EE05727B1 - Anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly and method for its use - Google Patents

Abstract

Anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly and method of use. An anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly for supporting and stabilizing mine ceilings, wherein the anchor lock comprises at least two spreading plates, between cylindrical or tapered inner wedge plates. A wedge adapted to receive an anchor bolt, the wedge dimensions being selected such that the wedge pushes the wedges apart when the wedge is pushed between the plates. A strip of flexible elastic material is attached to one end of each plate, and the other ends of the strips are interconnected by a connecting member having an opening larger than the diameter of the anchor bolt and a locking member at the end of the anchor bolt.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to anchor support kits for use in mines and methods of using such kits, more particularly to reusable anchor lock and anchor bolt kits used for supporting and stabilizing mine ceilings, wherein the anchor lock is installed in a hole drilled in the ceiling with an anchor bolt screwed into the anchor lock. The novel design of the anchor lock and bolt allows for easy removal and reuse of the anchor lock without the use of special tools.

STATE OF THE ART

Anchor support kits for stabilizing mine ceilings are known, which include an anchor lock and a bolt. US4158983 discloses anchor supports consisting of an anchor lock, an anchor bolt and a support washer, in which the anchor lock, which is installed in a hole drilled in the ceiling of a mine or other tunnel, includes expandable segments connected to each other at one end, whereby when the anchor bolt is screwed into the threaded wedge, the wedge presses the expandable segments apart against the walls of the hole, and to hold the anchor lock in place in the hole, either a threaded nut at the lower end of the expandable segments or a metal strip extending from the lower end of the anchor lock around the upper end of the bolt is used (in this description, "upper" refers to the end of the anchor lock, anchor bolt or other element that enters the hole first (and is at the top in the figures) and "lower" refers to the other end of the anchor lock, anchor bolt or other element (and is at the bottom in the figures)). It is not possible to retrieve such an anchor lock from the hole for reuse.

US5076733 is a known anchor support similar to the previous one, consisting of an anchor lock, an anchor bolt and a support washer (plate).

US4337012 is a known anchor support, the anchor lock of which consists of three expanding segments, which are interconnected at the end of the bolt so that when the bolt is screwed into the threaded wedge, the end of the bolt moves against the connecting element of the segments and thus prevents the anchor lock from shifting out of the hole. Such an anchor lock cannot be retrieved from the hole for reuse without using special tools.

US5064311, is a known anchor support analogous to the previous ones, wherein the expanding segments are interconnected at both ends.

CA2633955 is a known anchor support consisting of an anchor lock, an anchor bolt and a support washer (plate), wherein the expanding segments of the anchor lock are attached at the end of the bolt, wherein the connecting element has a hole and a resin container is attached to the end of the anchor lock so that when the anchor lock is installed, when the anchor bolt is screwed through the hole of the connecting element, the end of the bolt breaks the resin container. Such an anchor lock cannot be removed from the hole for reuse.

Also known is an anchor lock comprising three elongated curved spreading plates with tabs, with a strip attached to one end of each plate and the other ends of the strip connected to each other by a connecting element, with the curved plates and the strips attached to their ends being parallel to the anchor bolt, and a cylindrical or conical wedge with an internal thread located between the plates and a plastic ring around them to hold the plates together. The anchor lock is equipped with a coil spring between the wedge and the connecting element, which holds the wedge between the spreading plates with a predetermined force. The known anchor bolt is a threaded metal rod equipped with a square head. To install the anchor lock, a hole of suitable dimensions is drilled in the ceiling (wall, etc.) of a mine or tunnel, a support plate is placed on the anchor bolt, the anchor lock together with the anchor bolt is pushed into the hole, whereby the plastic ring is removed, a wedge is pushed using the anchor bolt and the anchor lock together with the wedge to the appropriate depth, and to secure the anchor lock, the anchor bolt is turned so that the wedge moves between the plates and presses them against the wall of the hole. Removing a known anchor without using special tools is difficult or impossible, because when pulling the anchor bolt, the wedge presses the plates apart against the wall (inwards), and when the anchor bolt is unscrewed, it separates from the wedge, leaving the anchor lock in the hole. Known anchor locks are usually not removed or special tools are required for this.

The aim of the invention is to design an anchor support set that, when the anchor bolt is screwed in, would firmly anchor the anchor lock to the walls of the hole, but which, when the anchor bolt is unscrewed, would allow the anchor lock to be easily removed from the hole without special tools.

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by an anchor support comprising a modified anchor lock and an anchor bolt. The anchor lock comprises at least two elongated curved expanding plates, with a strip attached to one end of each plate and the other ends of the strip being interconnected by a connecting element, with the curved plates and the strips attached to their ends being approximately parallel to the anchor bolt. The connecting element has a hole of sufficient diameter for the anchor bolt. A wedge provided with a cylindrical or conical internal thread is located between the plates, and a plastic ring is around them to hold the plates together. The anchor lock is provided with a coil spring between the wedge and the connecting element, which holds the wedge between the expanding plates with a predetermined force. The anchor bolt is a threaded metal rod provided with a square head. As a supplement, the upper end of the anchor bolt may have a hole for a cotter pin.

To install the anchor lock, a hole of suitable dimensions is drilled, an anchor bolt is screwed into the wedge of the anchor lock until the end of the anchor bolt extends through the connecting element, and a locking element (stopper washer; washer with cotter pin, etc.) is placed on the end of the anchor bolt to prevent the anchor bolt from separating from the anchor lock. Then, the anchor lock is pushed together with the anchor bolt into the hole, the wedge is pushed with the anchor bolt and the anchor lock together with the wedge to the appropriate depth, and to secure the anchor lock, the anchor bolt is turned so that the wedge is pulled between the expanding plates, pushing the plates apart against the hole wall. To remove the anchor lock, the anchor bolt is turned in the opposite direction, the wedge moves out between the expanding plates, the expanding plates pull away from the hole walls, and when the anchor bolt is pulled, the anchor lock comes out of the hole. In this case, a stop washer or a washer with a cotter pin prevents the anchor bolt from separating from the anchor lock.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 shows a top view of an anchor lock.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the anchor lock.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the anchor lock.

Figure 4 shows a front view of an anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly using a lock washer, and Figure 5 shows a top view of the same assembly.

Figure 6 shows a front view of an anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly using a cotter pin and washer, and Figure 7 shows a top view of the same assembly.

EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 7. The anchor lock 1 comprises three elongated curved spreading plates 2, with a strip 3 attached to one end of each plate and the other ends of the strip being interconnected by a connecting element 4, with the curved plates being approximately parallel to the anchor bolt. In addition, the connecting element 4 has an opening 5 for the anchor bolt 6. The diameter of the opening 5 is larger than the diameter of the anchor bolt 6. A cylindrical or conical wedge 7 with an internal thread is located between the plates, and a plastic ring 8 is around them to hold the plates together. The anchor lock is provided with a coil spring 9 between the wedge and the connecting element, which holds the wedge between the spreading plates with a predetermined force. The anchor bolt 6 is a threaded metal rod provided with a square head. In addition, the upper end of the anchor bolt may have an opening for a cotter pin 10.

To install the anchor lock, a hole of suitable dimensions is drilled, a support plate is placed on the anchor bolt, the anchor bolt is screwed into the anchor lock until the end of the anchor bolt extends through the connecting element and a stop washer 11 (see Fig 5 and Fig 6) or a washer 12 with a cotter pin 10 (see Fig 7 and Fig 8) is placed on the end of the anchor bolt to prevent the anchor bolt from separating from the anchor lock. Then, the anchor lock is pushed together with the anchor bolt into the hole (the plastic ring slides off the plates of the anchor lock), the wedge is pushed with the anchor bolt and the anchor lock together with the wedge to the appropriate depth and to secure the anchor lock, the anchor bolt is turned so that the wedge is pulled between the spreading plates, pushing the plates apart against the wall of the hole. To remove the anchor lock, the anchor bolt is turned in the opposite direction, the wedge moves out between the spreading plates, the spreading plates are pulled into the hole away from the walls and when pulling the anchor bolt, the anchor lock comes out of the hole. A locking element (e.g. a stop washer or a washer with a cotter pin) prevents the anchor bolt from separating from the anchor lock.

Claims (7)

1. An anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly, wherein the anchor lock comprises at least two spreading plates arranged parallel to each other such that a cylindrical gap is formed between the plates; a cylindrical or conical internally threaded wedge which is at least partially in the cylindrical gap between the plates and which is adapted to receive the anchor bolt, wherein the dimensions of the wedge are selected such that when the wedge is pressed between the plates, the plates are pressed apart against the walls of the hole, wherein strips of flexible elastic material are attached to one end of each plate and the other ends of the strips are interconnected by a connecting element, characterized in that the connecting element has an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter of the anchor bolt and the end of the anchor bolt has a locking element by means of which the anchor bolt can be pushed through the opening of the connecting element, but the anchor bolt cannot be separated from the anchor lock when the anchor lock is removed from the hole. 2. An anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchor lock is provided with a coil spring between the wedge and the connecting element, which holds the wedge between the spreading plates. 3. Anchor lock and anchor bolt set according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the fixing element is a washer with a cotter pin. 4. Anchor lock and anchor bolt set according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the fixing element is a stop washer. 5. A method of using an anchor lock and anchor bolt assembly, wherein the anchor lock comprises at least two spreading plates arranged parallel to each other so that a cylindrical gap is formed between the plates, a cylindrical or conical wedge with an internal thread, which is at least partially in the cylindrical gap between the plates and which is adapted to receive an anchor bolt, wherein the dimensions of the wedge are selected such that when the wedge is pushed between the plates, the wedge pushes the plates apart, wherein the plates are connected at one end to a connecting element, a strip of flexible elastic material is attached to one end and the other ends of the strips are interconnected by the connecting element, the method comprises the following steps: an anchor bolt is screwed into the wedge of the anchor lock, characterized in that the connecting element has a hole for the anchor bolt and the anchor bolt is screwed until the end of the anchor bolt extends through the connecting element, a locking element is placed on the end of the anchor bolt to prevent the anchor bolt from separating from the anchor lock, the anchor lock together with the anchor bolt is pushed into the hole, the anchor bolt is used to push the anchor lock to the appropriate depth, and by turning the anchor bolt, the wedge is pulled between the spreading plates and the plates are pushed apart against the wall of the hole. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing element is a stop washer. 7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing element is a washer with a cotter pin.