Patent ID: 9206687
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: E21D

Abstract:
1. A support system for a mining roof, the support system comprising: a base; a cylinder coupled to the base and configured to extend and retract; a pivot mechanism coupled to the cylinder; a roof support beam coupled to the pivot mechanism and configured to contact a surface of the mining roof, wherein the roof support beam and the pivot mechanism are raised relative to the base when the cylinder is extended and lowered relative to the base when the cylinder is retracted; and a support structure coupled to the base on a first end and coupled to the pivot mechanism on a second end, the support structure being configured to limit movement of the roof support beam about an axis provided by the cylinder; and wherein the support structure includes two or more pivotable sections and the support structure is configured to move between a closed configuration when the cylinder is retracted and an open configuration when the cylinder is extended; and wherein each of the two or more pivotable sections are stacked substantially vertically on a single axis when the support structure is in the open configuration and the cylinder is fully extended.