Patent Publication Number: US-2012034037-A1

Title: Curved Mine Roof and Rib Support

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The support member relates generally to mine surface control, and more particularly to a mine roof and rib support with a roof support arm and a rib support arm which simultaneously support the mine roof and mine rib. 
     Mine roof and rib supports are commonly used in underground mining, excavating, and tunneling operations to support and control the overhead and lateral rock strata. In one conventional mine surface control system, a series of bore holes can be drilled into the mine roof or rib, a mine roof bolt can be installed in the bore hole, a channel, bearing plate, or mat can be positioned between the end of the mine roof bolt and the mine roof or rib, and the mine roof bolt can be anchored in the bore hole and tensioned such that the mine roof bolt and channel, bearing plate, or mat exert a compressive force upon the mine roof and rib to prevent deterioration of the overhead and lateral rock strata. A flange may be provided on at least one of the roof support arm and the rib support arm projecting toward the mine roof or rib. 
     Some examples of mine roof and rib support systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,405 to Galis entitled “Mine Roof Truss Assembly and Associated Method”; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,433; 5,202,209; and RE 35,902 to Calandra, Jr. et al. entitled “Bearing Plate’; U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,348 to Seegmiller entitled “Truss Systems, Components, and Methods for Trussing Arched Mine Roofs”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,266 to Seegmiller entitled “Structure and Method for Deterring Cuter Roof Failure”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,974 to Sherman entitled “Roof Support System for a Mine and Method for Providing the Same”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the mine roof and rib support device generally includes a support member may include a roof support arm and a rib support arm, and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. An aperture defined through the support member for receiving a mine roof bolt is located at the curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. The support member may be bent to form the roof support arm, rib support arm, and curved junction portion. The support member may include a base portion and an elongated reinforcement portion extending from the base portion and, alternatively, longitudinal edge portions extending angularly away from the base portion and terminating in edges. The aperture may be defined in the elongated reinforcement portion. The elongated reinforcement portion may be an embossment extending from a front surface of the support arm, for example a rib. This embodiment may also include a bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge, and defining a through-hole between the upper and lower plate edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and rib support arm. A mine roof bolt may be included, wherein the bearing plate through-hole is operatively aligned with the curved junction portion aperture of the support member with the mine roof bolt extending therethrough. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of supporting a rock formation includes positioning a support member including a roof support arm and rib support arm and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm against an arched rock formation, wherein the curved junction portion defines an aperture therethrough. The roof support arm is positioned against a mine roof surface, the rib support arm is positioned against a mine rib surface, and the curved junction portion is positioned to align with the natural curvature of the arched rock formation. A bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge and defining a through-hole between the upper and lower plate edges is positioned against the support member such that the curved junction aperture of the support arm is operatively aligned with the plate through-hole. A mine roof bolt is extended through the plate through-hole and the curved junction portion aperture into engagement with the arched rock formation. The bearing plate is then compressed against the support member to maintain the support member in contact with the arched rock formation, such that the upper edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and the lower edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the rib support arm. Compressing the bearing plate against the support member may include torquing the mine roof bolt against the bearing plate. A mesh mat may also be positioned between the arched rock formation and the support member such that the support member contacts the mesh mat to maintain the mesh mat in contact with the arched rock formation. In this embodiment, the mine roof bolt may extend substantially vertically through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture. 
     Another embodiment of the mine roof and rib support may include a support member having a roof support arm and a rib support arm, and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt. A bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge, the bearing plate defining a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges is positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, with the through-hole being operatively aligned with the roof support arm aperture. A mine roof bolt extends through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the roof support arm aperture. The mine roof bolt is configured to compress the bearing plate against the support member, wherein the upper edge exerts a force against the roof support arm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm. The support member may include a second aperture on the roof support arm for receiving a second mine roof bolt. A second support member having a front surface and a back surface and defining an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt may then be positioned over and received by the first support member with the second support member aperture being aligned with the second roof support arm aperture. A second mine roof bolt may then extend through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture. Both the first and second mine roof bolts may extend substantially vertically through their respective apertures. The rib support arm may also define an aperture for receiving a mine rib bolt, wherein the mine rib bolt extends through the rib support arm aperture in the mine rib. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the mine roof and rib support device are described in the following description and drawing figures. These aspects may be indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the mine roof and rib support device may be employed, and which is intended to include all such aspects and any equivalents thereof. Other advantages and features of the mine roof and rib support may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the mine roof and rib support can be obtained by considering the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating embodiments of mine roof and rib support devices installed at the intersection of the mine roof and opposite sides/ribs of a mine work area; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support member of the mine roof and rib support device; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the support member shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the support member shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the support member shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a support member. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the support member shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the support member shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the support member taken at line A-A in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the support member shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support; 
         FIG. 15  is an alternative perspective view of the mine roof and rib support of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic representation of mine roof and rib supports according to  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a mine roof and rib support system using the mine roof and rib support of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference numbers refer to like elements, a perspective view of an embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which can generally comprise a support member  15  having a roof support arm  20  and a rib support arm  25 , wherein the roof support arm  20  is provided at an angle to the rib support arm  25 , and an aperture  30  (shown best in  FIG. 3 ) through the support member  15  for receiving a mine roof bolt  35 , the aperture  30  located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm  20  and the rib support arm  25 . The support member  15  can further comprise a flange  45  provided on one or both of the roof support arm  20  and the rib support arm  25 , wherein the flange  45  projects toward a mine roof  50  or rib  55 . In a further embodiment, flanges  45 ,  47  are provided at distal ends  60 ,  65  of both the roof support arm  20  and the rib support arm  25 . 
     The angle θ between the roof  20  and rib  25  support arms can generally be about 90 degrees, since the angle α between the mine roof  50  and mine rib  55  is typically about 90 degrees. However, the angle θ between the arms  20 ,  25  can vary as needed, or desired, depending upon the angle between the mine roof  50  and the rib  55 . Moreover, the angle α between the mine roof  50  and rib  55  may not be exactly 90 degrees, and the mine roof  50  and/or rib  55  may likely not be perfectly flat. Thus, embodiments of the support member  15  can be sufficiently flexible to compensate for variations in the angle α of the roof  50  and rib  55 , and/or variations due to non-planar surfaces of the roof  50  and/or rib  55 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the flanges  45 ,  47  at the ends of the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25  can be bent from the distal ends  60 ,  65  of each of the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 . In particular, for example, portions of the distal ends  60 ,  65  of each arm  20 ,  25  can be cut away to leave a tab, or extension, which can be bent to form the flanges  45 ,  47 . The flanges  45 ,  47  can be bent toward the roof  50 , or rib  55 , as the flanges  45 ,  47  are intended to hold a mat, e.g., a metal mesh  70 , in cases where such mesh  70  is used in combination with the roof support arm  20  and/or rib support arm  25 . 
     Embodiments of the mine roof and rib support device  10  can further comprise a bearing plate  75  having an upper edge  80  and a lower edge  85 , and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges  80 ,  85  through which the roof bolt  35  is installed. The bearing plate  75  can be positioned adjacent the support member  15  such that the upper and lower edges  80 ,  85  of the bearing plate  75  are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 , respectively. When the through-hole in the bearing plate  75  is operatively aligned with the aperture  30  in the support member  15  for installation of the roof bolt  35  therethrough, the upper and lower edges  80 ,  85  will apply force to the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 , respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate  75  during installation of the roof bolt  35 . The roof bolt  35  can be installed at a 45 degree angle, but could be installed at a different angle if desired. When the mine roof bolt  35  is torqued against the outer surface of the bearing plate  75 , a compressive load is applied to the bearing plate  75 . The compressive load is distributed throughout the edges of the bearing plate  75 . The compressive load is transmitted from the edges of the bearing plate  75  to the roof support arm  20  and the rib support arm  25 , respectively, to compress the support arms  20 ,  25  against the roof  50  and rib  55  of the mine tunnel. The compressive forces cause the roof support arm  20  to exert pressure against the mine roof  50  and the rib support arm  25  to exert pressure against the mine rib  55 . 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating how the mine roof and rib support device  10  may be installed at each side of the mine tunnel. Because the bearing plate  75  can distribute the force from the roof bolt  35  to each of the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 , a single roof bolt  35  can be used for each support member  15  to simultaneously provide support for both the mine roof  50  and the mine rib  55 . The arrows  90 ,  95  in the drawing show the force vectors created by torquing the roof bolt  35  against the bearing plate  75 . 
       FIGS. 3 through 6  illustrate further details of the support member  15 , including the back surface of the support member shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown, the support member  15  can be made from a metal channel having a C-shaped cross-section. The metal channel can be bent to form each of the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 . Each arm  20 ,  25  can generally be the same length, but each arm  20 ,  25  could have a different length if desired. Certain embodiments of the support member  15  can be made from standard four (4) inch “C” channel steel with ¼ inch back wall thickness. The side walls of the channel can be split, or notched, adjacent the bend line, i.e., where the channel will be bent to form the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25  at generally 90 degrees to each other. The notch facilitates not only bending the channel to form the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 , but also permits the arms  20 ,  25  some freedom of movement away from each other when the support member  15  is bolted to the mine roof  50 . The bearing plate  75  will provide the support, similar to a brace, to resist movement of the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25  towards each other subsequent to installation of the roof bolt  35 . The channel can be heated to facilitate the bending process. 
     One manner of creating the flanges  45 ,  47  is to cut tabs at the distal end  60 ,  65 , typically of both the roof and rib support arms  20 ,  25 , and then bend the tabs outwardly, away form the back of the channel, i.e., towards the mine roof and rib  50 ,  55 , to form the flanges,  45 ,  47  to engage the mesh  70  that is commonly disposed over the mine roof and rib  50 ,  55 , under the support member  15 . 
     In certain embodiments, the dimensions corresponding to the reference characters in  FIGS. 4 through 6  can be, for example, as listed in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Dimensions 
                 Inches 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 A 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 D 
                 1.5 
               
               
                   
                 E 
                 1.5 
               
               
                   
                 F 
                 0.65 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The exemplary embodiments shown can comprise an elongated metal structural support member having a C-shaped cross-section that will typically be bent from a single length of material, and could instead be two separate pieces of material which are, e.g., welded together. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Mine roof and rib support device  100  includes a support member  102  having a roof support arm  120  and a rib support arm  125 , wherein the roof support arm  120  is provided at an angle to the rib support arm  125 . The angle between the roof and rib support arms  120 ,  125  can generally be about 90 degrees. However, the angle can vary as needed, or desired as described above in regard to support member  15 . An aperture  130  is defined in support member  102  for receiving a mine roof bolt  35 , the aperture located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm  120  and the rib support arm  125 . 
     Support member  102  includes a base portion  104  having a front surface  106  and a back surface  108 . Integrally formed longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  extend from base portion  104 , such as at an angle, and terminate at respective edges  112 ,  113 . Support member  102  further includes a reinforcement portion  114  extending from the base portion  104 . Reinforcement portion  114  is illustrated as being positioned centrally on the support member  102  with aperture  130  defined therein and having a general V-shape, thereby forming a rib. The height of reinforcement portion  114  may be approximately equal to the height of longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111 . 
     The mine roof and rib support device  100  may further include a bearing plate  175  having an upper edge  180  and a lower edge  185 , and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  through which the roof bolt  35  is installed. Bearing plate  175  is shown as having a donut-style configuration with a reinforcing portion or embossment  190  surrounding the through-hole. The bearing plate  175  can be positioned adjacent the support member  102  such that the upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  of the bearing plate  175  are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms  120 ,  125 , respectively. In one embodiment, upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  each abut longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  and reinforcement portion  114 . When the through-hole in the bearing plate  75  is operatively aligned with the aperture  130  in the support member  102  for installation of the roof bolt  35  therethrough, the upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  will apply force to the roof and rib support arms  120 ,  125 , respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate  175  during installation of the roof bolt  35 . The roof bolt  35  is installed at a 45 degree angle and may be installed at different angles. When the mine roof bolt  35  is tightened against the outer surface of the bearing plate  175 , a compressive load is applied to the bearing plate  175 . The compressive load is distributed throughout the edges of the bearing plate  175 . The compressive load is transmitted from the edges of the bearing plate  175  to the roof support arm  120  and the rib support arm  125 , respectively, to compress the support arms  120 ,  125  against the roof  50  and rib  55  of the mine tunnel. The compressive forces cause the roof support arm  120  to exert pressure against the mine roof  50  and the rib support arm  125  to exert pressure against the mine rib  55 . 
     In one embodiment, support member  102  is produced from an elongated channel member which is bent to form roof support arm  120  and rib support arm  125 . At the location of the bend, longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  may become deformed as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The support member  102  may be configured to be stackable for ease of transport by including angled longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111 , the front surface  106  of one support member  102  may receive at least a portion of a back surface  108  of another support member  102 . While the entire front surface  106  of one support member  102  may not completely receive the entire back surface  108  of another support member  102 , the support members may nest within each other, thereby reducing the overall footprint of multiple stacked support members as compared to multiple unstackable support members  15 . 
     The support member  102  may include flanges  145 ,  147  provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm  120  and the rib support arm  125 , wherein the flanges  145 ,  147  project toward the mine roof  50  or rib  55 . A wire of mesh  70  may be positioned behind support arm  120  and over flange  145  in order to hold mesh  70  against the roof  50 . Similarly, a wire of mesh  70  may be positioned behind rib support arm  125  and over flange  147  in order to hold mesh  70  against the rib  55 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , as in the embodiments described above, a mine roof and rib support device  200  includes a support member  202  having a roof support arm  220  and a rib support arm  225 , wherein the roof support arm  220  is provided at an angle to the rib support arm  225 . Again, as described above, the angle between the roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225  can generally be about 90 degrees, or can vary as needed, or desired. Also, aperture  130  is defined in support member  202  for receiving a mine roof bolt  35 , the aperture located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm  220  and the rib support arm  225 . However, the junction  240  between the roof support arm  220  and the rib support arm  225  is curved, as opposed to being a more sharply defined angle, as shown in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . Although the terms roof support arm and rib support arm are used in the present description, it is to be understood that each of roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225  may not take the form of a straightened arm. Support member  202  is continuously curved with roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225  being those portions of the curved support member  202  that contact mine roof  250  and rib  255 . The curved configuration of support member  202  conforms to the contour of the intersection of mine roof  250  and rib  255  when the mine roof  250  and rib  255  are cut into the rock strata with a radius leaving an arched mine passageway. By arched, it is meant a mine tunnel or passageway that has some variation in the relationship between mine roof  250  and mine rib  255  due to unevenness of the rock strata, which may include at least a partial arch configuration of the rock between the roof  250  and rib  255 , e.g., a mine tunnel or passageway with a non-square, radial, rounded, and/or curved intersection between mine roof  250  and mine rib  255 , and/or a mine roof  250  and mine rib  255  without a discretely defined angle therebetween. Additionally, although the terms mine roof and rib are used herein, it is to be understood that an arched mine passageway may not have a discretely defined mine roof and mine rib. Mine roof and rib  250 ,  255  are used herein to refer generally to the arched mine passageway in generally upward and lateral directions, respectively. 
     As in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the support member  202 , as shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , may include a base portion  104  having a front surface  106  and a back surface  108 . Integrally formed longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  may extend from base portion  104  at an angle and terminate at respective edges  112 ,  113 . Curved support member  202  further includes a reinforcement portion  114  extending from the base portion  104 . Reinforcement portion  114  is illustrated as being positioned centrally on the curved support member  202  with aperture  130  defined therein and having a general V-shape, thereby forming a rib. The height of reinforcement portion  114  may be approximately equal to the height of longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111 . 
     The mine roof and rib support device  200  may, again, further include a bearing plate  175  having an upper edge  180  and a lower edge  185 , and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  through which the roof bolt  35  is installed. Bearing plate  175  is shown as having a donut-style configuration with a reinforcing portion or embossment  190  surrounding the through-hole. The bearing plate  175  can be positioned adjacent the curved support member  202  such that the upper and lower edges  180 ,  185  of the bearing plate  175  are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225 , respectively. In this embodiment, the bearing plate  175 , roof bolt  35 , and curved support member  202  function in substantially the same way as described with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8  by applying a compressive load to the bearing plate  175 , which is distributed throughout the edges  180 ,  185  and to the roof support arm  220  and the rib support arm  225 , respectively, to compress the support arms  220 ,  225  against the roof  250  and rib  255  of the mine tunnel, thereby exerting pressure against the mine roof  250  and rib  255 . However, in an arched mine passageway having, for example, a radius between the roof  250  and rib  255 , the curvature of junction  240  between the roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225  more accurately conforms to the curvature between mine roof  250  and rib  255 , and the compressive load exerted by mine bolt  35  and bearing plate  175  will be more evenly distributed to mine roof  250  and rib  255 . 
     The curved support member  202  may be produced from an elongated channel member which is bent to form roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225 . Unlike the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  may not be deformed at curved junction  240 . However, the curved support member  202  may be configured to be stackable for ease of transport as described above with reference to support member  102 . 
     Also, like the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the curved support member  202  of  FIGS. 9-13 , may include flanges  145 ,  147  provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225 , wherein the flanges  145 ,  147  project toward the mine roof  250  or rib  255  with a wire mesh  70  positioned behind support arm  220  and over flange  145 , in order to hold wire mesh  70  against the roof  250 . Similarly, a wire mesh  70  may be positioned behind rib support arm  225  and over flange  147  in order to hold wire mesh  70  against the rib  255 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device  200  may include curved support member  202  having roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225  with curved junction  240  therebetween. Again, the support member  202  can further include flanges  145 ,  147  provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  125 , wherein the flanges  145 ,  147  project toward the mine roof  250  or rib  255  with a wire mesh  70  positioned behind support arm  220  and over flange  145  in order to hold wire mesh  70  against the roof  250 . However, in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , an aperture  230  for receiving mine roof bolt  35  is defined in roof support arm  220  (best illustrated in  FIG. 15 ), as opposed to being defined at the junction  240  between roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-13  in the above-described embodiments. Also, the mine roof support arm  220  may optionally comprise a second aperture  232  for receiving a second mine roof bolt  38 , and the rib support arm  225  may comprise an aperture  236  for receiving a mine rib bolt  37 , as shown in  FIG. 17 . The terms mine roof, mine rib, roof support arm, and rib support, as used here, are to be understood to be defined as described with respect to  FIGS. 9-13 . 
     As in the above-described embodiments, the curved support member  202  may include a base portion  104  having a front surface  106  and a back surface  108  with integrally formed longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  extending from base portion  104  at an angle and terminating at respective edges  112 ,  113  and reinforcement portion  114  extending from the base portion  104 . 
     The bearing plate  275 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  17 , having an upper edge  280  and lower edge  285 , includes a through-hole  288  provided between the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285  through which the roof bolt  35  is installed. In this embodiment, the bearing plate  275  is shown as having a race track header plate configuration with an embossment  282  surrounding the through-hole  288 , wherein the through-hole  288  is in an off-centered position, i.e., located closer to the upper edge  280  of the bearing plate  275  than the lower edge  285 . The bearing plate  275  may alternatively include a pair of secondary embossments  283 . The bearing plate  275 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  17  and described above, may be a commercially available race track header plate with a pre-existing hole  287 . Hole  287  may operate as a through-hole, or, alternatively, a second through-hole  288  may be drilled through bearing plate  275  in any desirable position. The bearing plate  275  is positioned adjacent the curved support member  202  such that the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285  are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225 , respectively, with the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285 , abutting longitudinal flanges  110 ,  111  and/or reinforcement portion  104 . When the through-hole  288  of bearing plate  275  is operatively aligned with the aperture  230  of roof support arm  220  for installation of the roof bolt  35  therethrough, the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285  will apply force to the roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225 , respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate  275  during installation of roof bolt  35 . Unlike the previously discussed embodiments, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 14-17 , roof support bolt  35  is installed substantially vertically into the mine roof  250  through through-hole  288  and aperture  230 . By substantially vertical, it is meant that the roof bolt  35  extends into the mine roof  250 , generally perpendicular to the mine roof  250  at the point wherein roof bolt  35  is installed. It should be understood that mine roof  250  may be uneven or somewhat sloping, such that roof bolt  35  may not be parallel to rib  255  or perpendicular to all points along mine roof  250 . When the mine roof bolt  35  is torqued against the outer surface of the bearing plate  275 , a vertical compressive load at arrow  300  is applied to the bearing plate  275 , as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The vertical compressive load  300  is distributed throughout the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285  of bearing plate  275  in both vertical and horizontal directions. The compressive load  300  is transmitted from the edges  280 ,  285  of the bearing plate  275  to the roof support arm  220  and rib support arm  225 , respectively, to compress the support arms  220 ,  225  against the roof  250  and rib  255  of the mine tunnel. In an annular mine tunnel, the curved junction  240  accurately conforms to the curvature of the mine tunnel, thereby, more evenly distributing the compressive load  300  to roof support arm  120  and rib support arm  125 . 
       FIG. 16  schematically illustrates how the mine roof and rib support device  200  may be installed at each side of a mine tunnel. Because the bearing plate  275  can distribute the force from the roof bolt  35  to each of the roof and rib support arms  220 ,  225  via the upper and lower edges  280 ,  285  of the bearing plate  275 , respectively, a single roof bolt  35  can be used for each support member  202  to simultaneously provide support for both the mine roof  250  and mine rib  255 . The force vectors  320 ,  325  in  FIG. 16  show the force created by torquing the roof bolt  35  against the bearing plate  275 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , a mine roof and rib support device  200  may also be used along with an additional second support member  203 , a second roof bolt  38 , and rib bolt  37 . Support member  203  is a roof support having an aperture  233  defined therethrough. After installing support member  202 , as discussed above, second support member  203  may be placed over roof support arm  220  in an overlapping manner. The back surface of second support member  203  may mirror front surface  106  of support member  202 , thereby rendering support member  203  easily engageable by roof support arm  220 . To overlap second support member  203  and roof support arm  220 , the front surface of support member  203  may instead receive the back surface of the roof support arm  220 . Aperture  233  may be operatively aligned with second aperture  232  of roof support arm  220 , such that a second mine roof bolt  38  is received through apertures  232 ,  233 , thereby providing additional support to mine roof  250  by compressing the second support member  203  and roof support arm  220  against the mine roof  250 . One or more support members  203  with mine roof bolts  38  may be installed in an overlapping fashion and likewise engage an opposite roof support arm (not shown) of another mine roof and rib support device, or other structure, thereby, spanning the roof  250 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the mine rib support arm  225  of support member  202  may include an aperture  236  for receiving a mine rib bolt  37  that extends therethrough for providing additional support to mine rib  255  by compressing rib support arm  225  against the mine rib  255 . An additional support member  203  with mine rib bolts  37  could be installed in an overlapping fashion with rib support arm  225  to further support mine rib  55 . 
     As used herein, the term “upwardly” shall refer to a direction with respect to a mine passageway which is oriented generally along the direction extending from the mine floor to the mine roof, the term “downwardly” shall refer to a direction with respect to a mine passageway which is oriented generally along the direction extending from the mine roof to the mine floor, the term “outwardly” shall refer to an orientation generally in transverse direction extending from the walls of the passageway to the mine passageway central longitudinal axis, and the term “inwardly” shall refer to an orientation generally in transverse direction extending from the central longitudinal axis of the mine passageway to the walls of the passageway. 
     Therefore, what has been described above includes exemplary embodiments of a mine roof and rib support having a roof support arm and a rib support arm that can support both the roof and rib of the mine at the same time. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of this description, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that further combinations and permutations are possible in light of the overall teaching of this disclosure. Accordingly, the description provided herein is intended to be illustrative only, and should be considered to embrace any and all alterations, modifications, and/or variations that fall within the spirit ad scope of the appended claims.