DOME MINE ROOF PLATE

Abstract

A roof plate having a planar peripheral portion surrounding a dome. The dome portion defines an opening formed in a central portion therein and a tubular wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mine roof plates generally serve utilitarian functions within a rock or ground support system designed to prevent or slow mining structure deterioration. Mine roof plates desirably last a long time in difficult mining conditions. Attempts to make and use conventional mine roof plates have not been entirely successful, providing an opportunity for the improved mine roof plate disclosed herein. There remains a long-felt need for an optimal mine roof plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mine roof plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of a mine roof plate of FIG. 1 viewed along line A-A.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mine roof plate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of part of the mine roof plate of FIG. 1 viewed along the lines of view B.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is provided a mine roof plate. The mine roof plate includes a generally flat base portion. The mine roof plate includes a dome portion fixed to the base portion. The dome portion defines an opening formed in a central portion therein and a tubular wall in the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/981,570, filed Oct. 22, 2007.

Preliminarily, it should be noted that certain terms used herein, such as for example above, below, upper, lower, left and right, are used to facilitate the description of the invention. Unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion, such terms and other directional terms should be interpreted with reference to the figure(s) under discussion. Such terms are not intended as a limitation on the position in which the invention or components may be used. Indeed, it is contemplated that the components of the invention may be easily positioned in any desired orientation for use. Likewise, numerical terms such as for example “first”, and “second” are not intended as a limitation or to imply a sequence, unless otherwise specified or made apparent by the context of the discussion. The term “operatively connected” is understood to include a linking together of the portions under consideration and may include a physical engagement and/or a functional or operational connection.

The field of this invention pertains to mine roof plates. Mine roof plates are used in mines, tunnels, rock cuts, and other excavations, often with roof bolts or friction rock stabilizers to bind together and/or support rock strata. These components may be employed to stabilize rock formations and mining structures and desirably inhibit mine structural collapse.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 a dome mine roof plate, indicated generally at 20, according to an embodiment of the invention. Measurements discussed herein are in inches. Any suitable size or size variations may be employed. For purposes of brevity and clarity, the dome mine roof plate may be referred to as a roof plate 20. The illustrated roof plate 20 is four-sided, and has a first, outer peripheral portion 24 which has an engaging surface 28. The engaging surface 28 may be adapted to engage the earth, a part of a mining structure (such as a roof), or any other suitable geological structure. While the overall dimension of the illustrated generally square roof plate 20 is shown as six inches plus or minus ten percent, formation of the central portion 32 may cause additional variation in the overall dimension—such as for example, six inches plus or minus twenty percent. The overall dimension of the roof plate 20 may be eight inches by eight inches or six inches by sixteen inches or any other suitable dimensions.

The peripheral portion 24 may be generally planar. The illustrated roof plate 20 includes a second, generally central portion 32 which defines an opening 36 therein. The opening 36 may be located in the center of the dome. The illustrated central portion 32 may be generally formed as a dome extending inwardly from the peripheral portion 24. The term “dome” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, any structure or functionality which defines or creates a generally upward fold whose sides dip generally uniformly in substantially all directions.

The illustrated opening 36 may be bounded by a generally in-turned portion which defines a generally tubular wall 40. The illustrated tubular wall 40 portion defines a ring-like structure. The illustrated tubular wall 40 portion is an in-turned portion of the dome. For the embodiment shown, the tubular wall 40 is shown generally perpendicular to the generally planar peripheral portion 24 of the roof plate 20. The orientation of the tubular wall 40 to the peripheral portion 24 is thus about ninety degrees, though may be any suitable angle.

The illustrated opening 36 may include an apex 44 on the rim 52 of the opening 36. The term “apex” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, any structure or functionality which generally defines or includes a tip, point, or peak. The apex 44 may be generally rounded or include an angle, as desired. The term “angle” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, any structure or functionality which defines or creates a corner. The corner may constitute a projecting part or an enclosed or partially enclosed space. The corner may be generally straight, generally curved or arced—or partially straight or curved. The term “angle” may also include the space between two lines or surfaces at or near the point at which they touch or intersect. The tubular wall 40 may include a terminus 48, as shown. The term “terminus” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, any structure or functionality which is the end or last point of an extremity.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, the distance D1 from the apex 44 to the engaging surface 28 as shown may be within the range of from about 0.750 inches to about 1.125 inches, but it doesn't have to be. The distance D2 from the apex 44 to the terminus 48 of the tubular wall 40 as shown may be within the range of from about 0.250 inches to about 0.625 inches, but it doesn't have to be. The ratio of the distance D1 to the distance D2 may be within the range of from about 1 to about 5.0, or any suitable ratio or range as desired.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, the distance D3 across the opening 36 may be within the range of from about 0.625 inches to about 1.125 inches, but it doesn't have to be. If the opening 36 is round, the distance D3 may be the diameter of the opening D3. The ratio of the distance D3 to the distance D2 may be within the range of from about 1.8 to about 6.5, or any suitable ratio or range as desired. The ratio of the distance D3 to the distance D1 may be within the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.5, or any suitable ratio or range as desired.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, the distance D4 shown is the distance from the terminus 48 of the tubular wall 40 to the shoulder 60 of the internal surface 64 of the central portion 32 of the roof plate 20. The inner internal surface 64 of the central portion 32 of the roof plate 20 may generally transition into the engaging surface 28 of the peripheral portion 24 of the roof plate 20. The term “shoulder” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, an area adjacent to or along the edge of a higher, or more prominent part. The term “shoulder” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to the part of a hill or mountain near the top—or a rounded or sloping part where the neck joins the body of any object or portion thereof.

The distance D4 shown in FIG. 2 may be within the range of from about 125 inches to about 0.425 inches, but it doesn't have to be. The ratio of the distance D3 to the distance D4 may be within the range of from about 2.6 to about 13, or any suitable ratio or range as desired.

The in-turned portion of the roof plate 20, which may form the tubular wall 40, may be generally parallel, or concentric, with a central axis 56 of the opening 36, as shown. The term “axis” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, a generally straight line about which a body or a geometric figure rotates or may be supposed to rotate. The “axis” may be a generally straight line with respect to which a body, component, or figure may be generally symmetrical. The “axis” may be a reference line of a coordinate system. The central axis 56 is generally perpendicular to the peripheral portion 24 of the roof plate 20. The central axis 56 is shown traversing a central portion of the opening 36. If the opening 36 is round, the central axis 56 may goes through about the center of the opening 36.

The generally planar peripheral portion 24 of the roof plate 20 has the thickness D6, as shown. The generally in-turned portion which defines the generally tubular wall 40 has the thickness D5, as shown. The thickness D5 of the generally tubular wall 40 may be within the range of from about seventh percent to about eighty percent of the thickness D6 of the peripheral portion 24 of the roof plate 20. Without wishing to be bound by theory or any particular way of preparing the roof plate 20, the tubular wall 40 may be relatively thinner due to the tubular wall 40 being protruded through the opening 36 during production by stamping. The roof plate 20 may be manufactured by stamping or by casting or by any suitable method or process and with any suitable materials.

A coating may be applied to one or more portions of the roof plate 20 by any suitable process and any suitable composition. The term “coating” as used in this application may be understood to include, but is not limited to, any structure or functionality which defines or creates a finishing, protecting, or enclosing layer. One such coating process, among others, may include an autophoretic auto-deposition process believed to be used in commerce by the Henkel Corporation and Steelcote, Inc.

The definitions provided herein are provided solely to facilitate an understanding of the invention—not to limit the invention. The invention may be made from any suitable material and by any suitable method. The invention may be adapted to fit a wide variety of uses. It will be appreciated that the components of the invention may be easily modified as needed to accommodate varying sizes and shapes.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the accompanying description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The disclosure may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including equivalent constructions. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract and disclosure are neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor are they intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A roof plate comprising:

a generally planar peripheral portion having an engaging surface adapted to engage a mining structure,

a dome surrounded by the peripheral portion, the dome defining a generally round opening therein, the opening defining a generally in-turned portion which defines a generally tubular wall and the dome having an apex on a rim of the opening;

wherein a ratio of a distance across the rim to a distance from the engaging surface to the apex of the dome is within the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.5.

2. The roof plate of claim 1 further comprising a shoulder on an inner surface of the dome.

3. The roof plate of claim 2 wherein the generally tubular wall and the generally planar peripheral portion are generally perpendicular to each other.

4. The roof plate of claim 1 wherein the rim includes a generally rounded apex.

5. The roof plate of claim 4 wherein the generally tubular wall has a thickness and the generally planar peripheral portion has a thickness and the thickness of the generally tubular wall is within the range of from about seventy percent to about eighty percent of the thickness of the generally planar peripheral portion.

6. The roof plate of claim 1 wherein the opening is located in about the center of the dome.

7. The roof plate of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the distance across the rim to the distance from the apex on the rim of the opening to a terminus of the tubular wall is within the range of from about 1.8 to about 6.5

8. The roof plate of claim 7 wherein the generally tubular wall has a thickness and the generally planar peripheral portion has a thickness and the thickness of the generally tubular wall is within the range of from about seventy percent to about eighty percent of the thickness of the generally planar peripheral portion.

9. The roof plate of claim 7 wherein the roof plate is generally square.

10. A roof plate comprising:

a generally planar peripheral portion having an engaging surface adapted to engage a mining structure,

a dome surrounded by the peripheral portion, the dome defining a generally round opening therein, the opening defining a generally in-turned portion which defines a generally tubular wall and the dome having an apex on a rim of the opening;

wherein the ratio of the distance across the rim to the distance from the apex on the rim of the opening to a terminus of the tubular wall is within the range of from about 1.8 to about 6.5.

11. The roof plate of claim 10 further comprising a shoulder on an inner surface of the dome.

12. The roof plate of claim 12 wherein the generally tubular wall and generally planar peripheral portion are generally perpendicular.

13. The roof plate of claim 10 wherein the rim includes a generally rounded apex.

14. The roof plate of claim 10 wherein the generally tubular wall has a thickness and the generally planar peripheral portion has a thickness and the thickness of the generally tubular wall is within the range of from about seventy percent to about eighty percent of the thickness of the generally planar peripheral portion.

15. A roof plate comprising:

a generally planar peripheral portion having an engaging surface adapted to engage a mining structure,

a dome surrounded by the peripheral portion, the dome defining a generally round opening therein, the opening defining a generally in-turned portion which defines a generally tubular wall and the dome having an apex on a rim of the opening;

wherein the ratio of the distance across the rim to the distance from a shoulder on an inner surface of the dome to a terminus of the tubular wall is within the range of from about 2.6 to about 13.

16. The roof plate of claim 15 wherein the generally tubular wall and generally planar peripheral portion are generally perpendicular.

17. The roof plate of claim 15 wherein the rim includes a generally rounded apex.

18. The roof plate of claim 15 wherein the generally tubular wall has a thickness and the generally planar peripheral portion has a thickness and the thickness of the generally tubular wall is within the range of from about seventy percent to about eighty percent of the thickness of the generally planar peripheral portion.

19. The roof plate of claim 15 wherein the opening is located in about the center of the dome.

20. The roof plate of claim 19 wherein the roof plate is generally square.