Steel liners for tunnels

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a steel segment assembly for lining a tunnel. The segment assembly has a frame to which is attached a steel panel, the frame and panel being a segment of a cylinder dimensioned to the desired tunnel diameter. The frame is preferably square, rectangular or trapezoidal in shape and is constructed of suitably dimensioned members having a square or rectangular cross section welded together. The frame has two curved spaced apart side members to form the long sides of the frame, the curved spaced apart side members being joined together at either end by end members to form the short sides of the frame. At least one intermediate member is provided between the two end members to bridge the two curved spaced apart side members to provide transverse structural support to the steel segment assembly.

1 . A steel segment assembly for lining a tunnel, the segment assembly comprising a frame to which is attached a steel panel, the segment assembly being a segment of a cylinder dimensioned to the desired tunnel diameter, the frame is constructed of suitably dimensioned members having a square or rectangular cross section welded together, the frame comprises two curved spaced apart members to form the long sides of the frame, the curved spaced apart members being joined together at either end by end members to form the short sides of the frame, at least one intermediate member is provided between the two end members to bridge the two curved spaced apart members to provide transverse structural support to the steel segment assembly. 
     
     
         2 . A steel segment assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of intermediate members are provided between the two end members. 
     
     
         3 . A steel segment assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the segment assembly has a square, rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         4 . A steel segment assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the curved spaced apart members are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         5 . A steel segment assembly according to  claim 3  wherein four intermediate members are provided per segment assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A tunnel lining comprising a plurality of steel segment assemblies arranged in rows of end to end joined individual steel segment assemblies, each of the steel segment assemblies comprises a frame to which is attached a steel panel, the segment assembly being a segment of a cylinder dimensioned to the desired tunnel diameter, the frame being constructed of suitably dimensioned members having a square or rectangular cross section welded together, the frame comprising two curved spaced apart side members to form the long sides of the frame, the curved spaced apart side members being joined together at either end by end members to form the short sides of the frame, at least one intermediate member being provided between the two end members to bridge the two side members to provide transverse structural support to the steel segment assembly, a first plurality of steel segment assemblies being joined end to end to complete a cylinder comprising a row of the tunnel diameter and the individual rows being connected to one another to form the tunnel lining. 
     
     
         7 . A tunnel lining according to  claim 6  wherein each of the steel segment assemblies are provided with a plurality of intermediate members between the two end members, the intermediate members of each row being aligned to provide a continuous support so that the load of a tunnel digging machine pushing back against the tunnel lining is transferred along the length of the lining. 
     
     
         8 . A tunnel lining according to  claim 7  wherein each of the steel segment assemblies are provided with four intermediate members. 
     
     
         9 . A tunnel lining according to  claim 7  wherein the segment assemblies have a square, rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         10 . A tunnel lining according to  claim 7  wherein substantially all of the segment assemblies have a square or rectangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . A tunnel lining according to  claim 7  wherein the segment assemblies of at least one row have a trapezoidal shape to allow for a change in direction of the tunnel lining.