CA1220639A

CA1220639A - Pushing tool

Info

Publication number: CA1220639A
Application number: CA000454230A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ivon Chaumont; Emery Hanson
Original assignee: Vale Canada Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Canada Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-14
Filing date: 1984-05-14
Publication date: 1987-04-21

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

A tool for pushing objects into voids. The tool includes a telescopic member, means for stabilizing the tool and 8 ratchet-like dogging mechanism for selectively gripping and releasing the object.
The gripping/releasing action is a function of the direction of the telescopic member. When the telescopic member is extending, the dogging mechanism grips the object and propels it in a predetermined direction. When the telescopic member is retracted, the dogging mechanism releases its grip on the object. This reciprocating action propels the object into the void over discrete predetermined distances.

Description

PUS~ING TOOL

TEC~NICAL FI~LD

The instant invention relates to mining equipment in general and, more particularly, ~o ~ tool for loading cable, e~plosives and other objects into apertures formed in excavations.

BAC~GRO~D A~T

Rock (or roof) boltR bave been a traditionsl mainstay of underground mining. The bolts are inserted into the roof of an excavation to tie the ground together and enhance the strength of the overhead arch.
Rock bolt~, ~hich ~ay be 4 feet (1.2 ~) or more in length are inserted into hole~ drilled into the roof. They sre generally fitted with an anchoring arrange~ent at the upper end and a heavy plate wa~her at the lower end. Turning the head of the bolt at the lower end actuates the anchorsge and stresses the bolt and the roof in compre 8 ~ ion.
Recently however~ mining eDgineers have sought to reduce the reliance on rock bolting in an attempt to lower mining costs and to improve efficiency. Rock bolting i6 labor intensive and requires a large inventory of costly rock bolts. Accordingly, in some iDstance6, cable bolting has replaced, or at least supplemented, rock bolting.

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In order to secure the ground, spaced holes on th2 order of about 40~50 feet (12.2 ~ 15.3 m) deep are drilled into the roof. A
heavy 1~2 inch (1.27 cm) diameter steel cable is forced up into the hole. A small holding tube is inserted into the hole and adjacent to the cable. Shotcrete is then extruded into the hole. By allo~ing the shotcrete to harden, a reinforced beam is formed within the hole to stabilize and secure the ground from collapse.
A difficulty posed by the cable bolting technique i~ the need for three men to manually force the heavy cable into the roof hole6.
The physical labor needed to accomplish this ta~k is difficult, time consuming, inefficient and, as a consequence, unacceptable.

SUMMARY OF T~E I~VENrI~

Accordingly, there i6 provided a power-driven pushing tool that forces cables and other ma~erials (such a~ explosives) into a hole. The pu~hing tool efficiently decreases the time necessary to force a long, heavy cable into the hole and frees up manpower for other more productive pur~ui~.
The tool includes a power driven, reciprocating telescopic drive, a suppor~ therefor, and a dogging mechanism for alternately gripping and feeding the cable (or object) into the hole and relea~ing the cable to begin the feeding process anew.

BRI~F DESCRIPTION OF ~ D~AWI~G

Figure 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is an elevstion of an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is 8 view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view taken aloDg line 4-4 in Figure 19 ~ igure 5 i~ a detailed view of a feature of the invention.

~22~

PREF~RRED MOD~ FOR GARRYING OV~ TH~ [NVENTIO~

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, ~here il5 shown a pushing tool 10. The tool 10 includes a po~er driven tele6copic leg 12. The leg 12 may be powered by pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical energy. In the embodiment shown9 a JMG Air-Leg* (a pneumatic atoper leg) i~
utilized. The leg 12, which in this instance i6 a cylinder, includes a telescopic piston 56 which may be extended and retracted at will.
The stroke of the piston 56 1~ controlled by valve 26. In this embodiment, pneumatic lines 28 and 30 supply power to the leg 12. The valve 26 also exhausta air to the environment during the retraction of the piston 56. The valve 26 may be manual or automated.
The leg 12 is provided with a spider support 14 at its base.
A slidable stabilizer rod 16 is dispo~ed adjacent to the leg 12. The rod 16, when lowered, may be parked in cup 50. The rod 16 vertically alide6 within, and is supported, by rod guide 18 and rod clamp 20.
The clamp 20 includes bolt and wing nut 22 which serve to iock the rod 16 in any position.
Frame 24 i~ affixed to the end of the piston 56. The fr~me 24 includes cable guide 32 and dogging mechanism 34. CAble 36 pasæes through the guide 32 and the dog 34.
Figure l deno~es the tool 10 in the retracted po~ition, whereas Figure 2 depicts the tool lO in the extended position.
Referring to Figure 3, it may be observed that the J-shaped guide 32 is affixed to the frame 24. It has been determined that the inner dimension 38 should ~e about 1/8 of an inch (3.2 mm) larger than the thickness of the cable 36. The cable 36 slidingly fit~ into the crook of tbe guide 32.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the dog 34 includes cla~p 40, eccentric 42 and mount 44. These components, comprising the dog 34, are pivotally mounted together Vi8 fasteners 46. Inner dimension 48 i~ preferably about l/16 of an inch (1.6 mm) larger than the thickness of the cable 36. The high and low points on the eccentric 42 are represented by numeralR 52 and 54 respectively. The mount 44 is affixed to the frame 24.

*Trademark ~22~63~

The invention and the manner of applying it may, perhaps, be better understood by a brief discussion of the principles underlying the invention.
After 8 hole i8 drilled into the roof of an ex~avation, the tool 10 is vertically oriented under the hole and ~upported by the spider i4. The appropriate power lines are hooked up by means Xnown to tho~e skilled in the art. The stabilizer rod 16 is extended upwardly against the roof for sdditional support. The nut 22 is tightened against the rod 16 to secure the rod 16 and, as a consequence, the tool 10 in the proper position. The cable 36 i8 threaded through the guide 32 and the clasp 40 and finally into the hole in the roof. The tool 10 is energized by throwing the valve 26.
As the pistcn 56 commenceR its upstroke, the eccentric 42 is forced by inertia to rotate downwardly thereby forcing the high poin~ 52 to bite into the cable 36. See Figure 2. This biting action causes the cable 36 to be drawn up into the hole as the piston 56 con~inues in the up direction.
After the piston 56 has reached the desired height, the valve 26 is reversed, causiag the piston 56 to retract. Initially, as the ~~~
piston 56 retract~, the eccentric 42, again due to(i~ertia),-~wlrr rotate upwardly breaking the contact between the hi~h point 52 and the cable 36. See FigurPs 1, 4 and 5. This ratchet-like releasing action allow~ the piston 24 to react ~ithout simultaneou~ly drawing down the cable 36. The low point 54 clears the cable 36 during the downward stroke.
Upon reenergization, the doggi~g mechanism 34 will again grip the cable 36 a~d force it further in the hole. This reciprocating ratchet-like action i8 repeated until the cable 36 is positioned within the hole to the predeter~ined depth.
In order to improve the gripping and wearability character-istics of the clasp/ eccentric combination 40/42, it i~ helpful to weld ~ few bead~ of metal onto the ecce~tric 42.
The tool 10 may be utilized for forcing explosives and other objects into the hole. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the tool 10 may be placed in orientations other than the vertical.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statute, there is illustrated and described herein specific embodi~ents of the invention, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the invention covered by the claims and that certain features of the invention may sometime6 be used to advantage without a corresponding use of the other features.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A tool for locomoting an object in a predetermined direction, the tool comprising a reciprocative piston, a mount communicating with the piston, an eccentric in the form of an approximately rounded triangle having a high point, the high point adapted to rotatably engage the object and locomote the object when the piston is extended and clear the object when the piston is retracted, an object clasp, the eccentric pivotably linked to the mount and the clasp and disposed therebetween, a guide communicating with the piston, and means for supporting the tool.

2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein a stabilizer rod is affixed to the tool.

3. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the clasp circumscribes at least a portion of the object.

4. The tool according to claim 1 including control means for reciprocating the piston.

5. The tool according to claim 1 wherein a frame is affixed to the piston.

6. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the mount and guide are affixed to the frame.

7. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the interior of the clasp is U-shaped.

8. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the high point of the eccentric is adapted to securely engage the object and force the object tightly against the clasp when the piston is extended to locomote the object and disengage from the object and release the object from the clasp when the piston is retracted so as to allow the object to remain stationary.