Upward tunneling

Claim 2

Mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location, comprising: a power tunneler; and means for advancing said power tunneler upwardly into the ground, said means comprising a sectional support column below said power tunneler having at least one longitudinal external rib thereon, thrust ram means positionable at the underground location for forcing said sectional support column upwardly to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler upwardly, a holding table positionable at the underground location above said thrust ram means, said holding table including means for restraining said sectional support column against rotation during such advancement of said sectional support column and said power tunneler, said means including a fixed guide through which said external rib moves during advancement of said sectional support column, and means for securing said sectional support column to said holding table while a section is being added or removed from it.

Claim 3

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said support column comprises a tubular central portion which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the tunnel, so that a substantial space exists between said tubular portion and the tunnel wall, and a plurality of stabilizer fins spaced about and radiating outwardly from said tubular central portion, and wherein said power tunneler includes means for delivering the mined material into a space defined angularly between an adjacent pair of said stabilizer fins and radially between said central portion and the tunnel wall.

Claim 4

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a radial space exists between said sectional support column and the tunnel wall and said power tunneler includes means for delivering mined material into said space for travel downwardly therethrough to the underground location.

Claim 5

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 1, comprising: lower frame means below said thrust ram means, and means pivotally connecting the lower end of the thrust ram means to such lower frame means, for pivotal movement between a first position generally in line with the sectional support column and a second position generally over on its side, so that the thrust ram means can be swung downwardly out of line with the sectional support column into said section position to receive a section of the column thereon and then be swung upwardly back into line with the sectional support column.

Claim 6

Mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location, comprising: a power tunneler; and means for advancing said power tunneler upwardly into the ground, said means comprising a sectional support column below said power tunneler thrust ram means positionable at the underground location for forcing said sectional support column upwardly to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler upwardly, a holding table positionable at the underground location above said thrust ram means, said holding table including means for restraining said sectional support column against rotation during such advancement of said sectional support column and said power tunneler, and means for securing said sectional support column to said holding table while a section is being added to or removed from it, whereIn a radial space exists between said sectional support column and the tunnel wall and said power tunneler includes means for delivering mined material into said space for travel downwardly therethrough to the underground location, said mechanism further comprising hopper means above the support table for receiving the mined material, said hopper means including a discharge chute through which the collected mined material can be discharged into a transporter.

Claim 7

Mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location, comprising: a power tunneler; and means for advancing said power tunneler upwardly into the ground, said means comprising a sectional support column below said power tunneler thrust ram means positionable at the underground location for forcing said sectional support column upwardly to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler upwardly, a holding table positionable at the underground location above said thrust ram means, said holding table including means for restraining said sectional support column against rotation during such advancement of said sectional support column and said power tunneler, and means for securing said sectional support column to said holding table while a section is being added to or removed from it, whereIn a radial space exists between said sectional support column and the tunnel wall and said power tunneler includes means for delivering mined material into said space for travel downwardly therethrough to the underground location, said mechanism further comprising hopper means above the support table for receiving the mined material, said hopper means including a discharge chute through which the collected mined material can be discharged into a transporter.

Claim 8

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said hopper includes an upper portion sized to snugly fit within the tunnel so that substantially all of the mined material will have to fall into the hopper.

Claim 9

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 6, further including means for moving the hopper upwardly relatively to the support table.

Claim 10

Tunneling mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said hopper includes a bottom wall having an opening therein through which the sectional support column extends during advancement of the power tunneler, and seal means for sealing between said bottom wall and the sectional support column.

Claim 11

A section of a sectional support column used for supporting and applying an upward thrust to an upwardly advancing power tunneler, said section comprising: a tubular body which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the tunnel in which it is to be used, and a plurality of stabilizer fins radiating outwardly from said body substantially to the diameter of the tunnel in which the section is employed, with at least one of said fins making a strong, rigid connection to said body throughout the full length of said body, so that at such location of connection it can support bracing against rotation, and connector means at each end of said section for use in connecting it to an end of a similar section of the sectional support column.

Claim 12

A section of a sectional support column used for supporting and applying an upward thrust to an upwardly advancing power tunneler, said section comprising: a tubular body which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the tunnel in which it is to be used, and a plurality of stabilizer fins radiating outwardly from said body substantially to the diameter of the tunnel in which the section is employed, with at least one of said fins making a strong, rigid connection to said body throughout the full length of said body, so that at such location of connection it can support bracing against rotation, and connector means at each end of said section for use in connecting it to an end of a similar section of the sectional support column.

Claim 13

A support column section according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said fins is hollow and is defined by a housing which is removably secured to said tubular body, so that such housing can be placed about control line means and then be secured to said tubular body.

Claim 14

A sectional support column section according to claim 9, wherein the connector means at one end of the section comprises: a plurality of axial sockets in said tubular body and the connector means at the opposite end of the section comprises a plurality of complementary locator pins for insertion into the sockets of a second section, and wherein the wall means defining such sockets includes a transverse passageway, and the locator pins also include transverse passageways alignable with the transverse passageways in the walls of its socket, so that a transverse locking pin can be inserted through such aligned passageways for locking adjacent support column sections together.

Claim 15

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said support column against rotation; a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a linear piston-cylinder hydraulic motor having a first end with means for end-wise engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is pivotally securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said sectional support column, for pivotal movement of the hydraulic motor between a thrusting position in which it is coaxial with the support column and a side position for pickup of a column section.

Claim 16

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said support column against rotation; a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a linear piston-cylinder hydraulic motor having a first end with means for end-wise engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is pivotally securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said sectional support column, for pivotal movement of the hydraulic motor between a thrusting position in which it is coaxial with the support column and a side position for pickup of a column section.

Claim 17

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said supporT column against rotation; a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a linear piston-cylinder hydraulic motor having a first end with means for end-wise engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said sectional support column; and support shoulder means at said first end for receiving a lower end portion of a support column section, and pin means at said first end insertable into the interior of said support column section.

Claim 18

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said supporT column against rotation; a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a linear piston-cylinder hydraulic motor having a first end with means for end-wise engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said sectional support column; and support shoulder means at said first end for receiving a lower end portion of a support column section, and pin means at said first end insertable into the interior of said support column section.

Claim 19

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said support column against rotation: a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a first end adapted for engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said support column, said first end including support shoulder means for receiving a lower end portion of the support column section, and means insertable into the interior of said support column section; and means for pivotally connecting the second end of said thrust ram means to a frame member situated at the underground location, so that the thrust ram means when retracted, can be swung sideways out of line with the support column and into a position to receive a new section of the support column, so that the new section can be secured to the support column and the thrust ram means can again be used for advancing the support column and the power tunneler supported thereby.

Claim 20

For use in a mechanism for tunneling upwardly from an underground location in which the tunneling is done by successively constructing a sectional support column below a power tunneler and by thrusting said support column upwardly, to in that manner forcibly advance the power tunneler, while restraining said support column against rotation: a thrust ram means for forcing said sectional support column upwardly, said thrust ram means comprising a first end adapted for engaging a section of the support column and a second end which is securable to a frame situated at the underground location below said support column, said first end including support shoulder means for receiving a lower end portion of the support column section, and means insertable into the interior of said support column section; and means for pivotally connecting the second end of said thrust ram means to a frame member situated at the underground location, so that the thrust ram means when retracted, can be swung sideways out of line with the support column and into a position to receive a new section of the support column, so that the new section can be secured to the support column and the thrust ram means can again be used for advancing the support column and the power tunneler supported thereby.

Claim 21

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body portion securable to the support column, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body portion, cutters on said carrier, motor means mounted on said body portion, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said cutter carrier, and a tail section adapted for connection to the upper section of the sectional support column, said tail section comprising a tubular central portion which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the bore formed by the cutters, so that a substantial space will exist between said tubular portion and the bore wall, and a plurality of fins radiating outwardly from said tubular central portion, said power tunneler including means for directing the mined material into a space that is defined angularly between an adjacent pair of said fins and radially between said central portion and the tunnel wall.

Claim 22

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body portion securable to the support column, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body portion, cutters on said carrier, motor means mounted on said body portion, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said cutter carrier, and a tail section adapted for connection to the upper section of the sectional support column, said tail section comprising a tubular central portion which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the bore formed by the cutters, so that a substantial space will exist between said tubular portion and the bore wall, and a plurality of fins radiating outwardly from said tubular central portion, said power tunneler including means for directing the mined material into a space that is defined angularly between an adjacent pair of said fins and radially between said central portion and the tunnel wall.

Claim 23

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body securable to the support column, motor means mounted within said body, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body said cutter carrier comprising an end portion which is positioned endwise of said body and a side portion which extends about said body, cutters on said carrier including face cutters on said end portion and gage cutters on said side portion, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said cutter carrier, and a tail section extending rearwardly from said body which is adapted for connection to the upper section of the sectional support column.

Claim 24

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body securable to the support column, motor means mounted within said body, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body said cutter carrier comprising an end portion which is positioned endwise of said body and a side portion which extends about said body, cutters on said carrier including face cutters on said end portion and gage cutters on said side portion, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said cutter carrier, and a tail section extending rearwardly from said body which is adapted for connection to the upper section of the sectional support column.

Claim 25

A power tunneler according to claim 16, wherein said tail section includes a tubular central portion which is substantially smaller in cross-section than the bore formed by the cutters, so that a substantial space will exist between said tubulaR portion and the bore wall, and at least one fin which extends radially outwardly from said tubular central portion, and power supply lines for said motor extending from the motor through an opening in said tubular portion and into said fin.

Claim 26

A power tunneler according to claim 16, wherein said tail section includes means strong enough to withstand bracing imposed thereon for preventing rotation of said tail section and said body portion.

Claim 27

A power tunneler according to claim 16, wherein said tail section includes means for receiving a transverse pin which is used for affixing the tunneler in position relative to a fixed support table.

Claim 28

Mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said cutter carrier comprises an upper end portion which is positioned endwise of said body and a side portion which extends about said body, and wherein the cutters on said carrier include face cutters on said end portion and gage cutters on said side portion.

Claim 29

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body, motor means mounted on said body, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body, cutters on said carrier, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said carrier, and a tail section on said body including means for detachably connecting it to the upper section of the sectional support column, said tail section generally corresponding in cross sectional shape to the sectional support column with which it is used; and hopper means for receiving the mined material, said hopper means including sidewall means and a bottom together defining an interior space which is large enough to receive a substantial portion of the tunneler, said bottom having an opening therein sized to receive the tail section of the tunneler, and seal means for sealing between said bottom and the tail section, said seal means accommodating axial movement of the tunneler relative to the hopper.

Claim 30

A power tunneler which during use is progressively moved upwardly from an underground location by a sectional support column which is itself moved endwise upwardly by thrust ram means, said power tunneler comprising: a non-rotating body, motor means mounted on said body, a rotary cutter carrier mounted on said body, cutters on said carrier, means drivenly connecting said motor means to said carrier, and a tail section on said body including means for detachably connecting it to the upper section of the sectional support column, said tail section generally corresponding in cross sectional shape to the sectional support column with which it is used; and hopper means for receiving the mined material, said hopper means including sidewall means and a bottom together defining an interior space which is large enough to receive a substantial portion of the tunneler, said bottom having an opening therein sized to receive the tail section of the tunneler, and seal means for sealing between said bottom and the tail section, said seal means accommodating axial movement of the tunneler relative to the hopper.

Claim 31

In mechanism for boring upwardly from an underground location, by use of a rotary cutterhead that is forced upwardly by means including a sectional support column which is moved axially upwardly as sections are added to it, said sections including longitudinal external ribs, wherein the mined material is dropped downwardly through a space between the support column and the bore wall, a material gathering hopper positionable at the underground location, comprising: a bottom; side wall means connected to the bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, to with the bottom form a receiving chamber for the mined material; a support column passageway in said bottom, corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the sectional support column, through which said support column moves during boring; and a discharge passageway from said hopper spaced laterally outwardly from said support column passageway.

Claim 32

In mechanism for boring upwardly from an underground location, by use of a rotary cutterhead that is forced upwardly by means including a sectional support column which is moved axially upwardly as sections are added to it, said sections including longitudinal external ribs, wherein the mined material is dropped downwardly through a space between the support column and the bore wall, a material gathering hopper positionable at the underground location, comprising: a bottom; side wall means connected to the bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, to with the bottom form a receiving chamber for the mined material; a support column passageway in said bottom, corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the sectional support column, through which said support column moves during boring; and a discharge passageway from said hopper spaced laterally outwardly from said support column passageway.

Claim 33

Mechanism according to claim 22, including a holding table that is positionable at the underground location below the bottom of the hopper, said holding table comprising: means defining an opening through which said support column moves as it is advanced upwardly, including a guide avenue for the longitudinal external ribs; means adjacent said guide avenue for contacting said ribs during boring and restraining said support column against rotation; and means for securing said sectional support column to said holding table while a section is being added to or removed from it.

Claim 34

Mechanism according to claim 23, comprising hydraulic cylinder means interconnected between the hopper and the support table, for adjusting the hopper in position relative to the support table and the entrance to the borer.

Claim 35

Mechanism according to claim 22, wherein the bottom of the hopper includes seal means surrounding the support column passageway, for sealing against substantial leakage of material froM the hopper through such passageway.