Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRAVELLING BOOM FOR ROCK BOLTING MACHINE AND APPARATUS
The present invention relates to a rock bolting machine used to drill a bolt
hole and install
a rock bolt in a roof of an underground space that includes a vehicle and more
particularly to a rock bolting apparatus that uses a travelling boom to
support a rock
bolting apparatus.
BACKGROUND
Rock bolts are installed in the roofs of mines, tunnels and other underground
spaces for
securing the roof of the mine in place and preventing the roof from collapsing
when the
mine is in use and workers may be in the mine. First, a bolt hole is drilled
in the mine
roof and then a rock bolt is secured in the drilled bolt hole.
It is common for the rock bolts to be installed by using a vehicle with a rock
bolting
apparatus attached to a boom. The rock bolting apparatus can be raised or
lowered using
the boom so that the rock bolting apparatus can come into contact with the
roof of the
mine to drill a bolt hole and install a rock bolt in the drill bolt hole. The
purpose of the
boom is to position the rock bolting apparatus well out in front of the
vehicle so that the
vehicle and the operator of the vehicle can remain under a portion of the mine
roof that
has already been rock bolted and secured.
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However, because the underground spaces where the rock bolts are being
installed are
often narrow and tight, it is often hard to maneuver a vehicle through these
underground
spaces. While having a boom extending far out in front of the vehicle with a
rock bolting
apparatus attached to the end of the boom is useful to allow the vehicle to
remain under a
portion of the mine roof that has already been bolted while a rock bolt is
being installed,
this long boom can make it even more difficult to maneuver the vehicle around
underground and in other confined spaces.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rock bolting machine;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the rock bolting machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the rock bolting machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a close up view of a distal end of a boom on the rock bolting
machine;
FIG. 5 is close up view of the distal end of the rock bolting machine with the
distal end of
the boom moved to an operating position;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the rock bolting machine in a transport position;
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FIG. 7 is a top view of the rock bolting machine in a transport position;
FIG, 8 is a side view of the rock bolting machine in an operating position;
and
FIG. 9 is a top view of the rock bolting machine in an operating position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a rock bolting machine 10 that is used to travel in a mine
or other
underground space and install rock bolts in the roof of the underground space.
The rock
bolting machine 10 can comprise a vehicle 20 and a rock bolting apparatus 50
connected
to the vehicle 20 by a boom 30. The boom 30 can be attached to a rock bolting
apparatus
50 so that the boom 30 positions the rock bolting apparatus 50 out in front of
the vehicle
20. An operator can maneuver the rock bolting machine 10 so that the rock
bolting
apparatus 50 is positioned under a spot on the roof of the underground chamber
where a
rock bolt is going to be installed and then the rock bolting apparatus 50 can
be placed
against the roof of the underground space using the boom 30 and the rock
bolting
apparatus 50 used to first drill a bolt hole for the rock bolt and then
install a rock bolt in
the drilled bolt hole. By using the boom 30 to position the rock bolting
apparatus 50 well
out in front of the vehicle 10, the vehicle 10 can be operated under a portion
of the roof in
the underground space that has already been rock bolted.
The vehicle 10 can have a pair of rear wheels 12, a pair of front wheel 14 and
an engine
15 so that the vehicle 10 is self-propelled. A cab 16 can be provided on the
vehicle 10 so
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that an operator can sit in the cab 16 and operate the rock bolting machine
10. In one
aspect, the vehicle 10 can be hydraulic powered to drive the rear wheels 12,
the front
wheels 14 or both the rear wheels 12 and the front wheels 14. The hydraulics
can also be
used to operate the boom 30 and the rock bolting apparatus 50.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the rock bolting apparatus 50 attached to a distal
end 34 of the
boom 30 that can be used to both drill a bolt hole and then install a rock
bolt in the bolt
hole. The rock bolting apparatus 50 can include a pick mast 110 and a drill
bolt mast
130. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the pick mast 110 can operatively connected to
the distal
end 34 of the boom 30 and can contain a pick 112 that can be extended out of a
top of a
pick guide 114. The head of the pick 112 can form a point for engaging a roof
of an
underground space. In one aspect, the extension and retraction of the pick 112
out at of
the pick guide 114 can be driven by a hydraulic cylinder.
The drill bolt mast 130 can be pivotally connected by a pivot point 132 to the
pick mast
110 so that the drill bolt mast 130 can be rotated around this pivot point 132
while the
pick mast 110 remains stationary. An actuator 134 can be positioned between
the pick
mast 110 and the drill bolt mast 130 to rotate the drill bolt mast 130 around
the pivot
point 132. In one aspect, the actuator 134 can be a hydraulic cylinder.
The drill bolt mast 130 can have a frame 135 with a top plate 136 and a nub
138
extending upwards above the top plate 136. The nub 138 can be forcibly
retracted
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downwards toward the top plate 136 and is connected to a switch to stop the
boom 30
from continuing to move the rock bolt apparatus 50 after the nub 138 has been
depressed.
In this manner, when the nub 138 is depressed the rock bolt apparatus 50 and
specifically
the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130 is against the roof of the
underground space.
The drill bolt mast 130 can include a drilling portion 140 and a bolting
portion 160. The
drilling portion 140 is used to first drill a bolt hole in the roof of the
underground space.
When the bolt hole has been drilled, the drill bolt mast 130 can then be
rotated around the
pivot point 132 until the bolting portion 160 lines up with the bolt hole and
the bolting
portion 160 used to install a rock bolt in the bolt hole.
The drilling portion 140 can have a drill guide frame 142 that can be moved
vertically
relative to the frame 135 of the drill mast 130 as well as guide a drill rod
144 that can be
moved vertically relative to the drill guide frame 142 as the drill rod 144 is
rotated and
moved upwards relative to the drill guide frame 142. The drill guide frame 142
can
extend vertically and be movable so that a top end of the drill guide frame
142 can be
positioned against the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130 or moved
downwards to
create a space between the top of the drill guide frame 142 and bottom of the
top panel
136.
A foot plate 146 can be provided on the bottom of the drill guide frame 142 to
protect the
elements of the drilling portion 140 from being damaged if the bottom of the
drilling
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portion 140 accidentally comes into contact with the floor of the underground
chamber
while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being maneuvered into place.
The drilling portion 140 can both rotate the drill rod 144 and move the drill
rod 144
upwards relative to the drill guide frame 142 and the frame 135 of the drill
bolt mast 130
to drill a bolt hole where the rock bolt will be installed.
The bolting portion 160 of the rock bolting apparatus 50 is used to fasten a
rock bolt 164
into the bolt hole that has been created by the drilling portion 140. The
bolting portion
160 can have a bolting guide frame 162 that allows a bolting assembly 170 to
move
vertically along bolting guide frame 162. The bolting guide frame 162 can
extend
vertically and be movable vertically relative to the frame 135 of the drill
bolt mast 130 so
that a top end of the bolting guide frame 162 can be positioned against the
top plate 136
of the drill bolt mast 130 or moved downwards to create a space between the
top of the
bolting guide frame 162 and bottom of the top panel 136 of the drill bolt mast
130.
A foot plate 166 can be provided on the bottom of the bolting guide frame 162
to protect
the elements of the bolting portion 160 from being damaged if the bottom of
the bolting
portion 160 accidentally comes into contact with the floor of the underground
space
while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being maneuvered into place.
The bolting portion 160 can both rotate the rock bolt 164 and move the rock
bolt 164
upwards relative to the bolting guide frame 162 and the frame 135 of the drill
bolt mast
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130 to insert the rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole drilled by the drilling
portion 140 of the
drill bolt mast 130. Typically, the rock bolt 164 is first moved upwards into
the drilled
bolt hole and then only rotated by the bolting portion 160 when the rock bolt
164 has
been inserted all the way into the bolt hole to secure the rock bolt 164 in
the bolt hole.
In operation, the rock bolting apparatus 50 can be positioned against the roof
of the
underground space. Once in place against the roof of the underground space,
the pick
112 in the pick mast 110 can be used to hold the rock bolting apparatus 50
against the
roof while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being used to drill a bolt hole
and install a
rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole by extending the pick 110 out of the top of the
pick guide
114 and forcing it into the roof of the underground space. By engaging the
roof in this
manner, the extended pick 110 can hold the rock bolting apparatus 50 in place
and
prevent it from shifting its position on the roof while the bolt hole is being
drilled and the
rock bolt 164 is being installed in the drilled bolt hole.
Once the rock bolting apparatus 50 is secured in position using the pick 112,
the drilling
portion 140 on the drill bolt mast 130 can be used to drill a bolt hole. The
drilling rod
144 can be rotated and forced upwards to bore the bolt hole in the roof of the
underground space.
When the bolt hole has been drilled by the drilling portion 140. the drill rod
144 can be
retracted from the bolt hole it is has drilled and the bolting portion 160 can
then be used
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to install a rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole. The drill bolt mast 130 can be
pivoted around
pivot point 132 using actuator 134 while the pick 112 keeps the rock bolting
apparatus 50
in the same position relative to the roof. When the drill bolt mast 130 has
pivoted so that
the rock bolt 164 is positioned under the bolt hole, the pivoting of the drill
bolt mast 130
can be stopped and the drilling portion 160 of the rock bolting apparatus 50
can be used
to install the rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole.
With the rock bolt 164 positioned under the bolt hole, the bolting portion 160
can move
the rock bolt 164 upwards to insert it in the drilled bolt hole. Once the rock
bolt 164 is
inserted into the bolt hole, the rock bolt 164 can be torqued secure it in the
bolt hole.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the boom 30 can be attached to the vehicle 20 at a
proximal
end 32 of the boom 30 and to the rock bolting apparatus 50 at the distal end
34.
The boom 30 can be formed of a number of telescoping sections 31 so the boom
30 can
be telescopically extended or retracted, allowing the length of the boom 30 to
be
increased or decreased. The proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can also be
attached to the
vehicle 10 in so that that the proximal end of the boom 30 can move relative
to the
vehicle 10 in addition to allowing the boom 30 to be pivoted from side to side
and up and
down.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates views of the distal end 32 of the boom 30. The
distal end 32 of
the boom 30 can include a connection frame 302 that houses a boom motor 304,
such as a
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hydraulic motor, attached to a connection panel 306. The boom motor 304 is
operative to
rotate the connection panel 306 relative to the connection frame 203. The
distal end 32
of the boom 30 can be attached at a pivot point 308 to the connection panel
306. By
using the boom motor 304 to rotate the connection panel 306 relative to the
connection
frame 302, the boom 30 can be pivoted from side to side relative to the
vehicle 20.
By having the distal end 32 of the boom 30 attached to the pivot point 308 on
the
connection plate 306, the boom 30 can be pivoted upwards and downwards
relative to the
connection frame 302. An actuator 310, such as hydraulic cylinder, can he
provided
between the connection plate 306 and the boom 30 to pivot the boom 30 upwards
and
downwards around the pivot point 308.
The connection frame 302 can be attached to a track 320 having a distal end
322 and a
proximate end 324 so that the connection frame 302 and therefore the distal
end 32 of the
boom 30 can move relative to the vehicle 20. Brackets 330 can be provided on
the
connection frame 302 that are slidably attachable to a pair of rails 332 on
the track 320 so
that the connection frame 302 can slidably move along the track 320.
A rack 340 can be provided running along the length of the track 320 that
meshes with a
pinion 342 attached to the connection frame 302. A pinion motor 344 can be
provided to
rotate the pinion 342. In this manner, the pinion motor 344 can be used to
rotate the
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pinion 342 which will mesh with the rack 340 and thereby move the connection
frame
302 along the track 320.
Stop brackets 350 can be positioned at the distal end 322 of the track 320 to
stop the
connection frame 302 when it reaches the distal end 322 of the track 320.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the cab 16 of the vehicle 20 can be offset to one
side of the
vehicle 20 to allow space for the track 320 to be positioned running alongside
the cab 16
and allowing the track 320 to be positioned closer to a center line of the
vehicle 20.
Positioning the cab 16 so that the track 320 can run along beside the cab 16
also allows
the distal end 32 of the boom 30 to be moved rearward behind the front of the
cab 16 and
beside the cab 16, further decreasing the overall length of the rock bolting
machine 10
when it is in a transport position.
The track 320 can be positioned on the vehicle 10 so that the distal end 322
of the track
320 is positioned alongside of the cab 16 and behind a front of the cab 16.
The proximate
end 324 of the track 320 can be positioned on the vehicle 10 so that when the
connection
frame 302 is moved to the proximate end 324 of the track 320, the connection
frame 302
will be positioned over a spot between the front wheels 14 of the vehicle 10
so that the
weight of the boom 30 and rock bolting apparatus 50 applied to the vehicle 20
at the
distal end 32 of the boom 30 is applied downwards between the front wheels 14.
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The movement of the distal end 32 of the boom 30 relative to the vehicle 20
allows the
rock drill machine 10 to be placed in a transport position for when the rock
drill machine
is being driven somewhere and an operating position for when the rock drill
machine
10 is being used to install a rock bolt in the roof of a underground space.
FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrates the rock bolting machine 10 in the transport position. In the
transport position,
the boom 30 is telescopically retracted to its most retracted and shortest
length and the
distal end 32 of the boom 30 is moved to the distal end 322 of the track 320.
Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator 310 can be used to pivot the boom 30 substantially
parallel to
a ground surface and the boom motor 304 can be used to pivot the boom 30 so
that it
extends straight ahead of the vehicle 20. The pinion motor 344 can be used to
rotate the
pinion 342 along the rack 340 until the connection frame 302 is moved to the
distal end
322 of the track 320.
Referring again to FIG. 6 and 7, with the boom 30 placed in the transport
position, the
distal end 32 of the boom 30 is placed alongside the cab 16 and behind the
front of the
cab 16 while the boom 30 is telescopically retracted to its shortest length.
This can cause
the rock bolting machine 10 to be much more maneuverable by reducing the
overall
length of the rock bolting machine 10 while in this transport position.
Fig. 8 shows the rock bolting machine 10 in the operating position and being
used to
install a rock bolt. The distal end 32 of the boom 30 can be moved so that it
is positioned
at the proximate end 324 of the track 320 with the distal end 32 of the boom
30 and the
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connection frame 302 positioned over the front wheels 14. In the operating
position, the
boom 30 can be telescopically extended to its desired length and the boom 30
pivoted
upwards if required to reach a roof of the underground space.
FIG. 9 shows a top view of the rock bolting machine 10 with the boom 30 in an
operating
position. The boom 30 is telescopically extended and the distal end 32 of the
boom 30
and the connection frame 302 are moved to the proximate end 324 of the track
320. In
addition to the boom 30 being pivotal upwards and downwards around the distal
end 32
the boom 30 can be pivoted from side to side.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
