SINKING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ITS ERECTION Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: construction of underground structures by caisson method, in particular, in complicated mining and geological conditions. SUBSTANCE: structure includes cylinder with antifriction coating on its external surface and with cutter part having baffle on its external projection. Installed on cylinder is pipe system for supply of antifriction and grouting compounds to cylinder external surface. External shell split over perimeter in the form of rigid panels is installed for vertical motion in H-beam guides rigidly connected to cylinder. Panels are mounted on external projection of cutter part. Located on external shelves of guides are retainers, while on external surface of panels are made detents in the form of angles installed for sliding over guide. Panel internal surface has antifriction coating. Each panel of external shell has pusher in the form of double-acting hydraulic cylinder whose one end is connected with cantilever installed on panel internal surface, while the other end is secured to cylinder wall. Hydraulic cylinders are installed in ports of structure cylinder walls. Each panel of external shell has vertical through hollows. The method of erection of sinking structure includes excavation of ground in cylinder hollow, sinking of cylinder and a part of external shell installed on cylinder, forced sinking of remaining panels of external shell freed beforehand from locking up to detent against cutter part of cylinder. As resistance to sinking rises, the number of panels freed from locking is increased. After freeing a part of panels from locking, cylinder and remaining panels of external shell are sunk by force of synchronous engagement of all hydraulic cylinders engageable with panels freed from locking through straight stroke of rods. After sinking the cylinder together with panels installed on it, forced sinking of freed panels is effected by changing over hydraulic cylinder for reverse stroke of rods. In sinking of soft water-logged grounds, panels are sunk alternately, and in case of solid grounds, sunk simultaneously are panels symmetrical to symmetry axis of structure. Panels may be withdrawn, and remaining space is filled with cementing mixture through vertical hollows in panels. EFFECT: higher efficiency. 7 cl, 9 dwg