Arrangement for injecting and affixing a reinforcing or anchoring element in a rock wall

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement and to a method for injecting and affixing a reinforcing and/or anchoring element in a rock wall. The arrangement includes means ( 15; 65 ) for connection to a reinforcing and/or anchoring element ( 2; 62 ), an injection pipe ( 9 ) which is connected to the coupling means at a front end facing inwardly in the hole and which includes means ( 7 ) for connection to means for supplying injection medium ( 8 ). The arrangement also includes a check valve ( 10 ) for co-action with the injection medium, and an expandable seal ( 10; 50; 60 ). The arrangement is designed as a separate unit that can be loosened from the reinforcing and/or anchoring element upon completion of the injection phase. The method comprises corresponding process steps.

1 . An arrangement for injecting and affixing a reinforcing and/or anchoring element in a hole in a rock wall, wherein the arrangement includes a means for connection to a reinforcing and/or anchoring element, an injection pipe which is connected to said coupling means at a front end facing in towards the hole and which also includes means for connection to an injection medium supply means, wherein the arrangement also includes a check valve for co-action with the injection medium and an expandable seal characterized in that the arrangement consists of a separate unit that can be released from the reinforcing and/or anchoring element upon completion of the injection phase. 
   
   
       2 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling means includes an internally threaded coupling for connection with an externally threaded end of the reinforcing and/or anchoring element. 
   
   
       3 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling means and the injection pipe comprise a single entity. 
   
   
       4 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling means is designed to facilitate release from the surrounding injected material upon completion of the injection phase and subsequent to hardening of said material. 
   
   
       5 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the arrangement can be re-used. 
   
   
       6 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the seal has the form of a sleeve disposed around the injection pipe 
   
   
       7 . An arrangement according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the seal has the form of a mechanically expandable sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . An arrangement according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the seal has the form of a sleeve that includes double walls and that can be expanded by injecting pressurized medium in between said walls. 
   
   
       9 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the arrangement includes means for delivering pressurized medium to the seal. 
   
   
       10 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the check valve is located in the front end of the injection pipe. 
   
   
       11 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coupling means has an axially extending through-penetrating aperture or bore and is designed to enable it to be coupled to a tubular element forming said reinforcing and/or anchoring element, and in that the check valve regulates the supply of injection medium from the injection pipe via the aperture in the coupling means, and through said tubular element and out at the front end of said element. 
   
   
       12 . An arrangement according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the tubular element forming said reinforcing and/or anchoring element is a drill rod which has an internal channel and which is provided with a drill bit for drilling said hole, and in that said check valve regulates the supply of injection medium from the injection pipe via the aperture in the coupling means, and through said drill rod and out through the drill bit. 
   
   
       13 . A method of injecting and affixing a reinforcing and/or anchoring element in a rock wall, said method comprising the steps of: inserting in a hole in the rock wall a reinforcing and/or anchoring element coupled to an injection arrangement which constitutes a separate unit and which includes means for connection to a reinforcing and/or anchoring element, an injection pipe which is connected to said coupling means at a front end facing inwardly in the hole and which includes means for connection to an injection medium supply means, wherein the arrangement also includes a check valve for co-action with the injection medium, and an expandable seal, expanding the seal of the injection arrangement, said seal being able to prevent injection medium injected into the hole from flowing out of the hole during and after the injection phase, delivering injection medium to the hole via said injection arrangement and said check valve, terminating the injection phase and allowing the injection medium to harden, causing the expandable seal to return to its non-expanded state upon completion of the injection phase and after at least partial hardening of the injection medium, and removing the injection arrangement as a unit. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterized by drilling the hole with the aid of a drill rod provided with a drill bit, said drill rod later forming said reinforcing and/or anchoring element; and by drilling said hole when the injection arrangement has already been coupled to the reinforcing and/or anchoring element. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized by carrying out said injection phase through the medium of a through-penetrating aperture in the coupling means, and via an internal channel in the drill rod and out into the hole via the drill bit fitted to the front end of the drill rod. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterized by injecting the injection medium at an overpressure, wherewith the hole is first filled with injection medium which thereafter penetrates into any cracks that may be present in the rock and that open out into the hole, therewith sealing the cracks. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterized by reusing the injection arrangement for injecting and affixing a new reinforcing and/or anchoring element in said rock wall. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein a free end of the reinforcing and/or anchoring element will remain in the hole sealed with said injection medium subsequent to removal of the injection arrangement, this free end being used for the attachment of further equipment.