Soltau Microtunnelling (Wirth Group)
Tel: +1 (843) 216 1819
Fax: +1 (843) 216 1820
Email: PaulSoltau@aol.com
The US microtunnelling market is increasing 10-15% a year but there are also two important changes in direction. The first is the increase in average diameter, 3 years ago the average size range was between 30 and 36in. Today the average is between 48 and 60in with a large number of projects 72in and larger. This change has been dictated by a change in the type of projects, generally longer, deeper and with variable ground conditions, so increasing risk.
The microtunnelling industry is having to adapt to this type of project, from an open cut /utility contract attitude to a tunnelling attitude. This is reflected in the need for project baseline reports and large tunnel type terms and conditions of contract.
An example of a project of this type would be the "Tolt" project in the Seattle area, being completed by NW Boring with a Soltau RVS800 at 90in od one of the drives now completed was 493m under a river 30m deep, mainly sand and silt with 26m of water and the possibility of large boulders and trees from buried landslides.
At the other end of the spectrum the new generation of pilot bore microtunnelling systems such as The RVS80 and 160 use the pilot bore method to install 6in to 24in pipes, much faster and at about 50% of the cost of a typical slurry microtunnelling system. These systems are accurate, simple to set up and 82m drives including set up time can be achieved in 3 days.
Robinson Construction of Perryville MA have completed 15.8km with their 3 systems and more recently BRH Garver and Kinsel Industries of Houston have purchased systems for small diameter sewer work. The use of this equipment will increase dramatically as more work becomes competitive for trenchless installation.
Euro Iseki (Iseki Poly-Tech)
Tel: +44 (0) 1789 292227
Fax: +44 (0) 1789 268350
Email: tunnelling@euroiseki.com
Iseki continue to be one of the leading manufacturers of microtunnelling equipment and the company offers both sales and rental of closed face slurry equipment ranging from 200mm id – 3000mm id. Its product range includes: Unclemole, the Iseki flagship, developed as a small to medium diameter tunnelling system which will cope with the widest range of soil conditions, utilising the unique patented eccentric cone crusher.
More recent developments have included the Unclemole TCT; a very specialised shield, with an articulated body specifically designed for tight curved drives and the Unclemole TCV; what must be the worlds smallest diameter closed face slurry machine at 200mm id. This has been developed with the use of special thrust force blocks to install plastic pipe. Other machines available from Iseki include the Crunchingmole, MEPCB (Mechanical Earth Pressure Balance machine), EPB (Earth Pressure Balance machine ), Unclemole and Unclemole Super TCS.
Tel: +49 388 5132 70
Fax: +49 388 5132 710
Email: info@lovatmts.de
Lovat mts GmbH, specialises in development, manufacturing and servicing microtunnelling systems. There are currently three product lines available, the Lovat mts 400, 1000 and 2000 which are of modular design, utilising high quality, brand name components, ranging in diameters of 150mm to 2000mm id, offering maximum compatibility. The Lovat mts 400 is a smooth handling, simple auger tunnelling system, with diameters of 150 – 400mm id. The Lovat mts 1000 has a diameter range of 250 – 1,000mm id and is designed for mechanical as well as hydraulic spoil removal, via auger or slurry. For demanding jobs, long distance and curved tunnelling, the Lovat mts 2000, is designed to lay pipes of 1,000 – 2,000 mm id. The Lovat mts 1000 and 2000 use many common components making diameter conversions straightforward, and so costs are minimised.
Lovat mts GmbH serves as an extension of Lovat Inc., supplying several products and services, currently available from Lovat, such as TBM spare parts, project support, technical service field specialists, and offers key after sales support for Lovat TBMs sold in Europe. The new plant is equipped to refurbish and modify any Lovat TBM of up to 4m in diameter.
The Robbins Company
Tel: +1 440 248 3303
Fax: +1 440 248 1702
Email: salesdept@robbinstbm.com
Robbins has adapted hard-rock cutter technology to small diameter applications (up to 2.18m), and their Small Boring Unit will meet the requirements of auger boring, pipe jacking and utility tunnelling contractors world-wide.
Offered in any casing diameter between 600mm and 1.8m the SBUs extend the range of traditional soft ground auger boring equipment to hard rock 25-170MPa. The Standard SBU offered by Robbins includes their patented 6.5in. (165mm) diameter single disk cutters, a rugged cutterhead with cutter saddles configured to bore hard rock, high torque bearing housing assembly, front casing or shield with integral stabiliser/steering shoes and male hex shaft to fit standard augers. The SBU and all component parts are readily available in any bore diameter with standard imperial or metric casing sizes in stock.
Robbins also produce small single and double shield TBMs ranging from 1.07m to 2.18m in diameter, and a range of mucking systems, back-up systems, cutters, parts and personnel for microtunnelling projects.
Akkerman Inc.
Tel: +1 800 533 0386
Fax: +1 507 567 2605
Email: akk@akkerman.com
Since 1973, Akkerman has established a solid reputation for providing microtunnelling, pipejacking and tunnel boring equipment to the trenchless industry. The Akkerman Microtunnelling Boring Machine (MTBM) is available for pipe sizes from 600mm to 2300mm od but may be fitted with increasing kits (skins) to cover a range of sizes. The Akkerman MTBM has a pressure balanced cutting chamber and slurry spoil removal, and is electrically powered to give optimum efficiency and cutting torque, especially on long drives. The variable frequency drive on the drive motor enables precise speed control, a valuable feature for compensating changing ground conditions. A cutting chamber crushes cobbles up to 28% of the diameter of the machine. High pressure jetting nozzles help excavation and clear the chamber when working in many soils.
Akkerman’s guidance system uses a TGS 100 active target, and accurately measures X and Y co-ordinates, roll, incline and yaw, and also calculates the anticipated position of the MTBM to enable course correction.
PLC controls with redundant network communications are used in the boring machine to help ensure dependability. An on-board camera is used for maintenance and also functions as a passive targeting backup system.
Akkerman also offers 1) a Slurry Circulation Systems capable of moving slurry containing particles up to 75mm over long distances. The slurry trunk line features a self aligning quick connection; 2) Pipe jacking systems that offer numerous choices for thrust capacity and component arrangement and, 3) Control systems containers that house major components such as the control console, power distribution, transformer, flow meters and hydraulic power pack.
Herrenknecht AG
Tel: +49 7824 3020
Fax: +49 7824 3403
Email: info@herrenknecht.de
Herrenknecht manufactures a variety of machines, designed to suit the needs of small bore projects world-wide. Its current range includes the AVN 250-1200 series; an automatic full face cutting machine and open mode wheels with hard facing which can be equipped with hard metal picks, ripper chisels or spade type cutting teeth, depending upon soil conditions. For pipejacking in rock, a cutting head is equipped with cutter disks. Herrenknecht also boasts EPB, slurry type and AVP models.
Dosco Overseas Engineering Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0) 1777 870621
Fax: +44 (0) 1777 871580
Email: info@dosco.co.uk
UK based manufacturer Dosco Overseas Engineering offers several machines for the microtunnelling market. The Pipe Jack Series Mixed Ground Tunnellers and the TM1800 Series Mixed Ground Tunnellers are suited in particular to medium to soft ground. Both ranges have the ability to selectively excavate varying strata and options include; profile control guidance systems, dust extractor, a choice of cutting head, grouting equipment, closed water cooling system, and an electrical transformer. Diameters range from 1.5m to 5m.
ZED Instruments
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 228977
Fax: +44 (0) 1932 243603
Email: info@zed-inst.co.uk
ZED Instruments manufacture a range of tunnel guidance systems, specifically intended for use on small bore TBMs and with pipejacked tunnels. Guidance data for steering and control is displayed either on the machine for man-entry operation or remotely on the surface.
The complexity of a system is dependent on whether line of sight is maintained from the launching pit to the TBM and the maximum length of the drive when straight. With the simplest situation, a straight tunnel, <200m long, a low cost solution uses a target unit mounted on the TBM, a conventional tunnelling laser in the launching pit, a cable or radio modem link out of the tunnel, and a customer supplied PC running ZED software on the surface. For longer, straight drives of up to approximately 600m a new, non laser referenced technology, utilising a TCA Total Station can be an option.
With the most complex of pipejacked alignments where line of sight with the jacking pit is not maintained, laser based system configurations are available which are mounted within, and travel with, the jacked pipe. If the TCA Total Station is incorporated with this configuration then reductions in survey time are possible.
VMT GmbH
Tel: +49 (0) 72 5196 990
Fax: +49 (0) 72 5196 9922
Email: info@vmt-gmbh.de
The SLS-RV guidance system for pipe jacking gives users continuously updated information about the TBM’s spatial position and orientation. Through properly controlled steering actions, machines can be kept within a narrow tolerance circle around the desired tunnel alignment (DTA).
A visible laser beam projected from a motorized theodolite, initially mounted in the start shaft, supplies the system’s main reference. This typically projects 100-200m depending on power, atmospheric conditions and beam refraction. The beam passes through the laser window to the target mounted on the forward part of the machine. The useable laser to target distance is dependent upon laser window size and the tunnel’s curvature.
When the laser strikes the ELS Target, the beam’s centre is measured and the horizontal angle is also determined, with a dual-axis inclinometer monitoring pitch and roll. The distance from the laser’s reference position and retro-reflective prism mounted on the target is measured by an EDM within the theodolite. Knowing the absolute position of the laser reference, you can establish the TBM’s absolute position and orientation. Combining this information with the DTA gives the machine operator a simple indication where the machine is relative to where it should be.
The SLS-RV presents a graphical and numerical display of the horizontal and vertical offsets, pitch and roll, machine tendencies and drive distance. VMT’s user-friendly data logging software records all measured and calculated values. This information can then be manipulated with standard PC programs.
Optionally, a remote monitoring of the operation of the system can be achieved with the addition of a data communications link from the system to a remote location and a second PC set-up. This arrangement also allows remote system diagnosis and service capability from the VMT main support centre.
Putzmeister AG
Tel: +49 7127 5990
Fax: +49 7127 599 520
Email: pmw@pmw.de
Due to the constructional detail, the use of muck-removing pumps was at first only possible for tunnel diameters of at least 1400mm. However, Putzmeister has succeeded in minimising the dimensions of complete conveying system, now possible within an 800mm diameter pipe. The complete system consists of a two-cylinder piston pump, model KOS 1030, and a hydraulic unit HA22 with control. It can be supplemented if necessary with a feeding device or a mixer.
Due to the extremely compact arrangement of the KOS high-density solids pump, there is still enough space available for service personnel to stand immediately behind the boring head and work, for example, on maintenance. The high-density solids pump KOS 1030 is designed for a maximum conveying output of 10 m³/h with respect to 85 bar pressure in the medium.
Putzmeister’s range of microtunnelling equipment also includes preliminary muck crushing, muck pumping and bentonite cleaning.
Tel: +1 800 282 2529
Fax: +1 812 547 6514
Email: sales@canclay.com
The Can Clay Corporation manufactures vitrified clay sewer pipe for microtunnelling, pipe jacking and pipe replacement methods. Made by extruding clay mixtures under extremely high pressures in a high vacuum process, the extruded products are then fired in kilns to temperatures of 2,000°C producing a strong rigid material. Products are environmentally friendly and are energy efficient.
Vitrified clay products have an exceptionally long life reducing the cost for and the environmental impact of continuing periodic replacements. The waste of natural resources is thereby reduced.
Typical strengths withstand 20,000 pounds per square inch (138Mpa).
Vitrified clay is also chemically inert and provides centuries of service in corrosive conditions.
