Patent Application
20220065108
A method and apparatus for the suppression of leaks in rock faces, in mines, in mining and in other instances.
The patents and publications referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.
The apparatus is a Grout Head and the method claimed is the use of the Grout Head apparatus for the suppression of ground water leaks in rock faces, mines and mining and in other instances where leaks are encountered.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
the flange (110) and the pipe (130) are composed of a rigid material including metals and plastics; and the flange outer welding bead (124) and the flange inner welding bead diameter (128) comprise rigid affixing means, including metal and plastic welding, milling and other metal and or plastic affixing means rigidly affixing the flange (100) to the pipe (130); and the pipe (130) having a length (129) and, the pipe (130), distal to the flange bottom side (113), having pipe pressure connection means (140) including threads, quick connect and other pressure connection methods. It is understood that the circular flange (110) may have other shapes including oval, square, rectangle and such.
A Grout Head (100) Forming a Leak Suppression Apparatus (100) comprising a circular flange (110) having a top side 111 and a bottom side (113) and;
the top side (111) having a top outer edge (112) and the bottom side (113) having a bottom outer edge (114) and;
the flange (110) having a flange thickness (116) and;
the circular flange (110) having a center (122) and a flange aperture (117) concentrically positioned in the flange (110); the flange aperture (117) having a flange aperture diameter (118), and the flange having a flange outer diameter (120) extending across the flange at from the top outer edge (112); and
a flange outer welding bead (124) and a flange inner welding bead (126) having a welding bead diameter (128);
a pipe (130) having a pipe outer surface (132) and a pipe inner surface (134); and the pipe (130) having a pipe wall (131); the pipe wall (131) having a pipe wall thickness (133); and the pipe (130) has a pipe inner diameter (136) and a pipe outer diameter (138); and
the pipe outer diameter (138) is larger than the flange aperture inner diameter (118) and the pipe outer diameter (138) is greater than the welding bead diameter (128) and the welding bead diameter (128) is greater than or equal to the flange aperture diameter (118) and;
the flange (110) and the pipe (130) are composed of a rigid material including metal and plastics; and the flange outer welding bead (124) and the flange inner welding bead diameter (128) comprise rigid affixing means, including metal and plastic welding, milling and other metal and or plastic affixing means rigidly affixing the flange (100) to the pipe (130); and
the pipe (130) having a length (129) and, the pipe (130), distal to the flange bottom side (113), having pipe connection means (140) including threads, quick connect and other pressure connection methods.
A Grout head and method for suppressing mining leaks comprises the following. Using the Grout Head (100) of claim 1, an elongated hollow slotted rock bolt (200), having a penetration tip (214), a drive collar (210) and a drive end (215) and inserting the rock bolt (200,) at the penetration tip (214), into the pipe (130) most distal to the flange (100). The drive end (215) is distal to the penetration tip (214) and distal to the drive collar. The rock bolt (200) is known in the mining industry. The rock bolt (200) has a diameter, between the penetration tip (214) and the drive collar (210) less than the flange aperture diameter (118); and
the drive collar (210) is inherent to the rock bolt (200) by construction or by rigid affixing means including welding, milling and other affixing means; and the drive collar (210) has a diameter greater than the flange aperture diameter (118) and is positioned on the rock bolt (200) intermediate the penetration tip (214) and the drive end (215); and
the rock bolt (200), extends through the flange aperture (118); and driving the rock bolt (200) into a mine rock face, or other structure requiring leak suppression, by use of a jackleg, or larger drilling equipment such as a jumbo or rock bolter, to cause the flange (110) top side (111) to be forced against the rock face thereby creating a seal through surface contact with both the bolt and the formation rock face and inserting a soft seal means, such as a gasket or O-ring, around the rock bolt at the top side 111 and at the bottom side (113) and in the alternative to form a seal by welding the flange (110) at the top side (111) and or at the bottom side (113) to the rock bolt (200); and
a grout conduit (150), comprised of grout conduit means including, for example, a hose or pipe, having a first end (152) and at the first end (152) a pipe connection means (142) including threads, quick connect and other connection methods which is connected to the connection means (140); and pressure driving fluid, including cement, through the conduit and through the rock bolt slot (220) and into the proximal rock cracks thereby reducing, suppressing or eliminating leaks including mine leaks.
The conduit which the rock bolt provides, can easily be twice the volume of existing methods where small diameter holes (<2.5″) are being drilled, allowing for more grout to be injected into the formation faster and at higher viscosities and with increased solids content.
The grout head adaptor designed for this purpose is a simple device made up of a base plate, seen here as a circular flange having a centrally positioned flange aperture, welded to a threaded pipe nipple or coupler for connecting to the pumping mechanism. The base plate has a hole in it corresponding to the diameter of the rock bolt shank, but smaller than the rock bolt drive head so that the bolt may slide inside the pipe, rest on the baseplate creating a rough seal to the plate, then be driven into the formation. As the bolt is driven into the formation it will secure the grout head adaptor to the formation, creating a seal through surface contact with both the bolt and the formation face. A soft seal such as a gasket or O-ring may be placed on either side of the baseplate. A seal may also be created by welding the rock bolt to the base plate, either on the front or back side of the plate.
Once the adaptor is secured to the surface of the formation, a grout conduit may be attached to the pipe and the grout pumped into the formation at whatever pressure is needed.
The problem created by leaks in mines is addressed by the Grout Head invention. The solution to this problem arose due to an inability to source packers from the market during a work shutdown. The idea arose to somehow deliver the grout through existing, larger diameter holes which are drilled to place rock bolts for formation stabilization. These bolts are hollow, and it is possible to pump fluids through them, in fact often these bolts are the source of water intrusion which causes so much trouble for the mines.
These rock bolts typically have a resistance to movement of many tons of force, which provides the ability to deliver high pressure grout without fear of packer failure. This invention is a Grout Head and a method to deliver grout into the formation through these bolts, reducing time loss and resulting in increased production, lower costs, better formational sealing in suppressing leaks.
