AU2003248009B2 - A Support Device For a Rib - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 635680 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Derrek William Batty of Applicants: 3 Robert Hoddle Grove Mudgee New South Wales 2850 Australia Richard Durman Hooper 2 Robert Hoddle Grove Mudgee New South Wales 2850 Australia Actual Inventor(s): Derrek William Batty Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A Support Device For a Rib ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) [32] Application Date AU 2002951470 18 Sep 2002 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- A Support Device for a Rib Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support device for a rib (wall) between a floor 5 and a roof. The present invention has been developed primarily for use in supporting ribs either side of a mining roadway. Background of the Invention 10 Underground roadways of different widths are driven into geological seams dependent on the characteristics of the seam itself and various mining regulations. Due to horizontal and vertical pressures, strata conditions, depth of seam, geological anomalies and other circumstances these roadways are prone to varying degrees of failure. Known methods of supporting the roadway ribs to prevent failure include timber, is steel or plastic mesh pinned with rib bolts, and various concrete products. These can be installed prior to or after mining activity to assist with support and stabilisation. A disadvantage with these rib supports is that they cause lost production time during installation. A further disadvantage is that these devices can not be installed until a section of roadway is completed, and can thus expose mine workers to unsupported, 20 potentially hazardous ribs for extended periods of time. Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a 25 useful alternative to existing rib supports. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a support device for use between a floor, a rib and a roof when the rib is disposed between the floor and roof and is 30 substantially perpendicular to each of the floor and roof, said support device comprising: an expander; and a pair of resilient members each having a proximal end adapted for connection to the expander and a distal end curved away from the expander, wherein said expander is linearly expandable to drive the distal ends of said pair 35 of resilient members away from each other in opposed directions such that, upon linear 2 expansion of the expander with the support device disposed between the floor, rib and roof, the expander can drive the distal ends of said pair of resilient members into engagement with the floor and the roof so that the resilient members bow and cause a portion of said support device to be driven into abutment against the rib in a direction that 5 is substantially transverse to the opposed directions. The expander preferably comprises an inner member that slides within an outer member. The inner member is preferably straight. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a system comprising: (a) the support device of the first aspect, and (b) a rib, a floor and a roof of a mining roadway, io the rib being disposed between the floor and roof and being substantially perpendicular to the floor and roof, the support device being disposed between the floor, the rib and the roof. The expander preferably comprises expansion means for selective linear movement of the expander between an expanded configuration which permits tensioning 15 of the support device against the rib and an unexpanded configuration which inhibits the tensioning. The distal ends of the resilient members preferably have sawtooth profiles. The resilient members are preferably made from pre-curved spring steel. The support device preferably comprises locking means for selectively locking 20 the expander in either the expanded or unexpanded configuration. In one form, the locking means is fixed to the support device. In another form, the locking means is detachable from the support device. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a support device according to the present invention, in a disengaged position; Figure 2 is a side view of the support device shown in Figure 1 in an engaged 30 position; and Figure 3 is a partial front view of the device shown in Figure 2.

3 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figures 1, 2 and 3 show an embodiment of a support device, generally indicated by the reference numeral 8, according to the invention. The device 8 includes an expansion means 10 that includes an inner square hollow section (SHS) steel member 20 5 that slides within an outer SHS steel member 22. The expansion means 10 also includes a jacking arrangement welded to the member 22, that includes a jacking lever 24, and a ratchet device 26 welded to the first member 20. The device 8 also includes a pair of curved resilient members 12a, 12b formed from pre-curved spring steel. Both of the members 12a and 12b are welded to the 10 members 20 and 22 respectively at their proximal ends 27a and 27b. The resilient members 12a and 12b are oppositely extending and have distal ends 28a, 28b curved away from the expansion means 10. The distal ends 28a, 28b (as best seen in Figure 3) terminate with a sawtooth profile. The operation of the device 8 will now be described. In use, the support device 8 is is positioned such that the distal ends 28a, 28b of each of the resilient members 12a, 12b are placed near the floor 18 and roof 16 respectively of an underground roadway and close to the rib 14. The device 8 is oriented such that the distal ends 28a, 28b of the resilient members 12a, 12b curve away from the rib 14. The jacking lever 24 is then manually operated such that a pawl (not shown) 20 engages with the ratchet device 26 to effect relative expanding movement between the members 20 and 22. This movement drives the resilient members 12a, 12b away from each other, in the directions indicated by vertical arrows 30 in Figure 1, and drives the ends 28a and 28b of the resilient members 12a and 12b into engagement with the floor 18 and roof 16 respectively, as shown in Figure 2. The sawtooth profile of the members 25 distal ends 28a and 28b assists them in securely engaging with the roof 16 and floor 18. Further operation of the jacking lever 24 results in the members 12a, 12b, bowing under tension towards the rib 14 which drives a portion of the device 8 adjacent the expansion means 10 laterally, in the direction of horizontal arrow 32 in Figure 1, into abutment against the rib 14. As the device 8 is forced into abutment against the rib 14, it 30 thereby resists movement of the rib 14 in the opposite direction to the arrow 32 and advantageously provides support against failure of the rib 14 in that opposite direction. A number of the devices 8 would typically be placed spaced apart along a section of roadway needing support. As described above, an advantage of the device 8 is it can be quickly and easily 35 locked into a position supporting of the rib 14.

3a Another advantage of the device 8 is it can be also used with other rib support systems (ie. steel or plastic mesh) interposed between the device 8 and the rib 14 and offer support with or without the installation of rib bolts. Another advantage of the device 8 is that if any lateral movement of the rib 14 5 occurs during use, the distal ends of the resilient members 12a, 12b are forced more strongly into the floor 18 and roof 16 which assists in retaining the device 8 in position.

4 A further advantage of support device 8 is that it can be easily and quickly retracted from the rib 14 by releasing the ratchet device 26 for re-use at a later stage in the mining cycle or, alternatively, left as a permanent support. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the expansion means 10 can 5 be activated to expand by other mechanical components (such as screws), hydraulically (such as hydraulic cylinders) or pneumatically (such as, pneumatic cylinders). In another embodiment (not shown), the expansion means 10 can be disengaged from the remainder of the support device 8, after the resilient members 12a and 12b have been driven into engagement with the roof 16 and floor 18. As an example, each member 10 20 and 22 can include one or more holes spaced along it's length. A pin or other such fastener can be inserted through two corresponding holes (when aligned) to lock the support device 8 in an engaged/abutted position. This permits a single expansion means 10 to be disengaged and utilised during the expansion and placement of multiple rib support devices 8. 15 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (10)

1. A support device for use between a floor, a rib and a roof when the rib is disposed between the floor and roof and is substantially perpendicular to each of the 5 floor and roof, said support device comprising: an expander; and a pair of resilient members each having a proximal end adapted for connection to the expander and a distal end curved away from the expander, wherein said expander is linearly expandable to drive the distal ends of said pair 1o of resilient members away from each other in opposed directions such that, upon linear expansion of the expander with the support device disposed between the floor, rib and roof, the expander can drive the distal ends of said pair of resilient members into engagement with the floor and the roof so that the resilient members bow and cause a portion of said support device to be driven into abutment against the rib in a direction that is is substantially transverse to the opposed directions.

2. The support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expander comprises an inner member that slides within an outer member. 20

3. The support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner member is straight.

4. A system comprising: (a) the support device of claim 1, and (b) a rib, a floor and a roof of a mining roadway, the rib being disposed between the floor and roof 25 and being substantially perpendicular to the floor and roof, the support device being disposed between the floor, the rib and the roof.

5. The support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expander comprises expansion means for selective linear movement of the expander between an 30 expanded configuration which permits tensioning of the support device against the rib and an unexpanded configuration which inhibits the tensioning.

6. The support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal ends of the resilient members have sawtooth profiles. 35 6

7. The support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient members are made from pre-curved spring steel.

8. The support device as claimed in claim 5, comprising locking means for 5 selectively locking the expander in either the expanded or unexpanded configuration.

9. The support device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking means is fixed to the support device.

10 10. The support device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking means is detachable from the support device. Dated 4 February, 2009 Derrek William Batty and Richard Durman Hooper 15 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON