WO1999064722A1

WO1999064722A1 - Device for handling and injecting cartridges of resin in rock reinforcement equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1999064722A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000919
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Marklund
Original assignee: Jama Mining Equipment Ab
Priority date: 1998-06-05
Filing date: 1999-06-01
Publication date: 1999-12-16
Also published as: SE9802002L; AU4665699A; SE9802002D0; SE509937C2

Abstract

The present invention refers to a device for handling and injecting plastic cartridges (13) of resin in rock reinforcement equipment, whereby the device includes a firing unit (11) that in turn includes at least one pipe (17) into which a plastic cartridge (13) is placed before firing, a hose (10) that extends between the firing unit (11) and the bore hole into which the plastic cartridges (13) are to be injected as well as a source of a pressurised medium that is connected to the firing unit (11). The arrangement is distinguished in that the device includes a magazine (9) for plastic cartridges (13), whereby the said magazine (9) is arranged adjacent to a firing unit (11), that the pipe (17) includes two longitudinal pipe halves (17a, 17b), that means (18, 20) are arranged to cause the pipe halves (17a, 17b) to partly take up a position where the pipe halves form an enclosed pipe (17) and partly a position where the pipe halves (17a, 17b) are separated from one another, and that means (14, 23) are arranged to transfer a plastic cartridge (13) from the magazine to one of the pipe halves (17a) when the pipe halves (17a, 17b) are separated from one another.

Description

Device for handling and injecting cartridges of resin in rock reinforcement equipment

The present invention refers to a device for handling and injecting plastic cartridges of resin in rock reinforcement equipment, whereby the device includes a firing unit that in turn includes at least one pipe into which a plastic cartridge is positioned before firing, a hose that extends between the firing unit and the bore hole into which the plastic cartridges are to be injected and a source of a pressurised medium that is connected to the firing unit.

A device for injecting cartridges of resin for rock reinforcement is previously known from US-A-4,215,953. This device includes an injection unit that in turn includes a first pipe whose free end can be brought to abut a bored hole into which a cartridge is to be injected. A flexible hose leads from the first pipe to the other end of a loading means that has the form of a second pipe, whereby cartridges can be introduced at the second end of the said second pipe. Pressurised medium is then supplied to the said second pipe, whereby the cartridge is brought to pass through the flexible hose and the first pipe to be fed out through the free end of the first pipe and into the bored hole. The introduction of cartridges into the loading unit takes place manually, i.e. the operator of the device or someone else has to manually "load" the cartridges one by one into the loading unit. This is naturally a time consuming operation that also means that the device cannot work continuously. An automatic roof bolting system for mines is previously known from US-A-

4,229,124. This system includes a boom positioned on a carrier that supports a means of boring a hole, a magazine for cartridges of resin, a means of firing the cartridges into the bored hole, a magazine for roof bolts and a means of firing the roof bolts into the cartridge-filled hole during the smooth rotation of the roof bolt. Apart from the equipment on the boom being extremely complicated due to the variety of working movements it has to perform, the weight of the said equipment is considerable, not least when one considers that the boom also has to carry a number of cartridges of resin as well as a number of roof bolts. The device for manoeuvring the said boom must have extremely large dimensions to be able to manoeuvre the equipment supported on the boom to the desired positions. When the magazine for the cartridges and roof bolts needs to be refilled, it is necessary to bring the equipment on the boom to a standstill. A further disadvantage with the system according to US-A-4,229,124 is that if any function of the equipment breaks down and must be repaired, the other parts of the equipment are also brought to a standstill.

A primary objective of the device according to the present invention is to automate the injection of plastic cartridges of resin into holes for the purpose of reinforcing the rock, whereby the number of cartridges can be varied in an individual cycle of firing.

A further objective of the device according to the invention is that refilling the cartridges in the magazine can take place independently of the function of the actual injection device, i.e. it is not necessary to bring the injection device to a standstill when refilling the cartridges.

At least the primary objective of the present invention has been realised by means of a device that has the characteristics stated in the independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the non-independent claims.

An example of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention is described below with reference to the enclosed drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section through part of a magazine for plastic cartridges of resin that is included in the device plus firing equipment associated with the magazine, whereby the magazine and the firing equipment are in a starting position; Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-section through the magazine and the firing equipment according to Fig. 2 in a loading position for the firing equipment; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the magazine and firing equipment according to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows an end view of the magazine and firing equipment according to Fig. 2; Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-section through the magazine and the firing equipment according to Fig. 2; Fig. 7 shows a side view of a part of the firing equipment associated with the device according to the present invention; Fig. 8 shows a plane view of the part according to Fig. 7; and Figs. 9-11 show a number of cross-sections taken through the part according to Fig. 7.

The device according to the present invention shown in Fig. 1 includes a wheeled truck 1 equipped at its front end with an arm 3 that at its free end supports a drilling boom 5 and a package of drilling rods. Arm 3 has a number of degrees of freedom of motion, i.e. the boom can in principle be brought to abut the rock wall in any position at the discretion of the operator. A magazine 9 for plastic cartridges of resin plus an associated firing unit are arranged in an area at the rear end of the truck 1. The magazine

9 and the firing unit will be described in more detail below. A source of pressurised medium (not shown) to bring about the firing is also associated with the firing unit. A hose

10 extends from the firing unit of the magazine 9 forwards to the free end of the boom 5. Figs. 2 and 3 show a detail of the magazine 9 and the associated firing unit

11. As is evident from Figs. 2 and 3, magazine 9 includes two compartments 12 that extend vertically in the working position, whereby the plastic cartridges of resin 13 are accommodated in the said compartment 12 in a manner so that the cartridges 13 extend horizontally and are stacked on top of one another. It is most clearly evident from Fig. 4 that there are two compartments 12. A driving slot carrier 14 that is attached in a rotating manner to a frame 15 of the magazine 9 is arranged in the area at the lower part of each compartment 12. The driving slot carrier 14 has a pocket 16 that is dimensioned to accommodate one cartridge 13. Two pipes 17 separable along their longitudinal directions and supported by frame 15 are arranged immediately adjacent to driving slot carrier 14. Figs. 7 and 8 show most clearly that there are two pipes 17 that have a common longitudinal axis.

Each pipe 17 consists of two half pipes 17a and 17b, whereby the first pipe half 17a is stationary while the second pipe half 17b is joined to a pair of plates 18 that have their main planes at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the pipes 17. The pair of plates 18 are attached to rotate around a first articulated joint 19 and in addition there is a first pressurised medium cylinder 20 with one end attached to the pair of plates 18 via a second articulated joint 21, whereby the second end of the first pressurised medium cylinder 20 is attached to frame 15. Generally speaking, the second half tube 17b, the first articulated joint 19 and the second articulated joint 21 are located in the respective corners of a triangle. The firing unit 11 according to the present invention thus includes two first pressurised medium cylinders 20.

Through the activation of the first pressurised medium cylinder 20, the second pipe half 17b can pivot from the position where it abutted the first pipe half 17a, see Fig. 2, to a position, see Fig. 3, where the second pipe half 17b has swung upwards to a position so that the first pipe half 17a can receive a cartridge 13 from the driving slot carrier 14. This will be treated in greater detail below when the function of the device is described. Packing seals 17c are arranged between pipe halves 17a, 17b. As is most clearly evident from Figs. 2 and 3, the driving slot carrier 14 is attached to frame 15 via a third articulated joint 22. As is most clearly evident from Figs. 4 and 5, the driving slot carrier 14 can rotate by means of a second pressurised medium cylinder 23, whose end is, via a link 24 (see Fig. 5), attached to the driving slot carrier 14 while the other end of the second pressurised medium cylinder 23 is attached to frame 15. Through the activation of the second pressurised medium cylinder 23, the driving slot carrier 14 can be transferred from its receiving position, see Fig. 2, to its delivering position see Fig. 3. As is evident from Fig. 4, the second pressurised medium cylinders 23 are located at the respective ends of the firing unit 11. Figs. 7 and 8 show pipes 17 with underlying supports 25 that are carried by frame 15 as well as the pair of plates 18 that are essentially mounted in the centre of the pipes 17 as seen in their longitudinal direction. A side view of a pair of plates 18 can also be seen in Fig. 10. In the areas of the respective ends of the pipes 17, guiding plates 26 are also mounted transversely on the second pipe half 17b across the longitudinal direction of the pipes 17 and are connected to the first articulated joint 19 to lift and guide the ends of the second pipe half 17b when the said half pipes 17b are transferred to the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 11 also shows an end view of one of the guiding plates 26. Pipes 17 are linked with one another in the area of their closely located ends by means of a connecting piece 27, which means that a continuous pipe-shaped channel is formed along the whole length of the firing unit 11.

According to Figs. 7 and 8, one end of the hose 10 is intended to be connected to the left end 28 of the pipe configuration. According to Figs. 7 and 8, the source of the pressurised medium (not shown) is intended to be connected to the said right end 29. In principle, the present invention described above works in the following way:

After a bore hole has been prepared and made ready by means of the drilling rods 7 on the drilling boom 5, the plastic cartridge 13 of resin can, if wished, be inserted into the said bore hole. When this happens, the arm 3 is directed so that the free end of the hose 10 is brought directly opposite the bore hole. By means of the device according to the invention, one or two plastic cartridges 13 can be furnished into the bore hole in a single working cycle. Fig. 2 shows the firing unit 11 in its starting position. By activating the first pressurised medium cylinder 20, the associated second pipe half 17b is lifted up from its position according to Fig. 2 to the position according to Fig. 3. From the constructive design of the firing unit 11 , it can be seen that the operator can choose whether one or both of the first pressurised medium cylinders 20 is to be activated, i.e. whether one or both of the second movable pipe halves 17b is to be lifted up. The said activation of the first pressurised medium cylinder 20, and the other operational manoeuvres of the firing unit 11, are taken care of by the operator from the driver cabin of the truck 1. When the second movable pipe halves 17b have been brought to the position according to Fig. 3, the driving slot carrier 14 mrns from the position according to Fig. 2 to the position according to Fig. 3, whereby this rotation takes place through the activation of the first pressurised medium cylinder 23, see Figs. 4 and 5. When this happens, the cartridge currently in the pocket 16 of the driving slot carrier 14 will be transferred to the stationary first pipe half 17a, see Fig. 3. The driving slot carrier 14 now rotates back to the position according to Fig. 2, whereby a new cartridge 13 falls down into pocket 16. The second movable pipe halve 17b returns to abut the stationary first pipe half 17a, whereby the packing seals 17c ensure that an airtight enclosed space is formed within pipe halves 17a and 17b. As has been pointed out above, the operator can choose whether only the one pipe 17 or whether both pipes 17 are loaded with a cartridge 13. When the loading of one or two cartridges 13 is complete, pressurised medium is supplied to the right end 29 in Figs. 7 and 8, whereby the cartridge or cartridges 13 currently in the pipes 17 are shot through the hose 10 and into the bored hole. By using two pipes 17 along a common longitudinal axis, the operator can thus choose whether one or two cartridges 13 are shot out during one working cycle. In this context, it should be pointed out that it does not affect the function of the firing unit 11 if only one pipe 17 is loaded with a cartridge 13 as the empty pipe 17 forms an airtight enclosed space for the supplied pressurised medium in the same way.

In the embodiment example shown above, two pipes 17 are arranged along a common longitudinal axis. Nevertheless, within the scope of the invention, it can also be considered that only one pipe 17 or, for example, three pipes 17 are included in the firing unit 11.

The embodiment of the arrangement according to the present invention, shown in Fig. 1 includes a drilling boom 5 with a package 7 of drilling rods. However, within the scope of the invention, it can also be considered that the arrangement according to the invention in principle only includes the magazine 9, the firing unit 11, the hose 10 and a means of guiding the free end of the hose.

Claims

1. Device for handling and injecting plastic cartridges (13) of resin in rock reinforcement equipment, whereby the device includes a firing unit (11) that in turn includes at least one pipe (17) into which a plastic cartridge (13) is placed before firing, a hose (10) that extends between the firing unit (11) and the bore hole into which the plastic cartridges (13) are to be injected as well as a source of a pressurised medium that is connected to the firing unit (ll)characterised in that the device includes a magazine (9) for plastic cartridges (13), whereby the said magazine (9) is arranged adjacent to a firing unit (11), that the pipe (17) includes two longitudinal pipe halves (17a, 17b), that means (18, 20), are arranged to cause the pipe halves (17a, 17b) to partly take up a position where the pipe halves form an enclosed pipe (17) and partly a position where the pipe halves (17a, 17b) are separated from one another, and that means (14, 23) are arranged to transfer a plastic cartridge (13) from the magazine to one of the pipe halves (17a) when the pipe halves (17a, 17b) are separated from one another.

2. Device according to claim lcharacterised in that the magazine (9) includes at least two compartments (12) for storing plastic cartridges (13) and two pipes (17) for receiving plastic cartridges (13).

3. Device according to claim lor2characterised in that the means of transferring plastic cartridges (13) from the magazine (9) to one of the pipe halves (17a) includes a driving slot carrier (14) that is activated by a pressurised medium cylinder (23).

4. Device according to claim 3characterised in that the driving slot carrier (14) has a pocket (16) for accommodating a plastic cartridge (13) in connection with the said transfer.

5. Device according to any of the previous claims characterised in that one pipe half (17b) can rotate around an articulated joint (19) and that a pressurised medium cylinder (20) is connected to the said movable pipe half (17b) to turn it around the said articulated joint (19).

6. Device according to any of the previous claims characterised in that a packing seal device (17c) is arranged between the pipe halves (17a, 17b).

7. Device according to claim 2characterised in that the compartment

(12) has a vertical extension in its working position.

8. Device according to any of the previous claims characterised in that the device includes one or more pipes (17), whereby each pipe (17) can be transferred between both its positions independently of the position(s) of the other pipe(s) (17).