Heavy Machinery

The shield machines' polyurethane wheel sets not only need to have super strong bearing capacity, but also meet the needs of continuous and stable operation in harsh environments. Since the shield machine trolley carries the weight of the entire equipment, which often reaches tens of tons or even hundreds of tons, the polyurethane wheels for shield machines, as a high-performance product, have become one of the indispensable accessories for modern shield machines due to their excellent physical properties.

Basic structure and classification of polyurethane wheels for shield machines

The shield machines' polyurethane wheels usually adopt a press-fit assembly structure. According to different bearing requirements, they can be divided into two-wheel structure, three-wheel structure and four-wheel structure. These structural forms can achieve the bearing capacity required by different tonnages, and the single-group bearing range ranges from 6,000 kg to 30,000 kg.

Common outer diameter sizes include:

300mm, 310mm, 400mm, 405mm, 435mm, 560mm

The wheel set design of different sizes can be matched according to the specifications of the shield machine to ensure the normal operation of the equipment. The wheel axle adopts self-lubricating maintenance-free bearings, greatly reducing maintenance costs and improving the operating efficiency of the shield machine.

Key performance advantages of polyurethane wheelset for shield machines

• High load-bearing capacity and impact resistance

The polyurethane wheelset of the shield machine can withstand extremely high loads, and the bearing capacity of the wheel surface on the pipe segment can reach hundreds of tons. Even in the excavation state, the contact angle between the wheel axle and the pipe segment is as high as more than 40 degrees, and the wheel surface can still withstand huge lateral pressure and friction.

• Excellent wear resistance

When the shield machine travel wheel walks on the cement pipe segment, it will be subjected to continuous friction. The wear resistance of polyurethane material enables it to maintain good working condition in this high-load and high-wear environment, thereby extending the service life of the wheelset.

• Self-lubricating bearings, maintenance-free design

The use of self-lubricating bearings does not require frequent maintenance, which greatly reduces the maintenance cost during the operation of the shield machine, while ensuring the continuous working ability of the equipment.

• Excellent water resistance, tear resistance, and corrosion resistance

During the tunneling process of the shield machine, the environment in which the wheelset is located is full of water, soil, and gravel, which puts forward higher requirements for water resistance and tear resistance of the wheel surface material. Polyurethane material has excellent water resistance and is not easy to degrade due to long-term contact with water. At the same time, it has high tear strength and can effectively resist various physical damages in harsh environments.

Application environment and working principle of urethane travel wheel of shield machine

• Muddy water shield machine

During the tunneling process, the muddy water shield machine will balance the formation pressure through muddy water pressure, so the wheelset needs to operate in a high-humidity and mud environment. Polyurethane wheelset has excellent water resistance and can still maintain stable performance in such an environment.

• Earth pressure balance shield machine

The earth pressure balance shield machine achieves the stability of tunnel excavation by controlling the earth pressure balance. In this case, the polyurethane wheelset also shows good pressure resistance and wear resistance, effectively extending the service life.

• Trackless TBM

Trackless TBM relies on supporting wheels, pair wheels, and running wheels to achieve smooth advancement during excavation. When the inclined wheel set rolls on the segment, it can effectively protect the segment from wear and reduce maintenance costs.

Production and quality control of polyurethane-coating wheels for TBMs

Our company focuses on the design and manufacture of polyurethane wheels for TBMs. With years of industry experience, combined with simulation test data, actual application feedback, and other factors, we design high-performance products for different working environments.

Contact us for detailed dimensions and technical support

If you have any questions or customization requirements for polyurethane wheels for TBMs, please feel free to contact our technical team. We will provide you with professional solutions and customize the most suitable product specifications and material configurations according to your usage requirements.