Abstract: Disclosed is a mine roof and rib support system generally including a square bearing plate. A through hole is positioned near a center portion of the square bearing plate. A peripheral section at least partially circumscribes the bearing plate. In between the through hole and the peripheral section is a rib member area. The rib member area may include two rib members with a convex cross-section connected by a substantially linear surface member disposed between the two rib members, two or more concave ribs with a substantially linear surface member disposed between the two rib members, or two substantially linear surfaces connected by a convex rib member. A safety edge surrounds the square bearing plate. The safety edge may be a rolled edge, a looped edge, a folded edge, or another comparable edge. Also disclosed is a method for making the mine roof and rib support system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mine roof and rib support system generally including a square bearing plate. A through hole is positioned near a center portion of the square bearing plate. A peripheral section at least partially circumscribes the bearing plate. In between the through hole and the peripheral section is a rib member area. The rib member area may include two rib members with a convex cross-section connected by a substantially linear surface member disposed between the two rib members, two or more concave ribs with a substantially linear surface member disposed between the two rib members, or two substantially linear surfaces connected by a convex rib member. A safety edge surrounds the square bearing plate. The safety edge may be a rolled edge, a looped edge, a folded edge, or another comparable edge. Also disclosed is a method for making the mine roof and rib support system.

Abstract: A mine roof bolt includes a flexible multi-strand cable having a first and second end with a drive head formed on the first head, the drive head having a plurality of driving faces on an exterior surface thereof. A load bearing barrel and wedge assembly is attached to the cable, with a separate drive head attached to the cable, wherein the separate drive head is utilized substantially for rotating the cable.

Abstract: A plurality of designs for mine roof bolts is disclosed. Each mine roof bolt includes a flexible multi-strand cable having a first and second end with a drive head formed on the first end, the drive head having a plurality of driving faces on an exterior surface thereof. The drive head may be formed integrally with the multi-strand cable in one embodiment of the present invention. An alternative embodiment of the present invention forms a drive head as a separate member. With a separate drive head, a barrel and wedge assembly may be attached to the cable wherein the drive head is utilized substantially for rotating the cable.

Abstract: A plurality of designs for mine roof bolts is disclosed. Each mine roof bolt includes a flexible multi-strand cable having a first and second end with a drivehead formed on the first end, the drivehead having a plurality of driving faces on an exterior surface thereof. The drivehead is a separate member. A barrel and wedge assembly is attached to the cable wherein the drivehead is utilized substantially for rotating the cable.

Abstract: A mine roof bearing plate having a planar member having a topside, an underside and an elastically deformable domed portion extended downwardly from the underside. A central section at the outer extremity of the domed section defines a bolt hole. The outer extremity of the domed portion includes a downwardly facing beveled annular bearing surface which mates with a spherical washer. A method of tensioning a cable bolt including the steps of placing a spherical washer over a first end of a cable bolt having a bolt head on the other end, placing the inventive mine roof bearing plate over the end of the cable bolt, inserting the cable bolt into a mine roof bolt hole, exerting pressure on the bolt head whereby the bolt head presses on the spherical washer and elastically deforms the domed portion, installing the cable bolt in the bolt hole and releasing pressure from the other end of the cable bolt whereby the domed portion substantially reforms to its original configuration to exert tension of the cable bolt.

Abstract: A pair of truss brackets are secured to the roof of an underground passage adjacent to opposing ribs of the passage. The truss brackets each include a roof engaging surface and a truss supporting arm member extending from the roof engaging surface. A pair of U-bolts are supported by the arm members of the truss brackets. Each arm member extends horizontally from the truss bracket to an enlarged end portion of the arm member. The U-bolt is horizontally movable in a vertically hanging position on the arm member and is restrained by the enlarged end portion from disengagement from the arm member. The U-bolts are pivoted on the truss brackets to a horizontal position for connection to truss members which are connected to each other and tensioned to apply an uplifting force to the roof. As the truss members are connected and tensioned, the U-bolts are retained for a range of horizontal movement on the arm members to facilitate adjustments in the position of the U-bolts on the truss brackets.

Abstract: An elongated channel beam for supporting the surface of an underground rock formation includes a base portion with a bearing surface for contacting the rock strata and an opposite surface having a longitudinally extending central rib and flanged edges for resisting deflection and bending of the channel beam under the load of the rock strata. A plurality of openings spaced a preselected distance apart extend through the central rib. A bearing plate is positioned in overlying abutting relation with each opening in the channel beam. The bearing plate includes embossed areas and longitudinally flanged edges that overlie in abutting relation the central rib and flanged edges of the channel beam. The bearing plate is restrained from longitudinal and lateral movement on the channel beam. Anchor bolts extend through the aligned openings in the bearing plate and channel beam into bore holes drilled in the rock formation.

Abstract: A pair of truss brackets are secured to the roof of an underground passage adjacent to opposing ribs of the passage. The truss brackets each include a roof engaging surface and a truss supporting arm member extending from the roof engaging surface. A pair of U-bolts are supported by the arm members of the truss brackets. Each arm member extends horizontally from the truss bracket to an enlarged end portion of the arm member. The U-bolt is horizontally movable in a vertically hanging position on the arm member and is restrained by the enlarged end portion from disengagement from the arm member. The U-bolts are pivoted on the truss brackets to a horizontal position for connection to truss members which are connected to each other and tensioned to apply an uplifting force to the roof. As the truss members are connected and tensioned, the U-bolts are retained for a range of horizontal movement on the arm members to facilitate adjustments in the position of the U-bolts on the truss brackets.

Abstract: An elongated channel member for supporting the surface of an underground rock formation includes a base portion with a bearing surface for contacting the rock strata and an opposite surface having a longitudinally extending central rib and flanged edges for resisting deflection and bending of the channel member under the load of the rock strata. A plurality of openings spaced a preselected distance apart extend through the central rib. A bearing plate is positioned in overlying abutting relation with each opening in the channel member. The bearing plate includes embossed areas and longitudinally flanged edges that are complementary in shape with the central rib and flanges on the channel to securely engage the bearing plate on the channel member. Thus, the bearing plate engages the channel member to restrain longitudinal and lateral movement of the bearing plate on the channel member and stiffen the channel member to resist bending.

Abstract: A roof anchor for supporting an underground mine roof or the like is provided. The roof anchor has an elongated shaft with a head formed at one end. The head supports a washer and a roof supporting plate that surrounds the mouth of a blind bore formed upwardly into the roof. A resin capsule is positioned within the blind bore above the roof anchor. The shaft of the roof anchor has an adjustably securable annular washer surrounding the shaft. The annular washer is fixed in a position so that when the resin capsule is ruptured to release the resin to bind the roof anchor within the bore hole, the resin completely fills the bore hole from the blind end of the bore to the rigid annular washer fixed to the shaft of the roof anchor.

Abstract: The mine roof anchor includes a roof bolt assembly with an expansion shell assembly secured at the end of the bolt inserted into the bore hole. The expansion shell assembly includes a friction reducing means to increase the horizontal force on the leaves and the bolt assembly includes an adjustable resin retaining washer to compress the resin in the bore hole.

Abstract: A roof anchor for supporting an underground mine roof or the like is provided. The roof anchor has an elongated shaft with a head formed at one end. The head supports a washer and a roof supporting plate that surrounds the mouth of a blind bore formed upwardly into the roof. A resin capsule is positioned within the blind bore above the roof anchor. The shaft of the roof anchor has an adjustably securable annular washer surrounding the shaft. The annular washer is fixed in a position so that when the resin capsule is ruptured to release the resin to blind the roof anchor within the bore hole, the resin completely fills the bore hole from the blind end of the bore to the rigid annular washer fixed to the shaft of the roof anchor.

Abstract: An elongated channel member for supporting the surface of an underground rock formation includes a base portion with a bearing surface for contacting the rock strata and an opposite surface having a longitudinally extending central rib and flanged edges for resisting deflection and bending of the channel member under the load of the rock strata. A plurality of openings spaced a preselected distance apart extend through the central rib. A bearing plate is positioned in overlying abutting relation with each opening in the channel member. The bearing plate includes embossed areas and longitudinally flanged edges that are complementary in shape with the central rib and flanges on the channel to securely engage the bearing plate on the channel member. Thus, the bearing plate engages the channel member to restrain longitudinal and lateral movement of the bearing plate on the channel member and stiffen the channel member to resist bending.