Drilling or bolting apparatus and related methods

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for forming a borehole in a surface of a mine passage or providing support for the surface. A mast includes a rotary drill head adapted to move along an axis of the mast toward or away from the surface of the mine passage. A holder is adapted for holding a plurality of drill elements, such as a starter steel, a finisher steel, and a roof anchor or bolt. The holder extends along an axis transverse to the axis of the drill head, and may take the form of a rotary carousel. A manipulator, such as a carriage, is adapted to move from a retracted position for gripping one drill element from the holder to an advanced position. In the advanced position, the manipulator or carriage is further adapted to rotate to align the one drill element with the axis of the drill head for forming the borehole or insertion into the borehole during the advance of the drill head toward the surface of the mine passage. Related methods are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.