# US 12,595,735 B2 · Smart rock bolt driver > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,735 B2 - Document ID: US12595735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/920,195 - Filed: 2021-04-21 - Published: 2023-06-15 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-22 - Assignees: Sandvik Mining and Construction Tools AB; Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia Pty Ltd - Applicants: Sandvik Mining and Construction Tools AB; Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia Pty Ltd - Inventors: Osvaldo Vallati - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595735B2 ## CPC - E21D 20/00: Setting anchoring-bolts (anchoring bolts for shafts, tunnels or galleries E21D21/00; means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads specially adapted to foundation engineering E02D5/74; dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose F16B13/00) - G01L 5/0042: {applying a torque} - G01P 3/00: Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds (G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; {direction and speed indication G01P13/045}; counting mechanisms G06M) - G01P 13/00: Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00) - E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract A driver socket arranged for installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, wherein the driver socket includes a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket 1. The driver socket includes a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor, rotation data related to the number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A driver socket for installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the driver socket comprising: a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket, the rotation sensor comprising a gyroscope, an accelerometer and/or an inclinometer, and wherein the gyroscope, accelerometer and/or inclinometer is/are configured to determine rotation data taking account of a position/orientation of the rotation sensor relative to a rotational axis of the driver socket; a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and configured to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor, rotation data related to a number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; and a wireless transmitter or transceiver configured to emit a signal comprising the rotation data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The driver socket according to claim 1, wherein the rotation data comprises data describing average rotational speed over a predetermined period of time, data describing number of revolutions the driver socket has rotated at one or more specific points in time, or data describing if the driver socket has been rotated or not. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method of monitoring installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the method comprising the steps of: receiving rotation data from one or more driver sockets according to claim 1; recording the rotation data to a data carrier, or deriving from the rotation data a rotation value describing the number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; emitting a first signal if the rotation value exceeds a lower threshold value defining a minimum number of revolutions the driver socket should be rotated for correct installation; and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the lower threshold value, said data record including an identifier for a bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the bolt has been rotated the required number of revolutions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising emitting a second signal if the rotation value exceeds an upper threshold value defining a maximum number of revolutions the driver socket can be rotated for correct installation; and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the upper threshold value, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the bolt has been over-rotated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising recording the duration of the installation of each bolt and creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the lower threshold value, said data record including the duration of installation of the bolt currently rotated and an identifier for the bolt currently rotated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising continuously comparing current rotational resistance to a lower resistance threshold, and emitting a third signal if the comparison indicates that the rotational resistance sinks below the lower resistance threshold, and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if comparison indicates that the rotational resistance sinks below the lower resistance threshold, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the torque has decreased below the lower resistance threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising recording a maximum value of the rotational resistance based on the rotational resistance data, wherein the lower resistance threshold is continuously calculated as a predetermined fraction of the maximum value of the rotational resistance data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising continuously monitoring current rotational speed and comparing it to a predetermined upper rotational speed threshold, and emitting a third signal if the comparison indicates that the rotational speed exceeds the upper rotational speed threshold, and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if comparison indicates that the rotational speed exceeds the upper rotational speed threshold, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the rotational speed has exceeded the upper rotational speed threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the emitted first, second and/or third signal(s) is presented using an audio communication device or a visual communication device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the audio communication device is a speaker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the visual communication device is selected from a light source or a display unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving torque data from a torque sensor configured to measure torque applied to the driver socket, and deriving rotational resistance data based on the torque data and the rotation data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the torque sensor is integrated with a machine carrying the driver socket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) A monitoring system for monitoring installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the monitoring system comprising: a driver socket including a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket and a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and configured to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor rotation data related to a number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; and a computer program product having computer executable code, which when executed is configured to perform the method according to claim 3. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The monitoring system according to claim 14, further comprising a mobile computing device for running the computer program product, the mobile computing device being selected from a smart phone or a mobile terminal.