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Atkins - the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
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Shaft Excavator

 
   

Difficulties in sinking shafts under balanced head conditions through hard clay on NORTH WEST WATER LTD's Fylde Coastal Water Improvement scheme prompted AMEC Tunnelling to contact Bennett Associates to design a solution.

Overall requirements were established and a brief feasibility appraisal produced a conceptual design which incorporated new equipment working in combination with AMEC's existing spoil removal shaft grab arrangements.

An order was placed on Bennett Associates to carry out the development, detail design and project management of the manufacture of the complete system.

Following a six week development and detailed design period, manufacturing was carried out within eight working weeks of order placement on the suppliers.

The system is designed for use within a 6mm internal diameter shaft, sinking to a depth of 35m. The hydraulically powered telescopic excavator assembly, incorporating fixed and rotating supporting rings, allows full excavation of the shaft bottom extending out to the shaft cutting edge.

The anchorage requirements for the excavator assembly to the shaft bottom, which not only support the excavator mounting ring but resist the high bucket break-out forces required for adequate excavation of the clays, are catered for by a custom designed combined steel and concrete cutting edge designed by AMEC.

In order to minimise inaccessible hydraulic valve work at the excavator, the system incorporates individual feeds of each function direct from the power pack via a hose management system. This is designed around the existing shaft top set up.

A stand-alone containerised diesel powered hydraulic power pack provides the motive power with an operator's control cab incorporating all controls including a positional feedback monitor display of the excavator arm. The power pack also incorporates hydraulic feeds for operation of the shaft jacking system.

Currently the excavator has completed two shafts operating submerged at depths as low as 20m below water level. It is shortly commencing on a third shaft.

Close collaboration with AMEC allows ongoing development of the prototype machine and patent rights are being pursued.

For more information, contact us on 01709-373782

 
   



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M G Bennett and Associates Ltd is now part of the Atkins - the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Group
Atkins - the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
 
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
Shaft Excavator

Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
     
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
     
Shaft Excavator - Tunnelling
     
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