WO2017207712A1

WO2017207712A1 - Method and apparatus for lining tunnel surface with protective nets

Info

Publication number: WO2017207712A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/063361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Borja DIAZ ARCE; Hugo CARRIEL SANHUEZA; Miguel EULUFI VILLENA
Original assignee: Inchalam Sa - Industrias Chilenas De Alambre; Nv Bekaert Sa
Priority date: 2016-06-03
Filing date: 2017-06-01
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Also published as: PE20190096A1; CL2018003160A1; AU2017272777A1

Abstract

An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets comprising: a main unit, and a first movable arm having a first and second end, said first end being attached to said main unit,a supporting panel attached to the second end of said first movable arm, wherein said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface and said supporting panel is suitable for supporting an extended protective net.

Description

Method and apparatus for lining tunnel surface with protective nets

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets and a method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets by application of such an apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Underground nnining or other kinds of civil works such as tunnelling, energy power plants, highways or metro lines contain a tunnel construction. One or more of the faces of a tunnel in an underground mine, such as ceilings or walls is primarily supported by anchors or "bolts". In connection with the installation of these bolts, it is often necessary or desired to install a web-shaped net or mesh along the corresponding face(s). The main role of mesh is to provide confinement, especially in locations where poor ground conditions prevail, preventing fragments of rock and other minerals from falling from the roof and ribs in the spacing between reinforcing bolts.

[0003] Under the current approach, this supplemental protection afforded by net or mesh is separately applied to the roof and ribs of the mine passage, and oftentimes completed manually as part of the bolting operation.

[0004] Any manual approach suffers from being relatively complex in nature, and generally do not obviate the continued need for significant operator involvement. Specifically, an operator must still be involved to a significant extent in helping to initially support and tension the net or mesh during installation, and must also take measures to ensure that the proper amount of tension is provided throughout the operation. These requirements for frequent manual intervention expose the workers in a risky position under the tunnel where there is no reinforcement, increase the man hours and thus limit the practical effectiveness and efficiency of the limited automation provided. [0005] US patent no. 8662796 proposes the application of net or mesh through automated approach by having a roll of net or mesh in a reel carried by a mining machine and applied during the advance to form the mine passage.

[0006] Continued need is identified for an improved arrangement to facilitate the application of net or mesh to the ceiling or walls of a tunnel. As compared with past approaches, the arrangement would be relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to implement. Yet, it would bring a significant level of advancement in terms of the savings in time and cost realized from its use.

Disclosure of Invention

[0007] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a safer alternative for the reinforcing traditional manual method.

[0008] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a method having a low labour cost for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets.

[0009] It is still another objective of the present invention to have an apparatus to facilitate the installation of protective nets.

[0010] It is yet another objective of the present invention to modify or adapt the existing mining apparatus to install a protective net relatively fast.

[001 1] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is provided a method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets, comprising the following steps:

(a) Opening a protective net into an extended form,

(b) Placing said extended protective net over a supporting panel so that the extended protective net is movable together with the supporting panel, wherein said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface with a curvature in the same direction of the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls, and wherein said extended protective net placed over said supporting panel has its middle part on said supporting panel and two end parts individually hanging from the two sides of said supporting panel, (c) Raising said supporting panel together with the extended protective net to the tunnel ceiling,

(d) Securing said extended protective net on the tunnel ceiling by implementing anchoring means, wherein said anchoring means are first implemented in the center portion of the tunnel ceiling and then implemented from the center portion of the tunnel ceiling to the two side portions,

(e) Moving down said supporting panel.

[0012] According to the present invention, said method may further comprise step of (f) continuing to secure said protective net on the tunnel ceilings or walls by implementing anchoring means.

[0013] According to the method of the present invention, a supporting panel is applied to facilitate the installation of a protective net. In particular, the supporting panel is intended to support a deployed protective net. On the one hand, this avoids applying a reel movable along the tunnel walls and controlling rotational movement of a reel as in US8662796. Consequently, the machinery for lining tunnel surface is simplified and become lighter. On the other hand, the application of the supporting panel makes the installation of protective nets faster and has better efficiency than the manual installation.

[0014] The protective net may be wound in a roll and said roll may be placed on an axle supported by two easels on the floor of the tunnel. The protective net can be unwounded from a roll into an extended form.

[0015] According to the present invention, said implementing anchoring means may comprise drilling boreholes at the tunnel ceiling, inserting grout into the boreholes, bolting the protective net and installing fastened plate with nuts.

[0016] The extended protective net placed over said supporting panel is unwounded from a roll and may have a length no less than the required length of protective net for a tunnel section. Preferably the protective net for lining the tunnels in a roll has a length of the same as required length for lining one tunnel section. The tunnel section can be confined faster by lining of this one piece protective net than a traditional manner where a series of overlapping mesh sheets as protective net are arranged side by side and end to end as required. According to the invention, said extended protective net placed over said supporting panel has its middle part on said supporting panel and two end parts individually hanging from two sides of the supporting panel. The supporting panel in use is configured to have a curved surface with a curvature in the same direction but may be of different radius of the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls. Preferably, the supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface with a substantially same curvature as the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls. When the supporting panel is raised against the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls, the protective net thereon can be easily and appropriately secured by the bolter. Preferably, said extended protective net placed over said supporting panel can be grabbed by fastening means like pin-cylinders position at the four corners of the supporting panel. The fastening means can be operated by hydraulic control from the bolter machine.

[0017] According to the invention, the anchoring means are first implemented in the center portion of the tunnel ceiling and then implemented from the center portion of the tunnel ceiling to the two side portion. The installation starts from the center of the tunnel ceiling to the sides of the tunnel to maintain the stability of the protective net during installation.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is provided an apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets, comprising:

a main unit, and

a first movable arm having a first and second end, said first end being attached to said main unit,

a supporting panel attached to the second end of said first movable arm, wherein said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface and said supporting panel is suitable for supporting an extended protective net.

[0019] When the apparatus is used for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets, the extended protective net is over the supporting panel and the supporting panel has a curvature in the same direction of the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls. The curved surface of the supporting panel can have different radius from that of the curvature of the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls. The extended protective net maybe larger than the supporting panel. Thus, the extended protective net placed over said supporting panel can have its middle part on said supporting panel and two end parts individually hanging from the two sides of said supporting panel.

[0020] In addition, said main unit may further comprise a second movable arm having a third and fourth end, said third end being attached to said main unit, said fourth end suitable for implementing anchoring means. The fourth end can be configured to carry a drill for forming boreholes, insert grout into the boreholes, attach bolts and/or install plates to secure said protective net to the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls.

[0021] Preferably, the first and second movable arms are also telescopic so that they are agile during operations in the tunnel.

[0022] As an example, said protective net is a steel wire mesh being wound in a roll and the roll is preferably placed on a stable axle supported by two easels on the floor of the tunnel. Preferably, said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface with a substantial same curvature as the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls so that the protective net thereon can be well held against tunnel ceiling or tunnel walls.

[0023] According to the present invention, said supporting panel can be made from tubes, e.g. from metal, steel or any kind of structural material, and preferably tubes made of material that having corrosion resistant and can be easy assembled and welded.

[0024] As an example, said supporting panel has a length in the range of 2 to 5 meter and a width in the range of 2 to 4 meter. Preferably, the supporting panel has a fastening means for grabbing the protective net.

[0025] The inventive apparatus and the supporting panel for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets can be applied in a wide range of tunnels. For instance, the tunnels have a width in the range of 3 to 10 meters and have a height in the range of 2.5 to 13.5 meters. As examples, they are suitable for lining ceilings or walls for specific tunnels respectively with a width of 4 m and a height of 2 m, a width of 5 m and a height of 7 m, and a width of 8 m and a height of 12 m.

Brief Description of Figures in the Drawings

[0026] The objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following more detailed description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :

[0027] Figure 1 to 6 shows a perspective illustration of a method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 to 9 respectively shows the front view, upper view and side view of a supporting panel equipped in the apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 10 shows a fastening system made to block and fasten the protective net on the supporting panel of the present invention.

Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets is shown step by step in Fig. 1 to 6.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a perspective illustration of an apparatus for lining tunnel walls and tunnel ceilings with protective nets, equipped with a supporting panel for supporting an unwound protective net. The apparatus as shown in Figure 1 comprises a main unit 1 1 and a moveable, telescopic arm 12 attached to the main unit 1 1 at one end. The other end of the moveable, telescopic arm 12 has a supporting panel 19 for supporting an unwound protective net 18.

[0032] The protective net 18 used in this invention can be any suitable web- shaped net. As an example, commercially available chain-linked steel wire meshes is used for lining the tunnel. The steel wire meshes preferably have corrosion resistant coating, e.g. zinc or zinc alloy coating. The wire mesh as received is wound in a roll placed on an axle supported by two easels on the floor of the tunnel. [0033] As shown in Fig. 1 , the wire mesh 18 is first opened and extended on the floor and placed over the supporting panel 19. The area of intended lining, i.e. the length and width of wire mesh used for one tunnel section, is predetermined and the center portion of the extended wire mesh is placed on the supporting panel 19.

[0034] As an example, the supporting panel 19 is designed and optimised to have a particular shape as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 which are respectively front view, upper view and side view of the supporting panel 19. The supporting panel 19 is preferably made from tubes having corrosion resistant material and being able to be easy assembled and welded. The supporting panel has a specifically designed shape to stably support the wire mesh: as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, two parallel straight tubes 131 ,141 ,142 with certain length are connected in their respective center with one curved connecting tube 133,143,153. Preferably, the curvature of the curved connecting tube 133,143,153 is equal or more than the curvature of the tunnel which is to be lined. Such assembled frame is reinforced or strengthened by another four curved reinforcement tubes 135,145, each of which has one end on the one of the two straight tubes 131 ,141 ,142 and the other end on the curved connecting tube 133,143,153. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8 the reinforcement tubes 135,145 together with the straight tubes 131 ,141 ,142 and the curved connecting tube 133,143,153 form stable triangular structures.

[0035] In addition, in order to safely handle the protective net on the supporting panel, a fixation system 137,147 is preferably added on the supporting panel. As an example, a fixation system made by pin-cylinders to block and fasten the protective net is placed at each corner of the supporting panel as shown in Fig. 8. At an open position as shown in Fig. 10(a), the pins 161 of the fixation system are hidden and have no contact with the protective net. Thus, the protective net can be moved or removed freely from the supporting panel. While at the closed position as shown in Fig. 10(b), the pins 163 of the fixation system are expanded and the protective net on the supporting net is grabbed so that cannot be moved away from the supporting panel. The protective net is moved together with the supporting panel and held firmly by the supporting panel during operations, e.g. bolting. The pins can be switched between the open and close position via a control, e.g. via hydraulic control, from the main unit. When placing the wire mesh 18 on the supporting panel 19, the pins are hidden (Fig. 10(a)), which make the movement of wire mesh smoothly. While for the following steps, e.g. raising the supporting panel and bolting through the wire mesh, the pins are expanded (Fig. 10(b)) and grab the wire mesh on the supporting panel.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 2, the supporting panel 29 on which the middle portion 28 of a wire mesh is grabbed, is then raised from ground to the ceiling, preferably to the center of the ceiling, by the first telescopic arm 22. The two end portions 26, 27 of the wire mesh not on the supporting panel are hanging respectively from the two sides of the supporting panel 29 by its own gravity.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 3, the wire mesh 38 is placed at the right position and to be fixed or installed with a bolter 36 on a second telescopic arm 34.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 4, the center portion of the ceiling of the tunnel is desired to be first lined with the wire mesh. This is carried out by first placing the wire mesh at the right position, drilling on the ceiling, then followed by inserting grout, bolting and installing a fastened plate with a nut. The lining on the ceiling is carried out by first drilling holes at a centered position on the ceiling. The drilling can be carried out through wire meshes. As shown in Fig. 8, the open areas 148 of the supporting panel, which are not hidden by the tubes, can be used for passing through the drilling beam to make boreholes. As shown in Fig. 4, the wire mesh is installed in the center portion of the ceiling of the tunnel with the facilitation of the supporting panel 49.

[0039] The supporting panel is then moved down and moved to next position either at left or right side of the center portion of the ceiling where wire mesh is installed. Again, the supporting panel is used to facilitate the installation of the wire mesh at different location. The cycle of drilling through the wire mesh on the walls of tunnel followed by inserting grout, bolting and installing fastened plates with nuts, is repeated first at one side of the center portion as shown in Fig. 5 and then at the other side till the whole section of the tunnel is lined with the wire mesh as shown in Fig. 6. After a piece of wire mesh is completely fixed on one section of the tunnel as shown in Fig. 6, the supporting panel is reloaded with another piece of wire mesh and moved to next section of the tunnel to be lined. The time required for installation of wire meshes according to the method of the present invention is comparably less than the traditional methods. The result that follows from use of the apparatus presents an overall increase in the efficiency of the mining operation.

Claims

1. A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets, comprising the following steps:

(a) Opening a protective net into an extended form,

(b) Placing said extended protective net over a supporting panel so that the extended protective net is movable together with the supporting panel, wherein said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface with a curvature in the same direction of the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls, and wherein said extended protective net placed over said supporting panel has its middle part on said supporting panel and two end parts individually hanging from the two sides of said supporting panel,

(c) Raising said supporting panel together with the extended protective net to the tunnel ceiling,

(d) Securing said extended protective net on the tunnel ceiling by implementing anchoring means, wherein said anchoring means are first implemented in the center portion on the tunnel ceiling and then implemented from the center portion of the tunnel ceilings to the two side portions,

(e) Moving down said supporting panel.

2. A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises unwinding the protective net from a roll placed on an axle supported by two easels on the floor of the tunnel.

3. A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said implementing anchoring means comprise drilling boreholes at the tunnel ceiling, inserting grout into the boreholes, bolting and installing fastened plates with nuts.

4. A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said extended protective net placed over said supporting panel have a length no less than the required length of protective net for a tunnel section.

5. A method for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said method further comprises step of (f) continuing to secure said protective net on the tunnel ceilings and walls by implementing anchoring means.

6. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets, comprising:

a main unit, and

7. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to claim 6, wherein said main unit further comprises a second movable arm having a third and fourth end, said third end being attached to said main unit, said fourth end suitable for implementing anchoring means.

8. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said fourth end being configured to carry a drill for forming boreholes, insert grout into the boreholes, attach bolts and/or install plates to secure said protective net to the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls.

9. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said supporting panel is configured to have a curved surface with a substantially same curvature as the tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls.

10. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said protective net is a steel wire mesh unwound from a roll placed on an axle supported by two easels on the floor of the tunnel.

1 1. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said supporting panel is made from tubes.

12. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of claims 6 to 1 1 , wherein said supporting panel has a length in the range of 2 to 5 meter and a width in the range of 2 to 4 meter.

13. An apparatus for lining tunnel ceilings or tunnel walls with protective nets according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein said supporting panel has a fastening means for grabbing said protective net.