Automatic roof bolting system for mines

Abstract

A roof bolting system for mines wherein a drill, a resin cartridge, a roof bolt cartridge and a roof bolt feed mechanism are carried on a single indexable head at the end of a boom extending outwardly from an operator's car or carriage. In a roof-bolting operation, the head is initially indexed to a position where the drill bores a hole in the roof of the mine. Thereafter, the head is indexed to the next position wherein a resin cartridge is fed into the drilled hole. Finally, the head is indexed to a third position where a roof bolt is fed into the resin-filled hole and tightened. Thereafter, the head is returned to its original position where the three steps are repeated. A resin cartridge and a bolt cartridge are provided for storing resin tubes and roof bolts such that the respective operations can be carried out automatically without the necessity for having an operator directly beneath the unsupported roof where the roof-bolting operation is occurring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.