AU2016308437A1

AU2016308437A1 - Actuator for a reactionless rock bolt tensioner

Info

Publication number: AU2016308437A1
Application number: AU2016308437A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rual ABRUE
Original assignee: Epiroc Drilling Tools AB
Current assignee: Epiroc Drilling Tools AB
Priority date: 2015-08-18
Filing date: 2016-08-18
Publication date: 2018-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-18
Also published as: WO2017031511A3; ZA201800598B; PE20180494A1; AU2016308437B2; WO2017031511A2

Abstract

The invention provides a hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus which includes a socket shaft which includes a tubular shaft body which longitudinally extends between a first end, which is adapted to engage with a rotatable part of a rock anchor engaged tensioning device, and a second end, a gear mounted on the shaft body, a locking shaft at least partially housed within the tubular body which is locked against rotational motion, which is moveable longitudinally relatively to the shaft body and which is adapted, at a free end which is adjacent the shaft body first end, to engage with a non-rotatable part of the tensioning device, a hydraulic motor and a drive shaft which engages with the gear and which angularly displaces the gear when driven by the motor to cause the shaft body to rotate.

Description

The invention provides a hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus which includes a socket shaft which includes a tubular shaft body which longitudinally extends between a first end, which is adapted to engage with a rotatable part of a rock anchor engaged tensioning device, and a second end, a gear mounted on the shaft body, a locking shaft at least partially housed within the tubular body which is locked against rotational motion, which is moveable longitudinally relatively to \ the shaft body and which is adapted, at a free end which is adjacent the shaft body first end, to en/'S. gage with a non-rotatable part of the tensioning / f)Q device, a hydraulic motor and a drive shaft which / / engages with the gear and which angularly displaces the gear when driven by the motor to cause the shaft body to rotate.

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PCT/ZA2016/000024

FELD OF THE INVENTION ‘0001] The invention relates to a hydraulically actuated wrench which is adapted for

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the specification to a PCT patent application no. PCT/ZA2015/00Q052, which is herein incorporated by reference, a rock anchor assembly is described which includes a rock anchor which longitudinally extends between a leading end and a trailing end and to which a tensioning device is engaged at the trailing end,

The tensioning device includes an outer member having a first end and a second sn inner ly engages the threaded passage of the [0003] A faceplate is then engaged with the rock anchor between the leading end rotatable relatively to the inner member to cause the inner member to move within the passage towards the second end of the outer member, drawing on the rock

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PCT/ZA2016/000024 withsn a confined space of the mine excavation, using a power source available within the mine and the drive means has to be able to ratationally drive the outer member whilst the inner member is locked against rotation movement [0005] The invention at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0000] The invention provides a hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus which includes a socket shaft which includes a tubular shaft body which longitudinally extends between a first end, which is adapted to engage with a rotatable pad of a rock anchor engaged tensioning device, and a second end, a gear mounted on the shaft body, a locking shaft at least partially housed within the tubular body which is locked against rotational motion, which is moveable longitudinally relatively to the shaft body and which Is adapted, at a free end which is adjacent the shaft body first end, to engage with a non-rofatable part of the tensioning device, a hydraulic motor and a drive shaft which engages with the gear and which angularly displaces the gear when driven by the motor to cause the shaft body to rotate,

0007] The first end of the tubular shaft body may be adapted to provide a wrench socket into which the rotatable part is received, e into a non-i

PCT/ZA2016/000024

WO 2017/031511 [0010] The locking shaft may be engaged with the housing at an end opposed to the free end to lock the locking shaft against rotational movement.

[0011] The wrench socket may be hex shaped to mate with an outer nut-part of a [0012] The free end may be adapted to engage with an inner screw-pad of a cable anchor tensioning device, [0013] The gear may be a worm gear, [0014] The drive shaft may be a worm shaft,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The invention is described with reference to the following drawings in which;

Figure 1 is an isometric exterior view of a hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric longitudinally sectioned view of the wrenching apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a drive chain of the hydraulicaily actuated wrenching apparatus;

Figure 4 is an isometric transversely sectioned view of the wrenching apparatus; and

Figure 5 is an isometric transversely sectioned view of the wrenching device, in use, engaged with a rock anchor tensioning apparatus,

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PCT/ZA2016/000024

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS lically inflated wrenching apparatus with the invention.

is apply torque to a rock anchor engaging tensioning device which is described in the specification to a PCT patent application no. PCT/ZA2015/000052, which is herein incorporated by reference. However, it is anticipated within the scope of the invention that the wrenching apparatus can be applied to any rock anchor or rock bolt similarly adapted with a tensioning device described in the PCT application to apply torque to the rock anchor or bolt and that the invention is not limited to application with a rock anchor.

[0017] The wrenching apparatus 10 includes a socket shaft 12 and a locking shaft 14, each of which are adapted to respectively engage an outer nut-part 4 and an inner screw-part 6 of a tensioning device 7 engaged with a rock anchor 8 (see Figure 5).

IS [0018] The apparatus 10 includes a drive chain 18 (see Figure 3) which causes the socket shaft 12 to axially rotate to turn the outer nut-part 4 of the tensioning device 7 when engaged thereto. The drive chain includes a worm gear 18 which is mounted least, the gear is housed.

001S] The socket shaft 12 has a tubular shaft body 28, which longitudinally extends between a first end 28 and a second end 30. disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the drive chain. At the first end, the body flares into a wrench socket 32. The

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PCT/ZA2016/000024 wrench socket ;0020] The worm gear 18 engages with the shaft body 22 towards its second end

30. From the shaft, the gear radio extends to terminate at a perimeter § edge 34 into which a plurality of gear teeth 38 are out or formed. On either side of the iocation of attachment of the gear to the shaft body, support bearings (38A and 38B) are located, engaged with the shaft body and internaiiy mounted with the casing 22, [0021] The locking shaft 14 is housed in the tubular body 22 of the socket shaft 12 and projects from both ends of the body, terminating in a locked end 40 and a free end 4z, i he locked end extends through the casing 22 as illustrated in Figure 1 and complementary shaped to the cross sectional shape of the shaft 14, which has a splines 4? on its outer surface, thus shaft from rotating when the socket for movement in the longitudinal direction for the reason described below.

[0022] The hydraulic motor 20 is located exteriorly of the casing 24 but Is In drive communication with the internally located gear 18 by means of the worm shaft 22 which is engaged with the motor and which penetrates the casing to present a helical

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PCT/ZA2016/000024 the tensioning device 2, torque wih be imparted attached to be pieced in tension a rock hole (see Figure b).

;O024] The inner screw-part 8 of the tensioning device 7 is held against rotation by δ engagement with the free end 42 of the locking shaft 14. The free end 42 is adapted to mate with the screw-part by partial insertion as illustrated in Figure 5.

[0025] To accommodate the movement of the inner screw-part relatively to the outer outer-part in an axial direction (represented by a directional arrow in Figure 5) of the rock anchor, the locking shaft is moveable longitudinally within the shaft body

28.

[8026] The wrenching apparatus 10 can be used as a hands-free device which, when engaged with the tensioning device 7, can be adapted to hang from the device, freeing the operator to perform other functions. The apparatus can also be attached to a telescopic air-leg or mounted onto a boom of a mechanical bolt installation machine.

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PCT/ZA2016/000024

Claims

CLAIMS hydrsulicahy actuated wrenching apparatus which includes a socket shaft which includes a tubular shaft body which longitudinally extends between a fsrst end, which is adapted to engage a ratable part of a rock anchor engaged tensioning

5 device, and a second end; a gear mounted on the shaft body; a locking shaft at least partially housed within the tubular body, which is locked against rotational motion, which is moveable longitudinally relatively to the shaft body and which is adapted, at a free end which is adjacent the shaft body first end, to engage with a non-rofatable part of the tensioning device; a hydraulic motor and a drive shaft which engages with

10 the gear and which angularly displaces the gear when driven by the motor to cause the shaft body to rotate.
2. A hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the tubular shaft body is adapted to provide a wrench socket into which the rotatable part is received.

15
3. A hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 of le part to prevent the from rotating with the
4. A hydraulicaf alms

20 1 to 3 which includes a housing which houses the gear end to which the tubular shaft body is mounted through a bearing.

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PCT/ZA2016/000024
5, A hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus according to claim 4 wherein lock the locking shaft against rotational movement icai to one ci

5 1 to 5 wherein the gear is a worm gear.
7, A hydraulically actuated wrenching apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the drive shaft is a worm shaft.

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PCT/ZA2016/000024

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PCT/ZA2016/000024

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PCT/ZA2016/000024 /•7Gt/R,£ 5