Surface control bearing plate

Abstract

A surface plate for supporting generally planar loads, specifically mine roofs. The present invention generally relates to a surface plate that is capable of supporting a mine roof. Surface plates in accord with the preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a plurality of embossments. The embossments provide the surface plates with increased strength when compared against the prior art. In the preferred embodiments, one of the plurality of embossments is a continuous perimeter embossment that generally parallels the outer perimeter of the surface plate. Another of the plurality of embossments is a circular embossment located at the center of the surface plate wherein a central opening through which a mine roof bolt is received is located. The preferred embodiments may further comprise a plurality of radial embossments that extend from the central embossment to the perimeter embossment. These radial embossments may be arranged in a regular pattern around the central embossment. In one preferred embodiment that is generally rectangular in shape, four radial embossments intersect and extend from the central embossment towards the perimeter embossment and intersect with the perimeter embossment in proximity to the corners of the surface plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A surface plate for use in supporting a mine roof, said surface plate comprising: 
 a first surface adapted to face away from said mine roof, wherein said first surface defines a central opening capable of receiving a mine roof bolt, and said first surface further comprising: 
 a first embossment centrally located on said first surface, wherein said first embossment comprises a circular raised plane surrounding said central opening, further wherein said raised circular plane is generally parallel to said first surface;  
 a second embossment located on said first surface, wherein said second embossment comprises a continuous raised surface that is proximal to the outer perimeter of said first surface;  
 a plurality of radial embossments, wherein each of said plurality of radial embossments extend from said first embossment to said second embossment and intersect with said first embossment and said second embossment; and  
   a second surface adapted to face said mine roof, wherein said second surface is generally planar, further wherein said second surface comprises a complementary face to said first surface comprising a plurality of recesses corresponding to said first and second embossments and said plurality of radial embossments.    
     
     
         2 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said surface plate is rectangular, circular, or elliptical.  
     
     
         3 . The surface plate of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of radial embossments is selected from the group consisting of four, six, and eight.  
     
     
         4 . The surface plate of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of radial embossments are spaced at regular intervals around said first embossment.  
     
     
         5 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said first embossment is raised {fraction (5/16)} of an inch from said first surface.  
     
     
         6 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said first embossment has a diameter that is ten times larger than the diameter of said central opening.  
     
     
         7 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said second embossment continuously parallels the outer perimeter of said first surface.  
     
     
         8 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said second embossment is ½ inch from an outer edge of said surface plate.  
     
     
         9 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said second embossment is one inch in width.  
     
     
         10 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said second embossment is raised ½ of an inch from said first surface.  
     
     
         11 . The surface plate of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of radial embossments are raised from said first surface by ½ of an inch at the locations where said plurality of radial embossments intersect said second embossment.  
     
     
         12 . The surface plate of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of radial embossments are raised from said first surface by {fraction (5/16)} of an inch at the locations where said plurality of radial embossments intersect said first embossment.  
     
     
         13 . The surface plate of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of radial embossments are raised a tapered amount, further wherein said tapered amount is {fraction (5/16)} of an inch at the locations where said plurality of radial embossments intersect said first embossment and ½ of an inch at the locations where said plurality of radial embossments intersect said second embossment.  
     
     
         14 . The surface plate of  claim 13 , wherein said tapered amount varies smoothly between {fraction (5/16)} of an inch and ½ of an inch.  
     
     
         15 . A surface plate for use in supporting a mine roof, said surface plate comprising: 
 a first surface adapted to face away from said mine roof, wherein said first surface defines a central opening capable of receiving a mine roof bolt, further wherein said first surface is generally square, and wherein said first surface further comprises: 
 a first embossment centrally located on said first surface, wherein said first embossment comprises a circular raised plane surrounding said central opening, further wherein said raised circular plane is generally parallel to said first surface;  
 a second embossment located on said first surface, wherein said second embossment comprises a continuous raised surface that generally parallels the outer perimeter of said first surface;  
 four radial embossments, wherein each radial embossments extends from said first embossment to said second embossment and intersects with said first embossment and said second embossment, further wherein said four radial embossments are spaced regularly around said first embossment, further wherein each radial embossment extends from said first embossment to said second embossment and intersects said second embossment at a corner of said second embossment wherein said corner of said second embossment corresponds in location to a corner on said outer perimeter of said first surface; and  
   a second surface adapted to face said mine roof, wherein said second surface is generally planar, further wherein said second surface comprises a complementary face to said first surface comprising a plurality of recesses corresponding to said first and second embossments and said four radial embossments.