Abstract

A tunneling system comprising an automatic tunnel construction vehicle to remove material and apply lining to a tunnel created by the removal of the material and concurrently with material removal. The system comprises a lining applicator to automatically apply a cementitious mixture to the tunnel, and a slip shield trowel to press the cementitious mixture against a wall of the tunnel while the cementitious mixture is curing, thereby creating a completed tunnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21C 37/16 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by fire-setting or by similar methods based on a heat effect
• E21D 9/093 - Control of the driving shield
• E21D 9/13 - Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoilWorking or loading platforms using hydraulic or pneumatic conveying means

Abstract

A plasma excavation system comprising a moveable support structure including a controller, an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the moveable support structure, and a plasma torching head coupled to the attachment mechanism, the plasma torching head moveable along two axes.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21C 37/16 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by fire-setting or by similar methods based on a heat effect
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling

Abstract

A plasma excavation system comprising a moveable support structure including a controller, an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the moveable support structure, and a plasma torching head coupled to the attachment mechanism, the plasma torching head moveable along two axes.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23K 10/00 - Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• B23K 37/00 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass
• E02F 3/38 - Cantilever beamsDipper-armsBucket-arms
• B23K 103/00 - Materials to be soldered, welded or cut

Abstract

A plasma drilling machine comprising a cutting head, a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area of the earth while the plasma torches are active, a plurality of vacuum inlets, and a metal tube to combine vacuum streams from the vacuum inlets to create a stream of spoils.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21D 9/13 - Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoilWorking or loading platforms using hydraulic or pneumatic conveying means

Abstract

A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/15 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling of electrically generated heat
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21C 37/16 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by fire-setting or by similar methods based on a heat effect
• E21C 37/18 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by electricity
• E21D 9/08 - Making by using a driving shield with additional boring or cutting means
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines

Abstract

A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21D 9/13 - Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoilWorking or loading platforms using hydraulic or pneumatic conveying means

Abstract

A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23K 10/00 - Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines

Abstract

Systems to bore or tunnel through various geologies in an autonomous or substantially autonomous manner can include one or more non-contact boring elements that direct energy at the bore face to remove material from the bore face through fracture, spallation, and removal of the material. The systems can automatically execute methods to control a set of boring parameters that affect the flux of energy directed at the bore face. Systems can further automatically execute the methods to trigger an optical sensor to capture images at the bore face, generate temperature profiles, identify spall fragments and hot zones and/or adjust a set of boring controls. For example, the system can execute methods to adjust a standoff distance between the system and the bore face, and adjust power and/or gas supply to the non-contact boring element.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21C 37/16 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by fire-setting or by similar methods based on a heat effect
• E21C 35/24 - Remote control specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral
• E21D 9/00 - Tunnels or galleries, with or without liningsMethods or apparatus for making thereofLayout of tunnels or galleries
• E21C 37/18 - Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by electricity

Abstract

A tunnel boring machine including a propulsion system, an enclosure carried by the propulsion system, and a torch support structure carried by the enclosure. The torch support structure can include a primary disc mounted on a rotatable shaft carried by the enclosure, a first plurality of plasma torches mounted to the primary disc, and a power supply cable coupled to the enclosure and adapted to supply power to the boring machine from one or more power sources.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/15 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling of electrically generated heat
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 4/16 - Plural down-hole drives, e.g. for combined percussion and rotary drillingDrives for multi-bit drilling units

Abstract

A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21D 9/13 - Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoilWorking or loading platforms using hydraulic or pneumatic conveying means

Abstract

The present application describes a rapid burrowing robot (RBR) that can dig tunnels using ultra high temperature rotating plasma torches.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/15 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling of electrically generated heat
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 4/16 - Plural down-hole drives, e.g. for combined percussion and rotary drillingDrives for multi-bit drilling units

Abstract

The present application describes a rapid burrowing robot (RBR) that can dig tunnels using ultra high temperature rotating plasma torches.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
• E21B 7/15 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling of electrically generated heat
• E21B 4/16 - Plural down-hole drives, e.g. for combined percussion and rotary drillingDrives for multi-bit drilling units