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EP-4741627-A1 - ROCK BOLTING RIG AND METHOD FOR ROCK REINFORCING

EP4741627A1EP 4741627 A1EP4741627 A1EP 4741627A1EP-4741627-A1

Abstract

A bolting rig and method for rock reinforcing. The bolting rig (1) comprises a movable carrier (2), a bolting boom (3) mounted to a boom mounting point (16), and a bolting unit (4) mounted to the bolting boom. There is also a cable reel arrangement (9) which comprises a cable reel (18) loaded with would cable (26). The cable reel arrangement is located at a front part of the carrier and is in front of the boom mounting point.

Inventors

  • HAAVISTO, ARI
  • Nurmikolu, Heidi

Assignees

  • Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (9)

  1. A rock bolting rig (1) for installing cable bolts (5) to drill holes (6) for reinforcing a rock surface, wherein the bolting rig (1) comprises: a carrier (2) movable in an operating direction (OD) and an opposite reverse direction (RD); at least one bolting boom (3) mounted to a boom mounting point (16) on the carrier (2) and configured to face towards the operating direction (OD); at least one bolting unit (4) mounted to a distal end portion of the bolting boom (3); at least one cable reel arrangement (9) supported on the carrier (2) and being capable of storing wound cable (26) ; at least one cable feed device (27, 27a) for feeding the cable from the cable reel arrangement (9) to the bolting unit (4); and a guide arrangement (10) for guiding the cable (26) from the cable reel arrangement (9) to the bolting unit (4); characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) is located in front of the boom mounting point (16).
  2. The bolting rig as claimed in claim 1, char - acterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) comprises a cable reel (18) on which the cable (26) is wound, and wherein the cable reel (18) is rotatable in relation to vertical rotating axis (V).
  3. The bolting rig as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) is located in front of the carrier (2).
  4. The bolting rig as claimed in claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) is supported to the carrier (2) movably by means of at least one turning join (22, 23) and turning actuator.
  5. The bolting rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) is supported to a handling arm (22) connected to a front part of the carrier (2) and configured to protrude from the carrier (2) in longitudinal direction of the carrier (2).
  6. The bolting rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) comprises a cable cassette (25) and a cable reel (18) is arranged inside the cable cassette (25) forming a surrounding and supporting structure for the cable reel (18) on which the cable (26) is wound.
  7. The bolting rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the cable reel arrangement (9) is provided with the cable feed device (27a) for feeding the cable (26).
  8. The bolting rig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the bolting rig (1) comprises at least two cable reels (18); and the guide arrangement (10) comprises a branched guide element (21) allowing cable feeding selectively from one of the cable reels (18) one at a time.
  9. A method for rock reinforcing, wherein the method comprises: using a bolting rig (1) comprising a carrier (2), a bolting boom (3), a bolting unit (4) and a cable reel (18); drilling a drill hole (6) to the rock surface by means of a rock drilling machine (7) of the bolting unit (4); feeding grouting material into the drill hole (6); feeding from the cable reel (18) a cable bolt (5) to the drill hole (6) by means of a feed device (27, 27a); cutting the cable bolt (5) outside the drill hole (6); characterized by supporting the cable reel (18) at a front part of the carrier (2) an operating the cable reel (18) independently in relation to the bolting boom (3).

Description

Background of the invention The invention relates to rock bolting rig for installing cable bolts to drill holes for reinforcing a rock surface. The invention further relates to a method for reinforcing rock surfaces. The field of the invention is defined more specifically in the preambles of the independent claims. In mines, construction sites and at other work areas exists a need to reinforce rock surfaces and to thereby ensure their safety and suitability for the intended purposes. A common method for rock reinforcement is rock bolting. In such reinforcement system several rock bolts are fastened in drilled holes by grouting material. In this way rock layers are bonded together so that the risk for collapse is reduced. There are several different rock bolt types and methods for installing the rock bolts. One known and widely used rock bolt is a cable bolt. However, the present solutions for installing the cable bolts have shown to contain some disadvantages. Brief description of the invention An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved solution for installing cable bolts for reinforcing rock surfaces. The bolting rig according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features of the independent apparatus claim. The method according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features of the independent method claim. An idea of the disclosed solution is that a rock bolting rig comprises a carrier, at least one bolting boom mounted to a boom mounting point on the carrier, and at least one bolting unit mounted to a distal end portion of the bolting boom. There are also one or more cable reel arrangements for storing wound cable and a cable feed device for feeding the cable from the cable reel arrangement to the bolting unit under guidance of a guide arrangement. Furthermore, the cable reel arrangement is located in front of the boom mounting point. In other words, the cable reel arrangement is located at a front part of the carrier when examined in the operating direction. An advantage of the disclosed solution is that stability of the bolting rig is improved when the cable reel arrangement is located at a front part of the carrier. This is because of the fact that at a rear part of the bolting rig there are typically heavy weight components and apparatuses, and also the bolting rigs have typically relatively long rear overhangs. Thus, the cable reel arrangement at the front can balance the carrier. A further advantage is that distance between the cable reel arrangement and the bolting unit may be relatively short whereby feeding of the cable is easy. According to an embodiment, position of the cable reel arrangement is independent of the operation of the bolting boom. Thus, the cable reel is not located on the bolting boom of the bolting unit. When the cable reel arrangement does not move together with the bolting boom, the structure may be simpler, and weight of the cable does has no influence on movements of the bolting boom. According to an embodiment, the bolting rig may be provided with a rock bolt storing and handling apparatuses in addition to the cable feed capability. Thus, the bolting rig may comprise a dual system allowing mounting either rock bolts or cable reinforcements. There may be a rock bolt magazine for storing the rock bolts and a handling arrangement for picking the rock bolts from the magazine. According to an embodiment, the bolting boom is mounted to a support frame fastened on the carrier and protruding vertically from an upper surface of the carrier. The bolting boom may be connected on a side surface facing towards the operating direction by means of a joint system. According to an embodiment, the bolting unit comprises a cutter for cutting the cable. Thus, cable bolts are formed by cutting the cable after being inserted into the drill hole. According to an embodiment, the guide arrangement comprises at least one feed tube for guiding the cable inside the feed tube from the cable reel arrangement to the bolting unit. According to an embodiment, the cable reel arrangement comprises a cable reel on which the cable is wound, and wherein the cable reel is rotatable in relation to vertical rotating axis. In other words, the rotatable cable reel is in horizontal or predominantly horizontal orientation. An advantage of the horizontally orientated cable reel is that center of gravity is located at a lower level compared to the vertically orientated cable reel and this is beneficial regarding stability of the bolting rig. Further, the horizontally orientated cable reel has improved availability whereby change, handling and service measures are easy to execute. According to an embodiment, the cable reel may be slightly slanted from the horizontal orientation for facilitating the cable feeding process. Magnitude of the slanting is limited. Thereby, also in that case one end surface of the cable reel is facing downwards towards a driving surface an