Movable roof support mechanism
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
InventorFrank Vernon McCay, Jr., deceased
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for supporting a tunnel roof at progressive work stations in a mine advances in a straight line in step-wise fashion drawing a work vehicle. Linkage mechanisms actuate a quadruple of roof support structures arranged in inner and outer pairs to advance along a straight line of travel in alternating pairs with the advancing pair unloaded and the stationary pair bearing the roof load. The vehicle, attached to the inner pair of support structures, is drawn relative to the outer pair in forward or reverse motion.
Claims9
A machine to provide progressive and temporary roof support along a straight path in a tunnel, said machine having a longitudinal axis oriented in the direction of forward motion said machine comprising:
- a vehicle, having means thereon for translational motion longitudinally;
- a first pair of roof supports at opposite sides of said vehicle, said first roof supports individually and movably attached to said vehicle by a movable connecting mechanism located intermediated said first roof supports and said vehicle, said connecting mechanism substantially preventing longitudinal, lateral and angular motion of said first roof supports relative to said vehicle;
- a pair of carrier arms, at opposite sides of said vehicle, and means for mounting said arms translatably to said vehicle, said mounting means maintaining translation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle;
- a second pair of roof supports at opposite sides of said vehicle, each of said second roof supports individually and movably attached to one of said carrier arms by a movable connecting mechanism intermediate said second roof support and said carrier arm, said connecting mechanism substantially preventing longitudinal, lateral and angular motion of said second roof supports relative to said carrier arm;
- a first pair of feet individually and movably attached to said vehicle at opposite sides of said vehicle and constrained from longitudinal, lateral and angular movement relative to said vehicle;
- a second pair of feet, each foot individually and movably attached to one of said carrier arm and constrained from longitudinal, lateral and angular movement relative to said carrier arm;
- reversible drive means to vertically extend said roof supports and feet to press against the roof and floor respectively of said tunnel, and to retract said roof supports and feet away from said roof and floor;
- reversible actuation means to translate said carrier arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.