Roof support arrangement for mining apparatus and roof bolting equipment

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the improvements in mining apparatus and more particularly to improvements in roof bolting equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Perhaps the single most important consideration and challenge facing miners and mining engineers since the inception of underground mining involves the need to prevent the collapsing of the overhead ceilings or roofs and side walls (“ribs”) of mines to prevent injury to personnel and catastrophic damage to mining equipment.

Roof bolting and rib bolting are those processes which secure the ribs, side walls and roofs of mines to other stable strata. These processes are relatively slow and are the main causes for preventing mines from advancing at a faster rate.

A currently acceptable method for supporting the roof of a mine entry involves drilling holes at predetermined intervals into the ceiling and ribs and installing elongated retaining bolts in the holes. Such bolts are commonly used in connection with retaining plates and support members. Such apparatus serves to secure together thin strata or bands of rock located adjacent the ribs and roofs and prevent lateral shifting of the strata, as well as, in some instances, to anchor the strata to more massive overlying rock. The installation of retaining bolts into the roof of a mine additionally requires the use of temporary roof support cylinders to support the roof as the bolt holes are being drilled. The reader will appreciate that during the initial engagement between the temporary cylinders and the unsupported section of roof, the condition exists for causing portions of the unsupported roof to fall. Thus, it is desirable for the operation personnel to be as far away from such apparatus as practical during its initial installation.

Over the years, a variety of different types of apparatuses have been developed for installing retaining bolts into the roof and ribs of a mine. An early roof bolting drill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,273 to Pond. That device comprises an electrical powered drill assembly that is adapted to be manually pulled throughout the mine. Such device offers little protection from roof falls and falling debris during bolt installation.

In an effort to increase the speed of roof bolting, one prior art track mounted roof bolting apparatus was developed, known as the REMB (rapid entry mobile bolter) and was discussed and published in World Mining Equipment April 1997 issue (published by Independent Editorial and Technical Services of the UK). The REMB provides four vertically oriented roof bolting rigs on a forward moveable and raiseable carriage and work platform which is connected to a platform mounted above a track vehicle and which remains stationary relative to the track vehicle. The roof bolting work platform is connected to the stationary platform by a passageway and a series of steps. The bolting carriage and the work platform are attached to the track vehicle by a complex parallel linkage arrangement to the front of the vehicle, so as to keep the rigs at a 90° degree angle at all times to the tracks as carriage, work platform and the rigs move up or down. The machine also includes a rib bolt rig behind each operator, which are mounted on the lower stationary platform. The bolting rigs are in a forward position relative to the two operators.

While the REMB has improved the speed of mining, it is not fast enough for many mining applications. One reason for this is the fact that the rib bolters are positioned on the platform which is stationary relative to track vehicle, and this platform is a separate platform from the platform where the operator will control and operate the four roof bolters. This causes several difficulties. The first is that there is a risk of injury for the operators to move up and down steps on platforms, particularly when the steps and the platforms may have water falling thereon making surfaces slippery, even if expanded metal mesh is provided.

The second difficulty relates to the fact that the operators have a bolting down-time as they move from the roof bolting platform to the rib bolting platform.

The REMB also inherently requires the double handling of the consumables as the operator must move a supply of the consumables to the roof bolting platform from the storage area on the REMB, to an area accessible by the operator on the roof bolting platform. This will entail the regular walking up and down of steps to and from the roof bolting platform.

Other prior art roof bolting apparatus mount bolting rigs onto swingable booms. Such equipment however generally form crush points which are hazardous to operators.

A continuous mining machine normally includes a rotatable cutting drum that is mounted on the front end of the mining machine. As the mining machine is advanced into the seam, the cutting drum dislodges or “wins” the coal from the seam. In most continuous mining machines of this type, the won material is conveyed rearwardly of the cutting drum by a longitudinally extending conveyor that may discharge into self-propelled shuttle cars or other mobile conveying apparatuses to transport the won material from the mine face. The mining machine continuously advances into the seam and, as the material is won therefrom, an “entry” is formed in the underground seam.

While some continuous mining equipment such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,507, published and issued on Apr. 7 1987, have multiple roof bolting rigs mounted thereon, they invariably have a series of roof bolters and rib bolters mounted thereon to provide the full range of roof bolting facilities. However, such equipment can have the same disadvantages as the REMB has due to similar construction features. The continuous miners may have some four operators working to maintain the speed of roof bolting, but the use of two additional operators is a very costly solution to the speed requirements.

Other retaining bolt installation apparatuses are adapted to be affixed to a continuous mining machine for travel therewith U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,058 to Zitko and U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,914 to LaBegue disclose such devices which can be operated by personnel located on the mining machine. While such apparatus do not require the mining machine to be removed from the entry while bolts are being installed, the mining process is, nonetheless, typically interrupted during the bolting process.

In the cut and flit method of mining, a continuous miner first proceeds down one road, it must then reverse out and turn down a second road and cut that road while a specialised roof bolter bolts in the first mentioned road. The bolter and the continuous miner are continually swapping their roadway positions as the mine face moves forward. The speed of moving forward however is generally limited to the speed of inserting bolts into the ribs and roof of the mine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for installing bolts into a mine entry, said apparatus including: a frame having a forward end, a rearward end and lateral sides; at least one bolting rig operatively mounted to said forward end of said frame; at least one roof support member attached to said forward end of said frame separate from said bolting rig for selectively supporting said mine entry as bolts are installed therein; and an operator station on said frame for supporting an operator thereon during operation of said at least one roof support member.

Preferably the apparatus further includes: a pair of drive units on opposite sides of the frame for carrying and moving the frame; a pivot assembly connecting the rearward end of the frame to each of the drive units, the pivot assembly defining a pivot axis which is generally horizontal, the frame being pivotable relative to said drives about said pivot axis; the at least one bolting rig adapted to be raised and lowered by pivoting the frame relative to the drive units about the pivot axis.

The apparatus can further include in a line across it, at least one central bolting rig and at least two side bolting rigs on opposite sides of the central bolting rig, the side bolting rigs being rotatable from a generally vertical orientation through a range of intermediate orientations to a generally horizontal outwardly facing orientation which allows for both roof and rib bolting by the side bolting rigs.

Preferably the side bolting rigs are mounted on opposed laterally extendible frames, which have at least one laterally extendible telescoping cylinder for moving each said side bolting rig.

The can be included a pair of side by side central bolting rigs each of which is independently rotatable between inclined and vertical positions.

The apparatus can also include at least one removable storage container supported on said frame and at least one deck extension platform pivotally attached to at least one said lateral side of said frame and being pivotable from a first position wherein each said deck extension protrudes laterally from said corresponding lateral side and is generally coplanar therewith and a second generally upright position. The deck extension platform can be pivoted between said first position and said second position by at least one hydraulic cylinder.

The frame can have a push blade operably attached to the forward end thereof.

The bolting rig is able to rotate through a range of angles from approximately 10° in an inward direction from vertical, through angles from the vertical to the horizontal, to approximately 20° below the horizontal, so that the included angle in the range is approximately 120°.

An operator station can be included on said frame for supporting an operator thereon during operation of the apparatus, said operator station being located at a position remote from said at least one bolting rig to define a work area therebetween, and a planar deck member attached to said frame and covering said work area for supporting an operator thereon, with the operator station being at least 1.5 meters away from said at least one support member.

There is preferably provided a cable reel operably attached to said frame for selectively storing and paying out power cable attached between said apparatus and a power source.

At least one bolting rig can be pivotable between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position and wherein said bolting rig can install bolts into a rock face in either of those two positions and in any selected intermediate position therebetween.

The frame preferably carries, at its forward end, an upstanding bolting rig support wall, a guide frame being mounted to said support wall, said bolting rig being movably supported on said guide frame and adapted to be selectively moved laterally along said guide frame parallel to said support wall.

The roof support member can include a dual acting hydraulic cylinder arranged to engage the roof and floor of said entry and extend therebetween to support said entry and retain said frame in position during operation of the bolting rig.

Each bolting rig can have a control station associated therewith and is independently operable by means of said control station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

illustrates a perspective view of a fully assembled mobile, pivoted platform bolting apparatus.

FIG. 3

illustrates a plan view of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 2

illustrates a right side elevation of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 4

illustrates a rear elevation of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 5

illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus of

FIG. 1

with material pods removed;

FIG. 6

illustrates a right side elevation of the apparatus of

FIG. 1

with side platform rotated to vertical;

FIG. 7

illustrates right side elevation of the apparatus of

FIG. 1

with the platform declined;

FIG. 8

illustrates right side elevation of the apparatus of Figure with the platform inclined;

FIG. 9

illustrates a front elevation of the bolter of

FIG. 8

showing the outward extension of the side mounted bolting rigs;

FIG. 10

illustrates a perspective view of a bolting rig frame assembly;

FIG. 11

illustrates a rear elevation of the apparatus of

FIG. 3

, with one mounting plate absent and two bolting rigs added,

FIG. 12

illustrates an upper perspective view of the apparatus of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 13

illustrates a side elevation of a central bolting rig mounted on an indexing assembly;

FIG. 14

illustrates a front elevation of the apparatus of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 15

illustrates a rear perspective view of an assembled bolting rig assembly;

FIG. 16

illustrates the same view of the apparatus of

FIG. 8

, with each bolting rig deployed;

FIG. 18

illustrates in schematic the range of movements of the bolting rigs;

FIG. 19

illustrates a side elevation of a mobile bolting apparatus of a second embodiment;

FIG. 20

illustrates a side elevation of a mobile bolting apparatus of a third embodiment;

FIG. 21

illustrates a perspective view of some of the structural members of the bolting rig frame assembly;

FIG. 23

illustrates a plan view of the assembly of

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 24

illustrates a right side elevation of the assembly of

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 25

illustrates a front elevation of the assembly of

FIG. 16

;

FIG. 26

illustrates a perspective view of a track unit structure with track and other components removed for illustration purposes;

FIG. 27

illustrates a perspective view of a materials pod for use with the bolter of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 28

illustrates a perspective view of a side positioned bolting rig, showing a rotary joint for the supply of operating fluids;

FIG. 29

illustrates a rotary joint of

FIG. 28

with the manifold and pin in cross section;

FIG. 30

illustrates a plan view of a distribution pin for a rotary joint for use with the apparatus of

FIG. 28

;

FIG. 31

illustrates a cross section through the line A—A of

FIG. 30

;

FIG. 32

illustrates a cross section through the line B—B of

FIG. 30

;

FIG. 33

illustrates a cross section through the line C—C of

FIG. 30

;

FIG. 34

illustrates a cross section through the line D—D of

FIG. 30

;

FIG. 35

illustrates a cross section through the line E—E of

FIG. 30

;

FIG. 36

illustrates a rear elevation of the pin of

FIG. 29

;

FIG. 37

illustrates a cross section through the line F—F of

FIG. 36

;

FIG. 38

illustrates a perspective view of a platform of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 39

is a perspective view of a preferred mobile bolting apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 40

is a plan view of the preferred mobile bolting apparatus of

FIG. 39

;

FIG. 41

is a side view of the mobile bolting apparatus of

FIGS. 39 and 40

in a mine which is shown in cross section;

FIG. 42

is a front view of the mobile bolting apparatus of

FIGS. 39

to

41

in an entry (shown in cross-section) with the bolters and roof support members in their inactivated positions: and

FIG. 43

is a side elevation of the mobile bolting apparatus and entry of

FIG. 41

showing the roof support members and bolters in their extended positions for installing a bolt into the entry roof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to

9

is a track mounted rear pivoted bolter

2

which has two track units

4

and

6

. The track units

4

and

6

have a relatively shallow track assembly height. The track units

4

and

6

are each independently linked to a platform assembly

8

and are not constructed as part of a chassis to form a rigid undercarriage.

Illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to

9

are various views of the assembled bolting apparatus

2

. Many of these features will be described in detail later, but for overview purposes some salient features illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to

9

will now be described.

The bolter

2

as illustrated in each of

FIGS. 1

to

4

includes two materials pods

46

and

48

mounted on the rear of the platform assembly

8

, in a raised location. As will be seen in

FIG. 4

, the maximum height of the pods

46

and

48

is below the top plates

141

of the timber jacks of the bolting rigs

140

,

142

,

144

,

146

. The frames holding the pods

46

and

48

are made of angle iron posts

400

, as will be described later. These frames are more clearly illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, which have the pods

46

and

48

removed.

Under the pod

46

is located a power pack

42

, and adjacent thereto, but not under the pod

46

, is a modular cable reel assembly

44

. Housed under the location of the pod

48

is a circuit breaker box and master station

49

for the electronic control systems.

Located between the pods

46

and

48

is a station

990

for the operators to control and drive the bolter

2

moves from location to location. The station

990

can also include the controls to tilt the platform assembly

8

relative to the track units

4

and

6

. If desired the station

990

can include a canopy, (as illustrated in

FIGS. 39

to

43

) to protect the operators while the bolter

2

is moving in a mine entry.

Illustrated in each of

FIGS. 1

to

6

, the bolting rigs

140

,

142

,

144

and

146

are all shown in a fully retracted condition and in a vertical orientation. Whereas in

FIG. 7

, the front of the platform assembly

8

has been lowered relative to the track units

4

and

6

, so that the platform assembly

8

adopts an angle to the horizontal of approximately 2 degrees. This feature is helpful to level the bolter

2

when on an inclined roadway which is ascending in the forward direction. Whereas as illustrated in

FIGS. 5

,

8

and

9

the platform assembly

8

has been raised above the track units

4

and

6

to an angle of approximately 3 degrees to the horizontal. This feature is helpful for bolting purposes on declined roadways which are descending in the forward direction.

By the rotation of the platform assembly

8

relative to the track units

4

and

6

on inclined and declined roadways, the bolter

2

provides a mechanism whereby the operators can be given a level platform to work from on declines of 3 degrees or less, and on inclines of 2 degrees or less. For larger inclines and declines, the 2 and 3 degrees of adjustment helps to reduce the difficulties that would be encountered by taking 2 or 3 degrees off the incline and decline respectively. Angled platforms can be counter productive to operators, as their balance must be corrected and can change or modify such things as the angles at which they are viewing their equipment, each of which may distract the operators and thus detract from the efficiency of the operators.

The platform assembly

8

is preferably of a length which is significantly greater than the maximum lift height at the front of the platform. This feature helps to limit the amount of rotation away from the vertical that the bolting rigs go through at the front of the platform assembly

8

due to the platform assembly

8

rotating relative to the track units

4

,

6

.

Illustrated in

FIG. 9

is the front elevation of the bolter

2

of FIG.

8

and shows how side bolting rigs

140

and

146

can extend some 800 mm to the left and right sides respectively, so that roof bolting can occur, at these 4.8 m distant locations, and at any point along the 800 mm distances.

In

FIG. 4

it will be noticed that fold down platforms

50

and

52

extend some 500 mm out from the side of platform assembly

8

.

Illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, and

20

track units

4

and

6

have at their respective rear ends

10

, a rearwardly and upwardly extending beam

12

which is secured to the top of the structure which forms the track units

4

and

6

. At the rear end of each of the beams

12

is held a cylindrical pivot bar

16

. The pivot bars

16

on each track unit rotatably connect to the platform assembly

8

.

Each beam

12

is a fabricated beam which terminates with a mounting block

317

attached by welding to the termini of the beam

12

. The mounting blocks

317

each have a semi cylindrical formation in a rearwardly projecting face. This semi cylindrical formation receives half of the outside diameter of the pivot bar

16

. The pivot bar

16

is firmly clamped into place between the mounting block

17

and mating clamping blocks which also include a semi-cylindrical formation. The mounting blocks

317

and mating clamping blocks are secured together to clamp the pivot bar

16

therebetween by means of four machine screws

312

.

The platform assembly

8

is best illustrated in

FIGS. 22

to

25

.

The platform assembly

8

as illustrated in

FIG. 22

has two yokes or devises

300

which include cylindrical bores

302

to rotatably receive respective pivot bars

16

. The yokes

300

are constructed from three plate sections and are joined together by means of plate

304

.

Extending forwardly of the yokes

300

are four beams

18

. Each of the two inner beams

18

are secured by welding or other means to the respective edges of the plate

304

.

The beams

18

extend to the forward end

20

of the platform assembly

8

and carry the rest of the platform structure. The beams

18

are attached to and terminate at their forward end with, a bridging plate

22

, which extends across the full width of the platform assembly

8

, to which is attached a bolting rig assembly

24

, which is illustrated in FIG.

15

.

Each pair of beams

18

on a side of the platform assembly

8

include an open space

306

, which is of a width greater than the width of the respective beams

12

on track units

4

and

6

. The space

306

allows the platform assembly

8

to be lowered at the front end as illustrated in

FIG. 7

, to a level whereby the beams

12

on the track units

4

and

6

protrude into the spaces

306

.

Located on the platform assembly

8

are seven hatchways

54

which form part of the platform work surface when the hatches are in place. The hatches

54

can be removed or rotated to another position when it is desired to gain access to equipment and devices located under the hatches.

The platform assembly

8

once constructed can be overlayed with expanded metal mesh or other walkway surface to provide a surface with traction.

Another feature of the platform assembly

8

, is the provision, as part of the platform structure, of hydraulic oil or return oil tanks

340

. The oil tank

340

is relatively shallow in depth

342

but has relatively large top and bottom surfaces

344

and

346

respectively.

The provision of the tank

340

as part of the platform assembly

8

work space has several associated features.

The front end of the tank

340

is located adjacent the bridging plate

22

, ensuring that the bolting rig assembly

24

need only have its return hoses cover a relatively short distance from the bolting rig assembly

24

to the return tank

340

.

Another feature is that the relatively large top and bottom surfaces

344

and

346

provide the oil in the tank

340

with sufficient surface area to provide cooling of the return oil, without the need of purpose built coolers.

Towards the front end

20

of the platform assembly

8

, the platform assembly

8

includes two rectangular plates

28

, which are attached to the inside beam

18

of each pair of beams. The outside beams

18

, of each side pair of beams, include a triangular plate

30

. The respective sets of plates

28

and

30

, confine the lateral movements of the forward end of the respective track units

4

and

6

to that space between the plates

28

and

30

. The height of the plates

28

and

30

are of a sufficient height whereby when the platform assembly

8

is lifted off the track units

4

and

6

in the upward direction of arrows

32

, to create an included angle of 3° above the horizontal, the plates

28

and

30

maintain sufficient overlap with the sides of the track units, to fulfil their confinement task.

The track units

4

and

6

, provide an inside bearing plate

308

for the plates

28

to contact, while the guard member

310

can also serve a bearing function for the plates

28

to engage.

A platform assembly lifting and lowering mechanism

34

(see

FIG. 1

) is formed by hydraulic cylinders

36

. The hydraulic cylinders

36

connect the platform assembly

8

to each of the track units

4

,

6

. The lifting and lowering mechanism

34

is made up of two hydraulic cylinders

36

connected at each front side of the platform assembly

8

, by a respective clevis block and pin

38

welded to the inside beam

18

of each pair of beams. The other end of the respective cylinders

36

connects to a clevis block and pin

40

which is attached to the inside of each of the track units

4

and

6

. Once assembled, by applying hydraulic pressure to the cylinders

36

the platform assembly

8

via the beams

18

will rotate or move relative to the track units

4

and

6

in an upward direction around the pivot

16

. By removing pressure from hydraulic cylinder

36

or by applying pressure to an other side of the cylinder, the platform assembly

8

will rotate towards the track units

4

and

6

.

If desired the plates

28

and

30

may be replaced by means by a very strong cylinder assembly to replace cylinders

36

, or by providing multiple cylinders

36

, so as to provide enough strength to prevent too much lateral movement of the track units

4

and

6

relative to the platform assembly

8

.

Equipment to power the bolting rigs and track units

4

and

6

, and consumables for use in the bolting processes, are carried on the platform assembly

8

at the rear thereof. The equipment is housed in two main areas. The first area is taken up by a power pack

42

which includes an electrically powered pump motor and a hydraulic power unit which is driven by the pump motor. The hydraulic power unit provides hydraulic power for hydraulic motors and actuators on the track units

4

and

6

and the drill rig assembly

24

.

Positioned on the rear of the platform assembly

8

, at a location inside of the power pack

42

, is a cable reel

44

which is housed in its own housing

45

. The reel

44

takes up and feeds out electrical cable as the bolter

2

moves into and out of a mine or changes its location. The cable provides electrical power to the pump motor and any other electrical control units or devices on the bolter

2

. The cable reel

44

and its housing are preferably of a modular design so that the whole cable reel unit can be placed on or lifted off in one action.

Positioned above the power pack

42

, as illustrated in the

FIGS. 1

to

4

is a material pod

46

which houses a supply of consumables such as resin, bolts, and plates for the operator to use in the bolting process. The pod

46

is illustrated in greater detail in FIG.

27

.

As illustrated in

FIG. 27

, the pod

46

is divided into 3 general compartment areas. The first compartment

320

occupying the rear of the pod

46

, is of an open box shape and is used to store drilled plates for assembly onto the threaded ends of bolts. The compartment

320

has a depth equal to the depth of a second compartment

322

.

The second compartment

322

, is the largest compartment on the pod

46

, to receive tendons or bolts. When the bolts are placed in compartment

322

, they are oriented so that their longitudinal axis is parallel lo arrows

326

. The base of compartment

322

has a converging base

332

, so as to direct the bolts in the bottom of the compartment

322

towards the centre. This helps to prevent movement of the bolts once located therein. The compartment

322

is preferably of a length to receive 2.1 m length bolts. The compartment

322

is also of a depth and width to allow the compartment

322

to receive approximately 200 bolts. The front wall

333

of the second compartment

322

, has a deep cut out

335

, which is of a width and depth to allow an operator to gain unobstructed entry, so as to remove bolts from inside the compartments.

A third compartment

324

is of the same length as the pod

46

and is provided with as a series of six full length cavities

328

. The walls

330

between each cavity

328

provide columns the length of the pod

46

, to support the base

332

of the compartment

324

.

The six cavities

328

receive tubes or capsules or unmixed resin for insertion into a bored hole in mine strata to set a bolt therein.

Retractable lifting lugs

334

are present on the outside of the pod

46

to facilitate lifting.

The pod

46

includes four feet

336

which have an inverted truncated pyramidal shape. Four angle iron posts

400

, mounted on the platform assembly

8

, receive the feet

336

. The tops of the posts

400

are positioned so as to provide an opening with a length and width greater than the length and width respectively of the pod

46

(as illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to

9

). As the base of the feet

336

lie at the end of four converging or inwardly tapering sides, the base of the feet

336

will have a rectangular dimension some 50 mm on each side less than the rectangular dimensions of the top of the feet. By such tapered feet, an LHD (Load Haul Dump) will only need to align the pod

46

into a position within 100 mm of the sides of its final location. With this done, by lowering the pod

46

, the weight of the pod

46

will centre each of the feet

336

into the posts

400

on the platform assembly

8

. Once inside of the posts

40

, the weight of the pod

46

is carried by the horizontal members

402

as illustrated in FIG.

5

.

The pod

46

includes sufficient volumes in the compartments

320

,

322

and

324

so as to carry approximately 200 bolts with nuts attached, 200 resin sausages, and 200 plates in each of the respective compartments.

When an operator has run out of bolts from pod

46

, the whole pod

46

can be removed from the vehicle and replaced with a replenished pod. A second pod

48

of the same construction as pod

46

is positioned over the rear right side of the bolter

2

. The pod

48

can be tot the second operator on the right side of the vehicle to access or alternatively each operator takes from one pod so that when that one pod is emptied it can be replaced with a replenished pod, while the operators take consumables from the other pod. This ensures that no break in bolting need occur during replenishment of stock of consumables on the roof bolter.

An area at the forward end of the platform assembly

8

provides a work space adjacent the bolting rig assembly

24

. This area occupies approximately 2 meters measured along the length of the vehicle and across the full width of the vehicle. This area provides the operators with a floor space of full length of a bolt and allowing same to be swung into position without contacting the other operator.

The total surface area occupied by the roof bolter platform (excluding the drilling rig assembly) is a total of 14.8 square meters (platform length 4.625 meters by platform width 3.2 meters). Deducting the pod areas (under one of which the power pack

42

lies) on either side of the vehicle (at 2.2 square meters each) and the area occupied by the reel (approximately 1.26 square meters) allows a work space of approximately 9.14 square meters, including the access passage from the rear of the vehicle. Thus the percentage of work space of the total vehicle area is approximately 62%. This expansive area provides the operators with a highly useable space which allows them to operate the drill rig and bolting rig assembly

24

with a minimum of interruption to their respective tasks.

Additional drop down surface area is also provided by means of two fold down platforms

50

and

52

which can be folded down so that the operator can have additional working space of approximately 500 mm wide extending back a length of approximately 2 meters with which to access the side positioned bolting rigs when they are extended. The fold down platforms

50

and

52

can be raised for tramming and lowered for working purposes as desired. The fold down platforms

50

and

52

are rotated into and out of a desired position by means of either a rotary actuator or hydraulic cylinder

53

which is illustrated in

FIGS. 1

,

5

and

25

.

While the side bolting rigs

140

and

146

extend some 800 mm, the fold down platforms

50

and

52

are shorter. This does not effect the ability of the operator to effectively control the bolting rigs

140

and

146

as the rotational units

204

are located inboard of the 800 mm distance by some 300 mm or more. However, the fold down platforms, being some 300 mm less distance, ensures that a person who is located on the floor of the mine between the mine wall and the side of the platform assembly

8

, cannot be crushed by the fold down platform

50

or

52

when either of them is being folded down.

The bolting rig assembly

24

will now be described in detail with reference to

FIGS. 10

to

18

, and

15

.

Illustrated in

FIG. 21

is a bolting rig frame

60

(which can also be seen fully assembled with other components in

FIGS. 10

to

12

and

FIGS. 15

to

17

) which carries the bolting rig assembly

24

and allows same to be mounted to the platform assembly

8

. The frame

60

is constructed from four central vertical posts

62

,

64

,

66

and

68

. A fifth post

70

is located between the posts

62

,

64

,

66

and

68

. While the posts

62

,

64

,

66

and

68

are of equal length, the post

70

projects to a lesser height than the posts,

64

and

66

.

The posts

62

and

64

, are welded or otherwise connected together as are the posts

66

and

68

. The post

70

connects to post

64

on one side by means of lateral rails

72

,

76

and

80

and to post

66

on the other side by means of lateral rails

74

,

78

, and

82

. The posts

64

,

70

and

66

and rails

72

,

74

,

76

,

78

,

80

and

82

are all welded together to provide a central structural unit.

Additional rails

84

and

86

are attached to the left side of the post

64

and rails

88

and

90

are attached to the right side of the post

68

so as to extend the frame

60

to the full width of the bolter

2

. This allows the frame

60

to protect components mounted on the frame

60

and act as a fender or bumper bar to protect the bolter

2

while tramming.

A gusset plate

92

, having a wider base dimension than its top width, is welded to the ends of the rails

84

and

86

. A similarly shaped gusset plate

94

is welded to the ends of the rails

88

and

90

. Along the base of the frame

60

is attached a rectangular bearing plate

96

extending from the forward surface of the rails

86

,

80

,

82

,

90

and posts

62

,

64

,

66

,

68

and

70

to the rearward end of the gusset plates

92

and

94

. The bearing plate

96

thus extends rearward past the rearward most surfaces of the rails

86

,

80

,

82

,

90

and posts

62

,

64

,

66

,

68

and

70

.

The front edge of the gusset plates

92

and

94

together with the front surfaces of the rails

86

,

84

,

76

,

78

,

88

,

90

,

82

and

80

and the corresponding front surfaces of posts

62

,

64

,

66

and

68

are over lain by a front plate

98

. The front plate

98

will also help to protect the components located in the lower portion of the frame

60

, as well as provide a more rigid frame structure.

The front plate

98

also allows the bolter

2

to be used as a grader so as to clean up a mine floor. If desired a front plate

98

having a more appropriate ground engaging shape could be utilised.

As illustrated in

FIG. 21

one L-shaped member

100

straddles and is attached to each of the posts

62

and

64

, with another L-shaped member

100

being attached to the posts

66

and

68

. The L-shaped members

100

are attached by vertical legs

102

so as to lie between the upper level of the rails

72

and

74

and the bottom level of the lower rail,

80

and

82

. A horizontal leg

104

of each L-shaped bracket

100

extends in the rearward direction of the frame

60

and terminates at a mounting plate

106

. The mounting plate

106

bridges and extends past both termini of the horizontal legs

104

of the L-shaped members

100

.

Connecting the mounting plate

106

to the post

70

is a longitudinally extending horizontal rail

108

which preferably has a cross section with a width equal to the width of the post

70

. The rail

108

is used to support and carry other components of the frame

60

as will be described later.

Two short mounting blocks

110

are attached to the post

62

and

68

adjacent the top end of the vertical leg

102

of L-shaped member

100

. The top ends of vertical legs

102

of L-shaped members

100

and mounting blocks

110

have therethrough a semi-cylindrical formation

111

to receive half of the outside diameter of cylinders

112

and

114

(see FIG.

10

). Similar clamping blocks

110

, having semi-cylindrical formations

111

, are located adjacent semi-cylindrical formations

111

on a lower portion of the vertical leg

102

. The adjacent semi-cylindrical formations create a broader bearing surface to receive cylinders

112

,

114

,

116

and

118

. The cylinders

112

,

114

,

116

and

118

are relatively long, by comparison to the width of said L-shaped members

100

and mounting blocks

110

.

Referring now to

FIG. 10

, the cylinders

112

,

114

,

116

,

118

are held in position by means of mating clamping blocks

120

, each of which includes a semi-cylindrical formation. The clamping blocks

120

are secured to the vertical, portions

102

and clamping blocks

110

by means of eight machine screws

124

on each clamping block

120

. The cylinders

112

,

114

,

116

,

118

are held at approximately the mid point of their outer cylinders. The inward ends

126

of each outer cylinder of cylinders

112

,

114

,

116

,

188

meet at the centre of the frame

60

and, and to reduce vibration, can be secured together.

The cylinder rods

128

which are powered to move into and out of each cylinder

112

,

114

, have receive on their termini a connection to a carriage plate

130

, as do the cylinder rods

128

of cylinders

116

and

118

. The carriage plate

130

and an associated clamping blocks

132

each include semicircular formation so that when the carriage plate

130

is assembled with clamping blocks

132

, and the termini of rods

128

are there between, they clamp the termini of each cylinder rod

128

. The carriage plates

130

each carry rotary actuators

134

which are limited to rotate through 180°.

Illustrated in the right side of

FIGS. 10

,

11

and

12

, the frame

60

has a rotating plate

136

which is connected to the rotary actuator

134

. Whereas the left side shows a mounting plate

138

to which is attached a similar plate to the plate

136

, so as to be rotated by a rotary actuator

134

on that side. The mounting plate

138

receives a semi automatic bolting rig

140

. The left central bolting rig

142

, right central bolting rig

144

and right side bolting rig

146

are also semi-automatic. The bolting rigs

140

,

142

,

144

and

146

are illustrated in FIGS.

1

,

3

,

4

,

5

,

6

,

9

,

15

,

16

,

17

and

18

.

The mounting of the left centre and right centre bolting rigs

142

and

144

will now be discussed with reference to

FIGS. 11-15

.

Illustrated in

FIGS. 11

to,

15

is a carrier

148

. In

FIG. 14

is illustrated the front end of the carrier

148

. Whereas in

FIG. 11

is illustrated the rear end of the carrier

148

. The carrier

148

has a front plate

152

and a rear plate

154

with a square cut out portion

150

in each plate, which allows the carrier

148

to be located upon the horizontal rail

108

in the centre of the frame

60

.

The front plate

152

which is illustrated in

FIG. 14

, includes two bearing blocks

156

which respectively clamp into position spherical bearings

158

and

160

. The spherical bearings

158

and

160

receive forward end stub axles

170

and

172

which are respectively attached to elongated indexing plates

162

and

164

which in turn receive and secure the bolting rigs

142

and

144

.

The indexing plates

162

and

164

include on their rearward ends respective stub axles

174

and

176

which carry spherical bearings

166

and

168

. The spherical bearings

166

,

168

and axles

174

and

176

, on the rear ends of the indexing plates

162

and

164

, are mounted onto the rear plate

154

so as to be able to slide in the direction of arrows

178

. This is done by connecting the bearings

166

,

168

via respective housings

182

to respective cylinders

180

. Plate

154

has a slot

155

that has bearing plates on each vertical side, so as to guide and laterally restrain the housings

182

in their movement in the direction of arrows

178

. The cylinders

180

are in turn mounted on the top edge of the rear plate

154

.

Upon actuation of the cylinder

180

, the housing

182

moves either upward or downward in the slots

155

, as desired, thus adjusting the angle of the bolting rig

142

or

144

mounted to the indexing plates

162

and

164

respectively as is illustrated in

FIG. 13

Referring now to

FIG. 11

, the movement created by the cylinders

180

will produce a rotation or a tilting of the bolting rig

142

(or

144

) into and out of the page. The amount of movement achieved by cylinders

180

is approximately +/−2° from the vertical.

The forward and rear stub axles

172

,

174

on the indexing plate

162

have their central longitudinal axes collinear as are the axles

170

,

176

on the indexing plate

164

.

The indexing plates

162

and

164

, by means of the respective axles

170

,

172

,

174

,

176

, are able to rotate around the central longitudinal axes of those axles. Such rotation is produced by means of respective cylinders

184

and

186

which are secured by clevis and pin

188

to the indexing plates

162

and

164

and at their other end to the frame

60

via clevis and pin

190

which are attached to the vertical legs

102

of L-shaped members

100

. In the clevis and pin

188

and

190

spherical bearings are provided to engage the eyes of the cylinders

184

and

186

to allow for the +/−2° mis-alignment which results when the cylinder

180

is activated to move the indexing plate

162

or

164

away from the vertical.

As illustrated in

FIG. 15

, bolting rigs

142

,

144

,

140

and

146

are respectively secured to each of the indexing plates

162

,

164

and mounting plate

138

on the left hand side and

139

on the right hand side of the frame

60

. Each bolting rig

142

,

144

,

140

and

146

is identical, thus helping to reduce inventory of parts. The bolting rigs

140

,

142

,

144

and

146

are illustrated in

FIG. 15

in fully retracted and tramming position and are located in a vertical direction and substantially within the width of the outside surfaces of each of the gusset plates

92

and

94

.

The posts

62

and

68

each carry upwardly directing stab jacks

192

and

194

. Whereas the posts

64

and

66

each carry downwardly directing stab jacks

196

and

198

. The stab jacks

196

and

198

include, at their termini, feet

200

and

202

. When the stab jacks

196

and

198

are fully retracted, their feet

200

and

202

are also fully retracted into and sit flush with the bearing plate

96

, as illustrated in FIG.

17

. By this means, the feet

200

and

202

are also protected by the bearing plate

96

during tramming or other activity, when the stab jacks

196

and

198

are fully retracted.

It will be noted from

FIG. 15

that each of the drill rigs

140

,

142

,

144

and

146

are positioned in pairs (one pair on the left made up of drill rigs

140

and

142

, a second pair on the right). The rotational units

204

, of for example the left pair, face each other so that there is an unoccupied space between them. This allows the operator of the left pair unobstructed access to the two rotational units

204

which are under his control. The right pair has the same feature.

As illustrated in

FIG. 16

, with the cylinder rods

128

extended as on the right hand side of the figure, the bolting rig

146

can adopt a vertical orientation so as to do roof bolting. Whereas, as can be seen on the left hand side, the left side bolting rig

140

is rotated to approximately 90° so as to allow the bolting rig

140

to perform rib bolting functions. The rotary actuators

134

are each controlled to deliver a desired amount of rotation of the rigs

140

and

146

depending upon what type of bolting is required.

The two central rigs

142

and

144

can have imparted to them degrees of tilt provided by the indexing plates

162

and

164

and/or the mounting of the bearings by means of cylinder

180

. The limits of side to side tilt of the indexing plates

162

and

164

and thus rigs

142

and

144

is 10° in the outboard direction, and 7.5° inboard. Whereas inbye (rearward) and outbye (forward) tilting movement as discussed above is +/−2°.

The ranges and the limits of movement which can be given to the rigs

140

and

146

, are as illustrated by the vectors in FIG.

18

. The limits when measured from a vertically standing position with the cylinder rods

128

fully retracted, is approximately 700-800 mm outward from the frame

60

(this distance is indicated in

FIG. 18

by the bolting rig

146

′ which represents the location of the bolting rig

146

when fully extended away from the frame

60

) and approximately 120° of rotation starting at approximately 10° from vertical continuing through 90° from vertical to horizontal and through to 20° below horizontal and indexing at all angles there between.

This amount of rotation could be increased through to a full 360° when the cylinder rods

128

are at their full extension. However, 120° of rotation is only permitted to the rigs

140

and

146

so as to perform a full range of roof and rib bolting functions, when cylinder rods

128

are fully retracted. The amount of rotation available when the cylinder rods

128

are fully retracted is limited by the risk of collision of a portion of the rigs

140

or

146

with the other rigs

142

or

144

respectively or with the components of the frame

60

. As only 120° is permitted, a rotary actuator that rotates through 360° is not required. A 180° rotary actuator will suffice, with stops being provided at appropriate limits of rotation.

Illustrated in

FIG. 18

is a schematic of the range of vectors, when the bolter

2

is viewed in front or rear elevation, which are able to be drilled along to install roof or rib bolting.

Illustrated in

FIG. 19

is a second embodiment of the invention. Features in

FIG. 19

which are alike with features is in

FIGS. 1

to

9

have been numbered with the same numeral followed by the letter “A”. The bolter

2

A has an alternatively formed bolting rig assembly

24

A. The assembly

24

A includes roof supports

192

A and

194

A in a stand alone arrangement at its forward most end. The assembly

24

A also includes a series of four roof bolters mounted on a frame attached to platform assembly

8

A.

The bolting rig assembly

24

A has a right angled or L shaped frame

60

A which mounts the cylinders

114

A and

118

A on the right side of the frame

60

A, not in a vertical plane as in frame

60

of the previous figures, but in a horizontal plane. The cylinders

112

A and

116

A are mounted similarly on the left side of frame

60

A. The vertical side

102

A of the frame

60

A includes a rotary actuator to which the left and right side bolting rigs

140

A and

146

A can be mounted, so as to rotate for rib bolting.

Illustrated in

FIG. 20

is a bolter

2

B for low height applications which has a bolting rig assembly

24

B which is similar to the bolter

2

A that of FIG.

19

. Features in

FIG. 20

which are alike with features in

FIGS. 1

to

9

have been numbered with the same numeral followed by the letter “B”. For low height applications, the platform assembly

8

B provides a lower most level

206

on the outboard sides of the outer beams

18

B, in which can be positioned a seat. The lower most level

206

can be positioned to rest on a mine floor. Seating an operator in contact with the mine floor for low height applications will result in less risk of injury being able occur to the operator yet maintain full accessibility to drill rods which are placed on the platform nearest to the operator and rotational units

204

B. At the very front of the bolting rig assembly

24

B there is preferably located a plate or blade similar to the front plate

98

B which in low height applications will allow the bolter

2

B, to grade a lower level into the floor of a mine, which will allow the tops of the bolting rigs to progress forward into a mine if insufficient room is not immediately available.

Illustrated in

FIG. 28

is a perspective view of a partially assembled right side bolting rig

146

. At the upper right hand corner of the rig

146

is a manifold block

500

which is connected by hoses

499

to water, the power pack

42

and its control system. The manifold

500

is received by a swivel joint

502

, mounted onto a ported delivery block

504

, which conducts fluids to and from the control valve block

506

. The swivel joint

502

and manifold

500

together form a rotary joint which allows hydraulic fluid to power the bolting rig

146

and deliver water under pressure, as well as lead away return hydraulic fluid to the return oil tank

340

on the platform assembly

8

. The rotary joint

501

which is made from the manifold

500

and swivel joint

502

will now be described with respect to

FIGS. 29

to

37

.

Referring now to

FIGS. 29

to

37

, the swivel pin

502

is made up of an annular member having a series of five annular grooves

510

,

512

,

514

,

516

,

518

which form passages when assembled with the manifold

500

. The manifold receives five hoses, which respectively connect to and via five fittings

499

A to communicate with five ports

510

B,

512

B,

514

B,

516

B,

518

B. Each one of these five ports communicates to one of the annular passages

510

,

512

,

514

,

156

,

518

.

Through the middle of the pin

502

is a series of five spaced apart longitudinally extending blind bores

510

A,

512

A,

514

A,

516

A, and

518

A which have communicable passage through to the annular passages formed by grooves

510

,

512

,

514

,

156

,

518

respectively, via a corresponding slot or bore which is formed in a radial or similar direction through the base of the grooves

510

,

512

,

514

,

516

,

518

.

The manifold

500

includes at six locations corresponding to each of the end or divider annuli

520

,

522

,

524

,

526

,

528

,

530

on the pin

502

, when assembled together, a corresponding ring seal

113

or other type of rotating seal. In this way, any fluid passing through any one of the hoses and inlet pipes coming into the manifold

500

, will pass through just one passage through to the ported delivery block

504

and ultimately on to the control valve block

506

, and in the reverse direction for fluids exiting control valve block

506

.

The sizes of the annular passages

510

,

512

,

514

,

516

,

518

are determined according to the flows and pressures of fluid to pass there through.

The pin

502

and manifold

500

are rotatably secured together once the manifold

500

is correctly positioned over the swivel pin

502

, by a circlip

540

being positioned into an annular groove

542

.

The annular passage

510

, and blind bore

510

A preferably communicates from the control valve block

506

to return hydraulic fluid back to the return tank

344

.

The annular passage

512

, and blind bore

512

A preferably communicates hydraulic fluid and pressure from the power pack

42

to slide extension valve to extend or retract the cylinders

114

,

118

, (on the right side of assembly

24

) on the control valve block

506

.

The annular passage

514

, and blind bore

514

A preferably communicates from the control valve block

506

a pressure signal via hydraulic pressure to the power pack

42

control system to indicate the amount of pressure needed to be supplied by the power pack

42

.

The annular passage

516

, and blind bore

516

A preferably communicates water under pressure from water tanks on the platform assembly

8

to water valve on the control valve block

506

.

The annular passage

518

, and blind bore

518

A preferably communicates hydraulic fluid and pressure from the power pack

42

to other drilling and positioning functions and control valves via the control valve block

506

.

Illustrated in

FIG. 38

is a perspective view of a platform assembly

8

A which is a modified platform assembly to that of other figures. In the embodiment which utilises this platform assembly

8

A, the power pack

42

and the materials pod

46

, and the materials pod

48

of

FIG. 1

are mounted directly onto the track units

4

and

6

, and would occupy the areas

46

A and

48

A in FIG.

32

. The platform assembly

8

A is pivoted by means of a single pivot bar (not illustrated) extending between the two beams

12

of the respective track units

4

and

6

, via the clevis formed by the bored blocks

550

. The platform assembly

8

A includes all the other features provided in the platform assembly

8

of other figures. However, during raising and lowering procedures the power pack

42

and materials pod

46

and

48

remain stationery, thus decreasing the amount of power required of the cylinders

36

to raise the platform assembly

8

A.

While this will mean that the pods

46

and

48

will not be maintained at the same level at all times for the operator to access, in most use applications it is expected that it will cause little to no inconvenience in return for the ability to keep the platform assembly

8

A stable at all times even if pods

46

or

48

are being exchanged by an LHD.

Referring now to the

FIGS. 39

to

43

which illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Features in

FIG. 39

to

43

which are alike with features in

FIGS. 1

to

9

have been numbered with the same numeral followed by the letter “C”, for convenience and to enhance the clarity of the drawing not all the features referenced in

FIGS. 1

to

9

are referenced in

FIG. 39

to

43

.

FIGS. 39

to

43

illustrate a mobile bolting apparatus

2

C in a mine entry

900

that has a roof

920

and a floor

940

and two sides or ribs

960

. As can be seen in

FIG. 39

, the mobile bolting apparatus

2

C of the present invention includes a platform assembly

8

C that has a forward end

20

, a rearward end

20

A and two lateral sides.

As can be seen in

FIGS. 39

to

43

, the platform assembly

8

C is mounted on two drive assemblies

4

C,

6

C in the same manner as that of

FIGS. 1

to

9

. Preferably, each drive assembly

4

C,

6

C includes an endless driven track or “cat”

4

D,

6

D for propelling the apparatus along the entry floor

940

. The use of endless driven tracks for propelling vehicles within mine entries is well known in the art. However, other drive arrangements such as driven wheels, etc. could be employed. It will be further appreciated that the frame could be mounted on skids and advanced and retrieved by apparatus located remote from the mine face.

The drive assemblies

4

C,

6

C and various other components on the apparatus preferably obtain power from a power source generally designated as

360

that is generally located remote from the newly developing entry

900

. A power cable

380

extends from the power source and is stored on a conventional cable reel

44

C that is operably mounted on the platform assembly

8

C. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such cable reel arrangements are known in the art and serve to selectively store and pay out cable as the apparatus

2

C advances into or retreats out of the entry

900

.

In

FIGS. 39

to

43

, an upstanding bolter support

590

is attached to the forward end

24

of the platform assembly

8

C. A plurality of (preferably four) convention bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C are movably supported by the upstanding bolter support wall

590

. The construction and operation of such bolters are well known in the art, however some improved bolters such as those identified below could be utilised. Such conventional bolter arrangements generally include a support mast

620

that has an extendable timber jack which terminates in a top plate

141

. A timber jack top plate

141

is attached to the end of the timber jack as shown in the

FIGS. 39

to

43

. A drill head

204

which rotatably supports a conventional drill bit (not shown) is movably supported on the support mast

620

for selective movement therealong.

Each bolter

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C is preferably movably attached to the bolter support wall

590

by a slide arrangement to facilitate lateral positioning of the bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C along a plane “A—A” that is substantially parallel to the bolter support wall

590

. (see

FIG. 40. A

pair of slide rails

521

are preferably attached in spaced-apart relation to the bolter support wall

590

as shown in

FIGS. 39 and 43

. Each bolter mast

620

has a pair of support members

630

that are complementary shaped relative to the slide rails

521

and are received therein, (see FIG.

43

). Such arrangements permit each mast

620

to be selectively movably positioned along line A—A of

FIG. 40. A

lock or other mechanism (not shown) corresponding to each mast

620

is employed to lock each mast

620

in position after it has been moved to a desired position. Preferably each mast

620

is moved by a hydraulic cylinder or other hydraulic means and the masts

620

are locked into a position by hydraulic valve means.

To support the roof

920

during the bolting operation, a pair of conventional temporary roof support assemblies

192

C and

194

C are preferably employed. The construction and operation of such temporary roof support assemblies for use in connection with the installation of roof bolts are well known in the art. Therefore, the construction of the roof support assemblies

192

C and

194

C will not be discussed in great detail herein.

As can be seen in

FIGS. 39

to

43

, a preferred roof support assembly

192

C and

194

C includes a hydraulically actuated cylinder arrangement. Two downwardly directed stab jacks

196

C and

198

C are also included to engage the floor of the mine

940

. The stab jacks

196

C and

198

C can be selectively brought into engagement with the entry floor

940

and jacks

192

C and

194

C can be brought into engagement with the entry roof

920

to form a continuous load bearing column therebetween. Support plates

200

and

202

are attached to the lower end of stab jacks

196

C and

198

C to better distribute the load to the entry floor. In a preferred embodiment, the jacks

192

C and

194

C include a cross bar that has a two upwardly extending support plates attached thereto, to engage a larger area of the roof

920

.

As can be seen in

FIGS. 39

to

43

, an operator's station

990

is located on the platform assembly

8

C remote from the bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C and roof support members

192

C and

194

C. Preferably, the operator's station is located approximately 2 meters away from any of the roof support members

192

C and

194

C to define a work area, generally designated as

999

, therebetween. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate that such arrangement enables the operator to be located under a portion of the entry roof that has been bolted when the temporary roof cylinders

192

C and

194

C are brought into engagement with a yet unsupported portion of the entry roof, (see FIG.

43

).

Operator's station

990

is provided with a roof canopy

994

for protecting the operator from debris falling from the entry roof

920

and is preferably equipped with an operator seat

996

and controls

998

for controlling the operation of the drives

4

C,

6

C and the roof support members

192

C and

194

C. In addition, the bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C, may be controlled from the operator's station.

The exposed portion of the platform assembly

8

C is covered by a planar deck such as that known as checker plate or it may be expanded metal mesh. Either or both of these can be attached to the platform and serves to define a support platform upon which the operating personnel can walk. In a preferred embodiment, laterally extending deck extensions

50

C and

52

C are pivotally attached to the forward lateral sides of the platform assembly

8

C adjacent the forward end of the frame as shown in

FIGS. 39 and 43

. Deck extensions

50

C and

52

C are preferably adapted to be selectively pivoted between a first extended position wherein they are substantially coplanar with the deck of the platform assembly BC to a second vertically oriented storage position. In

FIGS. 39

,

40

,

41

and

43

the deck extension

50

C is illustrated in a retracted position, while deck extension

52

C is an extended position. In a preferred embodiment, each deck extension is pivoted by either a rotary actuator or a hydraulic cylinder.

Also in this embodiment, storage containers

46

and

48

are removably mounted to the platform assembly

8

C. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such storage containers can be used to store bolts, plates and various other pieces of equipment and tools. As can be seen in

FIG. 40

, a portion of the platform assembly

8

C is adjacent to one lateral side of one of the storage containers to afford an operator easy access to its contents. The contents of the other storage container

46

C can easily be access from its one end.

In addition a push blade

98

C is preferably affixed to the forward end of the platform assembly

8

C to enable debris and rock that has fallen into the entry to be pushed to a location wherein it does not obstruct free movement within the entry by various vehicles and personnel.

A preferred method will now be described of utilising the mobile bolting apparatus

2

C.

After a mining machine has formed a portion of an entry extension, the mining process is interrupted and the mining machine and supporting conveying apparatus is moved to enable the mobile bolting apparatus

2

C to be driven into the entry

900

. The mobile bolting apparatus

2

C is controlled by one of two operators seated in the operator's station

990

and is driven into the entry

900

by drives

4

C,

6

C. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the cable

380

is affixed to the power source

360

(see

FIG. 39

) to provide the mobile bolting apparatus

2

C with the requisite power.

The mobile bolting apparatus

2

C is driven to a point wherein it is located directly beneath a portion of entry roof

920

that is to be initially bolted. Thereafter, the temporary roof support members

192

C,

194

C are extended to engage the roof

920

and support member

196

C and

198

C extend to engage floor

940

of the entry

900

to provide a two load bearing columns therebetween.

It will be appreciate that when the temporary roof support cylinders

192

C,

194

C,

196

C and

198

C are extended in this manner, the operators are located under the protective canopy of the operator's station

990

.

After the temporary roof cylinders

192

C,

194

C,

196

C,

198

C have been installed, the operator can then walk across the platform assembly

8

C to the bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C and

146

C. The bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C are then activated to install bolts in the entry roof

920

in a known manner. After the bolts have been installed and the bolters

140

C,

142

C,

144

C,

146

C are returned to inactivated positions, (as illustrated in

FIG. 41

) the operators return to the operator's station

990

and the temporary roof support members

192

C,

194

C,

196

C,

198

C are retracted to permit the mobile bolting apparatus

2

C to be driven forward to the next position wherein additional bolts are to be installed.

The above described embodiments all disclose a row, or in line arrangement, of bolting rigs mounted on an extendible frame, attached directly to the platform assembly. Prior art bolting equipment which mounts the bolting rigs onto swinging booms, are dangerous in that they produce lethal crushing points. The arrangement of frame and platform of the bolter

2

prevents such dangerous conditions.

One advantage of the material pod

46

is that bolts and other consumables need only be handled individually once when loading them into the pods

46

, and then once by the operators during installation. This system eliminates the double handling of the consumables that occurs on prior art bolters. The ability to provide the pod system on the structure of the bolter

2

arises because the platform assembly provides a relatively large work space, giving sufficient space for such a system.

Another advantage of the provision of a large platform space is the ability to build into the underfloor area, hydraulic oil tanks and return oil tanks into the area beneath the platform, as part of the platform. This means that valuable deck space is not obstructed, and hoses are minimised as returns go straight into the platform tanks.

Because the tank is relatively shallow with an expansive upper and lower surface area, there is both top and bottom, relatively large cooling surfaces to cool the oil. When water is used in drilling, the water falling on or hitting these surfaces helps to further cool the oil.

The pivoting platform's construction ensures that on inclined roadways of 0° to 3° incline or 0° to 2° decline to the horizontal, the whole platform assembly, and the bolting rig assembly can be positioned in the horizontal, reducing the amount of tilting required per bolting rig. Thus making the bolting process speedier in these situations.

The provision of a large work space ensures that the operators have sufficient area to manoeuvre bolts around the platform without interrupting each other, but also sufficient room for the operators to safely escape wet zones which may be produced if water is being used during drilling.

While the above description refers to bolting rigs, the rigs may be used for coring, or drilling purposes along, without installation of bolts.

Further, the bolting rigs described above are referred to as having rotational units, but such units may be percussive alone, or a combination of rotational and percussive units.

While one of the main features disclosed in the above description is the provision of a platform assembly pivoted at the rear, and while this feature does provide many advantages, it can be replaced by other mechanisms for lifting, such as the pantographic type, scissor type, or direct hydraulic lift. However, with the pantographic or scissor types, as the platform assembly will remain parallel to the track units, additional inbye and outbye tilting may be needed on the central bolting rigs. Without a pivoted connection, levelling of each individual rig would need to occur. On the other hand one advantage of using four direct hydraulic lifting units at four locations on the platform a variety of pitch and yaw angles could be achieved.

In all of the above described embodiments, the bolting rigs

140

,

142

,

144

and

146

are preferably of the sort as disclosed in pending application 34200/97 which is to be published on or about Feb. 8, 1998, or corresponding application U.S. Ser. No. 08/908,464. The rigs disclosed in these documents are preferred as they offer significant advantages compared to other bolting rigs. However, it will be understood that any appropriate bolting rig could be utilised with the embodiments of this invention.

The above invention is disclosed with respect to a bolter

2

, having some four bolting rigs mounted thereon. However, the combination of the platform assembly

8

C and track units

4

,

6

together with any number of bolting rigs (

1

,

2

,

3

,

4

,

5

etc) with the one, or one or more outside positioned rigs thereof being able to rotate to perform both rib bolting and roof bolting is an embodiment which is within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.

It will be understood that while the above description of the embodiments only illustrates track units having endless driven tracks, that the mechanism for propelling the assembled vehicle could be any appropriate means such as drive wheels etc. It will be further appreciated that for those the inventions not containing features relating to the means for propelling the vehicle, or for those directed solely to the features of the bolting rigs or the bolting rig assembly may be mounted on skids and advanced and retrieved by apparatus located remote from the mine face.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
PP1364	Jan 1998	AU
PP1399	Jan 1998	AU

Number	Name	Date	Kind
4056203	Meldahl et al.	Nov 1977	A
4079792	Paul et al.	Mar 1978	A
4290490	Barthe et al.	Sep 1981	A
4595316	Tinnel	Jun 1986	A
4640369	Goyarts	Feb 1987	A
4753299	Meyers	Jun 1988	A
4953914	LeBegue	Sep 1990	A
5016942	Spross et al.	May 1991	A
6325460	Frederick	Dec 2001	B1

Roof support arrangement for mining apparatus and roof bolting equipment

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (2)

PCT Information

US Referenced Citations (9)