It is very important to know the volume of discharged soil for more adequate excavating control of the shield tunneling machines . In confined soil shields and mechanical shields, excavated soil is discharged by belt conveyors and muck cars, so it has been difficult to evaluate the discharged soil volume . In this study we have developed a discharged soil, measuring system to evaluate the volume of discharged soil in real time . This system is equipped with ( 1) an ultrasonic sensor or (2) light section microscope with laser to measure the cross -sectional area of transported soil on a belt conveyor . Using this system, it is possible to evaluate the volume of discharged soil with good accuracy in a very humid environment like a shield tunneling machine . This system is effective not only for volume measurement of soil flow but also for volume measurement of granular material such as coal , and powder such as flour on belt conveyor systems.
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