Method and apparatus for supporting the roof of an underground mine working
OwnerKarl Maria Groetschelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The roof of an underground mine working which is newly exposed by a mining machine passing along a face of the working is supported by applying a flexible mat to the roof and underpinning the mat by self-advancing roof supports. A supply of mat is stored in a region which is already supported by the roof supports, is fed from the store in a first direction, and turned through a right-angle to extend along the newly exposed face. The device which turns the mat and applies it to the roof may have its vertical position controlled in accordance with the vertical position of a cutting cylinder of the mining machine.
Claims12
A method of supporting the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, comprising:
- a. storing a supply of flexible mat in a region which is already supported by self-advancing roof supports,
- b. moving said supply of flexible mat along the face of the working, with the mining machine,
- c. drawing mat from said stored supply in a first direction generally transversely of the direction of passage of the mining machine,
- d. redirecting said mat to extend generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine along the newly exposed roof,
- e. pressing said extended mat into contact with the roof by advancing and loading the self-advancing roof supports in said direction generally transversely of the direction of passage of the mining machine.
A method of supporting the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working comprising:
- a. storing a supply of flexible mat and leading off mat from said stored supply,
- b. applying the mat to the roof by directing means so that the mat extends along the newly exposed roof,
- c. controlling the vertical disposition of the directing means in accordance with the vertical disposition of a cutting element of the mining machine.
Apparatus for supporting the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, comprising:
- a. mobile means for storing a supply of flexible mat,
- b. means for leading off mat from said supply thereof,
- c. directing means for directing the mat to extend along the newly exposed region of roof so that it can be underpined by self-advancing roof support means,
- d. means establishing an operative connection between said directing means and a cutting element of the mining machine so that the vertical disposition of the directing means is controlled in accordance with the vertical disposition of said cutting element.
Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising:
- a. mobile means for storing a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof,
- b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction, and
- c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof and including a steering member, a jib member projecting towards the face, and an intermediate mounting arm between the steering member and jib member and extending at right angles to the jib member, the mounting arm and jib member including leaf spring members.
Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising:
- a. mobile means for sorting a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof,
- b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction,
- c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof, and
- d. means for resisting rotation of the roll of matting to apply tension to matting withdrawn from the supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.