Bolting head, bolting rig and method

Abstract

A bolting head, bolting rig and method of reinforcing a rock surface by means of rock bolts is provided. The bolting head includes a frame and at least one drilling unit and at least one bolting unit mounted to the frame in parallel orientation relative to each other. The drilling unit and the bolting unit can be operated simultaneously and without moving them in relation to the frame, thereby simultaneous drilling and bolt feeding being implemented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bolting head arranged for providing a rock surface with reinforcing rock bolts, the bolting head comprising:
 a frame arranged for supporting the bolting head and being mountable to a boom of a bolting rig;   at least one drilling unit arranged for drilling drill holes and including a drilling feed beam and a rock drilling machine movable on the drilling feed beam; and   at least one bolting unit including a bolting feed beam and a bolt feed device arranged for inserting the rock bolts into the drill holes and being movable on the bolting feed beam, wherein the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit are mounted to the frame in parallel orientation relative to each other and at a predetermined lateral distance from each other, and wherein the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit are operable simultaneously and without moving the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit in relation to the frame, allowing thereby simultaneous drilling and bolt feeding for the bolting head.   
     
     
         2 . The bolting head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined lateral distance between the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit is set in accordance with a bolt distance of rock bolts to be mounted. 
     
     
         3 . The bolting head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein relative positions between the frame, the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit are fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The bolting head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame of the bolting head is a cradle on which the at least one drilling unit and the at least one bolting unit are mounted and wherein the cradle is an elongated object having transverse orientation in relation to a longitudinal axis of the parallel at least one drilling unit and at least one bolting unit. 
     
     
         5 . The bolting head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drilling unit comprises two drilling units and at least one bolting unit comprises two bolting units, the two drilling units and the two bolting units being simultaneously operable. 
     
     
         6 . The bolting head as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring element supportable against the rock surface and wherein the frame is configured to be turnable in relation to the anchoring element. 
     
     
         7 . A bolting rig comprising:
 a movable carrier;   at least one boom mounted on the carrier;   a bolting head in accordance with  claim 1  mounted on the at least one boom; and   a control unit arranged for controlling operation of the bolting rig, wherein the control unit is configured to provide control commands to the at least one drilling unit and to the at least bolting unit of the bolting head mounted on the at least one boom for executing a bolting work cycle including simultaneous drilling and bolting.   
     
     
         8 . A method of reinforcing a rock surface by means of rock bolts, the method comprising:
 executing reinforcing measures with a bolting rig including a bolting head mounted to a boom;   drilling a plurality of drill holes in the rock surface to be reinforced by a drilling unit of the bolting head;   mounting rock bolts in the drill holes with a bolting unit of the bolting head; and   executing, with the bolting head, simultaneous drilling and bolt mounting measures, wherein a respective rock bolt is mounted in at least one previously drilled drill hole and at a same time as at least one new drill hole is being drilled.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising keeping the drilling unit and the bolting unit spaced at a predetermined lateral distance from each other and keeping a parallel orientation thereof unchanged during the drilling and bolting measures. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising providing the rock bolts at pre-planned rock bolt positions; and covering at least two rock bolt positions at a time and positioning the bolting head at the rock bolt positions in one go. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising executing the reinforcing measures in accordance with a bolting plan having regular relative positions and distances between several rock bolt positions defined in the bolting plan. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising executing the reinforcing measures for a roof surface of an underground mine corridor. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising positioning the bolting head along a linear movement path in rows or columns. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the bolting head includes an anchoring element, which forms a triangle configuration together with the drilling unit and the bolting unit, and further comprising the steps of:
 using the bolting head;   supporting the anchoring element against the rock surface at an anchoring position;   executing square bolting for a square shaped rock bolt pattern defined by four rock bolt positions; and   executing positioning movements of the bolting head by turning the drilling unit and the bolting unit simultaneously in relation to the anchoring element for positioning the drilling unit and the bolting unit to the rock bolt positions of the square pattern.