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Rail Engineer • February 2017
PHOTO: AMCO RAIL
BRIDGES AND TUNNELS
The arms had an arcing range of 22° either side of vertical and could be hydraulicallyadvanced - vertically and transversely - to position the locator eye perpendicular to the tangent at the point of drilling. The applied telescopic force of 40-50kg was balanced to prevent overloading. Then, during the main phase of works, rigs with a cluster of three drills drove vertical holes for each of the ROCS’ drop tubes. Fixed to the master drill was a ram on which an indexing plate was mounted with holes at 300mm centres; this was pushed against the intrados, effectively acting as a template to ensure the correct spacing. Suction was provided at the drill heads to deal with dust and debris, courtesy of a vacuum unit pulling 5,000m3 of air per hour at 4,000Pa, the material being discharged into 600-gauge visqueen bags. Meanwhile, the workhorse Hilti T80s benefited from a nanotechnology treatment to make them resistant to water. All this is indicative of the attention to detail afforded within the design. Nothing is overlooked; nothing is done by halves. Just ask Chris about handrails.
Foulstone Forge built four platforms to install the registration arms and conductor rails.
conceive • design • manufacture general steel fabrication • stainless steel fabrication • general steel repairs • design and manufacture of civil engineering drilling rigs • design and manufacture of railway tunnel drilling rigs • personnel working platforms • scaffold fencing • scaffold platforms • hydraulics specialists • mechanical engineering • railway tunnel soot cleaning • light to heavy duty dust/debris extraction • embankment repair/ stabilisation • railway tunnel reinforcement • bespoke machinery
Foulstone Forge LTD Unit 2, Oaks Business Park, Oaks Lane, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S71 1HT 01226 288689 | foulstoneforge@btconnect.com | www.foulstoneforge.com
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