Roof and Rib Support Having Reverse C-Channel

Abstract

A mine roof and rib support may include a support member having a roof support arm provided at an angle to a rib support arm, the roof support arm defining an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt, and wherein the support member defines a channel having an opened side surface and two legs extending from the opened side surface to contact the mine roof and the mine rib. A method of supporting a rock formation may include positioning a support member having a roof support arm provided at an angle to a rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt and a channel having an opened side surface and two legs extending from the opened side surface to contact the mine roof surface and the mine rib surface extending a mine roof bolt through the roof support arm aperture.

1 . A mine roof and rib support comprising:
 a support member comprising a roof support arm, 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;   wherein the support member defines a channel having an opened side and front side surface opposite the opened side, the opened side having an opened side surface and two legs extending from the opened side surface to contact the mine roof surface and the mine rib surface.   
     
     
         2 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. 
     
     
         3 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing plate defining a through-hole, the bearing plate being positioned on the front side surface of the roof support arm, wherein the bearing plate through-hole is operatively aligned with the roof support arm aperture, and the mine roof bolt extends through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture to compress the bearing plate against the support member. 
     
     
         4 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 3 , wherein the bearing plate comprises a C-channel bearing plate, wherein the roof support arm is nested within the C-channel bearing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 4 , further comprising a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. 
     
     
         6 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 3 , wherein the bearing plate comprises a flat bearing plate. 
     
     
         7 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 1 , wherein the roof support arm defines a second aperture for receiving a second mine roof bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 7 , further comprising two bearing plates, each defining a through-hole, the bearing plates being positioned on the front side surface of the roof support arm, wherein the bearing plate through-holes are operatively aligned with the roof support arm apertures, and each mine roof bolt extends through a through-hole and a roof support arm aperture to compress the bearing plates against the support member. 
     
     
         9 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the bearing plates comprises a C-channel bearing plate, wherein the roof support arm is nested within the C-channel bearing plate. 
     
     
         10 . The mine roof and rib support of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the bearing plates comprises a flat bearing plate. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a mine roof and rib support comprising the steps of:
 bending an elongated member defining a channel having an opened side and front surface opposite the opened side, the opened side having an opened side surface and two legs extending from the opened side surface, such that the elongated member comprises a support member having a mine roof support arm and mine rib support arm provided in an angular orientation, with the open side being on an outside of the mine roof and rib support arms and the front surface being on an inside of the mine roof and rib support arms; and   providing an aperture on the roof support arm.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of bending comprises providing a curved junction portion between mine roof and rib support arms. 
     
     
         13 . A method of supporting a rock formation comprising the steps of:
 positioning a support member comprising a roof support arm, 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, the support member defining a channel having an opened side and front side surface opposite the opened side, the opened side having an opened side surface and two legs extending from the opened side surface, such that the support member legs contact a mine roof surface and a mine rib surface; and   extending a mine roof bolt through the roof support arm aperture into engagement with the rock formation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, prior to the step of positioning the support member, the step of bending the support member to provide the rib support arm at an angle to the roof support arm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of bending comprises providing a curved junction portion between mine roof and rib support arms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning a bearing plate defining a through-hole therethrough against the roof support arm; and   aligning the through-hole with the roof support arm aperture, wherein the step of extending the mine roof bolt through the roof support arm comprises extending the mine roof bolt through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of positioning the bearing plate comprises nesting the roof support arm within a C-channel plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of compressing the bearing plate against the roof support arm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of compressing the bearing plate comprises torquing the mine roof bolt against the bearing plate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of positioning a second bearing plate defining a through-hole therethrough against the roof support arm;
 aligning the second bearing plate through-hole with a second roof support arm aperture defined in the roof support arm; and   extending a second mine roof bolt through the second roof support arm aperture into engagement with the rock formation.