TUNNELING MACHINE Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: tunnel construction. SUBSTANCE: tunneling machine includes front and rear shields, mechanism for transportation of rocks broken by cutting tool, and anchoring mechanism in form of shoes. Shoes are connected with main and additional hydraulic cylinders and installed for motion in ports made in rear shield symmetrically to vertical plane running through longitudinal axis of rear shield. Upper parts of shoes are interconnected by main hydraulic cylinders whose rods are articulated with one shoe, and their bodies, with the other. Lower part of each anchoring shoe is connected with rods of additional hydraulic cylinders whose bodies are connected with lower part of rear shield. Additional hydraulic cylinders are connected with lower part of rear shield and inclined to vertical plane of symmetry of rear shield. Flexible members in form of cover plates of flexible material secured to rear shield are installed between rear shield and body of each additional hydraulic cylinder. EFFECT: higher efficiency. 3 dwg