Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 =
RAPID DEVELOPMENT MOBILE CANOPY FOR UNDERGROUND MINING
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0002] This application relates to the field of mining, and more
specifically, to a rapid development mobile canopy (or rapid
advance shield) for underground mining.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Current drill and blast advance rates are only
approximately 4 m/day even when the most efficient and
powerful equipment in the mining industry is used. As little
as 25 years ago, advance rates of 12 m/day or more were
commonplace. Today, the safest and most efficient tunnel-
advance technique is the tunnel-boring machine which is being
developed for application to very large regular shaped ore-
bodies, such as copper porphyries. Most underground base metal
mines are too small and too irregular in shape to make use of
this kind of technology.
[0004] The batch drill-and-blast method has definite advantages
in highly stressed grounds where seismic activity is
prevalent. Blasting can be used to proactively initiate the
seismic release of energy and the combination of pinned mesh
coverage allows for surface expansion before rigid shotcrete
support is added for long term stability.
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[0005]The batch drill-and-blast method can be broken down into
three stages: removal of broken rock from the heading; face-
advance activities, which include drilling holes and loading
explosives; and, ground support (i.e., roof and wall support)
installation. Currently, the process of installing ground
support is the most-time consuming component of this method
and given the challenging safety and stability conditions
encountered in deep mining, the quality of the final
installation of this component should not be compromised. In
fact, in some cases, protection from instabilities at the face
may also have to be provided.
[0006]Two important characteristics of the tunnel-boring
technique are as follows. First, the reduction of exposure of
operating personnel to the danger of rock-related injuries in
the heading. Second, the simultaneous application of face-
advance and ground support activities. Just as personnel are
protected inside the tunnel boring machine, so must batch
drill-and-blast personnel be protected from exposure to rock-
related risks at all times. To be more productive, any new
batch drill-and-blast method must emulate the simultaneous
implementation of face-advance and ground support activities
to increase the rate of advance.
[0007] One existing mobile canopy for underground mining is
described in International Patent Application Publication No.
WO 2014/047721 by Morrison. FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating
a mobile canopy in use in accordance with the prior art. FIG.
2 is a side view and a front view illustrating the mobile
canopy of FIG. 1 in accordance with the prior art. And, FIG. 3
is a side view and
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3
a front view further illustrating the mobile canopy of FIGS. 1
and 2 in accordance with the prior art.
PORI As described by Morrison, batch drill-and-blast mining
involves essentially three activities, which can be broadly
categorized as: 1) removal of broken rock from the heading; 2)
face production; and 3) ground support. For reference, the
horizontal mining tunnel in which work is taking place and
where workers are present may be referred to as the "drift".
The "tunnel face" is the part of the mine where advancement of
the mining tunnel or drift takes place. Typically, this will
consist of the vertical rock surface at the end of the drift.
The "heading of the drift" is that portion of the mine near
the tunnel face which contains the broken rock following a
blast. The heading comprises the roof, walls, and ground
surfaces of the drift. Removal of broken rock from the heading
occurs after the explosives embedded in the tunnel face have
been detonated. This step is referred to as "mucking".
(0009.] As taught by Morrison, and referring to FIG. 1, once the
broken rock has been cleared from the heading, and the heading
surveyed for potential unstable rock formations, a mobile
canopy 1 is brought into position in the drift 2 at or near
the heading 3. The mobile canopy 1 provides shelter for the
workers underneath, so that face production and ground support
activities can take place simultaneously or nearly
simultaneously. Face production activities include drilling or
boring holes in the tunnel face and packing the same with
explosives. In some cases, the face production activities may
also include forms of sampling to determine one or more
characteristics of the rock structure.
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[0010]In the batch drill-and-blast method of Morrison, the
protection provided by the mobile canopy allows for ground
supporting activities to take place at the same time as the
face production crew is at work. Ground support activities
typically involve applying shielding to the roof and wall
surfaces of the drift to protect against random rock falls or
rock bursts. The shielding may be in the form of mesh
coverage, which is standard in the industry. The shielding is
attached to the roof and wall surfaces of the drift using
standard techniques, such as rock bolting or doweling.
[0011] As taught by Morrison, the ground support activities take
place behind the mobile canopy, or in some cases, can involve
part of the mobile canopy. Having the mobile canopy positioned
at or near the heading allows for face production work to
proceed before the ground support activities have been
completed. Traditionally, the heading would have to be secured
before the face production crew could enter and begin work.
However, as taught by Morrison, the mobile canopy provides
protection to the face production crew while the ground
support crew performs its activities. This arrangement allows
for more rapid turnaround between blasts.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile canopy 1 of Morrison
includes a covered structure comprising a plurality of
vertical supports 10 connected to a frame 11 that supports a
shield 12. In one embodiment, the mobile canopy 1 comprises at
least two covered structures 5, 6, each covered structure
comprising a plurality of vertical supports 10 connected to a
frame 11 that supports a shield 12. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 3, three covered structures 5, 6, 61 are provided, each
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structure connected to its neighbour by interconnected rings
60.
[0013] According to Morrison, the vertical supports 10 are
provided to support the frame 11 and position it near the roof
of the drift. Since the main purpose of the mobile canopy 1 is
to protect workers and machines positioned underneath the
canopy from falling rock, the vertical supports 10 are made
from a material that is strong enough to support such an
impact. As such, steel is a preferred material for the
supports. In one embodiment, the vertical supports 10 are
capable of being lengthened so that the height of the mobile
canopy 1 can be adjusted to accommodate irregularities in the
height of the drift. For example, hydraulic or screw jacks or
pneumatic cylinders 20 can be provided within the vertical
supports 10 or attached thereto to allow for adjustment of the
length of the supports 10.
[0014] According to Morrison, the vertical supports 10 of the
mobile canopy 1 can also be connected to wheels 21 to allow
movement of the canopy 1 within the drift. Alternatively, the
vertical supports 10 may engage rails provided in the drift to
permit movement of the canopy 1. For example, the engagement
of the vertical supports 10 and the rails may occur through
the wheels provided on the supports.
[0016] According to Morrison, lateral movement of the covered
structures 5, 6, 61 can be limited by including lateral
supports 62 on the vertical supports 10 or the frame 11.
Similar to the vertical supports 10, the lateral supports 62
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are capable of being lengthened to accommodate irregularities
in the width of the drift 2.
(0016] According to Morrison, in most cases, a vertical support
will be positioned at each corner of the frame to provide
5 adequate support to the covered structure. However, additional
support may be achieved by positioning a leg 50 along each
longitudinal side of the frame central to the two vertical
supports 10. Depending on the overall length of the
longitudinal sides of the frame 11, a plurality of legs 50 may
10 be provided interspaced between the two corner vertical
supports 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, vertical
supports 10 are provided on two of the four corners of one of
the covered structures, and the back portion of the covered
structure is supported by the vertical supports 10 of the
second covered structure.
[0017]According to Morrison, the vertical supports 10 are
connected to a frame 11, which supports a shield 12. The frame
consists of two longitudinal sides 30 and may be
interconnected by at least cross members 32 positioned on or
near either end of the longitudinal sides 30. The overall
strength and support of the canopy 1 can be improved by
providing additional cross members 32 between the two end
cross member 32 sections. In addition, longitudinal supports
63 can be provided to connect adjacent cross members 32 as
shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the cross members 32 are
arced to allow for rocks to roll off the shield 12 in the
event a rock comes into contact with the shield 12. The
various elements of the frame 11 are also preferably made from
steel.
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[0018] According to one preferred embodiment described by
Morrison, a shield 12 overlays the frame 11. However, the
shield 12 can also be hung from the frame 11. The shield 12 is
preferably made from mesh coverage, which is typically used in
the mining industry to support the roof and walls of the drift
2. The shielding material may include 4 inch welded wire mesh,
(#6 or #4 gauge) or chain link mesh of similar gauge.
Alternatively, as shown in the covered structure 61 of FIG. 3,
the shield 12 can comprise a plurality of longitudinal
supports 63 in order to provide a more permanent form of
protection and support.
[0019] According to Morrison, in order to provide added
protection to the workers positioned under the mobile canopy
1, wall shielding 40 may also be provided on the longitudinal
sides of the covered structures 5,6. In this case, the wall
shielding 40 may be extended from the longitudinal sides 30 of
the frame 11 to or near the floor of the drift 2 or may be
extended to a height between the floor of the drift 2 and the
frame 11. The wall shielding 40 can be made of a similar
material as provided for the shield 12, i.e., mesh coverage or
longitudinal supports 63, or a combination of materials may be
used depending on the situation. In addition to the wall
shielding 40, or separate therefrom, front facing shielding 42
may be provided from one of the end cross members 32 on the
frame 11. The front facing shielding 42 prevents or limits the
possibility of injury from rock displacements that occur at
the tunnel face. The front facing shielding 42 can be made
from the same material as used for the shield 12 or may be a
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chain mesh that is hung from the end cross member 32 of the
frame 11.
[0020]According to Morrison, in one arrangement, the mobile
canopy 1 comprises at least two covered structures 5, 6. In
another, preferred arrangement, the mobile canopy 1 includes
three independent covered structures 5, 6, 61 as shown in FIG.
3. The covered structures 5, 6, 61 can be connected to allow
each structure 5, 6, 61 to travel freely in the drift 2.
Alternatively, the two structures 5, 6 can be permanently
connected, but hinged to allow each structure 5, 6 to move
independently from each other. For example, the structures 5,
6 can be both permanently and releasably connected by
interconnected rings 60, which are attached to the frame 11 of
each structure 5, 6, 61.
(0021]According to Morrison, when the mobile canopy 1 comprises
at least two covered structures 5, 6, 61, the structure (5 or
61) closest to the face can be provided with front facing
shielding 42 as described above. In this case, it may not be
necessary to provide such shielding on the second structure (6
or 5), since injury resulting from rock displacements on the
face will be less of a concern. However, curtains 64 can be
provided between the covered structures 5, 6, 61 to prevent
overhead debris from entering the protection of the mobile
canopy 1. In one embodiment, the curtains 64 are heavy
material having some slack in order to gather any debris that
might fall from overhead. In another embodiment, the covered
structure 5 that is positioned nearest the heading is covered
by mesh sheets 1.3 m by 4 m, lengthwise so there is some
overlap between the two covered structures 5, 6. The leading
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covered structure 61, i.e., the one positioned closest to the
heading 3, may be provided so that the frame 11 and wall
stlielding 40 are more permanently connected to vertical
supports 10. As described above, longitudinal supports 63
connecting the cross members 32 and the vertical supports 10
provide a more permanent and solid structure.
[0022] According to Morrison, although both covered structures
5, 6 can have identical characteristics, it is preferred that
at least the structure 6 farthest from the tunnel face be
provided so that the shield 12 can be detached from the frame
11 and used in the ground support activities. In particular,
the shield 12 is detached from the frame 11 and bolted to the
roof of the drift 2. In this embodiment, the second covered
structure 6 will comprise of standard mesh width-wise across
the drift, so as to enable the normal installation of mesh and
pattern reinforcement. Similarly, the wall shielding 40 can be
detached from the frame 11 and/or vertical supports 10 and
used to support the walls of the drift 2. By providing
detachable shielding on the second structure 6, the amount of
time required to complete the ground support activities can be
decreased.
U023] According to Morrison, typically the covered structure (5
or 61) that is positioned closest to the heading 3 will have
shielding that is meant to only be removed when damaged.
However, this structure may also have detachable shielding
that can be used in ground support activities.
[0024]One problem with existing mobile canopies such as that of
Morrison is that they are often difficult to move and position
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within a drift. In addition, the sizing of existing mobile
canopies is typically difficult to adjust while within a
drift.
(0025] A need therefore exists for an improved mobile canopy (or
rapid advance shield) for underground mining. Accordingly, a
solution that addresses, at least in part, the above and other
shortcomings is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
[0026] According to one aspect of the application, there is
provided a mobile canopy (or rapid advance shield) for use in
a tunnel, comprising: first and second opposing and spaced
walls; a curved (or arched) roof coupled between the first and
second walls; first and second skis mounted to respective
bottoms of the first and second walls, the skis adapted to
slide the mobile canopy about a floor of the tunnel; wherein
the curved roof slopes downward from a front end of the mobile
canopy toward a back end of the mobile canopy, the front end
of the mobile canopy for positioning adjacent to a face of the
tunnel; wherein the curved roof is movable between a first
position proximate a roof of the tunnel and a second position
spaced from the roof of the tunnel; and, wherein the first and
second walls are movable between respective first positions
proximate respective walls of the tunnel and respective second
positions spaced from the walls of the tunnel.
(0027] According to another aspect of the application, there is
provided a method for advancing a tunnel face in an
underground mine, comprising: blasting the tunnel face with
explosives; removing debris generated by the blasting from a
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heading of the tunnel; positioning a mobile canopy (or rapid
advance shield) at or near the heading; drilling holes in the
tunnel face and packing the holes with additional explosives;
and, securing the tunnel from inside the mobile canopy;
wherein the mobile canopy includes: first and second opposing
and spaced walls; a curved (or arched) roof coupled between
the first and second walls; first and second skis mounted to
respective bottoms of the first and second walls, the skis
adapted to slide the mobile canopy about a floor of the
tunnel; wherein the curved roof slopes downward from a front
end of the mobile canopy toward a back end of the mobile
canopy, the front end of the mobile canopy for positioning
adjacent to the tunnel face; wherein the curved roof is
movable between a first position proximate a roof of the
tunnel and a second position spaced from the roof of the
tunnel; and, wherein the first and second walls are movable
between respective first positions proximate respective walls
of the tunnel and respective second positions spaced from the
walls of the tunnel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present
application will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in combination with the appended drawings,
in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a mobile canopy in use
in accordance with the prior art;
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[0030] FIG. 2 is a side view and a front view illustrating the
mobile canopy of FIG. 1 in accordance with the prior art;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a side view and a front view further
illustrating the mobile canopy of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance
with the prior art;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating a mobile
canopy system (or rapid advance shield system) in accordance
with an embodiment of the application;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a front perspective detail view illustrating a
rail on an arced segment of a roof rafter of a face canopy in
accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a face canopy in a
vertically and horizontally extended position and with a
curtain in a retracted position in accordance with an
embodiment of the application;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the face canopy of
FIG. 6 with the curtain in an extended position in accordance
with an embodiment of the application;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a roof of a face canopy
in accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a detail view illustrating a lock (e.g., a
mechanical lock) of a hinged roof panel of the roof of the
face canopy of FIG. 8 in accordance with an embodiment of the
application;
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[0038] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a ski mounted to the
bottom ends of the studs of a wall of a face canopy in
accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0039]FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the face canopy of
FIG. 1 in position adjacent to a tunnel face in accordance
with an embodiment of the application;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view illustrating a chain
curtain installed between canopies in accordance with an
embodiment of the application; and,
[0041] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a face canopy in a
vertically and horizontally contracted position in accordance
with an embodiment of the application.
(0044 It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings,
like features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0043] In the following description, details are set forth to
provide an understanding of the application. In some
instances, certain structures, techniques and methods have not
been described or shown in detail in order not to obscure the
application.
[0044]The rapid development canopy (or mobile canopy or mobile
canopy system or rapid advance shield) 100 of the present
application allows for safe and accelerated drift excavation,
thereby accelerating mine construction and increasing value by
reducing the time to first production. Reducing the cost or
time of drift development may also reduce overall mining
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costs. The rapid development canopy system 100 of the present
application is designed to increase development rates by
improving utilization of the advancing tunnel face 1110. The
canopy system 100 enables the execution of parallel excavation
activities at the face 1110, with the development drill
drilling the next round, while ground support is being
installed behind. This reduces the development cycle time,
thereby improving development productivity.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating a mobile
canopy system (or rapid advance shield system) 100 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application. According to
one embodiment, the mobile canopy system 100 may include: a
first or "face" canopy (or shield) 110, the face canopy 110
having a front end 111 and a back end 112; a second or "jumbo"
canopy (or shield) 120 having a front end 121 and a back end
122, the front end 121 of the jumbo canopy 120 removably
coupled to the back end 112 of the face canopy 110; and, a
third or "bolting" canopy (or shield) 130 having a front end
131 and a back end 132, the front end 131 of the bolting
canopy 130 removably coupled to the back end 122 of the jumbo
canopy 120.
[0046] Thus, the mobile canopy system 100 may consist of three
canopies (or shields) 110, 120, 130; two 110, 120 that provide
temporary protection for the jumbo drill/operator, and the
other 130 to support the back and wall areas of the tunnel
1100 for screening and bolting activities.
[004T] Advantageously, each of the canopies 110, 120, 130 is
designed to be modular and easily assembled and disassembled.
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This is achieved by creating a modular and bolt together
assembly that requires no field welding. The longest component
of each canopy 110, 120, 130 is less than 12 feet in length so
that all components may be transported in a standard cage to
the drift 2 or tunnel face 1110.
[0048]According to one embodiment, each canopy, for example the
face canopy 110, includes: a first or left side wall 113; a
second or right side wall 114, the second wall 114 opposing
and spaced from the first side wall 113; and, a roof 115
coupled (e.g., bolted, etc.) between and supported by the
first and second side walls 113, 114.
[0049]Each of the canopies 110, 120, 130 may be custom designed
to fit any drift size up to approximately 5 meters wide by
approximately 5 meters high, for example. Each of the canopies
110, 120, 130 is designed to expand and collapse approximately
1 meter in both the horizontal and vertical directions for
transport and to adjust to drift size. In order to achieve
smooth contraction and expansion, the canopy system 100
incorporates rollers and rails on each post and rafter. The
canopies 110, 120, 130 may be both lifted and expanded with
cylinders or actuators (e.g., hydraulic cylinders or
actuators) and respective control systems.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a face canopy 110 in
a vertically and horizontally extended position 601, 605 and
with a curtain 600 in a retracted position 603 in accordance
with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 7 is a front view
illustrating the face canopy 110 of FIG. 6 with the curtain
600 in an extended position 604 in accordance with an
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embodiment of the application. FIG. 13 is a front view
illustrating a face canopy 110 in a vertically and horizonally
contracted position 602, 606 in accordance with an embodiment
of the application. And, FIG. 5 is a front perspective detail
view illustrating a rail 500 on an arced segment 320 of a roof
rafter 300 of a face canopy 110 in accordance with an
embodiment of the application.
V051]Referring to FIGS. 4-7 and 13, according to one
embodiment, the first and second walls 113, 114 include a
number (e.g., 8) of spaced legs, studs, or posts 200 coupled
(e.g., bolted, etc.) at a lower end 201 to a respective ski
1010, 1020 and at an upper end 202 to a respective rafter 300
of the roof 115. Each post 200 includes at least two segments
210, 220 that are slidably coupled by a respective rail and
roller mechanism. An actuator or hydraulic cylinder 270 may be
used to vertically expand and contract each post 200 by moving
the post segments 210, 220 vertically away or toward each
other. As such, each wall 113, 114 may be vertically expanded
and contracted thus raising and lowering the height of the
roof 115 between extended and contracted positions 601, 602.
Wall panels 250 formed from metal mesh, metal screen, metal
bars, or solid plates may be mounted between adjacent posts
200 along with cross supports 260 to the walls 113, 114.
R0521According to one embodiment, the roof 115 includes a
number (e.g., 8) of spaced and arched (or curved) rafters 300
that are coupled (e.g., bolted, etc.) at a first or left side
to an upper end 202 of a respective post 200 of the first or
left wall 113 and at a second or right side to an upper end
202 of a respective post 200 of the second or right wall 114.
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Each rafter 300 includes at least two arced (or curved)
segments 310, 320, 330 that are slidably coupled by a
respective rail 500 and roller mechanism. An actuator or
hydraulic cylinder 870 may be used to horizontally expand and
contract each rafter 300 by moving the rafter segments 310,
320, 330 away or toward each other. As such, the roof 115 may
be horizontally expanded and contracted thus narrowing and
widening the width (i.e., the spacing between the walls 113,
114) of the canopy 110 between expanded and contracted
positions 605, 606. According to one alternate embodiment, the
rafters 300 may be flat rather than arched or curved.
(000] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, according to one
embodiment, the face canopy 110 includes a curtain (e.g., a
chain curtain, etc.) 600 mounted over the open front end 111
to be adjacent to the tunnel face 1110. The curtain 600 may be
moved from an extended position 603 to a retracted position
604 during mucking and is robust enough to survive damage from
drilling.
(0054] FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a roof 115 of a face
canopy 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the
application. And, FIG. 9 is a detail view illustrating a lock
(e.g., a mechanical lock) 900 of a hinged roof panel 800 of
the roof 115 of the face canopy 110 of FIG. 8 in accordance
with an embodiment of the application. According to one
embodiment, the roof 115 is arched or curved upwards so as to
allow the roof 115 to expand to as tightly to the drift or
tunnel roof 1120 as possible. The arched or curved shape of
the roof 115 improves the shedding (i.e., by gravity) of rocks
and loose material from the roof 115. At least the face and
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jumbo canopies 110, 120 have hinged roof panels 800 mounted
between rafters 300 which may be opened to shed loose material
from the roof 115. The hinged roof panels 800 have mechanical
locks 900 which may be operated by stick by personal from
within 1300 the canopy 110, 120 to unlock and open the hinged
panels 800 to facilitate the shedding of loose material. Note
that the hinged roof panels 800 are shown in their closed
positions 801 in FIG. 8. The roof 115 may also include non-
openable, non-hinged roof panels 810 where appropriate. The
roof panels 800, 810 may be mounted between rafters 300 along
with cross supports 820 to complete the roof 115. The roof
panels 800, 810 may be formed from parallel metal bars, metal
mesh, metal screen, solid plates, etc. The walls 113, 114 of
each canopy 110, 120 may be similarly constructed.
(0055] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a ski 1010 mounted to
the bottom ends 201 of the studs 200 of a wall 113 of a face
canopy 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the
application. According to one embodiment, each canopy 110,
120, 130 includes a ski (e.g., a solid ski, etc.) 1010, 1020
with a curved bottom 1011, 1021 mounted to the bottom of each
wall (e.g., 113, 114) to allow the canopy (e.g., 110) to be
slid, skidded or dragged over uneven ground such as that of a
tunnel floor 1150. The curved bottom 1011, 1021 of each ski
1010, 1020 allows for movement in any direction (i.e.,
forward, backward, side-to-side, etc.). Each canopy 110, 120,
130 is adapted to be pulled by chains or cables mounted or
coupled to the skis 1010, 1020 (e.g., via respective eyelets
1030). This provides the operator with both steering control
as well as a clear view.
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mom FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the face canopy 110
of FIG. 1 in position adjacent to a tunnel face 1110 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application. According to
one embodiment, the face canopy 110 has a tapered or sloped
roof 115 in order to allow for full perimeter drilling while
still offering full protection. The roof 115 slopes downward
from the front end 111 of the face canopy 110 toward the back
end 112 of the face canopy 110.
[0057] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view illustrating a chain
curtain 1200 installed between canopies 110, 120, 130 in
accordance with an embodiment of the application. According to
one embodiment, between the canopies 110, 120, 130 there is
mounted a respective curtain (e.g., a chain curtain, etc.)
1200 to allow for travel of the canopy system 100 through non-
straight or curved drifts or tunnels 1100 while maintaining
protection for operators within 1300.
[0058] According to one embodiment, each of the three canopies
110, 120, 130 is designed to withstand a dynamic load
equivalent to a large rock burst and the required static load
equivalent to or greater than standard rock support.
gmm In operation, the mobile canopy system (or rapid advance
shield system) 100 is assembled in a tunnel 1100 of a mine and
the face canopy 110 is coupled to jumbo canopy 120 which is in
turn coupled to the bolting canopy 130. The canopies 110, 120,
130 may be slide about in the tunnel 1110 on the skis 1010,
1020 mounted to the bottom of each canopy 110, 120, 130. The
front end 111 of the face canopy 110 is then slide into
position adjacent to the face 1110 of the tunnel 1100.
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Hydraulic cylinders (e.g., 270) mounted in the walls 113, 114
of each canopy (e.g., 110) are operated to extend the walls
113, 114 and hence raise the arched or curved roof (e.g., 115)
of each canopy 110 into an extended position 605 proximate the
roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100. In addition, hydraulic cylinders
(e.g., 870) mounted in the roof 115 of each canopy 110 are
operated to extend the roof 115 and push the walls 113, 114 of
each canopy 110 into respective extended positions 601
proximate the walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1110. The chain
curtain 600 mounted over the front end 111 of the face canopy
110 may then be raised to allow mining operations to begin at
the tunnel face 1110 by miners or operators safely positioned
within 1300 the canopy 110. In the event that loose material
is generated by the mining operations and falls onto the roof
115 of the canopy 110, operators within 1300 the canopy 110
may unlock and open the hinged roof panels 800 provided in the
roof 115 to remove the loose material.
[0060] Thus, according to one embodiment, there is provided a
mobile canopy (e.g., a face canopy) 110 for use in a tunnel
1100, comprising: first and second opposing and spaced walls
113, 114; a curved (or arched) roof 115 coupled between the
first and second walls 113, 114; first and second skis 1010,
1020 mounted to respective bottoms (e.g., 201) of the first
and second walls 113, 114, the skis 1010, 1020 adapted to
slide the mobile canopy 110 about a floor 1150 of the tunnel
1100; wherein the curved roof 115 slopes downward from a front
end 111 of the mobile canopy 110 toward a back end 112 of the
mobile canopy 110, the front end 111 of the mobile canopy 110
for positioning adjacent to a face 1110 of the tunnel 1100;
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wherein the curved roof 115 is movable between a first
position 605 proximate a roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100 and a
second position 606 spaced from the roof 1120 of the tunnel
1100; and, wherein the first and second walls 113, 114 are
movable between respective first positions 601 proximate
respective walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1100 and respective
second positions 602 spaced from the walls 1130, 1140 of the
tunnel 1100.
[0061]The above mobile canopy 110 may further include a curtain
600 mounted over a front end 111 of the canopy 110, the
curtain 600 movable from an extended position 603 covering the
front end 111 of the canopy 110 to a retracted position 604
uncovering the front end 110 of the canopy 110. The mobile
canopy 110 may further include at least one actuator 270
mounted in each of the first and second walls 113, 114 and
operable to extend and contract the first and second walls
113, 114 and hence move the roof 115 between the first
position 601 proximate the roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100 and
the second position 602 spaced from the roof 1120 of the
tunnel 1100. The mobile canopy 110 may further include at
least one actuator 870 mounted in the roof 115 and operable to
extend and contract the roof 115 and hence move the first and
second walls 113, 114 between the respective first positions
605 proximate the respective walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel
1100 and the respective second positions 606 spaced from the
walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1100. The first and second
walls 113, 114 may include one or more spaced vertical or
approximately vertical studs 200. Each stud 200 may include a
first segment 210 slidably coupled to a second segment 220
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thereby allowing the first and second walls 113, 114 to be
extended and contracted 601, 602. The roof 115 may include one
or more spaced rafters 300. Each rafter 300 may include at
least two curved segments 310, 320, 330 that are slidably
coupled to each other thereby allowing the roof 115 to be
extended and contracted 605, 606. The roof may include at
least one hinged roof panel 800 openable from inside 1300 the
canopy 110. And, the at least one hinged rood panel 800 may
include at least one respective lock 900 for securing the at
least one hinged roof panel 800 in a closed position 801.
(00621According to another embodiment, there is provided a
method (or process) for advancing a tunnel face 1110 in an
underground mine, comprising: blasting the tunnel face 1110
with explosives; removing debris generated by the blasting
from a heading 3 of the tunnel 1100; positioning a mobile
canopy (e.g., a face canopy) 110 at or near the heading 3;
drilling holes in the tunnel face 1110 and packing the holes
with additional explosives; and, securing the tunnel 1100 from
inside the mobile canopy 110; wherein the mobile canopy 110
includes: first and second opposing and spaced walls 113, 114;
a curved (or arched) roof 115 coupled between the first and
second walls 113, 114; first and second skis 1010, 1020
mounted to respective bottoms (e.g., 201) of the first and
second walls 113, 114, the skis 1010, 1020 adapted to slide
the mobile canopy 110 about a floor 1150 of the tunnel 1100;
wherein the curved roof 115 slopes downward from a front end
111 of the mobile canopy 110 toward a back end 112 of the
mobile canopy 110, the front end 111 of the mobile canopy 110
for positioning adjacent to the tunnel face 1110; wherein the
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curved roof 115 is movable between a first position 605
proximate a roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100 and a second position
606 spaced from the roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100; and, wherein
the first and second walls 113, 114 are movable between
respective first positions 601 proximate respective walls
1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1100 and respective second positions
602 spaced from the walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1100.
(0063] In the above method, the mobile canopy 110 may further
include a curtain 600 mounted over a front end 111 of the
canopy 110, the curtain 600 movable from an extended position
603 covering the front end 111 of the canopy 110 to a
retracted position 604 uncovering the front end 110 of the
canopy 110. The mobile canopy 110 may further include at least
one actuator 270 mounted in each of the first and second walls
113, 114 and operable to extend and contract the first and
second walls 113, 114 and hence move the roof 115 between the
first position 601 proximate the roof 1120 of the tunnel 1100
and the second position 602 spaced from the roof 1120 of the
tunnel 1100. The mobile canopy 110 may further include at
least one actuator 870 mounted in the roof 115 and operable to
extend and contract the roof 115 and hence move the first and
second walls 113, 114 between the respective first positions
605 proximate the respective walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel
1100 and the respective second positions 606 spaced from the
walls 1130, 1140 of the tunnel 1100. The first and second
walls 113, 114 may include one or more spaced vertical or
approximately vertical studs 200. Each stud 200 may include a
first segment 210 slidably coupled to a second segment 220
thereby allowing the first and second walls 113, 114 to be
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extended and contracted 601, 602. The roof 115 may include one
or more spaced rafters 300. Each rafter 300 may include at
least two curved segments 310, 320, 330 that are slidably
coupled to each other thereby allowing the roof 115 to be
extended and contracted 605, 606. The roof may include at
least one hinged roof panel 800 openable from inside 1300 the
canopy 110. And, the at least one hinged rood panel 800 may
include at least one respective lock 900 for securing the at
least one hinged roof panel 800 in a closed position 801.
(0064.1The embodiments of the application described above are
intended to be examples only. Those skilled in this art will
understand that various modifications of detail may be made to
these embodiments, all of which come within the scope of the
application.
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