Truss system installation

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for securing portions of a tunnel are disclosed herein. Portions of a tunnel can be secured via attachment of a truss system to the portions of the tunnel. The truss system can include a threadbar, a bearing plate, a tie rod, a first anchor nut, a second anchor nut, and a truss eye. The threadbar can extend through both the truss eye and the bearing plate, and the truss eye and the bearing plate can be separated by the first anchor nut that can be located on the threadbar and between the bearing plate and the truss eye. The first anchor nut can hold the bearing plate against the wall of the tunnel, and the second anchor nut can hold the truss eye against the first anchor nut.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roof truss system for supporting a roof of a mine, the roof truss system comprising:
 a threadbar comprising an elongate load bearing member having a first portion proximate to a first end and a second portion proximate to a second end;   a first anchor nut connecting to the threadbar at a first position, the first anchor nut comprising:
 a first end, wherein the first end comprises a first contact surface; and 
 a second end located opposite the first end; 
   a second anchor nut connecting to the threadbar at a second position, the second anchor nut comprising:
 a first end, wherein the first end comprises a second contact surface; and 
 a second end located opposite the first end; 
   a bearing plate comprising:
 a wall surface; and 
 a nut surface; 
   a truss eye comprising:
 a base having a first side and an opposed second side, 
 a first hole extending through the first side of the base and towards the second side; 
 an eye portion defining an eye, wherein the threadbar extends through the eye of the eye portion and the eye portion of the truss eye is at an intermediate position between the first second anchor nuts. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the threadbar is affixed within a hole in the roof of the mine and wherein the second portion of the threadbar extends from the hole in the roof of the mine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second anchor nuts are located on the second portion of the threadbar. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the bearing plate is located at a position along the threadbar between the roof of the mine and the first anchor nut. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the bearing plate contacts the roof of the mine and the second end of the first anchor nut. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the eye portion of the truss eye contacts the first contact surface of the first anchor nut and the second contact surface of the second anchor nut. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tie rod comprising an elongate load bearing member having a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tie rod comprises a cable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tie rod comprises a bar. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the tie rod is secured in the first hole of the truss eye. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first hole of the truss eye is threaded. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first hole is tapered. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a roof truss system, the method comprising:
 creating a first hole in a roof of a mine;   attaching a first anchor nut to a threadbar at a first position, wherein the anchor nut comprises opposing first and second ends and a contact surface at the first end, wherein the threadbar comprises an elongate member having a first portion proximate to a first end and a second portion proximate to a second end, wherein the first position is located within the second portion of the threadbar;   anchoring the first portion of the threadbar within the first hole in the roof of the mine such that the second end of the first anchor nut holds a bearing plate against the roof of the mine;   inserting a portion of the threadbar through an eye of a first truss eye, the first truss eye comprising:
 a base having a first side and an opposite second side; 
 a base aperture extending through the first side of the base and towards the second side; and 
 an eye portion defining an eye; 
   securing the threadbar to the first truss eye by attaching a second anchor nut to the threadbar at a second position, wherein the first truss eye is located at an intermediate position between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting the threadbar through a hole in the bearing plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the threadbar is affixed within the first hole in the roof of the mine via the mixing and the hardening of resin within the first hole. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising affixing a first end of a tie rod to the base aperture of the first truss eye. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a second end of the tie rod is connected to a second base aperture of a second truss eye, and wherein the second truss eye is connected to a second threadbar that is affixed within a second hole in the roof of the mine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising creating a desired tension within the tie rod. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein creating the desired tension within the tie rod comprises moving the second anchor nut to a third position and thereby increasing the relative proximity between the first and second anchor nuts, wherein the tension in the tie rod increases when the second anchor nut is moved from the second position to the third position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein creating the desired tension within the tie rod comprises applying a force to the tie rod equal to the desired tension.