AU2003264167A1 - An apparatus for supporting a tunnel - Google Patents

Description

WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 1 AN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A TUNNEL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a tunnel, and is of particular - but by no means exclusive - application to supporting the roof of a mining tunnel. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Structures for supporting the inner surface of a mining tunnel, particularly the roof, have been used for some time. These structures prevent tunnels from caving-in 15 due to forces exerted on the tunnel by the surrounding environment. Unfortunately, existing support structures are such that driving of the tunnel operates in a 'start-stop' fashion. This is because existing support structures cannot support the inner surface of the tunnel whilst being moved 20 therein. As the driving process creates a new section of the tunnel which is not supported, the driving process must be stopped (or slowed) while a suitable support structure is positioned and adjusted in the new section of the tunnel. Once the support structure has been positioned and 25 adjusted in the new section, driving of the tunnel can continue. The technique of stop-starting the driving process to install a support structure continues as the tunnel is being progressed. Positioning and adjusting of existing support structures can be very time consuming, and 30 as such progression of the tunnel is seriously hampered by the fact that no driving is being performed whilst a support structure is being setup. Some attempts have been made to simultaneously 35 drive the tunnel and install the support structure so as to improve the rate at which a tunnel can be progressed. Whilst these attempts are an improvement over the technique WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 2 described above, they do have some drawbacks. Probably the most significant drawback is that they are configured to operate as a 'batch' process. In the batch process the support structure has a number of adjacent interconnected 5 members. When a new section of the tunnel is created by the driving process, the leading member of the support structure is disengaged from the inner surface of the tunnel so that it can be moved into the new section. When in the new section, the leading member is caused to engage 10 the inner surface in the new section. Using the same technique, the section of the tunnel left unsupported by moving the leading member is supported by the member adjacent the leading member. 15 The main problem with the batch process described above is that the inner surface of the tunnel can be stressed by the constant engaging/disengaging of the members on the inner surface of the tunnel. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a movable apparatus for supporting a tunnel, the apparatus comprising a supporting 25 means for exerting a supporting force against a surface of the tunnel, the supporting means being such that it defines a void for housing mining equipment and is arranged to maintain exertion of the supporting force whilst the apparatus is moved relative to the surface of the tunnel. 30 Thus, unlike existing apparatuses for supporting tunnels the apparatus according to the present invention has the ability to provide a constant supporting force whilst the apparatus is moved along the tunnel, thereby 35 avoiding the problems associated with the start-stop and batch tunnel progression techniques that result from using existing tunnel support devices.

WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 3 Preferably, the supporting means comprises a plurality of supporting parts each of which is arranged to engage the surface to exert the supporting force and move 5 along the surface whilst engaged therewith so as to maintain the supporting force as the apparatus is moved relative to the surface of the tunnel, wherein the supporting parts are spaced apart from each other at a distance which permits support bolts to pass therebetween. 10 Thus, having the supporting parts spaced apart enables the apparatus to move along the tunnel without the supporting means coming into contact with support bolts that may protrude from the surface. This is advantageous 15 because damage to the supporting means and/or bolts may occur if the two come into contact with each other as the apparatus moves along the tunnel. Throughout this specification, the word "bolt" (and variations thereof) is used to refer to the steel members that are put in place to 20 provide a permanent support for the surface of the tunnel. Preferably, each of the supporting parts comprises: spaced apart wheels; 25 a belt mounted on the wheels; and guides arranged to retain the belt on the wheels. Preferably, the supporting means is arranged to exert the supporting force against a roof and/or a side of 30 the tunnel. Thus, unlike existing devices which are capable of supporting only the roof of the tunnel, the apparatus according to the present invention is capable of providing 35 a greater level of support because it supports the side of the tunnel, which in turn provides improved safety for people in the tunnel.

WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 4 Preferably, the supporting means further comprises accommodating means arranged to accommodate unevenness in the surface. 5 Thus, by employing the accommodating means the supporting means has the capability of providing an even force over the surface with which the supporting means is engaged. 10 Preferably, the accommodating means comprises the belt being resilient. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises 15 adjusting means operable to adjust the supporting force. Thus, the apparatus can be configured to apply a supporting force that is appropriate for the particular environment in which the apparatus is present. 20 Preferably, the adjusting means comprises a plurality of hydraulic rams capable of moving the supporting means outwardly from a body of the apparatus. 25 Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a bolting machine arranged to install bolts in the tunnel as the apparatus moves along the tunnel. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises 30 motive force generating means arranged to move the apparatus in the tunnel. Preferably, the motive force generating means comprises either a hydraulic or electric motor. 35 WO 2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred 5 embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 illustrates an apparatus, in accordance 10 with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, for supporting a surface of a tunnel; figure 2 illustrates a number of the apparatuses illustrated in figure 1 positioned within the tunnel; 15 figure 3 shows an end view of the apparatus illustrated in figure 1; figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatuses 20 illustrated in figure 2; and figure 5 is an end view of one of the apparatuses shown in figure 1. 25 THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With reference to figure 1, the apparatus 1 according to the preferred embodiment includes a support structure 3. Essentially, the support structure 3 is the 30 part of the apparatus 1 which supports the surface of the tunnel 5 (see figure 2). The support structure 3 is in the form of a frame made from a material that is capable of carrying the load that is exerted by the surface of the tunnel 5. Typically, the support structure 3 is made from 35 steel. The various parts of the support structure 3, such as the cross members, are welded and/or bolted together. As can be seen in figures 3 and 4, the frame that forms the WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 6 support structure 3 has two main spaced apart outer sections 7, which define a void 9 located therebetween. The void 9 is such that it capable of housing mining equipment such as a tunnel development machine and a conveyor belt 5 for transferring material along the tunnel. The support structure 3 includes a bolting machine 10 (illustrated in figures 3 and 4) for installing bolts into the tunnel surface as the support structure 3 10 moves along the tunnel. The machine 10 is arranged to install side and roof bolts independently. The machine 10 is mounted on rotary actuators (not shown in figures) so that the position of the bolts can be varied as required. 15 The apparatus 1 has spaced apart portions 11 for placement on the floor of the tunnel 5, and which carry the support structure 3. As can be seen in figure 4, the spaced apart portions 11 are attached to the support structure 3 at the corners thereof. The apparatus 1 also has parts 12 20 that are located on top of the support structure 3 and which bear against the roof of the tunnel 5 so as to exert a supporting force. The parts 12 are spaced apart from each other. The space between the parts 12 is such that it can accommodate the end of bolts 14 that have been installed 25 into the roof so as to avoid contact between the parts 12 and the end of the bolts 14 as the support structure 3 moves along the tunnel 5 (see figure 5). Any contact between the parts 12 and the end of the bolts 14 could result in damage to either the parts 12 or the end of the 30 bolts 14. The apparatus 1 also has a part 16 attached to a side of the support structure 3 (see figure 3) for bearing against the side of the tunnels to exert a supporting force. Whilst not illustrated in the figures, it is envisaged that the part 16 could be configured in the same 35 way as the other parts 12; that is, having a space for accommodating the end of bolts 14.

WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 7 The portions 11 and parts 12 and 16 each include a belt 13 that is mounted on spaced apart wheels 15. The belt 13 and the wheels 15 effectively forming what is generally referred to as a 'caterpillar track', which is 5 commonly found on many excavators and tanks. By using the belt 13 mounted on the wheels 15, the portions 11 and parts 12 and 16 are able to readily move along the surface of the tunnel 5, thus permitting the apparatus 1 to be moved whilst supporting the surface of the tunnel 5. The belt 13 10 used on the portions 11 and parts 12 and 16 may be different depending on the surface which it bears against. For instance, belts 13 which bear against the roof of the tunnel 5 have a collective width that is comparable to the width of the support structure 3. Furthermore, the belts 13 15 that bear against the roof or sides of the tunnel 5 include pads of softer material so as to minimize damage to the roof or sides of the tunnel 5 that may otherwise occur as the parts 12 and 16 move along the surface of the tunnel. In contrast, the belts 13 that bear against the floor of 20 the tunnel 5 are significantly narrower that the width of the support structure 3 so that the apparatus 1 can be readily manoeuvred. To ensure that the belt 13 remains on the wheels 25 15, the portions 11 and parts 12 and 16 also include guides (not shown) that are positioned at the side of the belt 13 so as to prevent the belt 13 from moving off the wheels 15. The belts 13 are designed to be articulated to assist with providing an even load on the ground of the tunnel 5, and 30 in turning of the apparatus 1. To further assist in the turning of the apparatus 1, the portions 11 are pivotally mounted to the support structure 3. To assist with pivotally moving the portions 11, the support structure 3 includes a hydraulic jack 19 (see figure 1) that is 35 operable to engage the ground and lift the portions 11 off the ground. Lifting the portions 11 off the ground effectively lessens the load on the portions 11, thereby WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 8 allowing the portions to be pivotally moved with relative ease. Once off the ground, the portions 11 can be rotated (positioned) to the required direction of travel. The pivotal mounting connecting the portions 11 to the support 5 structure 3 is such that the portions 11 can be rotated approximately 3600. To assist a user in pivotally moving the portions 11, the apparatus 1 is equipped with electrically or 10 hydraulically operable motors that are arranged to pivotally rotate the portions 11. The parts 12 and 16 also include accommodating means (not illustrated) for allowing unevennesses which may 15 be present in the surfaces of the tunnel 5 to be accommodated. The accommodating means is provided by virtue of the belts 13 being flexible. The apparatus 1 further includes adjusting means 20 17 for adjusting the force which is exerted on the surface of the tunnel 5 by the parts 12 and 16. The adjusting means 17 permits a user to adjust the force to a magnitude that is sufficient for supporting the surface of the tunnel 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 25 adjusting means includes a plurality of hydraulic rams that are attached to the support structure 3 and the parts 12 and 16. As can be seen in figure 4, the hydraulic rams are located in the corners of the support apparatus 3. 30 The apparatus 1 also includes motive force generating means (not illustrated) for moving the apparatus 1 to a required location in the tunnel 5. The motive generating means includes a motor such as an electric or hydraulic motor. The motor is preferably used to drive the 35 wheels 15 of at least one of the portions 11, and may also be used to drive the wheels 15 of the parts 12 and 16. The motive force generating means can be operated manually; WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 -9 that is, the motor can be started by a person when it is decided that the apparatus 1 needs to be re-positioned. Alternatively, the motor may be automatically started by a sensor (typically a distance-measuring sensor mounted of 5 the support structure 3) that detects that the support structure 3 needs to be re-located. In an alternative embodiment, the parts 12 and 16 can include suitable plates that are configured to slide 10 over the surface of the tunnel 5, rather than using the belt 13 and wheel 15 configuration as described previously. It is also envisaged that a combination of plates, belts 13 and wheels 15 can be employed. Typically, where the latter combination is employed the plates would be used, for 15 example, to bear against the sides whilst the belt/wheel arrangement could be used to bear against the roof of the tunnel 5. Use of the plates would simplify the apparatus 1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the 20 invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It should be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 25

Claims (12)

1. A movable apparatus for supporting a tunnel, the apparatus comprising a supporting means for exerting a 5 supporting force against a surface of the tunnel, the supporting means being such that it defines a void for housing mining equipment and is arranged to maintain exertion of the supporting force whilst the apparatus is moved relative to the surface of the tunnel. 10

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises a plurality of supporting parts each of which is arranged to engage the surface to exert the supporting force and move along the surface 15 whilst engaged therewith so as to maintain the supporting force as the apparatus is moved relative to the surface of the tunnel, wherein the supporting parts are spaced apart from each other at a distance which permits support bolts to pass therebetween. 20

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the supporting parts comprises: spaced apart wheels; a belt mounted on the wheels; and 25 guides arranged to retain the belt on the wheels.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting means is arranged to exert the supporting force against a roof and/or a side 30 of the tunnel.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting means further comprises accommodating means arranged to accommodate 35 unevenness in the surface.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein WO2004/027215 PCT/AU2003/001251 - 11 the accommodating means comprises the belt being resilient.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises 5 adjusting means operable to adjust the supporting force.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adjusting means comprises a plurality of hydraulic rams capable of moving the supporting means outwardly from a 10 body of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a bolting machine arranged to install bolts in the tunnel as 15 the apparatus moves along the tunnel.

10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises motive force generating means arranged to move the 20 apparatus in the tunnel.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the motive force generating means comprises either a hydraulic or electric motor. 25

12. The apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Substitute Sheet