ROOF SUPPORT SHEET HANDLING FOR UNDERGROUND MINES
Systems for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof. One system includes a support frame, a lifting system, and a feeding system. The support frame holds a plurality of roof support sheets. The lifting system lifts at least one of the sheets from the support frame. The feeding system obtains the at least one sheet from the lifting system and feeds the at least one sheet toward an installation apparatus for installation on the mine roof. The lifting system includes a shoe and at least one arm for moving the shoe to engage and move the at least one sheet. The feeding system includes a drive assembly and a support. The drive assembly engages and moves the at least one sheet toward the installation apparatus, and the support supports the at least one sheet moved by the drive assembly.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/399,495, filed Feb. 17, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/444,599 filed Feb. 18, 2011, the entire contents of which are both hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDEmbodiments of the invention relate to mesh handling systems for underground mines and bolting machines.
SUMMARYLarge roof support sheets (e.g., steel mesh sheets) are commonly bolted to the overhead surfaces of a mined tunnel (hereinafter referred to as “roofs”) to increase personnel safety. The sheets, however, are unwieldy, which makes them difficult to move and position for bolting.
Therefore, embodiments of the invention provide systems for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof. One system includes a support frame, a lifting system, and a feeding system. The support frame holds a plurality of roof support sheets to be installed on a mine roof. The lifting system lifts at least one of the plurality of roof support sheets from the support frame. The feeding system obtains the at least one of the plurality of roof support sheets from the lifting system and feeding the at least one of the plurality of roof support sheets toward an installation apparatus for installation on the mine roof
Another embodiment of the invention provides a lifting system for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof. The lifting system includes a shoe and at least one arm. The shoe engages a roof support sheet contained in a support frame. The at least one arm moves the shoe to engage the roof support sheet and, after the shoe is engaged with the roof support sheet, moves the roof support sheet toward an installation apparatus for installing the roof support sheet on the roof mine.
Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a feeding system for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof. The feeding system includes a drive assembly and a support. The drive assembly engages a roof support sheet and moves the roof support sheet toward an installation apparatus, and the support supports the roof support sheet moved by the drive assembly.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.
Also, although directional references, such as upper, lower, downward, upward, rearward, bottom, front, rear, etc., may be made herein in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance, significance, or ordering unless otherwise indicated.
As described above, handling large roof support sheets in an underground mine can be a difficult process and, if performed incorrectly, can create safety concerns. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for lifting and conveying roof support sheets, such that they can be positioned for installation.
Positioned in front of the second end 12b of the support frame 12 is installation apparatus 15 for positioning a sheet 13 on the mine roof and bolting the sheet 13 to the roof. The installation apparatus 15 can include a positioning frame or platform 16. The positioning frame 16 can have a “T-shape” and can hold one or more sheets 13 for installation on a mine roof. In particular, in some embodiments, the positioning frame 16 holds one sheet 13 at a time length-wise across the upper part of the “T-shape” (e.g., perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine 10 in a transverse position), and the positioning frame 16 (or portions thereof) raises and lowers (e.g., using one or more hydraulic systems) the sheet 13 to position the sheet 13 along the mine roof. In some embodiments, the positioning frame 16 can also move forward and backward (e.g., parallel to the direction of travel of the machine 10) to properly position a sheet 13 along the mine roof. In some embodiments, the positioning frame 16 lifts and positions a new sheet 13 such that an edge of the new sheet 13 overlaps with the end of the previously-bolted sheet 13. As shown in
In operation, a number of sheets 13 (or a pod 14) are stacked on the support frame 12. As shown in
As illustrated in
The end 33b of the arm 32 is coupled to the end 35a of the arm 34. As shown in
A pick-up shoe 50 is coupled to the end 35b of the arm 34.
As described above, the hydraulic systems 38 can be used to position the shoe 50 over the top sheet 13 (e.g., horizontally and vertically) in the support frame 12 or pod 14 and move the shoe 50 to engage the tooth 52 with the top sheet 13. When the tooth 52 is engaged with the wire 54 of the sheet 13, the hydraulic systems 38 can then be used to lift the sheet 13 and feed the sheet 13 to the feeding system 26. In addition, when the lifting system 24 is not being used, the hydraulic systems 38 can be used to position the lifting system 24 to minimize the clearance height of the machine 10 and make the machine 10 more compact.
Optionally, in some embodiments, the support frame 12 can also be moved to position a sheet 13 under the shoe 50. For example,
Alternatively, the lifting system 24 can include a gripper arrangement to pick up a sheet 13 from the support frame 12 and move the sheet 13 toward the feeding system 26. For example,
It should be understood that other configurations and constructions can be used to remove a sheet 13 from the support frame 12 and move the sheet 13 toward the feeding system 26. In particular, various combinations of moving the arms 32 and 34, the stack of sheets 13, and the support frame 12 can be used to remove a sheet 13. For example, in some embodiments, the support frame 12 (or the pod 14) can be moved to position a sheet 13 horizontally and/or vertically with respect to the lifting system 24. Also, various shapes and configurations of the shoes 50 and 72, the tooth 52, and the jaws 74 can be used to engage with a particular configuration of a sheet 13.
As described above, after the lifting system 24 engages a sheet 13, the lifting system 24 feeds the sheet 13 toward the installation apparatus 15 (e.g., the positioning frame 16). Also, in some embodiments, before reaching the installation apparatus 15, the feeding system 26 is used to convey the sheets 13 lifted by the lifting system 24. The feeding system 26 can include a drive assembly 75 and a support 76. As described below in more detail, the drive assembly 75 engages a sheet 13 (e.g., lifted by the lifting system 24) and moves the sheet 13 toward the installation apparatus 15 (e.g., the positioning frame 16). The support 76 can include a table, frame, or platform that supports the sheet 13 as the sheet is moved by the drive assembly 75 (e.g., before, during, and/or after the sheet 13 is conveyed by the drive assembly 75). Also, in some embodiments, the support 76 can be raised and lowered to disengage the sheet 13 from the drive assembly 75 after the drive assembly 75 has moved the sheet 13 and position the sheet 13 for installation.
It should be understood that although a sprocket 84 with nine teeth 85 is illustrated in
As noted above, the sprocket(s) 84 included in the sprocket assembly 82 can be driven or rotated by a drive system 86. As also noted above, a hydraulic actuator can be installed that raises and lowers the sprocket(s) 84 (or the entire assembly 82) to engage a sheet 13 with or disengage a sheet 13 from the sprocket(s) 84. For example, an actuator can raise the sprocket(s) 84 when the lifting system 24 feeds a sheet 13 to the feeding system 26 and can lower the sprocket(s) 84 to disengage the sprocket(s) 84 from the sheet 13 when the sheet 13 reaches the table 80 so that operators can position the sheet 13 for installation.
As described above, the table 80 supports a sheet 13 feed by the sprocket assembly 82 so that operators can move the sheet 13 into position for installation (e.g., rotated and placed on the positioning frame 16). As shown in
The ability to move the sprocket(s) 84 and the table 80 allows the feeding system 26 to be positioned in various positions. For example, as shown in
It should be understood that other configurations and constructions of the drive assembly 75 and the support 76 can be used to grab a sheet 13 from the lifting system 24 and convey the sheet 13 forward where operators can manipulate the sheet 13. For example, as illustrated in
Similarly, as illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the lifting system 24 and/or the feeding system 26 can also rotate a sheet 13 so that the sheet 13 can be positioned on the positioning frame 16. Therefore, rather than requiring that one or more operator rotate the sheet after being handled by the lifting system 24 and the feeding system 26, the sheet 13 can be rotated by the lifting system 24, the feeding system 26, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, in general, the lifting system 24 and/or the feeding system 26 can be configured to rotate a sheet to any desired position based on the location and configuration of operators, the installation apparatus 15, the mine roof, or the machine 10.
Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide robust and efficient methods and systems for lifting and conveying roof support sheets to be installed in a mine. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A lifting system for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof, the lifting system comprising:
- a shoe for engaging a roof support sheet contained in a support frame; and
- at least one arm for moving the shoe to engage the roof support sheet and, after the shoe is engaged with the roof support sheet, for moving the roof support sheet toward an installation apparatus for installing the roof support sheet on the roof mine.
2. The lifting system of claim 1, wherein the roof support sheet includes a steel mesh sheet.
3. The lifting system of claim 1, wherein the shoe includes at least one tooth for engaging the roof support sheet.
4. The lifting system of claim 1, wherein the shoe includes a plurality of pivoting jaws for engaging the roof support sheet.
5. The lifting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm includes a first arm for moving the shoe at least one of horizontally, vertically, and laterally.
6. The lifting system of claim 5, wherein the at least one arm includes a second arm coupled to the shoe and positioned approximately perpendicular to the first arm, the second arm pivotable with respect to the first arm.
7. The lifting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one hydraulic system for moving the at least one arm.
8. The lifting system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic system for pushing the roof support sheet contained in the support frame toward the shoe.
9. The lifting system of claim 1, further comprising an end stop in the support frame for preventing a second roof support sheet contained in the support frame from moving when the shoe, engaged with the roof support sheet, is moved by the at least one arm.
10. The lifting system of claim 1, wherein the shoe and the at least one arm are mounted on a mining machine.
11. A feeding system for installing roof support sheets on a mine roof, the feeding system comprising:
- a drive assembly for engaging a roof support sheet and moving the roof support sheet toward an installation apparatus; and
- a support for supporting the roof support sheet moved by the drive assembly.
12. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the roof support sheet includes a steel mesh sheet.
13. The feeding system of claim 11, further comprising a lift system for raising and lowering the support with respect to the drive assembly.
14. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly includes a sprocket assembly, the sprocket assembly including at least one sprocket that includes a plurality of teeth.
15. The feeding system of claim 14, wherein the drive assembly includes a drive system for driving the sprocket assembly to engage the plurality of the teeth of the at least one sprocket with the roof support sheet and move the roof support sheets toward the installation apparatus.
16. The feeding system of claim 14, wherein the drive assembly includes a hydraulic actuator for raising and lowering the sprocket assembly.
17. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly includes a chain drive, the chain drive including at least one sprocket supporting a conveyor chain with rollers running on a support track.
18. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly includes at least one walking frame, the at least one walking frame including an arm assembly driven by a hydraulic system and having at least one rotatable tooth.
19. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly includes an edge drive, the edge drive including at least one pivotable toothed wheel rotated by a drive system, the at least one pivotable toothed wheel engaging a side edge of the roof support sheet.
20. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly includes an oscillating beam, the oscillating beam including a plurality of teeth rotated along a circular path under the roof support sheet.
21. The feeding system of claim 11, wherein the drive assembly and the frame are mounted on a mining machine.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 3, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2015
Inventors: Peter A. Lugg (Ferny Grove), Richard D. Boyd (Balgownie), Adrian Germyn (Narellan Vale), William D. Eddowes (Bowral), Chris Coates (Samford)
Application Number: 14/559,760
International Classification: E21D 15/14 (20060101); E21D 15/50 (20060101);