Tunnel Lining Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A method of lining a tunnel comprises providing a plurality of injectors ( 7 ) on an apparatus, the injectors being positioned adjacent an internal tunnel surface ( 6 ) or ( 41 ) and using the injectors to place and compress and, if required, crush the solid particles of, and dewater the lining material ( 5 ) to form a structural tunnel lining. The apparatus is moved forward by the pressure exerted by the injectors ( 7 ) as they discharge the lining material. Articulated shuttering for the tunnel lining is provided on a trailing side of the apparatus. The injectors ( 7 ) can be arranged on an apparatus having a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of a tunnel to be lined.

1 . A method of lining a tunnel, comprising providing a plurality of injectors on an apparatus, the injectors being positioned adjacent an internal tunnel surface facing away from the direction of travel parallel to, or at an angle to, a centreline of the tunnel, using the injectors to place, and compress tunnel lining material to form a structural tunnel lining, and moving the apparatus forwards by the pressure exerted by the injectors as the tunnel lining material is discharged, articulated shuttering for the tunnel lining being provided on a trailing side of the apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . A The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the injectors are provided on an apparatus having a cross-section corresponding proportionally to a cross-section of a tunnel to be lined. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , including arranging the injectors around a periphery of the apparatus, and feeding the injectors with tunnel lining material from feed lines located within the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , including removing water from the lining material through the injectors. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , including using the injectors to crush particles within the lining material. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , performed simultaneously with the excavation of the tunnel. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tunnel pre-exists, and the method comprises rehabilitating and/or strengthening the tunnel. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , including steering and braking the apparatus using wheels thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , including steering and braking the apparatus using skids thereon. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for lining a tunnel, comprising a plurality of injectors for placing and compressing lining material on an internal tunnel surface, to form a structural tunnel lining, and for moving the apparatus forwards by the pressure exerted by the injectors as the lining material is discharged, the injectors being oriented with respect to the apparatus to face away from the direction of travel parallel to, or at an angle to, a centreline of the tunnel, and articulated shuttering for the tunnel lining, provided on a trailing side of the apparatus, the shuttering comprising mutually articulated rings of plates, and rods extending through apertures in the rings to constrain the degree of relative displacement of the rings. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the injectors are arranged around a periphery of the apparatus, feed lines being located within the apparatus for feeding lining material to the injectors. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein an angle between an axis of the injectors along which lining material is ejected and a longitudinal axis of the apparatus is variable. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each injector includes a piston slidable within a cylinder to expel lining material therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the piston has holes for removing water from the lining material through the injector. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , including wheels for steering and braking the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , including skids for steering and braking the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , including at least one peripheral seal, comprising a minimum of two rows of wire brushes and grease, for retaining the ejected lining material against the internal surface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , including a control system for controlling injection of the lining material, cleaning of the injectors and/or steering of the apparatus.