The world's largest "shield machine (large excavator)"

To complete the world's largest new aircraft, 25 days, Hitachi Zosen has released to the press at the factory in Sakai Sakai Ru mole digging a tunnel like "(large excavator) shield machine." Used in tunnel construction in Seattle, USA. Awareness by undertaking large-scale projects overseas, it is aimed to give an impetus to the expansion.
According to the company, the world's largest shield machine is 17.45 meters in diameter. Approximately 300 cutter made ​​of alloy attached to the front is rotated by the tip of the aircraft, proceed by cutting the soil and rock. We also attached the wall of the tunnel at the same time. 3.6 meters per hour at maximum, three times the speed of conventional machines. Part of the cutter can be replaced from inside the machine, with enhanced safety at the time of replacement.
New aircraft will be used due to the aging of the viaduct that runs north-south through downtown Seattle, the construction of the underpass. Orders from (consortium) JV of contractors of the United States and Spain, the price seen $ 80 million (¥ 6.8 billion). I'm going to sea transport to dismantle once after commissioning, you dig a total length of about 2.8 km in about one and a half years from June 2013. I hope to tunnel construction of large-scale projects, and will be used more and more.


日立造船が、モグラのようにトンネルを掘り進める「シールドマシン（大型掘削機）」で世界最大の新型機を完成させ、２５日、堺市の堺工場で報道陣に公開した。米シアトルでのトンネル工事に使う。海外の大型案件を請け負うことで認知度を高め、展開に弾みをつける狙いだ。
　同社によると、シールドマシンは直径１７．４５メートルで世界最大。前面に付けた合金製のカッター約３００個が機体の先端部ごと回転し、土や岩を削って進む。同時にトンネルの壁面も取り付けていく。速度は最大時速３．６メートルで、従来機の３倍。カッターの一部はマシン内部から交換でき、交換作業時の安全性を高めた。
　新型機は、シアトル市街地を南北に走る高架橋の老朽化に伴う、地下道の建設工事に使われる。米国とスペインのゼネコンのＪＶ（共同企業体）から受注し、価格は８千万ドル（約６８億円）とみられる。試運転後に一度解体して海上輸送し、２０１３年６月から約１年半で全長約２．８キロを掘り進める予定だ。 大型案件のトンネル工事に、どんどん使われていくといいですね。