APPARATUS FOR THE PASSIVE SUPPORT OF OVERHEAD SOLIDS AND SUPPORT OF SERVICES

Abstract: Apparatus for passively supporting overhead solids (2, 3) typically located in a mine, above a floor (5) are described. The apparatus comprises an arrangement of three generally H-shaped beams (7-9) formed as a right-sided archway. The near vertically arranged beams (8, 9) stand from the floor (5) by footings (8a, 9a). The near horizontal beam (7) is secured to the vertically arranged beams (8, 9) by corner braces (7a) and associated locking bolts. Each of the beams (7-9) has a plurality of spaced-apart keyhole-shaped locking points (10) from which can be hung mining services such as pipes (12, 13) by means of a linked chain (11). By choice of appropriate locking points (10) a service can be supported with appropriate alignment.

Description: APPARATUS FOR THE PASSIVE SUPPORT OF OVERHEAD SOLIDS AND SUPPORT OF SERVICES Technical Field The present invention relates to devices intended to provide passive support for overhead solids, and whereby those devices also are intended to support one or more services from overhead locations. In one particular instance the devices are suited for support of the roof and/or walls of an underground mine, and from which devices mining services are hung to be routed through the mine. Definitions In this specification a number of expressions take a broad meaning, and are not to be seen as limited to any particular embodiment as will be described. "Services" is to be understood to include hoses, pipes, pipelines, ducts, flumes, cables, conveyors, catenary wires, monorails, tubing and other ancillary devices. "Situation" is to be understood to include industrial sites, mines, construction zones, buildings, temporary structures, tunnels and bridges. "Overhead solid" is to be understood to include strata, material, roof support members or structures, and roofs or ceilings (including the sides and roof in tunnels and underground mines). Background Art In considering the background art it is convenient to refer to an underground mine. In underground mines four types of roof supporting techniques are commonly used to secure the roof and sides from cave-in, especially where the overhead solid is 'incompetent' . The first three are categorised as 'active', and the last as 'passive' . The first is known as pattern bolting, by which rock bolts are emplaced into the roof or sides in a largely predetermined array. This results in a large number of exposed rock bolt threads spaced throughout the levels and galleries of the mine. Another method is to fix wire mesh to the roof and/or sides to support a friable (less competent) immediate roof, which reduces the likelihood of crumbling rock falling. The third roof supporting technique involves use of a device commonly known as a W-strap, which is an elongate strap having a roughly 'W cross-sectional shape, that is bolted to the mine roof at spaced intervals by rock bolts. The W-strap is used where the roof is moderately competent and hence wire mesh is not necessary, and would typically be installed to extend across the width of the opening, and usually is installed or emplaced at the time a new heading, cut through, drive or drift is being advanced. Examples of known W-straps are shown in published Australian Patent Applications No. 69679/81 (Calandra), No. 67475/81 (Titan Manufacturing Co. Pty Ltd.) and No. 44647/85 (Arnall's Engineering Pty. Limited). The fourth (passive) method is generally known as later or 'back-bye' supporting, that involves a passive support in which the load is supported by a beam, frame or arch rather than the load being supported by the composite of the strata rock reinforcement member(s). These beams, frames or arches are usually supported at the sides of the opening by vertical or near vertical struts, in turn supported from the lower level of the opening. In addition to securing the overhead solid, it is most often necessary to route services such as electricity, water, ventilation, materials haulage, dewatering, gas extraction and transmission, slurry and suspended matter transport, hydraulics, compressed air, electrical reticulation and signalling throughout the mine. In order to provide these services at the various sites, support devices are fastened or suspended from the sides or the roof of the mine to route the services. The fixing or suspending of these support devices cannot be arbitrary, and must consider questions of clearance, access for repair and inspection, and other matters relating to alignment and physical orientation. To date, many approaches to fixing supporting services have been made on an ad hoc basis. Support devices have commonly been retrofitted to existing devices which support the mine roof, utilising the exposed threaded end of a rock bolt to fix the support devices by means of the bracket passed over an exposed rock bolt thread and a nut screwed to the thread to secure the bracket. One such common type of retrofitted bracket is called a 'twin keyhole angle bracket', and is generally L-shaped, and has two keyhole-shaped apertures formed in one arm of the bracket, from which the services can be slung by means of link chains. These brackets suffer from the problem of being 'sloppy' or insecure when mounted, and therefore do not positively locate and secure a service hung therefrom. Additionally, there is usually quite a distance between the mine roof and the service line because of the 'tear-drop' shape of the link chain sling and the sloppiness of the bracket, thereby reducing the clearance to machinery passing through the opening. Also, the rock bolts may not be in alignment or in the desired position in the opening and hence an unwanted bending or positioning of the service line may result. The L-shaped bracket may also be wedged between the W-strap and the mine roof, and in this instance, although alignment may be corrected by the position selected for installation of these brackets, the suspension technique is prone to failure. In summary, the known support devices typically all suffer from the disadvantage of a lack of correction for lateral alignment, poor security of attachment and consumption of space in the opening. The present invention has been developed with a view to avoiding one or more of the foregoing disadvantages in the prior art. The present invention has, as a preferred object, the provision of a passive support structure for overhead solids and that facilitates the support of service in a manner to allow for fine lateral adjustment and hence the correct alignment of routed services. There is great flexibility attained in thus permitting adjustment or reconfiguration should the routing requirements change; this achieved without undue effort or cost in removing existing support devices or installing/relocating new support devices. Embodiments of the invention also provide savings in terms of manpower, by emplacing support devices at the time an overhead solid is secured. Disclosure of the Invention The invention discloses a device for passively supporting an overhead solid located above a floor and providing a supporting arrangement for services, the device comprising a rigid structure mounted from the floor, the structure having a plurality of spaced-apart locking points from which tensile supporting means can be hung to support one or more services, and which said locking points provide for positional adjustment of the one or more services. Preferably, the rigid structure comprises a plurality of beam members connected to form a contiguous freestanding frame. The invention further discloses a supporting arrangement for services within a mine or the like, said arrangement comprising: a supporting bracket having an elongate base portion from which extend at an angle thereto one or more spaced-apart tabs, each tab having one or more apertures therethrough forming a locking point for a tensile member and by selective ones of which locking points services can be supported with positional adjustment; and load bearing means having first apertures therethrough through which the tabs can pass, and whereby the supporting bracket and the load bearing means, in stacked arrangement, can be emplaced to an overhead solid by one or more fastening devices. The invention yet further discloses a bracket for supporting services within a mine or the like comprising an elongate web from which two arms depend in a common direction, the web having one or more spaced-apart apertures therethrough through which fastening means can pass to secure the bracket to an overhead solid, one said arm having a plurality of first spaced-apart locking points from which services can be hung by tensile members, and the other arm having a plurality of second spaced-apart locking points, and wherein said first locking points are laterally displaced relative to the second locking points. Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows a vertically-sectioned elevational view of an underground roadway incorporating a passive support structure embodying the invention; Fig. 2 shows a part-sectioned elevational view of a pattern bolting roof support and services supporting device; Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c respectively show a services supporting device for use together with a roof support structure as a top plan view, sectional view along line A-A and elevational view; Fig. 4 shows an isometric view of a services support device together with roof support structure; Fig. 5 shows a sectioned elevational view of the services support device of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows an elevational view of another passive support device within an underground roadway; Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an element of the passive support structure shown in Figs. 1 and 6; Figs. 8a and 8b show a top elevational view and cross-sectional view of another services support device; and Figs. 9a to 9c show a side view, top view and cross-sectional view of a yet further services support device. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention It is again convenient to describe the various embodiments with reference to an underground mine, in which "situation" it has industrial application. Even so, it has to be realised the present invention is not limited to such an environment, and that the invention can be implemented in a large number of situations where services are to be supported from an overhead solid. Fig. 1 shows an underground roadway 1 in a coal mine that has been driven into the coal seam 2 sandwiched between the overhead solid 3 and the strata 4 forming the floor 5 of the roadway. The overhead solid 3 is passively supported by an arrangement of three generally H-shaped beams or columns (load-bearing members) 7-9 formed as a right-sided archway. The near vertically arranged beams 8,9 stand from the floor 5 by footings 8a, 9a. The near horizontal beam 7 is secured to the near 5 vertically arranged beams 8,9 by means of corner braces 7a and associated locking bolts. The beams 7-9 provide passive support, in that supporting only occurs in the event of the overhead solid 3 coming into contact with the horizontally arranged beam 7. In this case, the vertically arranged beams 8,9 do not provide passive support for the coal seam 2, but in other circumstances this could be the case. o Each of the beams 7-9 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart keyhole-shaped locking points 10, from which can be hung (secured) services such as pipes 12,13 by means of a linked chain 11. As shown, either end of each chain 11 is locked into a respective locking point 10. By choice of appropriate locking points, a service can be supported with appropriate alignment. Although not shown, the corner braces too can 5 include one or more locking points 10. Fig. 2 shows an overhead solid 15, the exposed surface of which forms the roof of the underground roadway 17, secured by means of wire mesh 16 and pattern bolted rock bolts 14, each having an associated washer 19 and locking nut 18. The pattern bolting and wire mesh arrangement is conventional in supporting an overhead 0 solid, as has been previously been discussed. Also provided is a support bracket 20 that is emplaced to the overhead solid 15 together with the wire mesh 16 and rock bolts 14. Thus the bracket 20 is sandwiched between the wire mesh 16 and the roof 17. The bracket 20 is formed as a base plate 24 and a plurality of tabs 21 commonly arranged at right-angles to the base plate, each of 5 which includes a locking point in the form of a keyhole 10 or the like. A chain 22 supports a pipe 23 from two of the locking points 10. Lateral alignment is possible by selection of any two appropriate locking points on the four tabs 21. The base plate 24 can deform, as shown at the end portions thereof, to accommodate the contour of the roof 17. There equally could be but a single tab, and furthermore, any one tabs can have more than one locking points. Figs. 3a-3b show a support bracket 25, similar to the bracket 20 shown in Fig. 2, in combination with a conventional W-strap 26 (sometimes called a "mat"). The bracket 25 comprises a base plate 25a and tabs 28 extending commonly at right angles therefrom. Each tab 28 has one or more keyholes 32 from which linked chain can be locked. The W-strap has slots 27 through which the tabs 28 can pass. Furthermore, both the bracket 25 and W-strap 26 have respective holes 30,29 that are coincident in the stacked arrangement (particularly as shown in Fig. 3a), and through which a rock bolt (or the like) can pass. The bracket 25 can be emplaced at the time of securing the overhead solid by the W-strap 26, or as a 'back-bye' operation. In other embodiments, the number of tabs attached to the base plate of the support device can be variable, and include one. It can equally be the case that the support bracket 25 is not provided with holes 30 in the web portion 25a, rather the devices are secured against movement only by the force of the emplaced W-strap 26. The W-strap 26 thus is bolted to the overhead solid by holes 29 located beyond the longitudinal extent of the support bracket 25. Figs. 4 and 5 show a similar configuration to that of Figs. 3a-3c, in that there is a stacked arrangement of a bracket 33 and a W-strap 34. The conventional W-strap 34 has side grooves (or channels) 36 and a plurality of spaced-apart holes 38 through which a fastener, such as a rock bolt, can pass to secure the W-strap (and the support device 33) to an overhead solid. The bracket 33 is generally of the same shape as the W-strap but includes an angled flange 40, in which are provided spaced-apart keyholes 39. The support device 33 also includes apertures 38, one or more of which can align with the holes 37 in the W-strap. The grooved edges 35 accurately locate within the grooves 36 of the W-strap 34. With the W-strap and bracket 33 emplaced to an overhead solid, the locking points 39 are well anchored from movement. The bracket 33 also can be conveniently located at any point along the W-strap 34. Again, the holes 38 in the support bracket 33 can be omitted, and the W-strap 34 emplaced to the overhead solid only by the holes 37 located beyond the longitudinal extent of the bracket 33. The bracket 33 is restrained against movement by co¬ operation of the grooved edges 35 with the grooves 36 of the W-strap 34. Conveniently, Fig. 4 shows a catenary wire 41, which exemplifies another form of device by which services can be supported. Previously, linked chain has been described for this purpose. The bracket 33 has the particular advantage of being compactly stackable when in storage. The holes 38 in the bracket 33 can substantially correspond with the holes 37 in the W-strap 34 to allow a selection of locations through which a rock bolt or the like can be installed. Fig. 6 shows another underground roadway 48 formed through rock and/or mineral strata 49,50,51. The strata 49,50 forming the walls (sides) and roof of the roadway 48 is passively supported by an arch-like structure formed by four beam members 52-55. The two near vertically arranged beam members 52,55 are mounted from footings 52a, 55a onto the floor 57 of the roadway 48. The beam members are secured to adjacent ones by means of locking bolts 56. The passive supporting nature of the structure comes about for reason of the strata bearing upon the beam members by virtue of packing beams 60 after installation of the structure. Each of the beams is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart keyhole-shaped locking points 58 from which mining services can be supported. The two lower-most keyholes 59 are orientated slightly differently to the others to show how the orientation can vary, in this case because services supported at points near the floor 57 cannot sling downwardly, since a clearance is required to be kept above the level of the floor 57. Although not shown, the keyhole locking points 58,59 are well suited to be used with linked chain for supporting services, such as pipes. Fig. 7 is a representative cross-sectional view of the load supporting beams shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, as a sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 6. The beam is generally H-shaped, having two end flanges 60 and a web 61. A keyhole locking point 62 also is shown, as are (in phantom) other tabs or flanges 63,64 that are possible configurations that can be included on the beam. Fig. 8a shows a portion of load-bearing strap 60 that is emplaced to an overhead solid by means of rock bolts or the like passing through the spaced-apart apertures 62, much in the same manner as the W-straps 26,34 previously described. The strap 60 has two longitudinally-extending grooves 64,66, the latter of which is both deeper and broader than the former. A downwardly-angled flange 68 extends from the groove 66 along the length (or a portion) of the strap 60. The flange 68 has a number of spaced-apart keyhole-shaped locking points 70 from which mining services can be supported by means, such as for example linked chain. The flange 68 also has a reaction region 72 (shown by the dashed circle) including one or more laterally elongated apertures 74 and a thin strip 76 forming the base of the aperture 74. The reaction region 72 facilitates bending of the strap 60 by promoting deformation of the flange 68 (in this region) with relative ease. A number of such reaction region 72 are spaced along the full extent of the strap 60. The fact that the aperture 74 is closed off by the strip 76 also means that the edge of the strap 60 is less likely to catch on mining machinery before emplacement and yet facilitate for deformation of the flange 68, within a confined region 74, is provided to preserve the angle of downwardly directed flange 68 with respect to the body of the strap 60. Figs. 9a and 9b show a generally U-shaped supporting bracket 80 that is emplaced to an overhead solid 15 by means of rock bolts 14 passing through one or more the spaced-apart holes 82 located in the web portion, as particularly shown in Fig. 9c which is a cross-section along line D-D. The downwardly-directed arms 86,88 each contain a plurality of spaced-apart keyhole-shaped locking points 90,92. As shown in Fig. 9a, a mining services pipe 94 is shown supported from the bracket 80 by a linked chain 96. As can be best noted from Fig. 9a, the relative relation of the keyholes 90,92 on the opposed arms 86,88 is so as to be offset. The minimum separation X between two keyholes on any one arm is approximately 5 cm. Therefore, to obtain particularly fine control over the alignment of the supported services, the keyhole locking points on respective arms are offset as shown, thereby effectively increasing (in this case doubling) the adjustment resolution for the supported services. It is possible that the ends of the linked chain 96 are supported from a locking point respectively located on either one of the arms 86,88 if the locational precision so requires. Modifications and alterations, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, can be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A device for passively supporting an overhead solid located above a floor and providing a supporting arrangement for services, the device comprising a rigid structure mounted from the floor, the structure having a plurality of spaced-apart locking points from which tensile supporting means can be hung to support one or more services, and which said locking points provide for positional adjustment of the one or more services. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid structure comprises a plurality of beam members connected to form a contiguous freestanding structure. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said beams are generally H- shaped in cross-section. 4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking points comprise keyhole-shaped apertures. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said beams form a regularly- sided structure. 6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connected ends of beams are braced to each other by brace means. 7. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of said beams form an arched structure. 8. A supporting arrangement for services within a mine or the like, said arrangement comprising: a supporting bracket having an elongate base portion from which extend at an angle thereto one or more spaced-apart tabs, each tab having one or more apertures therethrough forming a locking point for a tensile member and by selective ones of which locking points services can be supported with positional adjustment; and load bearing means having first apertures therethrough through which the tabs can pass, and whereby the supporting bracket and the load bearing means, in stacked arrangement, can be emplaced to an overhead solid by one or more fastening devices. 9. A supporting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tabs are substantially at right-angles to the base portion. 10. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said load bearing means includes a plurality of spaced-apart second apertures through which said fastening devices pass. 11. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking points are keyhole-shaped apertures. 12. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said load bearing means is wire mesh. 13. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said load bearing means is a W-shaped strap having a web portion formed between two longitudinally extending edge channels. 14. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said supporting bracket has longitudinally extending edge channels of the same shape to be received in and stack with the edge channels of the load bearing means. 15. A supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the base portion of the supporting bracket has holes that, in the stacked relation of the W-shaped strap and supporting bracket, match one or more of said second apertures. 16. A bracket for supporting services within a mine or the like comprising an elongate web from which two arms depend in a common direction, the web having one or more spaced-apart apertures therethrough through which fastening means can pass to secure the bracket to an overhead solid, one said arm having a plurality of first spaced-apart locking points from which services can be hung by tensile members, and the other arm having a plurality of second spaced-apart locking points, and wherein said first locking points are laterally displaced relative to the second locking points. 17. A bracket as claimed in claim 16, wherein said locking points are keyhole shaped. 18. A bracket as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first locking points are equally spaced between them, and the second locking points have the same spacing between them as the first locking points.

Inventors: PINK ELIZABETH ANNE DI, PINK JOHN EDWIN, PINK, ELIZABETH, ANNE +DI, PINK, JOHN, EDWIN
Applicants: BRIEN BARBARA JOAN & EF O, PINK JOHN EDWIN, O'BRIEN, BARBARA, JOAN +EF, PINK, JOHN, EDWIN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E21F17
IPC codes: E21D11, E21F17