China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Obtains Patent for Cutterhead Mud Cleaning System, Which Can Timely and Accurately Detect Mud Cake Formation on Cutterhead and Tool Wear

March 21 News, the State Intellectual Property Office shows that China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd. has applied for a patent titled “Pressureless Cutter Head Mud Cake Detection and Cleaning System and Method,” with authorization announcement number CN116104507B, granted on March 17, 2026. The application publication number is CN116104507A, application number CN202310101863.7, published on March 17, 2026. The application was filed on February 10, 2023. Inventors include Zhang Shuaikun, Tian Jinkun, Wang Chaohui, Xiong Chunjun, Fan Ruiqiang, Qin Wangxing, and Zhang Baozhen. The patent agency is Beijing Yijie Sheng Intellectual Property Agency Co., Ltd., with patent agent Xue Xiaomeng. Classification codes are E21D9/08, E21F17/18, G01D21/02, B08B3/02.

Patent Abstract: The invention provides a pressureless cutter head mud cake detection and removal system and method. In the system, multiple cutter head temperature detection components are distributed on the pressureless surface panel of the cutter head. At least one tool detection component is installed inside the cutter drum of each detection region of the cutter head temperature detection components; multiple panel flushing ports are distributed on the pressureless surface panel, including parallel flushing ports and inclined flushing ports. Each detection region of the cutter head temperature detection components has at least one corresponding parallel flushing port and at least one inclined flushing port. The parallel flushing port can perform full-area flushing of the pressureless surface panel within its corresponding detection region, while the inclined flushing port can flush all the cutters within the detection region. Each cutter’s tool holder inside the cutter drum is equipped with a tool holder flushing port. The control system can accurately detect the mud cake accumulation areas and severely worn tool regions on the cutter head in a timely manner.