AU2005211527A1 - Mine roof support machine - Google Patents

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Mine roof support machine The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: MINE ROOF SUPPORT MACHINE The present invention relates to improvements in machinery of the type used to support roof or ceiling zones underground while enabling the safe installation of support and stabilizing bolts or the like in the temporarily supported ceiling zone.

The present invention has been developed particularly for use in coal mines where the rock coal material surrounding an access tunnel or the like tends often to be unstable with sections being likely to separate and drop into a work zone or are likely to collapse into a work zone containing miners. Coal mines have an added risk in that coal dust, and explosive quantities of methane, under certain conditions, can ignite and in said circumstances explode with catastrophic effects. Thus it is undesirable to use electricity supply, in particular high voltage supply as would be needed for large electric motors, to drive machinery within coal mines. Similarly internal combustion engines driving such machinery is seen to be undesirable although all mines will have a ready supply of compressed air supplied or capable of being readily supplied to work zones in an underground mine. The use of machinery in accordance with the present invention, while being developed for use in coal mines, does have applicability to other applications including other mines where similar problems may exist.

It is generally known to provide machinery capable of being moved readily from locality to locality that is supplied with compressed air to both move the machinery and to operate drilling apparatus to drill holes in the roof zone for installation of support or stabilizing bolts or the like therein. Such machinery does not, however commonly support the roof or ceiling zone of the area in which bolt holes are to be drilled and generally do not provide any significant safety to the operators drilling the holes. Larger, more expensive and less manoeuvrable machines may provide some roof support while enabling bolt holes to be drilled but generally such machinery is electro-hydraulic in nature being operated in part by high voltage electricity and in part by pressurized hydraulic fluids.

The objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus capable of use in underground zones including mines that provides a safe working area for operators drilling bolt holes into a surround area such as a roof or ceiling zone while supporting the roof or ceiling zone against partial or full collapse.

Preferably, the machine will avoid the use of electricity, particularly high voltage electricity, or combustion engines to provide motive or other power to the machine.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a machine including a support structure carried by translation means enabling the machine to be moved translationally and steered to a position of use, a support beam extending transversely across at least part of said machine and laterally beyond at least one side of said machine; extendible support means to raise or lower said support beam whereby, in a raised position, said support beam is engaged against at least a portion of a roof zone to be supported at said position of use; first drive means for driving said translation means; second drive means for driving said extendible support means; and control means for controlling said first and said second drive means. Preferably, pressurized hydraulic fluid is used to power the first and second drive means, with compressed air being used to pressurize the hydraulic fluid.

Other preferred features relating to various aspects of this machine may be as defined in claims 3 to 27 inclusive annexed hereto, the subject matter of these claims being hereby incorporated into the disclosure of this specification by this reference thereto.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view from the front and above of a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig 1 in a position of use; Fig 3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig 1, also in a position of use; and Fig 4 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figs 1 to 3.

Referring to the annexed drawings, a machine 10 is illustrated with a support structure 11 carried on spaced crawler tracks 12, 13, the support structure 11 including a platform (or similar) 14 to allow tools such as rock drills and rock bolting equipment to be carried to a work site. The machine 10 further includes a support beam 15 transversely disposed across the machine with end portions 16 and 17 extending beyond the sides of the machine. The support beam 15 is connected to the support structure 11 by two laterally spaced hydraulic actuators or cylinders 18, 19, each of which are pivotally connected by pivot joints 20, 21 at their upper ends to the support beam with the pivot axes of the pivot joints being parallel to each other and extending in a longitudinal direction of the machine 10. One of the pivot joints 21 is located in a transverse slide guide 22 enabling the support beam to tilt as desired to particular angles complementary to the roof zone to be supported at a desired work site.

Conveniently, each of the pivot joints 20, 21 are arranged in a manner whereby they might be quickly released to allow the support beam 15 to be removed and replaced by a beam of differing configuration, for example longer or wider or perhaps with alternative access opening locations. Other configurations are also possible.

The machine 10 further includes a second pair of spaced hydraulic actuators or cylinders 23, 24, with the cylinder 23 being associated with cylinder 18 in a cooperating first pair, and the cylinder 24 being associated with the cylinder 19 in a cooperating second pair. Each of the cylinders 23, 24 has a ground engaging foot member 25, 26 at its lower end to locate on and press against the ground when activated. Thus, when the machine 10 is positioned at a desired work site and it is desired to temporarily support the roof or ceiling at that work site, pressurized hydraulic fluid is directed to the cylinder pairs 18, 23 and 19, 24 to press the support beam 15 against the desired roof or ceiling zone and to press the foot members 25, 26 against the lower ground region. In this manner any loading is not carried through the machine support means (crawler tracks) but through the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the cylinder pairs 18, 23 and 19, 24.

The crawler tracks 12, 13 are conveniently driven by hydraulic motors and these together with the hydraulic cylinders 18, 19, 23 and 24 are supplied with hydraulic fluid pressurized by pump means from a reservoir for such hydraulic fluid carried on board the machine. The pump means may conveniently be driven by a pneumatic motor supplied with compressed air which is readily available in mine situations. The pump means might be a two stage pressure pump.

Preferably the machine 10 includes a compressed air manifold adapted to receive compressed air from an external source, typically already existing in a mine environment, the compressed air manifold supplying compressed air to drive one or more pneumatic motors on board the machine 10 including the motor driving the hydraulic fluid pump means. Advantageously connection means enabling required tools such as rock drills and rock bolting equipment to be selectably connected to the compressed air from the compressed air manifold are also provided.

Arranged rearwardly of the machine is a rearwardly extending boom 27 pivoted to the machine 10 by a pivot connection 28 for movement about a substantially upright axis. A control arrangement 29 is provided at the rear of the boom 27 to enable an operator, from this position to control movement, including steering, of the machine and operation of the hydraulic cylinders 18, 23 and 19, 24. The machine 10 further includes a drawer bar 30 to enable movement of the machine by a separate drive vehicle when the on board drive systems are deactivated. The arrangement of the control arrangement 29 rearwardly of the machine 10 allows an operator to position the machine 10 with the support beam underneath a roof or ceiling zone requiring stabilization, with the operator being under a roof or ceiling zone considered safe or that has previously been stabilized by installation of rock bolts.

The machine 10 may further include optional side gates 31, 32 positioned generally to prevent or obstruct movement of workers forwardly of the support beam 15 when the machine is in a position of use. As shown in Fig 3, for example, the outer edges 34 of the side gates 31, 32 are positioned adjacent to the wall 35 of the tunnel, drift or similar. It is desirable that the gates 31, 32 be capable of being moved to a position closer to the sides of the machine (by pivoting or repositioning) when the machine is being moved to improve manoeuvrability of the machine.

The support beam 15 further includes first and second access openings 36, 37 spaced from one another and located on either side of each of the upper hydraulic cylinders 18, 19 such that the four openings 36, 37 are generally evenly spaced along the beam 15. The openings 36, 37 provide work openings for an operator to gain access therethrough to the ceiling or roof rock surface 38 to enable rock bolt holes to be drilled and rock bolts to be installed therein while the ceiling or roof surface 38 remains supported by the beam 15. As also can be readily seen in the drawings, safety cover members 39, 40 are provided connected to the support beam i5 and extending rearwardly thereof essentially to provide a safe work zone WZ in which operators can work, from the ground, adjacent the sides of the machine 10. A single cover member might be provided extending the full length of the beam 15 but it should be recognized that this is not altogether necessary as it is not intended that workers would work from the support platform 14.

A low voltage alternator or similar, driven by a pneumatic motor, which in turn is driven by compressed air from the compressed air manifold, is provided to provide power for area lighting for the machine 10. It will of course be appreciated that many other variations or modifications could be made to the machine within the scope of the annexed claims. For example, the addition of hydraulic drilling apparatus, positioned on a rotating axis of hydraulic control, to enable the drilling of ground anchor support holes from the rearward mounted control panel 29, and the removal or by-passing of the rearward mounted control panel 29, and in its place the use of remote radio control.

Claims (28)

1. A machine including a support structure carried by translation means enabling the machine to be moved translationally and steered to a position of use, a support beam extending transversely across at least part of said machine and laterally beyond at least one side of said machine; extendible support means to raise or lower said support beam whereby, in a raised position, said support beam is engaged against at least a portion of a roof zone to be supported at said position of use; first drive means for driving said translation means; second drive means for driving said extendible support means; and control means for controlling said first and said second drive means.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein compressed air is used to power said first and said second drive means.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the machine includes a compressed air manifold adapted to receive compressed air from a source thereof within or adjacent to the area of use of said machine, compressed air from said compressed air manifold being used to power said first and said second drive means.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein connection means is provided to enable pneumatically powered drilling apparatus to be connected to compressed air available in said machine in use, preferably, the compressed air manifold.

A machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said translation means is driven by one or more hydraulic motors.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein a reservoir of hydraulic fluid is carried on board said machine, the hydraulic fluid being pressurized by pump means driven by a pneumatic motor supplied with compressed air.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein said extendible support means include at least two upper actuators spaced from each other, said upper actuators being operated with said hydraulic fluid from the reservoir pressurized by the pump means.

8. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said control means is remote from the machine.

9. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said control means is positioned rearwardly of the machine but operationally connected thereto.

10. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said control means, in use, is located remotely and rearwardly from said machine.

11. A machine according to claim 9 wherein said control means is supported at a rear end zone of a rearwardly extending beam means.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said boom means is connected to said machine for pivoting movement about an upright pivot axis.

13. A machine according to claim 7 wherein each said upper actuator has a ground engaging member associated therewith, each said ground engaging member being adapted to be raised when said translational means are activated to move said machine, and to be lowered into ground engagement when said machine is in said position of use, whereby said upper actuators work between a respective said ground engagement member and said support beam.

14. A machine according to claim 13 wherein each said ground engaging member includes a lower actuator arranged in a pair with one of said upper actuators connected to the support beam.

A machine according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein each said upper actuator is pivotally connected to said support beam by a pivot means having a pivot axis extending transverse to said support beam.

16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein one of said pivot means is configured to be movable in a longitudinal direction of said support beam whereby one of said upper actuators can extend a greater or less distance than the other of said upper actuators with the support beam then being tilted relative to a ground plane on which the machine is supported.

17. A machine according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein a first work opening is formed in the support beam extending therethrough whereby an operator can access the roof or ceiling zone engaged by the support beam through the first work opening from a position below the support beam.

18. A machine according to claim 16 wherein the first work opening is formed in a lateral end portion of the support beam extending beyond said at least one side of the machine.

19. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein a said laterally extending portion of said beam extends laterally beyond both side edges of the machine.

A machine according to claim 18 wherein said first work opening is located laterally outwardly of a said upper actuator.

21. A machine according to claim 20 wherein a second said work opening is provided in said support beam inwardly of a said upper actuator.

22. A machine according to claims 17 or 18 wherein each lateral end of the support beam extends laterally beyond a side edge of the machine, with each lateral end having a said first work opening in the support beam.

23. A machine according to claim 22 wherein said first and said second work openings are arranged in pairs on opposed sides of one of said upper actuators.

24. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein at least one cover member is connected to said support beam to extend rearwardly therefrom, at least from the or each portion of the support beam that extends laterally beyond a side edge of the machine, to provide protection for an operator positioned to the side of the machine over which support beam and the cover member extend.

A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein, in the position of use, wall means is provided extending laterally from at least one side of the machine at or adjacent a forward edge zone of the support beam to inhibit movement of an operator forward of the machine.

26. A machine according to claim 25 wherein said wall means is adapted to adopt two positions, one being a laterally extending position and the other being where the outer edge of the wall means is moved inwardly towards the side of the machine.

27. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein the support structure includes carry means such as a platform generally inwardly of the side of the machine to carry tools and other equipment required by an operator or operators when in use.

28. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the translation means include a pair of laterally spaced crawler tracks. DATED this 2nd day of September 2005 McCONNELL DOWELL CONSTRUCTORS (AUST) PTY LTD WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA P24587AU00