Patent ID: 6715961
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: E21F

Abstract:
A method of supporting opposite first and second walls of a mine passageway, said method comprising the steps of:providing an elongate beam having opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, said beam being configured to have columnar strength for bearing a longitudinal load applied to the beam generally longitudinally of the beam and bending strength for bearing a transverse load applied to the beam generally transversely of the beam, the beam including a central beam and a slide member slidable longitudinally relative to the central beam, selecting first and second locations on the first and second walls, respectively, providing suitable areas for supporting the first and second walls, positioning the first end of the beam at said first location and the second end of the beam at said second location by sliding the slide member relative to the central beam to adjust the length of the beam to correspond to the distance between the first and second walls so that the beam extends between the first and second walls of the mine passageway, securing the first end of the beam to the first wall at said first location and the second end of the beam to the second wall at said second location so that the beam is positioned for supporting the first and second walls, and locking the slide member relative to the central beam so that the slide member will slide longitudinally relative to the central beam under a longitudinal load greater than about 800 pounds.