Method and Apparatus for Introducing a Roadway Support

Abstract

A roadway support ( 1 ) is introduced in parallel to the face advancement of a gallery( 1 ) by means of a selective cut heading machine ( 2 ) by providing lagging mats ( 18, 19 ) in the form of rolled mats ( 20, 21 ) downstream of the cutting tool ( 3 ) of the selective cut heading machine ( 2 ) in two transverse planes ( 14, 15 ) that are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal heading direction in circumferential offset relationship. The lagging mats ( 18, 19 ) are then unrolled simultaneously to the face advancement in the longitudinal heading direction so as to overlap laterally and are instantly aligned upon the rock. Once the lagging mats ( 18, 19 ) have been entirely unrolled, the working steps are successively repeated in accordance with the length of the face advancement with new lagging mats ( 18, 19 ) that adjoin the lagging mats ( 18, 19 ) previously laid. The roadway support ( 7 ) is introduced at a distance to the cutting tool ( 3 ) while fixing the lagging mats ( 18, 19 ).

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method for introducing a roadway support in parallel to a face advancement of a gallery by means of a selective cut heading machine, comprising the steps of:
 a) arranging first lagging mats in the form of rolled mats downstream of a cutting tool of the selective cut heading machine in circumferential offset relationship in first and second transverse planes extending behind one another in longitudinal heading direction;   b) unrolling the first lagging mats in lateral overlapping disposition in a longitudinal heading direction simultaneously with a face advancement and immediately aligning the lagging mats upon a rock;   c) aligning the first lagging mats by a self-propelled lagging manipulator on the rock;   d) repeating steps a), b) and c) with second lagging mats to accommodate a length of the face advancement and upon completed unrolling of the first lagging mats, with the second lagging mats adjoining the first lagging mats; and   e) introducing a roadway support at a distance to the cutting tool as the first and second lagging mats are fixed.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein ends of the first lagging mats are coupled with ends of the second lagging mats. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second lagging mats are fixed by roof bolting upon the rock. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second lagging mats are secured in place through supporting frames. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus for introducing a roadway support in parallel to a face advancement of a gallery by means of a selective cut heading machine, comprising a lagging manipulator which is movable independently of the selective cut heading machine in a longitudinal heading direction for introducing and aligning lagging mats downstream of a cutting tool of the selective cut heading machine, said lagging manipulator including a height control system for adjusting a distance of the lagging mats to a rock surface, and mat cartridges which are provided with self-adjusting restraining or tensioning mechanisms and contain the lagging mats in the form of rolled mats, said mat cartridges being arranged in circumferential offset relationship in first and second transverse planes extending behind one another in the longitudinal heading direction, wherein the mat cartridges in the first transverse plane are arranged at a gap to the mat cartridges in the second transverse plane. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the height control system includes distance sensors. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one overhead track, wherein the lagging manipulator is shiftable along the at least one overhead track. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the lagging manipulator is guided on a roadway floor and/or roadway end.