AU2015101881B4 - Support System - Google Patents

Abstract

Docun t9-7/12/2015 The invention relates to a support system formed of layers of stacked beams, wherein each layer is formed of only a single beam with a lateral connecting slot intermediate ends of 5 the beam to engage with a laterally extending beam of an adjacent layer. The invention also relates to a support system formed of stacked beams that have connecting transverse slots angled relative to a longitudinal direction of each beam such that the beams stack in a triangular structure.

Description

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SUPPORT SYSTEM

Field

The present invention relates a support system particularly but not exclusively for use in 5 mining and construction.

Background A known type of support for a mine roof is formed of inter-fitted timber sections. Each section is milled to have a pair of matching top and bottom notches at either end of the 10 section. The sections form alternating layers, with two parallel sections per layer and each layer being stacked at right angles relative to the next layer. The notches of each layer intersect at right angles so as that the resultant sections are securely locked together in a square shaped stack. 15 Object

The present invention seeks to provide an alternate form of support system.

Summary

In one aspect, there is provided a support system for use in mining, the support system 20 being formed of layers of stacked beams, wherein: each layer is formed of only a single beam with a lateral connecting slot intermediate ends of the beam to engage with a laterally extending beam of an adjacent layer; the beams of each adjacent layer intersect at a right angle; the slot is formed in a top edge of each beam and a matching second slot is provided in a bottom edge of each beam; the stacked beams form a cross shape in plan 25 view; the beams have facing rebates formed toward either end of each beam; and keeper cleats are inserted between the layers, in the associated rebates, to connect adjoining parallel beams of next-most adjacent layers, in order to resist relative rotation between the layers. 30 In one example, the stacked beams form a cross shape in plan view.

In one example, the support system further includes cap beams across either end of the 2015101881 04 Μ 2017

Document 16-4/07/2017 -2- stacked beams, so that the cap beams lock into the associated slot of the respective end-most beam and the end surface of the cap beam is substantially flush with an edge of the end-most beam. 5 In one example, the cap beams are further locked to an adjoining parallel beam of the stacked beams by an associated locking element.

In one aspect, the support system further includes a containment wall fixed to the support beams to provide a void between the wall and the stacked beams. 10

In one example, the containment wall includes a port to allow settable material to be pumped into the void.

In one example, the containment wall is in the form of corrugated sheeting. 2015101881 30 Mar 2017 I l:\jzc\Imcrwovcn\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\l 3671780_ I .docx-30 03 2017 -3 -

In one example, the sheeting is bolted to ends of the stacked beams.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the 5 accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure la is a side view of a cap beam;

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Figure lb is an end view of the cap beam;

Figure lc is a plan view of the cap beam; 5

Figure 2a is a plan view of a main beam;

Figure 2b is a side view of the main beam; 10 Figure 2c is an end view of the main beam;

Figure 3 a is a top perspective view of a support system;

Figure 3b is a bottom perspective view of the support system; 15

Figure 3c is a plan view of the support system;

Figure 4a is a plan view of the support system with a container wall; 20 Figure 4b is a perspective view of the support system and container wall;

Figure 5a is a plan view of another type of beam;

Figure 5b is a side view of the beam of Figure 5a; 25

Figure 5c is an end view of the beam of Figure 5 a;

Figure 5d is a bottom view of the beam of Figure 5a; 30 Figure 6a is a partially exploded perspective view of the support system;

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Figure 6b is a plan view of the support system;

Figure 6c is a bottom perspective view of the support system; 5 Detailed Description

Figures la to lc illustrate a cap beam 1 formed of an elongate main section 2 with a lateral connecting slot 3 intermediate ends 4 of the cap beam 1 and two rebates 5 toward either end 4. 10 The slot 3 and rebates 5 are formed transversely through the main section 2 and have a depth “d” half the height “h” of the cap beam 1. The width “W” of the slot 3 is equal to the thickness “T” of the beam 1. The width “w” of each of the rebates 5 is smaller than the width W of the slot 3. 15 In one form, the cap beam 1 has a total length of 1000mm and is formed of a square section 6 with a thickness T of 125mm. The slot 5 has a corresponding width W of 125mm and the width w of the rebates is 30mm. The rebates 5 are positioned 100mm from the ends 4 of the cap beam 1. Other dimensions may, however, be used as needed. 20 Figures 2a to 2c illustrate a main beam 7. The beam 7 has a height dimension H double the height dimension h of the cap beam 1 shown in Figure la. Matching lateral connecting slots 8 and rebates 9 are provided transversely of the main beam 7 in both top and bottom edges 10, 11. The slots 8 and rebates 9 have the same depth d, widths W and w, and placement relative to ends of the main beam 7, as shown relative to the cap beam 1 of 25 Figure la.

Referring now to Figures 3a to 3c, a support system 12 is formed of multiple main beams 7 and two cap beams 1. 30 Each main beam 7 forms a layer 13 of the support system 12. The main beams 7 are stacked at right angles so that the lateral connecting slot 8 of one beam 7 aligns and

Document9-7/12/2015 2015101881 07 Dec 2015 -6- interlocks with an adjacent beam 7.

In particular, a lateral connecting slot 8 formed in a top edge 10 of a lower beam 14 aligns with a corresponding connecting slot 8 formed in bottom edge 11 of a transversely 5 extending upper beam 15 so that the upper beam 15 drops into and engages with the slot 8 of the lower beam 14.

In that configuration, every second beam 16 is edge supported on top of a parallel adjoining beam 17 forming the next-most layer 13 of the support system 12. 10

In order to prevent rotational movement between the layers 13, locking elements 18 are provided to connect the adjoining parallel beams 16, 17. The locking elements 18 are in the form of keeper cleats 19 that fit into aligned rebates 9 in each of the parallel beams 16, 17. 15 The cap beams 1 are provided across either end 20 of the stacked beams 7 and lock into the associated slot 8 of the respective end-most beams 21 so that an end surface 22 of the cap beam 1 is substantially flush with an edge 23 of the end-most beam 21.

The cap beams 1 are further locked to an adjoining parallel beam 24 of the stacked beams 20 7 by an associated locking element 18.

Referring now to Figure 4, the support system 12 is shown as including a containment wall 25 that defines a series of voids 26 between the crossed beams 7. 25 The wall 25 is formed of corrugated sheet material provided in two hemispherical sections 27. The sections 27 are fixed to ends 28 of the beams 7 by screws or bolts 29.

Ports 30 are provided in the containment wall 25 to allow settable material such as concrete to be pumped into the voids 26, if required. 30

Referring to Figures 5a to 5d, another type of main beam 31 is shown with a thickness “T”

Document9-7/12/2015 2015101881 07 Dec 2015 -7- and height “H”. A top edge 32 has two transverse slots 33, 34. The slots 33, 34 have a depth dimension “D” of substantially 1/3 H. The slots 33, 34 are angled relative to a longitudinal direction of the 5 beam 31. A corresponding slot 35 is formed in a bottom edge 36 of the beam 31. The slot 35 is also angled relative to the longitudinal direction of the beam 31 and has the same depth D and angle as the slot 34 in the top edge 32.

The beam 31 preferably has a length dimension in the order of 1000mm, a height 10 dimension H of 250mm, a thickness of 125mm and the slots 32, 33, 34 are angled at 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of the beam, with a width of 144mm and spaced 100mm from either end of the beam. Other dimension may be used, as required.

Referring now to Figures 6a to 6c, a support system 37 is shown as including multiple 15 stacked beams 31 forming a triangular structure 38. The connecting slots 33, 34 and 35 are at 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of each beam and form an apex angle “A” of 60 degrees. The resultant structure 38 is thereby in the form of an isosceles triangle, when viewed from above. 20 Each beam 31 is stacked progressively higher as a result of the associated slots 33 and 35 of consecutively stacked beams 39, 40 aligning and interlocking at a corner 41 of the structure whereby a top edge 32 of an upper beam 39 is stacked substantially 1/3 higher than a corresponding top edge 32 of a lower beam 40. 25 As a result, each side 42 of the triangular structure 38 is formed of every third, parallel stacked beam 31.

To accommodate the 1/3 offset, the support system 37 includes a set of cap beams 43, 44 at either end 45, 46 of the structure 38.

The set of cap beams 43 is formed of tree cap beams 47, 48, 49, of 1/3, 2/3 and the full 2015101881 07 Dec 2015

Document9-7/12/2015 -8- height dimension of one of the main beams 31 are used to form one end 50 of the support system 37, while only two cap beams 51, 52 are used for the other end 53. Each set of cap beams 43, 44 presents a substantially flush end surface 54, 55 at each of the three sides 41 of the structure 38. 5

When assembled, a void 56 is formed inside the structure 38 and one of the beams 56 is provided with a port 57 to allow settable material to be pumped into the void 56.

As may be appreciated from the above, the main beams 7, 31 of either support system 12, 10 37 are preferably formed of milled hardwood and are identically shaped for ease of mass production. Each beam 7, 37 is sized to be portable and easily lifted and manoeuvred by an installer of the systems 12, 37.

The systems 12, 37 can be easily dismantled if used for temporary support with a capacity 15 of 25 tonne, up to a height of 5 or 6 metres. Alternatively, the systems 12, 37 can be installed as permanent structures. If concrete is pumped into voids 26, 58, the systems 12, 37 could provide support for up to 1,000 tonne.

The support systems 12, 37 have been described by way of example only and many 20 modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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List of Parts 1. Cap beam 2. Main section 3. Slot 5 4. End 5. Rebate 6. Section 7. Main beam 8. Slot 10 9. Rebate 10. Top edge 11. Bottom edge 12. Support system 13. Layer 15 14. Lower beam 15. Upper beam 16. Second beam 17. Adjoining beam 18. Locking element 20 19. Keeper cleat 20. End 21. End-most beam 22. End surface 23. Edge 25 24. Parallel beam 25. Containment wall 26. Void 27. Section 28. End 30 29. Bolt 30. Port

Document9-7/12/2015 2015101881 07 Dec 2015 - 10- 31. Beam 32. Top edge 33. Slot 34. Slot 5 35. Slot 36. Bottom edge 37. Support system 38. Triangular structure 39. Stacked beam 10 40. Stacked beam 41. Corner 42. Side 43. Set of cap beams 44. Set of cap beams 15 45. End 46. End 47. Cap Beam 48. Cap beam 49. Cap beam 20 50. End 51. Cap beam 52. Cap beam 53. End 54. End surface 25 55. End surface 56. Void 57. Port 30

Claims (4)

1. Claims

   1. A support system for use in mining, the support system being formed of layers of stacked beams, wherein: each layer is formed of only a single beam with a lateral connecting slot intermediate ends of the beam to engage with a laterally extending beam of an adjacent layer; the beams of each adjacent layer intersect at a right angle; the slot is formed in a top edge of each beam and a matching second slot is provided in a bottom edge of each beam; the stacked beams form a cross shape in plan view; the beams have facing rebates formed toward either end of each beam; and keeper cleats are inserted between the layers, in the associated rebates, to connect adjoining parallel beams of next-most adjacent layers, in order to resist relative rotation between the layers.
2. 2. The support system of claim 1, further including cap beams across either end of the stacked beams, so that the cap beams lock into the associated slot of the respective end-most beam and the end surface of the cap beam is substantially flush with an edge of the end-most beam and the end surface of the cap beam is substantially flush with an edge of the end-most beam, wherein the cap beams are further locked to an adjoining parallel beam of the stacked beams by an associated locking element.
3. 3. The support system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support system further includes a containment wall fixed to the support beams to provide a void between the wall and the stacked beams.
4. 4. The support system of claim 3, wherein the containment wall includes a port to allow settable material to be pumped into the void.