WO2015179882A2

WO2015179882A2 - A bung

Info

Publication number: WO2015179882A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2014/000079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Cawood; Paulo Ettore PASTORINO; Phillipus VAN DER MERWE; James William Sheppard
Original assignee: Ncm Innovations (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2014-05-23
Filing date: 2014-12-17
Publication date: 2015-11-26
Also published as: WO2015179882A3

Abstract

The invention provides a bung which is Inserted, at least partly, in a rock hole to prevent egress of a settable material that is introduced into the rock hole. The bung includes a body which extends between an operatively outer end and an opposed operatively inner end, the body Including first, second and third passages extending, in parallel, through at least part of the body, the passages being adapted to receive a rock bolt, the passage of a settable material or a settable material pipe respectively, and air or an air pipe, and a plurality of laterally projecting sealing formations, each of which Is longitudinally spaced and concentrically arranged relatively to the others.

Description

A BU G

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION jfOQOIJ This Invention relates to a stopper, bung or seai for use with a rock bolt which is secured n a rock hole using a settable material to prevent egress of the settable maierial.

[0002] In stabilising excavations, rock bolts are used, inserted into a pre-driiled rock hole and set therein,

[0003] Before setting, the settable material can be very fluid and will tend to flow from the mout of the rock hole once the hole is filled with the settable material. To prevent this egress, polystyrene, or similar deforrnabie foam material, is used as a sealant to seal the mouth of the rock hole and around the interface of the face plate with the rock-hole mouth.

[0004] The problem with sealing the rock hole in this manner is that the foam material does not form a complete seal and more often than not, seepage of the settable materia! :stil! occurs flowing from gaps in the sealed interface.

[0008] The Invention alms to at least partially address the aforementioned problems

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] Hereinafter the terms "grout" and "adhesive^" are used Interchangeably to describe a settable material used for adhering a rock bolt within a rock hole.

[0.007] Reference to "a settable material" Is reference to a grout, a resin or other adhesive materials,. [0003] The Invention provides a bung which is inserted, at ieast partly, in a rock hole to prevent egress of a setfable material that is introduced into the rock hole.

[0.000] The bung includes a body which extends between an operativeiy outer end and an opposed operativeiy inner end, the body including first, second and third passages extending, in parallel, through at ieast part of the body, the passages being adapted to receive a rock bolt, the passage of a sellable material or a sellable material pipe respectively, and air or an air pipe, and a plurality of laterally projecting sealing formations, each of which Is longitudinally spaced and concentrically arranged relatively to the others.

[0010] The body may be made of a suitable^' resiliency deformable plastics or rubber material.

|00i1] The formations may be uniformly longitudinally spaced,

[0012] The sealing formations may have a longitudinal profile that tapers towards the inner end.

[0013] Each sealing formation may be in the form of a resiliency deformable disc

10 143 The bung may include, at one end of the second passage, a valve.

[0015] Preferably, the first second and third passages traverse the entire length of th body, between the inner end and the outer end.

[0018] The second passage may extend beyond the outer end of the body as an integrally formed longitudinally projecting tube. [0017] The bung may include a static mixer located within the second passage. Preferably, the static mixer is located in the projecting tube.

£0018] The invention extends to a kit which includes:

(a) a bung, which has a body of a resiliency deformabie material which extends between an operatsveiy outer end and an operativeiy opposed inner end. the body including first, second and third parallel passages which traverse the body from the inner end to the outer end for receiving a rock bolt, the passage of a sellable material or a settahie material pipe, and air or an air pipe, a plurality of laterally projecting sealing formations, each of which is longitudinally spaced and concentrically arranged relatively to the others, and an integral projecting: tube longitudinally extending from the outer end and i register with the second passage: and

(b) a connector device which has a rigid tubular body which is adapted, at a first end, to engage with an free end of the projecting tube and, at a second end, to engage with a nozzle or lance of a grout delivery apparatus.

[0019] The formations may be uniformly longitudinally spaced.

[8020] The sealing formations may have a longitudinal profile that tapers towards the inner end.

[©021] Each sealing formation may be in the form of a resiliency deformabie disc, [0022] The connector device may Include a one way valve interposed within the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The snventson is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bung in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 ^'is an isometric view of an insert;

Figure 3 Is a view in elevation of the bung of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 Is an Isometric view of a hung In accordance with a second embodiment of the Invention;

Figure § is a View in elevation of the bung of Figure 4;

Figure 8 dlagrammaticai y Illustrates the hung of Figure 4 inserted in a rock hole, with a static mixer in a projecting pari of a grout pipe;

Figure 7 diagrammatica!ly Illustrates a kit including the bung of Figure 8, inserted In a rock hole, and a connector element engaged with the projecting part;

Figure 8 diagrammaticaliy illustrates the kit of Figure 7 with the connector element Including a valve;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a hung In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 isometricaHy illustrates the bung of Figure 8 with a rock bolt, a grout pipe and a breather tube seatingly received through the bung, in use; Hgure 11 dlagrammatical!y illustrates the bung of Figure 9, in use, inserted into a rock hole, engaged with an associated rock bolt; and

Figure 12 is a view from one end of the bung of Figure 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED Ε^ΟΡΙΜ Ν

[0024] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings iilustrate a bung I DA in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention which has a cylindrical body 12 extending between a first end 14 and an opposed second end 16, in use, with the bung inserted, at least partially. Into a rock hole (not shown) the first end is an outer end and the second end is an inner end.

[0D25] The body includes an insert 17. made of a different more resiisentiy deformabie material to the material of the cylindrical body, which Is inserted: into the body a the first end 14. The insert has a first, a second and a third conduit, respectively designated 18, 20 and 22, each of whic extends in parallel though the body..

[0026] The first conduit 18 seallngly receives in use, a rock bolt (not shown).

[QS27J The second 20 conduit receives, in · sealing engagement, a grout pipe (not shown.) through which a grout material is passed from a source into the rock, hole into which the bung is inserted at the rock hole. This conduit has a one-way valve 24 at an inner end 26 that is adapted to open to allow the introduction of grout into the rock hole but which closes agains the inner end when grout, now tilling the rock hole, forces the valve closed to prevent the egress of grout from this particular conduit. [0028] The third conduit 22 receives, in sealing engagement,_, a breather pipe (not shown) through which air passes out of the hoie when displaced by the introduction of the grout:

[0028] On an outer cylindrical surface 28 of the body, concentric sealing formations are formed, respectively designated 30A, 30B, 30C...3GN, each formation of the plurality being regularly longitudinally spaced from adjacent formations.

1003-0] In longitudinal profile, the formations taper from the first end 14 to the second end 16, as illustrated In Figure 3. 00 1] The tapering of the formations allows for sealing engagement of the bung into a range of rock holes of varying diameters. For example, if the hole Is of a -relatively -small diameter, the bung will be inserted, second end 14 leading, until sealing formations of complimentary dimension to the hole engage with t rock hoie walls and resilientiy deform into sealing engagement with the walls. Should the rock hole be of larger diameter then the body of the bung will pass deeper within the hole until respective formations of complimentary dimension engage with the rock hole wall in a similar manner, resiliently deforming i sealing engagement. This is illustrated In figure 6,

[00321 Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the bung ^'108.. In describing the second embodiment, features analogous to the first embodiment will hear the same reference numerals.

[0033] In this embodiment, the body 12 comprises a first, second and third pipes, respectively 18, 20 and 22. The first pipe receives the rock bolt and the second and third pipes receive, in passage there-through, a 'dYout mater al and expel ed air respectively.

[0034J The plurality of sealing formations 30, in this particular example, are laterally more extensive when compared to the first embodiment and take on the form of a number of concentric discs that extend to encompass the first, second and third pipes. Like the first embodiment, the longitudinal profile of the plurality of formations is a tapered one, tapering from the outer end 14 to the inner end 18 of the body.

[0035] The body and the sealing formations are Integrally formed and, because they are made of a suitable plastics or rubber material, the sealing formations are resiiientiy deformable.

|0036J The first 18 and t e third 22 pipes are co-extensive whilst the second pipe 20 is co-extensive with the other pipes to the first end 14 but which extends beyond the first end to project longitudinally from this end as an outer projecting section 20A of the second pipe. It Is to this projecting section that a nozzle or ianee of a grout apparatus, illustrated In Figure 7, is attached to introduce grout from a source info the rock hole.

10037] Figure 8 illustrates the second embodiment o the hung 108 In which a static mixer 32 is included.

I0038J The first and second adhesive components are mixed into a settable mixture by passage through the in-line static mixer 32. The adhesive mixture passes from the second pipe, through the valve 24, into the rock hole to set.

|0039] With the bung 108 seaiingly inserted into a rock hole 34 (not showing the associated rock bolt and grout and air), and with respective sealing formations 30 resilienily deformed into sealing engagement with the wa!is of the rock hole, a nozzfe/fance 44 (see Figure 7), at the leading end of a grout or adhesive delivery system, can be attached to an end 38 of the projecting section 20A.

[0040] The static mixer will mix, a first and second adhesive component of a two- part adhesive, emanating from source A and B respectively.

[0041] Figure 7 iustrates a kit 40 which includes the hung 10B and a connector piece 42 which connects the bung, at the projecting section 2 OA of the second pipe 20, to the ozzle/iance 44.

[0042] The connector piece 42, which has a rigid, tubular body 46, provides means by which a mechanised grout delivery system (which can include the two-part adhesive system described above) ca connect to the hung. In the absence of the ^•rigid connector piece, the mechanical ntroduction of grout will prove difficult due to the difficulty in making a connection with the flexible projecting pipe section 20A.

[0043] In one embodiment of the ki 40, the connector -piece 4:2A includes a valve 24A, as illustrated in Figure 8, interposed . in the tubular interior of the body .46. The valve includes a valve member 50 located on a valve seat 52.

£0044] With the passage of a grout material through the tubular body, the valve membe 50 Is lifted from the valve seat to open a bore to the passage of the grout into the projecting pipe section 20 A. Back-flow of the grout materia! towards the source will cause the valve member to locate back on the valve seat, closing the bore and preventing further back-flow. [0045] Figures S and 10 illustrate a third embodiment of the bung TOG. Once again , in describing the third embodiment, features analogous to the first and second embodiment will bear tike reference numerate.

[0046] Like with the bung 108, this bung 10C has a body 12 which is comprised of the first, second and third pipes (18, 20, 22), The pipes 20 and 22 are co-joined in this example to reduce the circumferential dimension of the bung for insertion into smaiier diameter holes.

10047] This embodiment, similarly with bung 10B, does not have a cylindrical body with conduits passing through the body. The pipes of bung 10C are analogous to the conduits of bung 1..0A,

[0048]. The disk-like sealing formations 30 emanate from the pipes to enclose the pipes within the plurality of sealing formations. Each sealing formation is laterally _.significantly more extensive: -than the counterpart bungs I QA and 10B and are ^' integrally moulded with the pipes to plastically deform against and sealingly engage ith, the wails of the rock hole.

|004δ] Unlike with embodiments IQA and 08 the plurality of sealing formations of the bung of this embodiment does not taper. Each formation is of uniform circumference. This is so because this bung Is not designed to engage with the mouth of the rock hole but rather to be inserted wholly within the rock hose as is illustrated i Figure 11 .

JdOSOJ As illustrated In Figures 10 and 1 1 , pipe 18 receives, in use, a rock bolt 80, pipe 20 receives a grout tube 62 and pipe 22 receives a breather tube 64. [0051] In -the installation illustrated in Figure 11 , grout is introduced into the rock hole, ahead of the hung 10C, by passage through the grout tube 82 that is located in pipe 20. As the grout fills the sealed free space, grouting the rock bolt into the rock hole, displaced air leaves this sealed space through breather tube 64 which is located in pipe 22.

Claims

1. A bung includes a body which extends between an operafively outer end and an opposed operafively inner end, the body including first, second and third passages extending, in parallel,_, through at least part of the body, the passages being adapted to receive respectively a rook bolt, the passage of a settable materia! or a settable materia pipe respectively, and air or an air pipe, and a plurality of laterally projecting sealing formations, each of which is longitudinally spaced and concentrically arranged relatively to the others.

2. A bung according to claim 1 wherein the body is made of a resiliency deformable plastics or rubber material.

3. A bung according to claim 1 or 2 wherein ^'the formations are uniformly longitudinally spaced .

4. A bung according to anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherei -the sealing formations may- have a longitudinal profile that tapers towards the inner end.

5. A bung according to anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein each sealing formation is In the form of a resiHentiy deformable disc

8. A bung according to anyone of claims 1 to 5 which includes, at one end of the second passage, a valve,

7, A bung according to anyone of claims. 1 to 6 wherein the first, second and third passages traverse the body between the inner end and the outer end.

8. A bung according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the second passage extends beyond the outer end of the body as an integrally formed longitudinally projecting tube.

9. A bung according to claim 8 which includes a static mixer located in the second passage

10. A bung according to claim 8 wherein the static mixer is located within the projecting tube.

1 1. A kit which includes:

(a) a bung, which has a body of a resiliency deformab material which extends between an operatively outer end and an opposed operatively inner end, the body including first, second and third parallel passages which traverse the body from the inne end to the outer end for respectivel receiving a rock bolt, the passage of a sellable material or a settable material pipe respectively, and air or an air pipe, a plurality of laterally projecting sealing formations, each of which is longitudinally spaced and concentrically arranged relatively to the others, and an Integral projecting tube longitudinally extending from the outer end and in register with the second passage: and.

(b) a connector device which has a rigid tubular body which Is adapted, at a^' first end, to engage with an free end of the projecting tube and , at a second end, to engage with a nozzle or lance of a grout delivery apparatus.

12. A kit according to claim 11 wherein the formations are uniformly spaced.

13. A kit according to claim 1 1 or 12 wherein the sealing formations have a longitudinal profile that tapers towards the inner end.

14. A kit according to anyone of claims 11 to 13 wherein each sealing formation is in the form of resiliency deformab!e disc.

15. A kit according to anyone of claims 1 1 to 14 wherein the connector device includes a one way valve Interposed within the tubular body.