Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.25
a) View taken towards the rear
of a Mitsubishi 10.6 m diameter
slurry machine used in Japan
(note the two slurry pipes at the
top right, one for passing the
slurry into the machine, which
enters at the top of the shield,
and one for removing the slurry
and excavated material, which
comes from the bottom of the
shield), and b) the full slurry
TBM in the factory showing
the cutterhead (courtesy of
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mechatronics Systems Ltd)
a)
b)
is possible if the main spokes of the cutter wheel are large enough for a
person to get inside and change the cutting tools. All works and repairs
outside the main spokes and in front of the cutter wheel have to be done
via an airlock. The slurry is replaced by low-pressure compressed air during
this work.
Figure 5.25 shows an example of a 10.6 m diameter slurry TBM as used
in Japan. As can be seen in Figure 5.25a, looking towards the rear of the
TBM, slurry machines can be relatively uncluttered and 'clean' due to the
fact that the excavated material (spoil) is pumped out without the need for
spoil wagons or conveyors.
