Rotary shield mining machine support system - includes clamps forced sideways against tunnel wall, and lower wedge shaped blocks

摘要

The support system for a rotary head tunnelling machine is installed at the beginning of a cutting operation, the head making a cut which is the full size of the tunnel. The machine travels on wheels on T beams (4) forming tracks along the bottom of the tunnel. The frame is also supported between arc shaped clamps (21, 22) which are forced out sideways against the tunnel wall. Wooden wedges (53, 54) can be inserted at the top, and prefabricated blocks (30) are installed at floor level. These have flat bases (42) and curved wedge shaped top (36). They are made of sheet metal, filled with concrete (33). U shaped anchors (35) embedded in the concrete carry chains for making necessary connections.