Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process for the driving of a tunnel into geological rock
formations which include hard rock obstacles comprising the steps of:
a) driving the tunnel by cutting rocks in forward direction from
the head wall of the tunnel being driven and removing loose,
cut-off rock,
b) stopping the cutting operation at the head wall when a hard
rock obstacle is encountered,
c) firing at least one explosive charge at the hard rock obstacle
encountered to disintegrate the hard rock obstacle, and
d) removing the resulting disintegrated hard rock,
whereby the size and type of the explosive charges, the distance of the
explosive charge from the hard rock obstacle upon detonation and the
detonation itself of the explosive charge are selected such that the
disintegrated hard rock can be removed with the apparatus used for
cutting rocks from the head wall and removing the loose, cut-off rock.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus used is
a partial cross-section tunnel borer which includes at least one movable
cutting arm and a cutting head mounted thereon, whereby an explosive
charge launcher is mounted on the cutting arm and the explosive charge
aimed at the hard rock obstacle by appropriate adjustment of the position
of the cutting arm.
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the explosive charge is
aimed at the hard rock obstacle by appropriate adjustment of the cutting
arm position and re-positioning of the whole tunnel borer.
4. A process according to claim 2, wherein at least one explosive
charge launcher is mounted on a side of the tunnel borer for aiming at
the hard rock obstacle.
5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus used is
a continuous-miner type tunnel borer and at least one explosive charge
launcher is mounted on a side of the tunnel borer for aiming at the hard
rock obstacle.
6. A process according to claim 1, where the apparatus used is a
full cross-section tunnel borer which includes a machine frame and a full
cross-section cutting head, at least one firing opening being provided in
the cutting head for passage of the explosive charge therethrough and an
explosive charge launcher being integrated into the machine frame, the
firing opening being appropriately located in the cutting head for
positioning of the opening in front of the launcher and aiming of the
launcher and an explosive charge supported thereon at the hard rock
obstacle through the firing opening.
7. A process according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
wherein the apparatus used in a tunnel borer which includes detector
means for locating a hard rock obstacle in the head wall and means for
controlling the aiming direction of the explosive charge launcher
depending on obstacle location data detected by the detector means.
8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the location data are
input into a computer which controls the aiming direction of the
explosive charge launcher.
9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the computer controls
the distance of the explosive charges from the hard rock obstacle upon
detonation and the explosive charge detonation itself in accordance with
a program taking into consideration the rock type of the hard rock
obstacle encountered.
10. A process according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of
explosive charges are stored in the tunnel borer and automatically fed to
the explosive charge launcher.
11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the explosive charge
launcher is loaded with different types and sizes of explosive charges
depending on the type of rock in the hard rock obstacle encountered.
12. A partial cross-section tunnel borer for carrying out the
process according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11
comprising an undercarriage, a self-propelled machine frame, a cutting
arrangement, and a loose rock removal arrangement, the cutting
arrangement including a movable cutting arm and a cutting head mounted
thereon, whereby at least one explosive charge launcher for supporting
and firing an explosive charge is mounted on the cutting arm and aimed at
the hard rock obstacle by appropriate adjustment of the cutting arm
position.
13. A partial cross section tunnel borer according to claim 12,
having an explosive charge launcher which is provided on at least one
side of the machine frame for aiming at the hard rock obstacle
encountered.
14. A continuous-miner type tunnel borer for carrying out the
process according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11
having an explosive charge launcher which is provided on at least one
side of the machine frame for aiming at the hard rock obstacle
encountered.
15. A full cross-section tunnel borer according to any one of
claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 or 11 comprising a machine frame and a
full cross-section cutting head, at least one firing opening being
provided in the cutting head for the passage of an explosive charge
therethrough and the machine frame including at least one explosive
charge launcher, the firing opening being appropriately located in the
cutting head for positioning in front of the explosive charge launcher,
and aiming and firing of an explosive charge supported on the explosive
charge launcher at the hard rock obstacle through the firing opening.
16. A tunnel borer according to any one of claims 11, 13, 14 or 15,
further comprising a detector means for locating a hard rock obstacle
present in the head wall, and a means for controlling the aiming
direction of the explosive charge launcher depending on obstacle location
data detected by the detector means.
17. A tunnel borer according to claim 12, further comprising a
detector means for locating a hard rock obstacle present in the head
wall, and a means for controlling the aiming direction of the explosive
charge launcher depending on obstacle location data detected by the
detector means.