Patent Application
20150192016
This disclosure relates in general to tunnel wall securement systems, methods, and devices including mine roof securement systems, methods, and devices.
In mining operations, bolts are often used to support the roof of the mine. In some applications, a pair of spaced—apart, inclined bar bolts, also referred to herein as threadbars, are anchored into the roof of the mine. Each inclined bar bolt is typically connected to a truss shoe, also called a truss bracket. The truss shoes, which also are spaced apart due to their connection to the inclined bar bolts, are joined together by a horizontally extending coupler, also referred to herein as a tie rod. Typically, the coupler consists of a pair of cables and/or threaded rods, each connected to a corresponding one of the truss shoes, with the cables and/or threaded rods and joined to each other by a coupler disposed between the spaced apart truss shoes.
Certain considerations may be faced when installing a mine roof truss. For example, the inclined bar bolts are typically installed, with the truss shoe already attached, using a bolting machine. In some circumstances, the operator may have to leave the bolting machine to adjust the truss shoe or otherwise reposition the truss shoe during the bolting operation. Further, some inclined bar bolts have hex-head ends, while others are threaded. Typically, a truss shoe is adapted for attachment to a particular type of inclined bar bolt. Moreover, the truss shoe typically is adapted for attachment to a particular type of horizontal cross member, such as a dead-ended, pre-seated wedge barrel attached to a threaded cable, or to a bar cross member having an anchor nut.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a roof truss system for supporting a roof of a mine. The roof truss system can include a tie rod that can be an elongate load bearing member with first and second ends, and an anchor nut. The anchor nut can have opposing first and second ends, a threaded aperture extending between the first and second ends, and a contact surface at the first end, which contact surface has a first dimension. In some embodiments, the roof truss system can include a truss eye having a base having a first side and an opposite second side, a first hole extending through the first side of the base and towards the second side of the base, which first hole can receive and secure the first end of the tie rod, a first arm extending from a first portion of the first or second sides of the base, and a second arm extending from a second portion of the first or second sides of the base. In some embodiments, the first arm connects to the second arm at a position distal from the second side of the base. In some embodiments, the connected first and second arms define an eye, sized and shaped to engage with the contact surface of the anchor nut.
In some embodiments of the roof truss system, the tie rod is a cable, and in some embodiments of the roof truss system, the tie rod is a bar. In some embodiments, the first end of the tie rod is secured in the first hole of the truss eye.
In some embodiments of the roof truss system, the first hole of the truss eye is a threaded aperture, and in some embodiments of the roof truss system, the first hole is a tapered hole. In some embodiments, the first hole extends through the second side of the truss eye.
In some embodiments of the roof truss system, the truss eye further includes a tapered wedge that can affix to the first end of the tie rod and that is sized and shaped to be retained within the first hole. In some embodiments, the truss eye includes a wedge clip.
The roof truss system can include a first hole in the roof of the mine, and in some embodiments, the threadbar can be inserted into and/or affixed within the first hole in the roof of the mine. In some embodiments, the anchor nut can be affixed to the threadbar and the interaction between the eye truss and the anchor nut can apply a load to the threadbar.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a truss eye. The truss eye includes a base portion having a bottom, a base top, and a base aperture extending between the bottom and base top. In some embodiments, the base aperture defines an aperture axis extending along the center-line of the base aperture. The truss eye can include an eye portion having a first arm distally extending from a first portion of the base, a second arm distally extending from a second portion of the base, and a connecting member connecting the distal end of the first arm to the distal end of the second arm. In some embodiments, the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting member define an eye having a length along the aperture axis and a width perpendicular to the aperture axis, which length is greater than the width.
In some embodiments of the truss eye, the base aperture is threaded, and in some embodiments of the truss eye, the base aperture is tapered. In some embodiments, the truss eye includes a wedge located within the base aperture. In some embodiments, the wedge is tapered and includes a wedge aperture. In some embodiments, the wedge is a three-piece wedge, and in some embodiments, the wedge aperture is threaded.
In some embodiments, the truss eye includes a wedge clip extending from the base portion and over a portion of the base aperture. In some embodiments, the truss eye can hold 10 tons, and in some embodiments, the truss eye is made of ductile iron.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of installing a roof truss system. The method includes creating a first hole in a roof of a mine, anchoring a threadbar within the first hole in the roof of the mine, and inserting a portion of the threadbar through an eye of a truss eye. In some embodiments, the truss eye includes: a base having a first side and an opposite second side, a base aperture extending through the first side of the base and towards the second side, a first arm distally extending from a first portion of the base, and a second arm distally extending from a second portion of the base. In some embodiments, the first arm connects to the second arm at a position distal from the second side of the base to thereby define the eye. In some embodiments, the method includes securing the threadbar to the truss eye by attaching an anchor nut to the threadbar such that the anchor nut contacts the first and second arms of the truss eye and affixing a tie rod to the base aperture of the truss eye.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the disclosure.
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Where the reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a truss eye that can be used as a component of an integrated truss system to secure some or all of one or several walls, including a roof of a tunnel, including a mine. Advantageously, the truss eye can be used with a wide variety of threadbars and with threadbars having a variety of angular positions relative to the truss eye.
With reference now to
As depicted in
As seen in
The base aperture 108 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the base aperture 108 is a cylindrical aperture having a constant radius with respect to the aperture axis 110 along the length of the base aperture 108. In some embodiments in which the base aperture 108 has a constant radius with respect to the aperture axis 110 along the length of the base aperture 108, the radius can be, for example, 0.1 inches, 0.25 inches, 0.35 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 2 inches, or any other or intermediate measure.
In some embodiments, the base aperture 108 can have a varying radius with respect to the aperture axis 110 along the length of the base aperture 108. In some embodiments, for example, the base aperture 108 can have a first radius measured with respect to the aperture axis 110 at the base top 106 that is larger than a second radius measured with respect to the aperture axis 110 at the bottom 104. In such an embodiment, the base aperture 108 can comprise a frustum such as, for example, a conical frustum. In one embodiment in which the base aperture 108 comprises a conical frustum, the first radius of the base aperture 108 can be 0.25 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 0.855 inches, 1 inch, 2 inches, or any other or intermediate measure and the second radius of the base aperture 108 can be 0.1 inches, 0.25 inches, 0.35 inches, 0.355 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 1.9 inches, or any other or intermediate measure.
The base aperture 108 can, in some embodiments, include features configured to allow mechanical connection with other components of an integrated truss system. In one embodiment, these features can include the above discussed frustum shape of the base aperture 108, and in one embodiment, these features can include threads on all or portions of the base aperture 108. In one embodiment, access to the threads can be facilitated by a chamfer located at the intersection of the base aperture 108 and the bottom 104 which chamfer can be, for example, a 10 degree chamfer, a 20 degree chamfer, a 30 degree chamfer, a 40 degree chamfer, a 50 degree chamfer, a 60 degree chamfer, a 70 degree chamfer, an 80 degree chamfer, or any other or intermediate chamfer.
The truss eye 100 can include an eye portion 112 extending from a portion of the base portion 102, and specifically as depicted in
As further seen in
In some embodiments, the base top 106 of the base portion 102, the first member 114, the second member 116, and the connecting member 118 together define an eye 120. The eye 120 has a length measured along the aperture axis 110 that extends from the base top 106 to the most distal interior edge of the connecting member 118. In some embodiments, the length of the eye 120 can be, for example, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, 2.6 inches, 3 inches, 5 inches, 10 inches, or any other or intermediate length. In some embodiments, the eye 120 has a width measured perpendicular to the aperture axis 110 and across the shortest distance between the interior edges of the first and second members 114, 116. In one embodiment, the width of the eye 120 is the shortest distance between the interior edges of the first and second members 114, 116 that connect with portions of the connecting member 118. The width of the eye can be 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.35 inches, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, 5 inches, 10 inches, or any other or intermediate width. In some embodiments, the length of the eye 120 can be the same as the width of the eye 120, and in some embodiments, the length of the eye 120 can be greater than the width of the eye 120. In some embodiments, for example, the length of the eye 120 can be 1.1 times, 1.2 times, 1.3 times, 1.4 times, 1.5 times, 1.75 times, 2 times, 3 times, 5 times, or any other or intermediate factor larger than the width of the eye 120.
With reference now to
In some embodiments, the first and second root portions 204, 208 have constant cross sections, and in some embodiments, the first and second root portions 204, 208 have variable cross-sections. Thus, in one embodiment, the first and second root portions 204, 208 comprise a circular cross-section at the point at which the first and second root portions 204, 208 respectively intersect with the first and second extension portions 202, 206, and a non-circular cross-section at other points along the first and second root portions 204, 208. In one embodiment, the first and second root portions 204, 208 include a taper 209 that starts at the bottom 104 of the first and second root portions 204, 208, decreases along the length of the first and second root portions 204, 208, and terminates before the intersection of the first and second root portions 204, 208 with the first and second extension portions 202, 206.
In some embodiments, the first and second extension portions 202, 206 can comprise a circular cross-section and can extend parallel to the aperture axis 110. In some embodiments, the diameter of the first and second extension portions can be the same as a diameter of the connecting member 118. In one such embodiment, for example, the diameter of the first and second extension portions 202, 206 and of the connecting member 118 can be 0.25 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 1.15 inches, 1.25 inches, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, 5 inches, or any other or intermediate diameter. In some embodiments, dimensions of the first and second members 114, 116 including of the first and second extension portions 202, 206 and the first and second roots 204, 208, as well as of the connecting member 118, can be selected in connection with the material of the truss eye 100 to withstand desired loads.
In some embodiments, and as seen in
With reference now to
With reference now to
In some embodiments, and as further depicted in
The wedge 210 can, in some embodiments, include retention recess 406. The retention recess 406 can be sized, shaped, and located on the wedge 210 to allow interaction with the wedge clip 212 to thereby retain the wedge 210 within the base aperture 108 of the truss eye 100. In the embodiment depicted in
With respect now to
As further depicted in
The truss system 606 further includes a threadbar 612 that is inserted into the holes 604 of the walls 602 of the tunnel. The threadbar 612 can be configured for affixation to the walls 602 of the tunnel using any of a variety of known techniques including, for example, via mechanical features on the threadbar 612, via mechanical features associated with the threadbar 612, or via use of adhesive, resin, epoxy, or the like. The threadbar 612 can comprise an elongate member that can include features to allow affixation, either directly or indirectly to the truss eye 100. In some embodiments, these features can comprise one or several threads. As seen in
As depicted in
The anchor nut 614 has a first end 618 (labeled in
With reference now to
In some embodiments, the truss system 606 can further include bearing plate 616. The bearing plate 616 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. In some embodiments, the bearing plate 616 can be any available bearing plate having desired material and mechanical properties. The bearing plate 616 can include a mating surface 616-A configured to mate and apply a force to an object such as, for example, the wall 602 of the tunnel, and an affixation surface 616-B configured to mate with a portion of the anchor nut 614 to secure the position of the bearing plate 616 relative to the threadbar 612. As seen, the threadbar 612 can extend through a portion of the bearing plate 616 such as, for example, through an aperture in the bearing plate 616. In the embodiments depicted in
In the embodiments depicted in
As further seen in
With reference now to
After the holes 604 have been created in the walls 602 of the tunnel, the process proceeds as indicated in
The process proceeds as indicated in
In one embodiment, for example, the anchor nut 614 is attached to, and specifically is threaded on to the threadbar 612, and the threadbar 612 is passed through the eye 120 of the truss eye 100. The threadbar 612 is then inserted into the hole 604 in the wall 602 of the tunnel, which hole 604 can include resin or resin packets which can be, in some embodiments, mixed or unmixed resin or resin packets. In some embodiments, a bar spinner can be used to engage the threadbar 612 and to rotate the threadbar 612 to thereby mix the resin and/or resin packets. After the resin and/or resin packets have been mixed, the threadbar 612, and thereby also the attached anchor nut 614 and truss eye 100 can be held in a desired position until the resin hardens. In one embodiment, for example, the threadbar 612 can be held in the hole 604 such that a portion of the truss eye 100 engages a portion of the wall 602 of the tunnel.
In one embodiments for example, the first anchor nut 614-A is attached to, and specifically is threaded onto the threadbar 612 and the threadbar 612 is passed through a portion of the bearing plate 616 such as, for example, the aperture of the bearing plate 616. The threadbar is then inserted into the hole 604 in the wall 602 of the tunnel, which hole 604 can include resin or resin packets which can be, in some embodiments, mixed or unmixed resin or resin packets. In some embodiments, a bar spinner can be used to engage the threadbar 612 and to rotate the threadbar 612 to thereby mix the resin and/or resin packets. After the resin and/or resin packets have been mixed, the threadbar 612, and thereby also the attached anchor nut 614 and bearing plate 616 can be held in a desired position until the resin hardens. In one embodiment, for example, the threadbar 612 can be held in the hole 604 such that a portion of the bearing plate 616, and specifically the mating surface 616-A, engages a portion of the wall 602 of the tunnel. In such an embodiment, the threadbar 612 can be additionally passed through the eye 120 of the truss eye 100 either before or after the threadbar 612 is inserted into, and affixed within the hole 604 in the wall 602 of the tunnel. In some such embodiments, after the threadbar has been passed through the eye 120 of the truss eye 100, the second anchor nut 614-B can be positioned in the second position on the threadbar 612.
After the threadbar 612 has been connected to the truss eye 100, the process proceeds as indicated in
In some embodiments, the tie rod 608 can be tensioned by a combination of removing the slack in the tie rod 608 and thereby bringing the tie rod 608 to a first tension and then adjusting the tension in the tie rod 608 to a second tension. In such an embodiment, after the tension in the tie rod 608 has reached the first tension, the second anchor nut 614-B can be moved from the second position to the third position. This movement can, when the threadbar 612 angles away from the tie rod 608 as depicted in
In some embodiments, additional portions of the walls 602 can be selected for placement of additional truss systems 606, and the above outlined steps can be repeated.
A number of variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can also be used. Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known components may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.
Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted in
The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/924,598, filed Jan. 7, 2014, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entireties and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61924598 | Jan 2014 | US |
