APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING TUNNEL BORING EFFICIENCY
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring a tunnel boring machine during operation, wherein the tunnel boring machine comprises a plurality of cutter assemblies having a rotatable portion mounted on a cutter head, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of instrument packages, each instrument package being associated with one of the plurality of cutter assemblies, each instrument package comprising i) a distal end that is in contact with the associated cutter assembly, the distal end of the instrument package containing a plurality of sensors for monitoring the associated cutter assembly, ii) a sensor control board operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the sensor control board further comprising a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit data detected by the plurality of sensors to a remote receiver, and iii) a power supply connected to provide power to the sensor control board; and
means for attaching each of the plurality of instrument packages to the associated cutter assembly.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tunnel boring machine (90) having a rotating cutter head (93) that rotatably supports a plurality of cutter assemblies (10). A plurality of instrument packages (50) are attached to the rotating cutter head, each instrument package having a distal end in contact with an associated cutter assembly. The instrument packages include a plurality of sensors including an accelerometer (32), magnetometer (33) and temperature sensor (34), for monitoring the associated cutter assembly. The sensors are mounted in a distal end of the instrument packages that is biased to remain in contact with the cutter assembly. The instrument packages include a wireless transmitter, and they are interconnected in a mesh or peer to peer network. A power supply (176) such as a battery pack is provided for each instrument package. The data from the sensors may be used to control operation of the tunnel boring machine and/or to monitor the condition of the cutter assemblies.
47 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a tunnel boring machine during operation, wherein the tunnel boring machine comprises a plurality of cutter assemblies having a rotatable portion mounted on a cutter head, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of instrument packages, each instrument package being associated with one of the plurality of cutter assemblies, each instrument package comprising i) a distal end that is in contact with the associated cutter assembly, the distal end of the instrument package containing a plurality of sensors for monitoring the associated cutter assembly, ii) a sensor control board operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the sensor control board further comprising a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit data detected by the plurality of sensors to a remote receiver, and iii) a power supply connected to provide power to the sensor control board; and means for attaching each of the plurality of instrument packages to the associated cutter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for operating a tunnel boring machine having a plurality of cutter assemblies, each cutter assembly comprising a rotating portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of instrument packages, each instrument package being associated with one of the plurality of cutter assemblies, and comprising a plurality of sensors that monitor the associated cutter assembly, a sensor control board that receives data from the plurality of sensors, and a power supply, wherein the instrument package is in direct contact with the associated cutter assembly; wirelessly transmitting data derived from the plurality of sensors to a remote receiver; using the data transmitted to the remote receiver to control the operation of the tunnel boring machine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A tunnel boring machine comprising:
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a rotating cutter head that rotatably supports a plurality of cutter assemblies, each cutter assembly comprising a shaft rotatably supporting a cutter ring; a plurality of instrument packages, each instrument package being associated with one of the plurality of cutter assemblies, each instrument package comprising i) a distal end that is in contact with the associated cutter assembly, the distal end of the instrument package containing a plurality of sensors for monitoring the associated cutter assembly, ii) a sensor control board operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the sensor control board further comprising a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit data detected by the plurality of sensors to a remote receiver, and iii) a power supply connected to provide power to the sensor control board; and means for attaching each of the plurality of instrument packages to the associated cutter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification