the tunnel as the cutterhead support assembly advances therethrough. The cutterhead support assembly may be provided with a passageway communicating with a passageway beneath the main beam to form a continuous human passageway along the invert of the tunnel, throughout the length of the tunneling machine, through which the face of the cutterhead assembly may be reached. The blade assembly may be mounted on the cutterhead support assembly for movement between first and second positions blocking and unblocking the human passageway, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 D Winberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:18
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21D; E21D9/00; E21D9/10; E21D9/1093; E21D9/11; E21D9/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A machine for boring a tunnel in a subterranean formation comprising: a. a cutterhead support assembly; b. a cutterhead assembly mounted for rotation on said cutterhead support assembly; and c. means connected to said cutterhead support assembly, including a main beam, for advancing said cutterhead and cutterhead support assemblies to cut said tunnel through said formation; d. said main beam extending into said cutterhead support assembly and connecting with said cutterhead support assembly by a multidirectional pivot means whereby said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly may be turned in any direction about said pivot means; e. said cutterhead support assembly including blade means projecting radially toward the walls of said tunnel for cleaning the invert of said tunnel as said cutterhead support assembly advances therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A machine for boring a tunnel in a subterranean formation comprising: a. a cutterhead support assembly; b. a cutterhead assembly mounted for rotation on said cutterhead support assembly; and c. means connected to said cutterhead support assembly, including a main beam, for advancing said cutterhead and cutterhead support assemblies to cut said tunnel through said formation; d. said main beam extending into said cutterhead support assembly and connecting with said cutterhead support assembly by a multidirectional pivot means whereby said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly may be turned in any direction about said pivot means; e. said cutterhead support assembly including blade means projecting radially toward the walls of said tunnel for cleaning the invert of said tunnel as said cutterhead support assembly advances therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said cutterhead assembly comprises a plurality of bucket means movable along the walls of said tunnel on rotation of said cutterhead assembly to collect rock and muck for removal from said tunnel, said blade means being adjacent to said bucket means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said blade means comprises a blade member mounted on said cutterhead support assembly for movement independently of the movement of said cutterhead support assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said cutterhead support assembly is provided with a human passageway through which the face of said cutterhead assembly may be reached along the invert of said tunnel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 4 in which said blade member is movable between first and second positions blocking and unblocking said human passageway respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 5. in which said blade means comprises a carriage on which said blade member is mounted for arcuate movement along the walls of said tunnel between said first and second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 6. in which said blade means comprises a pair of said blade members and carriages, said blade members being contiguous to each other in said first position and separated from each other in said second position to permit access to said cutterhead assembly face through said human passageway.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said cutterhead support assembly is provided with a human passageway through which the face of said cutterhead assembly may be reached along the invert of said tunnel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 8. in which there is a clear space along said tunnel invert, beneath said main beam, communicating with said human passageway to provide a continuous passageway for humans along the invert of said tunnel throughout the entire length of said tunneling machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 8 in which said blade means comprises an arcuate blade member mounted on a carriage for arcuate movement, relative to a cross-section of said tunnel, between first and second positions blocking and unblocking said human passageway, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 10 in which said blade member and said carriage are also mounted on said cutterhead support assembly for limited radial movement between said tunnel walls and the center line of said tunnel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 10. in which said blade means comprises a pair of said arcuate blade members and carriages, each of said blade members being movable between a position in which said blade members are contiguous to each other and blocking said human passageway to a position in which said blade members are separated providing access to said cutterhead face through said human passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 12. in which said means for advancing said cutterhead and cutterhead support assemblies includes a longitudinal main beam beneath which there is a clear space along said tunnel invert communicating with said human passageway to provide a continuous passageway for humans along the invert of said tunnel throughout the entire length of said tunneling machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A machine for boring a tunnel in a subterranean formation comprising: a. a main beam; b. a cutterhead support assembly attached to said main beam; c. a cutterhead assembly mounted for rotation on said cutterhead support assembly; d. means connected to said main beam for advancing said cutterhead support and cutterhead assemblies to cut said tunnel through said formation; e. a first passageway through said cutterhead support assembly; f. a second passageway beneath said main beam communicating with said first passageway; g. said first and second passageways forming a continuous human passagewAy along the invert of said tunnel throughout the length of said tunneling machine, through which the face of said cutterhead assembly may be reached.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A machine for boring a tunnel in a subterranean formation comprising: a. a main beam; b. a cutterhead support assembly attached to said main beam; c. a cutterhead assembly mounted for rotation on said cutterhead support assembly; d. means connected to said main beam for advancing said cutterhead support and cutterhead assemblies to cut said tunnel through said formation; e. a first passageway through said cutterhead support assembly; f. a second passageway beneath said main beam communicating with said first passageway; g. said first and second passageways forming a continuous human passagewAy along the invert of said tunnel throughout the length of said tunneling machine, through which the face of said cutterhead assembly may be reached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 14. in which said main beam extends into said cutterhead support assembly and connects therewith by a multidirectional pivot means whereby said cutterhead and cutterhead support assembly may be turned in any direction about said pivot means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 14. characterized by blade means carried by said cutterhead support assembly projecting radially toward the walls of said tunnel for cleaning said tunnel invert on said advancing of said cutterhead support and cutterhead assemblies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 16 in which said blade means comprises a blade member mounted on a carriage member for movement between first and second positions blocking and unblocking said first passageway, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 17 in which said blade means is mounted on said cutterhead support means for limited radial movement toward and away from the approximate center of said tunnel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 18. in which said carriage member and another portion of said cutterhead support assembly are provided with guide means for guiding said blade means in said radial movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 19. comprising power means connected to said carriage member for effecting said radial movement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 17. in which said blade and carriage members are provided with cooperating guide means for guiding said blade member in an arcuate path, relative to a cross-section of said tunnel, between said first and second positions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 21 comprising power means connected to said blade member and said carriage member for effecting said movement of said blade member between said first and second positions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 21 in which said cutterhead assembly comprises a plurality of bucket means movable along the walls of said tunnel on rotation of said cutterhead assembly to collect rock and muck for removal from said tunnel, said blade member being adjacent to said bucket means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 21 in which there are a pair of said blade and carriage members, each of said blade members being independently movable in said arcuate path and in opposite directions from said first position to said second position, said blade members being contiguous to each other when in said first position and separated from each other when in said second position to permit access to said cutterhead assembly face through said first passageway.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 24 in which each pair of said blade and carriage members are mounted on said cutterhead assembly for independent vertical movement toward and away from the floor of said tunnel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tunneling machine as set forth in claim 25. in which each pair of said blade and carriage members are provided with power means for effecting said independent arcuate and vertical movements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
AT40059B
Cited
US3598445A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |