Mine Roof and Rib Support with Vertical Bolt

Abstract

A mine roof and rib support device comprising a support member, a roof support arm, a rib support arm, a bearing plate and a mine roof bolt. The roof support arm is provided at an angle to the rib support arm and comprises at least one aperture therethrough. The bearing plate comprises an upper edge and a lower edge and a through-hole defined therethrough. The upper and lower edges of the bearing plate can be positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, with the through-hole being aligned with the aperture through the support member. The mine roof bolt extends through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the aperture of the roof support arm, thereby pressing the bearing plate against the support member. The upper edge exerts a force against the roof support arm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm.

1 . A mine roof and rib support comprising:
 a support member comprising a front surface, a back surface, a base portion, a roof support arm, and a rib support arm, the roof support arm provided at an angle to the rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt;   a bearing plate comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, the bearing plate defining a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, the through-hole being operatively aligned with the roof support arm aperture; and   a mine roof bolt extending through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the roof support arm aperture, the mine roof bolt being configured to compress the bearing plate against the support member, wherein the upper edge exerts a force against the roof support arm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm.   
     
     
         2 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing plate comprises two side edges, the side edges being longer than the upper edge and lower edge and extending between the upper and lower edges. 
     
     
         3 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 2 , wherein the bearing plate comprises an embossment that surrounds the through-hole. 
     
     
         4 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the through-hole located at a position on the bearing plate that is closer to the upper edge of the bearing plate than the lower edge of the bearing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 3 , wherein the through-hole is located at a position on the bearing plate that is closer to the upper edge of the bearing plate than the lower edge of the bearing plate. 
     
     
         6 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises an elongated reinforcement portion extending from the base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower plate edges of the bearing plate are positioned in abutment with the reinforcement portion of the support member. 
     
     
         9 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises longitudinal flange edge portions extending angularly away from the base portion and terminating in edges. 
     
     
         10 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower plate edges of the bearing plate are positioned in abutment with the longitudinal flange edge portions of the support member. 
     
     
         11 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a second aperture on the roof support arm for receiving a second mine roof bolt. 
     
     
         12 . A method of supporting a rock formation comprising:
 providing a support member having a roof support arm and a rib support arm;   positioning the support member against a rock formation having a mine roof surface and mine rib surface, wherein positioning the support member comprises positioning the roof support arm against the mine roof surface and positioning the rib support arm against the mine rib surface;   positioning a bearing plate having an upper edge, a lower edge and a through-hole against the support member,   aligning the through-hole with an aperture in the roof support arm;   extending a mine roof bolt through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture into engagement with the mine roof surface; and   compressing the bearing plate such that the upper edge of said bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and the lower edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the rib support arm.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of extending a mine roof bolt comprises substantially vertically extending a mine roof bolt through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture into engagement with the mine roof surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of compressing the bearing plate comprises torquing the mine roof bolt against the bearing plate. 
     
     
         15 . A mine roof and rib support system comprising:
 a first support member comprising a front surface, a back surface, a base portion, a roof support arm, and a rib support arm, the roof support arm provided at an angle to the rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines a first aperture and a second aperture for receiving mine roof bolts;   a bearing plate comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, the bearing plate defining a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, the through-hole being operatively aligned with the first roof support arm aperture;   a first mine roof bolt extending through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the first roof support arm aperture, the mine roof bolt being configured to compress the bearing plate against the support member, wherein the upper edge exerts a force against the roof support atm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm;   a second support member comprising a front surface and a back surface and defining an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt, the first support member receiving the second support member, the second support member aperture being aligned with the second roof support arm aperture; and   a second mine roof bolt extending through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture.   
     
     
         16 . The mine roof and rib support system of  claim 15 , further comprising a mine rib bolt;
 wherein the rib support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine rib bolt, and the mine rib bolt extends through the rib support arm aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The mine roof and rib support system of  claim 15 , wherein the through-hole is located at a position on the bearing plate that is closer to the upper edge of the bearing plate than the lower edge of the bearing plate. 
     
     
         18 . The mine roof and rib support system of  claim 16 , wherein the through-hole is located at a position on the bearing plate that is closer to the upper edge of the bearing plate than the lower edge of the bearing plate. 
     
     
         19 . The mine roof and rib support system of  claim 15 , wherein the first mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the first roof support arm aperture, and the second mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The mine roof and rib support system of  claim 16 , wherein the first mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the first roof support arm aperture, and the second mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture.