Knotted mesh as supporting material in mines

Abstract

A method for lining mining and tunnel constructions with a support material ( 20 ) comprises the steps of: •a. providing a plurality of lay wires ( 24 ) in the long direction; •b. providing a plurality of stay wires ( 22 ) in the cross direction, the stay wires making intersections with said lay wires ( 24 ); •c. providing knot wires ( 28 ) to attach the lay wires ( 24 ) to the stay wires ( 22 ) in at least some of the intersections so as to form the support material; •d. installing the support material ( 20 ) against a ceiling or a wall of a mining or tunnel construction by means of bolts.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for lining a support material in mining and tunnel constructions said method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a plurality of lay wires in the long direction;   b. providing a plurality of stay wires in the cross direction, said stay wires making intersections with said lay wires;   c. providing knot wires to attach said lay wires to said stay wires in at least some of said intersections so as to form said support material;   d. installing said support material against a ceiling or a wall of a mining or tunnel construction by means of bolts.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said lay wires and said stay wires are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said lay wires, said stay wires and/or said knot wires are hard drawn pearlitic steel wires. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said lay wires are plain carbon steel wires having a carbon content ranging from 0.30 wt % to 1.0 wt %. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said stay wires are plain carbon steel wires having a carbon content ranging from 0.080 wt % to 1.0 wt %. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said knot wires are plain carbon steel wires having a carbon content ranging from 0.02 wt % to 0.10 wt %. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the shape of the cross section of said lay wires, stay wires and knot wires is selected from the group consisting of round, flat, square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, oval, half-round and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said shape of the cross section of said lay wires, stay wires and knot wires is round having a diameter between 1.0 mm and 6.0 mm, preferably between 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said lay wires, stay wires and/or knot wires are covered with a metallic coating and wherein said metallic coating is selected from a group consisting of copper, copper alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, tin or tin alloy or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said knot wire is making a knot selected from a group consisting of S-knot and/or a fixed knot. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said support material further comprises end knots, wherein said end knots are formed by the ends of said stay wire being twisted to the last lay wire. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein spacing between the said stay wires and said lay wires ranges from 2 inches to 6 inches, preferably 3 inches to 4 inches. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said supporting material is in the form of panels. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein supporting material is in the form of rolled sheets. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said bolts are selected from a group consisting of rebar bolts, cable bolts or friction bolts.