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Author: Robbins
Robbins Crossover TBM: Breaking Records at TEP II
At Mexico City’s Túnel Emisor Poniente II (TEP II), a Robbins Crossover (XRE) TBM has excavated at record-breaking speeds through varying geology – even breaking a national record of 57 meters in a single day. Watch how the 8.7 m diameter Robbins Crossover machine will supplement an existing and overtaxed wastewater line built in the 1970’s.
Robbins Continuous Conveyors
The Robbins Company holds nearly 90% of world records for tunnel boring machines, and behind two thirds of those TBMs are continuous conveyor systems for rapid muck removal. Every conveyor system is customized to a project’s particular requirements, including ground conditions, tunnel alignment, and project location. This video explains how Robbins continuous conveyors transport muck efficiently and why they are sought after by contractors worldwide.
Disc Cutters Spec Sheet
Robbins designs and manufactures the most technically advanced disc cutters worldwide with a commitment to high quality and continual improvement. No matter the geology, no matter the machine type or manufacturer, no matter the size- Robbins has the cutting solution to meet your needs.
SBU-Rockhead Spec Sheet
The Robbins Rockhead is ideal on longer utility installations (over 500 ft)
where line and grade are critical. The Rockhead is available in Double Shield (SBU-RHDS) or Single Shield (SBU-RHSS) models. The Double Shield Rockhead is self-propelled using a gripper system. The Single Shield Rockhead must be used in conjunction with a pipe-jacking system or primary liner erected in the tailshield. Muck can be removed using a small invert auger or muck cars.
SBU-M Spec Sheet
The Motorized SBU is the optimal choice for longer utility installations (over 300 ft) or for crossings with specific line and grade requirements. The SBU-M is an intermittently manned, articulated mixed ground and hard rock boring machine for use with standard Auger Boring Machines (ABMs) or pipe jacking systems.
SBU-DS Spec Sheet
The small diameter Double Shield TBM (SBU-DS) is ideal for long tunnels (up to 3 km) without intermediate access. The SBU-DS, in diameters from 2.2 to 3.0 m (88 to 118 inches) is a manned-entry, hard rock tunnel boring machine.
SBU-A Spec Sheet
The Small Boring Unit (SBU-A) is a proven solution for medium to hard rock utility installations up to 150 m in length. The SBU-A can be used with any conventional auger boring machine (ABM) from 0.6 to 1.8 m in diameter and utilizes a full-face auger for spoils removal. Before excavation, the SBU-A is welded to the lead casing. A full-face auger is added to the casing and the assembly is lowered onto the ABM track. In hard rock, the circular cutterhead is tted with disc cutters, while in mixed ground a combination of ripper teeth, drag, bits, and disc cutters are used.
Robbins Product Brochure
From tunnel boring machines to cutting tools and continuous conveyors, Robbins is a total supply company. Read the brochure to find out about our latest products, world-class services and unparalleled support.
Complimentary Webinar: Know What's Ahead of You
Your project has to keep moving forward, whether the challenge is high cover, squeezing ground, fault zones, or water inflows. New ground investigation and treatment options can give you the tools to conquer what you face while maximizing TBM performance and safety.
In this complimentary 60-minute webinar, Robbins Chief Engineer Dennis Ofiara will discuss Difficult Ground Solutions (DGS)–a suite of options available for shielded hard rock and Crossover TBMs that can keep your machine moving in long tunnels, high cover, and challenging geological features. DGS is about visualization: A machine shield doesn’t have to obstruct your view of the ground around you. With a host of features like 360-degree, long distance probe drilling, convergence measuring sensors that alert operators to squeezing ground, and canopy drills for ground consolidation, you can stay a stroke ahead of your TBM operation.
We invite you to submit your questions beforehand to webinars@robbinstbm.com to get a thoughtful and well-researched answer from Dennis during the Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
Day: November 2, 2016
Time: 7 AM PDT/10 AM EDT/2 PM GMT
Click to View Recording of Webinar
Robbins Single Shield to repair a Part of World’s Longest Tunnel
Robbins has completed the manufacture and testing of a unique tunnel boring machine that will be used to repair the longest continuous tunnel in the world. The TBM will be used to overhaul a section of New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct, a 137 km (85 mi) long tunnel that delivers about 50 percent of the City’s drinking water each day. Over the span of two days in February, representatives from the owner New York Department of Environmental Protection (NYDEP), consultant McMillen Jacobs (MJ), and JV contractor Kiewit-Shea Constructors (KSC) traveled to the Robbins facility in Solon, Ohio to witness the Factory Acceptance Testing of the custom tunnel boring machine.
The Robbins Single Shield TBM will bore a tunnel to replace a 3.8 km (2.4 mi) stretch of the Delaware Aqueduct. The Delaware Aqueduct currently leaks about 75 million liters (20 million gallons) of water per day into the Hudson River. Investigations of the Delaware Aqueduct dating back more than a decade revealed cracks in the tunnel lining. While several inspections with an automated underwater vehicle showed that these cracks were stable, it was determined they could not be fixed from within the existing tunnel. New York City then decided that a new tunnel would be built under the river to bypass the leakage.
To build a bypass tunnel around the aqueduct’s leaking section, Robbins manufactured the 6.8 m (21.6 ft) diameter Single Shield TBM to safely seal against pressures up to 30 bar, and to operate in variable hard rock conditions. The Delaware Aqueduct was completed in 1944. During its original construction, work crews documented groundwater inflows of 7.5 to 15 million liters (2 to 4 million gallons) per day. Because this particular section of the tunnel lies 183 m (600 ft) below the Hudson River, the inflows are under immense head pressure and thus require the unique tunneling technology.
Due to the challenges presented by the Aqueduct Repair, such as difficult geology and considerable water inflows, the TBM had to be designed accordingly. Difficult Ground Solutions (DGS) features, including powerful drilling, grouting, and water inflow control systems have been incorporated into the machine’s design to overcome the expected challenges. “One unique feature of this TBM is the closeable bulkhead, which allows the excavation chamber to be sealed off,” said KSC Tunnel Manager Niels Kofoed. “We expect this to be a key feature in the event that groundwater flows (shunt flows) from the excavated portion of the tunnel cause washout of the annulus grout. Once the bulkhead is closed the groundwater flows are stopped and secondary grouting of the precast liner can be performed, effectively cutting off the flow path of the shunt flows.”
Robbins Project Manager Martino Scialpi further noted that, “the TBM was designed with a 9,500 liter/min (2,500 gallon/min) dewatering capacity. The machine is equipped with two drills in the shields for drilling through the head in 16 different positions and a third drill on the erector to drill through the shields in an additional 14 positions. Drilling and pre-excavation grouting will be a routine job to control and minimize water inflows.” In addition, water-powered, high pressure down-the-hole-hammers will allow for drilling 60 to 100 m (200 to 330 ft) ahead of the machine at pressures up to 20 bar if necessary.
In order to provide access to launch and retrieve tunneling equipment, two deep shafts were constructed in the towns of Newburgh and Wappinger, New York, where the bypass will begin and end. The
project site itself poses challenges to the assembly and launch of the TBM because of the limited space available.
Robbins worked closely with KSC to ensure that TBM components were designed and sized so all could be lifted with the contractor’s hoist system and fit down the narrow, 270 m (885 ft) deep shaft. Once assembled, the machine is expected to begin boring in autumn 2017.