Mine roof support apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a mining support for supporting rock within a mine. The support includes a cable and a threaded shaft fixedly attached to a first end of the cable. There is also an expansion anchor threadingly engaged about the threaded shaft for anchoring against the rock within a bore hole and means for bearing against the rock at the opening of the bore hole. The bearing means preferably includes a second collar having a threaded portion on which a hex nut is mounted and a contact plate for bearing against the rock. Preferably, there is a first collar for fixedly attaching the cable to the threaded shaft. Alternatively, the threaded shaft has a cavity for engaging with the cable. In a preferred embodiment, the mining support includes means for mixing resin in a resin cartridge. The mixing means is positioned about a portion of the cable. The mixing means preferably includes a helical wire strand that wraps about a portion of the cable. A bending restrictor can be disposed about the cable such that at least a portion of the cable is prevented from bending as it is inserted into the bore hole. The present invention is also a method of supporting rock within a mine. There is the first step of drilling a bore hole into the rock. Next, there is the step of placing a first end of a cable into the bore hole. Then, there is the step of turning the cable such that an expansion anchor on the cable expands to anchor the cable within the bore hole. Preferably, after the drilling step, there is the step of inserting a resin cartridge having resin disposed within into the bore hole.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.