AU677554B2

AU677554B2 - Curtain mesh and parts thereof

Info

Publication number: AU677554B2
Application number: AU52343/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Mclaughlin
Original assignee: SCI OPERATIONS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Australian Steel Company Operations Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-09
Filing date: 1996-05-16
Publication date: 1997-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-02
Also published as: AU5234396A

Description

V/uWu11 2816/01 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: *see Invention Title: CURTAIN MESH AND PARTS THEREOF The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us CURTAIN MESH AND PARTS THEREOF The present invention relates to improvements in wire mesh and particularly to such mesh that is used in some form of ground stabilisation application or a comparable activity.

Chain wire mesh is commonly used for slope stabilisation in mining applications but of course could equally be used to stabilise above ground slopes where the ground is made up of a plurality of individual rock or stone pieces. As will be apparent from the following, the invention could be used with other forms of wire mesh where the edge of the mesh is not completed by a S 10 straight wire length. The invention might also be used with chain wire mesh (or "any other similar mesh) in any application where it is desired to overcome the following discussed problems arising with slope stabilisation, particularly in the S;.o mining industry. The use of a curtain of chain wire for slope stabilisation Sprevents loose surface rocks or stones from free falling into a mine excavation.

Such free falling rocks or stones would of course be hazardous to workers and machinery within the mine excavation area. The chain wire mesh is draped over the slope requiring stabilisation and fixed in the desired position by any 0" suitable means. Subsequent lengths of chain wire are then unrolled down the Sslope adjacent the first or a preceding length with edges overlapping. However, 20 the edges of chain wire mesh in particular (and possibly other forms of mesh) are provided from the manufacturer with the wire ends twisted together to secure same and thereafter left in a barbed format or in a knuckled format. Both these end formats allow ends of adjacent mesh lengths to become intermeshed S: or entangled because they stand at differing heights and thus smooth or trouble free positioning of second or subsequent lengths of mesh is difficult to achieve.

Particular difficulties arise when a tangle occurs part way along a slope area requiring stabilisation when access to that slope area is difficult to achieve so that the mesh can be untangled.

The present invention aims at providing improved elements in a system for preventing the aforementioned edge tangles in wire mesh.

The present invention provides a clip element for use in a system for preventing edge tangles in wire mesh of the type having at least one mesh edge formed by a plurality of wire connection points at spaced locations therealong, said clip element including first means enabling said clip element to be secured to an elongated member capable of extending along at least a portion of said mesh edge and second means enabling the clip element to be secured to a respective one of said wire connection points; wherein a first part hinged via hinge means to a second part whereby in a first configuration of use said first and second parts are located overlying one another with a said connection point located therebetween, and retention means is provided to releasably retain the first and second parts in said first configuration; wherein the retention means comprises at least two projection members extending from either of said first or second parts and engageable with a latch means associated with the other of said first or second parts whereby in the first configuration said projection members span a region between said first and second parts.

S 15 Conveniently, in one possible arrangement, two of said projection members are located adjacent an edge of the first or second parts opposite to

°S.

the hinge means when the arrangement is in said first configuration. In a further embodiment, a third said projection member might be located between the aforesaid two projection members and spaced inwardly from the said edge 20 opposite the hinge means. Conveniently, the clip element includes means for connecting an elongated member thereto when the clip element is in said first configuration, said means enabling the clip elements to slide along said elongated member.

In a still further aspect, the present invention also provides a method of preventing edge tangles in wire mesh of the type having at least two wires secured to one another at wire connection points, said wire mesh having a plurality of said wire connection points along at least one edge, said method comprising securing a flexible elongated member along said one edge with said flexible elongated member being connected to each said wire connection point.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation view of a portion of chain wire mesh illustrating a system according to the present invention joined to both opposed longitudinal edges; Figure 2 is a detail of the area A of Figure 1 with the clip element in an open position; and Figure 3 is an edge elevation view of the clip element shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a portion of chain wire mesh with opposed longitudinal edges 11, 12. Each of the edges 11, 12 have a plurality of wire connection points 13 located at spaced locations along their S 10 length. Each connection point 13 comprises two wires 14, 15 from the chain .s:i wire mesh 10 twisted together at 16 with barbed ends 17, 18. The barbed ends 17, 18 might also be knuckled over in some manufacturing methods. Each wire S connection point 13 has a clip element 19 which is secured to at least the wire a ends 17, 18 and also to an elongated member (preferably a wire length) The ends of the elongated wire member 20 might be tied off to one of the wires forming the Chain wire mesh 10. Further details of the clip element 19 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 1 illustrates the clip element 19 in a folded (closed) position forming a first configuration and Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the clip element 19 in an open position (second configuration) adapted for connection both to a wire connection point 13 and to the elongated wire member 20. The clip element 19 comprises a first part 21, a second part 22 and a third part 23 forming a flexible hinge joining the first and second parts. An upstanding wall 24 cooperates with I the hinge part 23 when the clip element is closed to provide an enclosed space which retains the wire member 20 but allows the clip element 19 to slide along same if required. Three upstanding legs 25 are provided in a triangular configuration extending from the first part 21 [-ach leg 25 has a head 26 with an undercut ledge 27 (facing towards an oJter edge 28 of the first part 21) and an upper frusto conical formation 29. The second part 22 includes three holes 30 in a similar configuration to the legs 25 so that when the clip element is closed, a respective hole 30 fits over a head 26 of one of the legs 25 with the plate surrounding the hole 30 engaging uder the ledge 27 to lock the clip I S I 4 member in the closed state. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the ends 17, 18 of the wire are secured between respective pairs of legs 25 (one being the single internal leg) and the twisted section 16 is retained between the two outer legs and the upper and lower plates of the first and second parts 21 and 22. In this manner the wire connection point 13 is secured to the clip element 19 and separation of the mesh 10 from the clip 19 is resisted when the clip element 19 is closed. Upstanding walls 31 are provided from one or both of the parts 21, 22 so that the clip 19 substantially encloses the wire ends 17, 18 when closed.

As a result of the foregoing, an arrangement is provided whereby each of 10 the wire connection points 13 along the edge zones 11, 12 are connected together to provide a longitudinal edge which prevents the wire connection points becoming entangled, either when placed side by side with a similar wire mesh length or when simply rolled together in a single roll for storage, transport Sor any other handling situation.

o•° a 0

Claims

1. A clip element for use in a system for preventing edge tangles in wire mesh of the type having at least one mesh edge formed by a plurality of wire connection points at spaced locations therealong, said clip element including first means enabling said clip element to be secured to a flexible elongated member capable of extending along at least a portion of said mesh edge and second means enabling the clip element to be secured to a respective one of said wire connection points; wherein a first part hinged via hinge means to a second part whereby in a first configuration of use said first and second parts are located overlying one another with a said connection point located therebetween; :.,owherein retention means is provided to releasably retain said first and o second parts in said first configuration, and wherein said retention means comprises at least two projection members extending from either of said first or second parts and engageable with a latch :means associated with the other of said first or second parts whereby in the first configuration said projection members span a region between said first and second parts.

2. A clip element according to Claim 1, wherein two said projection members are located adjacent an edge of the first or second parts opposite to the hinge means when the arrangement is in said first configuration. S 00.

3. A clip element according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein three said projection members are provided with two of said projection members located adjacent an edge of the first or second parts opposite to the hinge means with the third projection member being located between the other two projection members and being spaced inwardly from said edge of the first and second parts opposite the hinge means. I 6

4. A clip element according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the clip element includes means for connecting an elongated member thereto when the clip element is in said first configuration, said means enabling the clip elements to slide along said elongated member. DATED this 29th day of January, 1997 SCI OPERATIONS PTY LTD WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP/KWB/mI[EK] DOC 7 AU001857.WPC a w 0 ABSTRACT The present specification discloses a dip element for use with an arrangement for preventing edge tangles when a roll of chain wire mesh is unrolled, the arrangement comprising a plurality of the clip elements (19) that are fastened over the wire end connection points (13) of the chain wire mesh and a length of plain wire or similar (20) forming each of the clips (19) to prevent the wire end connection points becoming entangled.