AU2012258344A1

AU2012258344A1 - A mesh assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2012258344A1
Application number: AU2012258344A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ross Bourke
Original assignee: Australian Steel Company Operations Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Australian Steel Company Operations Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-29
Filing date: 2012-11-22
Publication date: 2013-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-22
Also published as: AU2012258344B2

Abstract

A MESH ASSEMBLY A mesh assembly (10) including a wire mesh (12) and a flexible sheet (13). The mesh (12) includes a first set of wires (14) and a second set of wires (15). The wires (14) are generally parallel and transversely spaced and generally perpendicular (normal) to the wires (15). The flexible sheet (13) may be formed of sheet plastics material and can be reinforced by fibres (19). The sheet (13) is placed between the wires (14, 15).

Description

S&F Ref: P055810 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address The Australian Steel Company (Operations) Pty Ltd, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 069 426 955, of Level 40, 259 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Ross Bourke Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A mesh assembly Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2011904968 29 Nov 2011 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(6892753_1) 1 A MESH ASSEMBLY FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to mesh assemblies and more particularly but not exclusively to mesh employed in mines to line mine walls and ceilings. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Mesh is employed in mines and more particularly is bolted to tunnel ceilings to inhibit material such as rock falling from the ceiling. [0003] A disadvantage of known mesh employed in mines is that it is difficult to handle due to its weight. [0004] A further disadvantage is that material can fall between the wires of the mesh. OBJECT [0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. SUMMARY [0006] There is firstly disclosed herein a mesh assembly including: a mesh having a first set of wires that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, a second set of wires, the wires of the second set being fixed to the wires of the first set so as to be generally normal thereto, with the second set of wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, with the two sets of wires being secured together at intersections; and a flexible sheet secured to the mesh. [0007] Preferably, the flexible sheet is secured to the mesh by ties.

2 [0008] There is also disclosed herein an installation including: a mine surface and the mesh assembly, with the mesh assembly being secured to the surface by bolts. [0009] Preferably, the surface is a ceiling. [0010] In an alternative preferred form, the surface is a wall. [0011] Preferably, the sheet is located between the mesh and the surface. [0012] There is further disclosed herein a mesh assembly including: a mesh having a first set of metal wires that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, a second set of metal wires, the wires of the second set being fixed to the wires of the first set so as to be generally normal thereto, with the second set of wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, with the two sets of wires being secured together at intersections; and a flexible sheet having a plurality of apertures arranged in rows and located at the intersections so that the sheet is located between the two sets of wires. [0013] Preferably, the sheet is formed of reinforced plastics material. [0014] Preferably, the sheet is reinforced by a plurality of reinforcing strands extending generally parallel to the first set, and a plurality of reinforcing strands extending generally parallel to the second set. [0015] Preferably, the sheet is a knitted polyester saturated and coated with PVC. [0016] Preferably, the sheet includes a fire retardant. [0017] There is further disclosed herein a method of forming a mesh assembly, the method including: providing a plurality of first metal wires so that the wires are generally parallel but transversely spaced; placing a flexible sheet having a plurality of apertures on the first set of wires; and 3 placing a plurality of second wires so as to engage the first wires through the apertures, the second wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, and normal to the first wires; and welding the first wires and second wires together with a contact through the apertures. [0018] Preferably, the flexible sheet is reinforced plastics. [0019] Preferably, the sheet is formed of knitted polyester that is saturated and coated with PVC. [0020] Preferably, the flexible sheet includes a fire retardant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0022] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a mesh assembly; [0023] Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of the assembly of Figure 2; [0024] Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of a wire mesh employed in the assembly of Figure I; [0025] Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of a flexible sheet employed in the assembly of Figure 1; and [0026] Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a mesh assembly secured to an internal surface of a mine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0027] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a mesh assembly 10. The mesh assembly 10 includes a wire mesh 12 and a flexible sheet 13.

4 [0028] The mesh 12 includes a first set of wires 14 and a second set of wires 15. The wires 14 are generally parallel and transversely spaced and generally perpendicular (normal) to the wires 15. The wires 15 are generally parallel and transversely spaced and welded to the wires 14 at intersections 18. [0029] The flexible sheet 13 may be formed of sheet plastics material and can be reinforced by fibres 19. The fibres 19 may be metal wire and/or plastic strands. Preferably, the sheet 13 is a knitted polyester saturated and coated with PVC. Preferably the sheet 13 includes a fire retardant compound. The sheet 13 would be treated in a heated chamber to form a structural grid. Typically the sheet 13 would be a geo-textile fabric. The sheet 13 has a plurality of apertures 16 arranged in rows. [0030] In constructing the assembly 10, the metal wires 14 would be fed from reels in a generally continuous manner, with the sheet 13 then placed on the wires 14. Lengths of metal wires 15 would then be placed on top of the mesh 12 and sheet 13 so that the wires 14 and 15 engage intersections (contact areas) 18 located at the apertures 16 of the sheet 13. This structure would then be fed into the welding machine so that the wires 14 were welded to the wires 15 at the intersections 18 exposed by the apertures 16. Accordingly the sheet 13 is essentially located between the wires 14 and 15. [0031] In Figure 5 there is a depicted a mine tunnel 21. The tunnel 21 has a ceiling surface 22 and wall surface 23. Secured to the surface 22 by rock bolts 24 is a mesh assembly as described above. However in this particular embodiment, the sheet 13 is located between the surface 22 and the mesh 12. The sheet 13 is secured to the mesh 12 by metal or plastic ties 25. [0032] It should be appreciated that the mesh assembly could also be secured to the wall surfaces 23. [0033] In one preferred embodiment, the wires 14 may include two further wires 17 that are displaced from the general plane of the mesh 12 to aid in increasing the stiffness of the assembly 10. [0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the wire mesh 12 may be secured to the flexible sheet 13 by fasteners, rather than being located between the wires 14 and 15.

5 [0035] In the above described preferred embodiment, the wire mesh 12 provides structural integrity, with the sheet 13 (geofabric) being light and flexible but reducing the effective aperture size of the mesh 12. Accordingly relative to previous products, the mesh assembly 10 provides small aperture size and good structural stability. While providing effectively a smaller aperture, the above assembly 10 is lighter than a mesh providing such apertures.

Claims

1. A mesh assembly including: a mesh having a first set of wires that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, a second set of wires, the wires of the second set being fixed to the wires of the first set so as to be generally normal thereto, with the second set of wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, with the two sets of wires being secured together at intersections; and a flexible sheet secured to the mesh.

2. The mesh of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet is secured to the mesh by ties.

3. An installation including: a mine surface and the mesh assembly of claim I or 2 being secured to the surface by bolts.

4. The installation of claim 3, wherein the surface is a ceiling.

5. The installation of claim 3, wherein the surface is a wall.

6. The installation of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the sheet is located between the mesh and the surface.

7. A mesh assembly including: a mesh having a first set of metal wires that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, a second set of metal wires, the wires of the second set being fixed to the wires of the first set so as to be generally normal thereto, with the second set of wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, with the two sets of wires being secured together at intersections; and a flexible sheet having a plurality of apertures arranged in rows and located at the intersections so that the sheet is located between the two sets of wires.

8. The mesh of claim 7, wherein the sheet is formed of reinforced plastics material. 7

9. The mesh of claim 7 or 8, wherein the sheet is reinforced by a plurality of reinforcing strands extending generally parallel to the first set, and a plurality of reinforcing strands extending generally parallel to the second set.

10. The mesh of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the sheet is a knitted polyester saturated and coated with PVC.

11. The mesh of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sheet includes a fire retardant.

12. A method of forming a mesh assembly, the method including: providing a plurality of first metal wires so that the wires are generally parallel but transversely spaced; placing a flexible sheet having a plurality of apertures on the first set of wires; and placing a plurality of second wires so as to engage the first wires through the apertures, the second wires being generally parallel and transversely spaced, and normal to the first wires; and welding the first wires and second wires together with a contact through the apertures.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible sheet is reinforced plastics.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the sheet is formed of knitted polyester that is saturated and coated with PVC.

15. The method of claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the flexible sheet includes a fire retardant. Dated 21 November, 2012 The Australian Steel Company (Operations) Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON