US3864925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for use in driving tunnels
Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
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Filing: 1973-04-18
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-04-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in driving tunnels and having an advanceable shield formed by a plurality of elongate members disposed sideby-side in contact with the wall of the tunnel. The members are supported by two frames interconnected through piston and cylinder units. Each elongate member has sets of apertures with guide members therein defining guide surfaces which selectively receive spring-loaded slidable pins carried by the frames and respectively allocated to the members. The pins carried by one frame each have inclined surfaces at its outer end which engage on inclined guide surfaces in each associated aperture to permit the pin to retract automatically upon relative movement between the frame and the member having the aperture in question along the axis of the tunnel. The pins carried by the other frame are each manually rotatable about its axis through 180* to bring an abutment surface at its outer end into engagement with one of two opposite surfaces in an associated aperture extending parallel to the axis of the pin whereby the pin can selectively lock the frame to the member having the aperture in one or the other direction along the axis of the tunnel. Those pins carried by the other frame also each have an inclined surface engaging on one of two converging inclined surfaces in the associated aperture so that the pin can be retracted automatically when relative movement occurs between the frame and the member having the aperture in one direction or the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolf Foik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:11
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21D; E21D19/00; E21D19/04; E21D9/00; E21D9/06; E21D9/0692
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In an apparatus for use in driving tunnels or the like, the apparatus including two parallel, spaced-apart, substantially circular frames conforming to the general shape of the tunnel interior, a pLurality of piston-cylinder units attached between the two frames for effecting relative displacement, and a plurality of elongated plank members arranged side by side around the outer peripheries of the frames to form a lining for the tunnel, the improvement therein comprising locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the elongated plank members to the frames to permit selected plank members to be moved forward lengthwise of the tunnel, said locking means comprising: a. the second of the two frames having a plurality of second locking pins mounted thereon, said second locking pins being independently movable radially; and b. the elongated plank members each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second locking pin receiving apertures formed on the interior plank surface, said second locking pins being selectively extended into said second apertures to permit selected plank members to be moved forwardly by said second frame, said second locking pins being retracted out of said second apertures to permit said second frame to be moved rearwardly without moving the plank members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In an apparatus for use in driving tunnels or the like, the apparatus including two parallel, spaced-apart, substantially circular frames conforming to the general shape of the tunnel interior, a pLurality of piston-cylinder units attached between the two frames for effecting relative displacement, and a plurality of elongated plank members arranged side by side around the outer peripheries of the frames to form a lining for the tunnel, the improvement therein comprising locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the elongated plank members to the frames to permit selected plank members to be moved forward lengthwise of the tunnel, said locking means comprising: a. the second of the two frames having a plurality of second locking pins mounted thereon, said second locking pins being independently movable radially; and b. the elongated plank members each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second locking pin receiving apertures formed on the interior plank surface, said second locking pins being selectively extended into said second apertures to permit selected plank members to be moved forwardly by said second frame, said second locking pins being retracted out of said second apertures to permit said second frame to be moved rearwardly without moving the plank members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first of the two frames has a plurality of first locking pins mounted thereon, said first locking pins being movable radially, said first locking pins being dissimilar in form from said second locking pins on said second frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said movable first locking pins are spring-biased toward said plank member first apertures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first of the two frames has a plurality of first locking pins being movable radially, and wherein the elongated plank members each has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first locking apertures formed on the interior plank surface, said first locking pins being extended into said first apertures to lock the plank members in place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first apertures have guide surfaces engageable by said first pins, said guide surfaces camming said first pins out of said first apertures as the plank member is moved in either direction lengthwise of the tunnel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second locking pins are manually settable into three different operating positions, the first position providing that said second locking pin is retracted entirely from said second aperture, the second position providing that said second locking pin is inserted into said second aperture and locks the associated plank member against movement in one direction relative to the second frame, the third position providing that said second locking pin is inserted into said second aperture and locks the associated plank member against movement in the other direction relative to the second frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first aperture guide surfaces are inclined with respect to the tunnel axis, and said first locking pin has end surfaces which are inclined for camming engagement with said first aperture guide surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first aperture guide surfaces include a forward surface portion and a rearward surface portion, said forward portion being inclined less than said rearward portion relative to the tunnel axis, and said rearward portion being inclined at substantially the same angle as that of said first locking pin end surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said forward surface portion is inclined within the range of 15* to 25* relative to the tunnel axis, and said rearward surface is inclined approximately 45* relative to the tunnel axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first locking pins are spring-biased toward said first locking apertures by means of a stack of cup springs, and adjustable means are provided for modifying the amount of force exerted by said stack of cup springs on said first locking pins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first substantially circular frame has an I-shaped cross-section, the axis of said first locking pins being parallel to the central web of said I-shaped cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second frame is provided with a plurality of guide bushes, said second locking pins being slidably and rotatably guided within said guide bushes, each said second locking pin having a free outer end, said outer end having one face extending parallel to the axis of said second locking pin, said outer end having another adjoining face inclined with relation to said one face, and the plank member second locking pin receiving apertures having guide faces selectively engageable with said locking pin faces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said guide faces of each said second aperture each include two spacedapart faces extending parallel to the axis of said second locking pin, said two parallel aperture guide faces being engageable with said second locking pin parallel faace, said guide faces of each said second aperture each further including two adjoining inclined faces which converge together towards said second locking pin, said two inclined aperture guide faces being engageable with said second locking pin inclined face.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
168 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second frame is provided with a plurality of guide bushes, said second locking pins being slidably and rotatably guided within said guide bushes, each said second locking pin having a free outer end, said outer end having one face extending parallel to the axis of said second locking pin, said outer end having another adjoining face inclined with relation to said one face, and the plank member second locking pin receiving apertures having guide faces selectively engageable with said locking pin faces, each of said guide faces of each said second aperture each including two spaced-apart faces extending parallel to the axis of said second locking pin, said two parallel aperture guide faces being engageable with said second locking pin parallel face, said guide faces of each said second aperture each further including two adjoining inclined faces which converge together towards said second locking pin, said two inclined aperture guide faces being engageable with said second locking pin inclined face.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each said second locking pin has an inner end, said inner end being provided with a lever for rotating said locking pin into different operating positions, said locking pin being rotated 180* to bring said locking pin parallel face from engagement with one said aperture parallel face into engagement with the other said aperture parallel face, the second frame further having semi-circular cams engageable by said levers intermediate the 0* and 180* positions of said levers, said cams causing said locking pins to be retracted from their associated said apertures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second frame has a plurality of common springs mounted thereon, each said spring engaging the locking pin inner ends of two adjacent locking pins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second substantially circular frame has a hollow rectangular cross-section, said guide bushes extending between the inner and outer walls of the second frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |